Deck 7: The Christian Apologists: Interacting With Gnosticism and Other Heresies

Question 1

What is apologetics?

A) The systematic investigation into the various areas of faith
B) Recanting before the Emperor during periods of persecution
C) Denial of orthodox teachings of the Church
D) The branch of theology that deals with the defense of the Christian faith.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following were not heresiologists?

A) Justin Martyr
B) Athenagoras
C) Tertullian
D) Arius.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following was not one of the important themes in Irenaeus's Against Heresies?

A) Christians have the writings of the apostles and the tradition to settle disputes
B) There are recent theological developments which aid our understanding of Christian teaching
C) There is an established doctrine of God and Christ
D) Ancient traditions have been carefully preserved.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Gnostic believe which of the following?

A) Salvation is achieved through acquiring secret knowledge
B) The physical or material world is evil
C) There are multiple divine beings
D) All of the above

Question 5

The Nag Hammadi library:

A) was an important source of doctrine in the Middle Ages
B) proves the Gospel of Thomas to have apostolic authority
C) is a collection of Gnostic texts
D) is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Question 6

Which of the following was a famous Gnostic theologian from the second century?

A) Aristides
B) Theophilus
C) Valentinus
D) Hermius.

Question 7

The Ebionites affirmed all of the following except:

A) Christians must hold tenaciously to Jewish customs and law.
B) The teachings of Paul should be rejected.
C) Jesus was divine.
D) Jesus died for the sins of the world

Question 8

Which Christian apologist opposed the teachings of the Marcionites and Ebionites?

A) Origen of Alexendria
B) Valentinus
C) Tertullian
D) Ammonius Saccas

Question 9

Activity of the Christian apologists in the second century led to which development?

A) Establishment of the Church as an authority
B) Formation of the New Testament canon
C) The discipline of systematic theology
D) Rejection of Jewish law

Question 10

The Marcionites affirmed which of the following?

A) Paul was the only authentic apostle of Jesus
B) All of the books of the New Testament were authoritative
C) Marcion was the legitimate Pope.
D) Faith and works are united in the character of the one true God.