Monday, September 30, 2019

Theology 10 (Scripture) 1st Quarter Test

Greetings Theology 10 Students...
Below you will find everything you need to prepare for the Test for the 1st Quarter, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 8. The test is divided into three sections...


 Section I: Matching
Match the name of each of the Fourteen Periods of Ancient Jewish History to the respective date. You should have the names and dates listed in your notes. If not, refer to the appropriate presentation from those posted below.
  • 14 Periods to match, 1 point per period, 14 points total this section.

 Section II: Multiple Choice
There will be 66 multiple choice questions on the test, taken from the form embedded below. The questions cover everything we have learned so far this quarter. Please be aware that there are [TBD] practice questions on this form, and while only 66 will appear on the test, there will be multiple versions of the test, meaning you could potentially see any of these questions. If you know all of these questions plus the Matching, you already have a B on this test.
  • 66 Multiple Choice Questions, 1 point per question, 66 points total this section.
  • By the way- if you right click in the frame below and then select Reload Frame from the menu, the questions and answers will be re-scrambled.





 Section III: The Essay
Choose ONE of the essays listed below, and be prepared to answer it in class on the day of the test. You may not use any notes on the day of the test, but you may certainly prepare your answer in advance. The essay you choose is the one you answer- you do not need to be prepared to answer any question other than that one.
  • ONE Essay, 30 points, 30 points total this section.
  1. Using the Parable of the Yeast as an example, explain why it is important to understand the context in which a Biblical book or passage is written in order to interpret the book or passage correctly. Be sure to explain what you mean by "context" in your answer. Check out this PowerPoint if you need help answering this question.
  2. Discuss the Manuscript Tradition behind the Old and New Testaments. How does an awareness of this tradition impact our understanding and interpretation of a Biblical text? What is the connection between the manuscript tradition and the development of the canon? How does an awareness of the development of the canon impact our approach to studying the Bible?
  3. Explain the historical process by means of which the Bible came to be translated into English, and explain the differences between the numerous types of contemporary translations. What are the positive and negative consequences of having a multiplicity of vernacular Bible translations?
  4. Using the passage from the Prologue to the Gospel of John discussed in class, explain how the nature of Biblical manuscripts can lead to variant interpretations of specific passages, and how those variants can help to explain the differences in doctrine and belief held by Christian denominations, as well as the existence of different Bible translations.
  5. Explain the Documentary Theory. Why is the question of Mosaic authorship an important one for Jews and Christians? How does the Documentary Theory shed light on the composition and interpretation of the Torah?

 How To Study...
If you count up the point total for the test, you may think that it's a good idea I teach Theology and not math, because there are 110 total points possible (14 Matching + 66 Multiple Choice + 30 Essay). The reason for this is that there are 10 points of extra credit built into the test- meaning you can miss 10 points and still get 100%. Any points over 100 are extra credit. Why would I do this? Because I'm such a swell guy, that's why. Oh, and you'll also notice there is no Greek on the test. Why would I do this? Because I'm such a swell guy. We covered that. So how should you study? Do the following:
  • First, master the Multiple Choice. This is where most of the points on the test come from, so make sure you know it.
  • Second, learn the Matching. Familiarity with the Multiple Choice questions should make this easier. And keep in mind that you don't technically need to know the dates from each period. If you know the periods in order, you'll be able to determine the dates.
  • Third, prepare the essay that seems easiest to you, given what you had to learn for the Multiple Choice. Don't stress over the essay too much... if nothing else, you can cobble together something from the answers to the other questions on the test.

 The Class Presentations
If you need them, I've provided links to PDFs of the PowerPoints I used in class. Remember that you are always required to take notes, and you are expected to have your notes in class every day, so if you are missing answers to questions in your notes pages, make sure to use these presentations to address that.




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