Question 1

What is apologetics?&#10;A) The systematic investigation into the various areas of faith&#10;B) Recanting before the Emperor during periods of persecution&#10;C) Denial of orthodox teachings of the Church&#10;D) The branch of theology that deals with the defense of the Christian faith.

Accepted Answer

Apologetics is the branch of theology that deals with defending the Christian faith through systematic investigation, logical reasoning, and philosophical arguments. It aims to provide evidence for the truthfulness of Christian beliefs and to rebut objections raised by skeptics, atheists, or adherents of other religions. Apologetics has a long tradition in Christianity, from the writings of early Church Fathers like Justin Martyr and Tertullian to the contemporary works of apologists like William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, and Alister McGrath. The term "apologetics" comes from the Greek word "apologia," which means defense or justification.

Question 2

Which of the following were not heresiologists?&#10;A) Justin Martyr&#10;B) Athenagoras&#10;C) Tertullian&#10;D) Arius.

Accepted Answer

Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and Tertullian are all considered heresiologists - theologians who studied and wrote against heresies. Arius, on the other hand, is actually considered a heretic himself, as his teachings (known as Arianism) were condemned as heresy by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.

Question 3

Which of the following was not one of the important themes in Irenaeus's Against Heresies?&#10;A) Christians have the writings of the apostles and the tradition to settle disputes&#10;B) There are recent theological developments which aid our understanding of Christian teaching&#10;C) There is an established doctrine of God and Christ&#10;D) Ancient traditions have been carefully preserved.

Accepted Answer

While Irenaeus does argue for the importance of tradition and the doctrine of God and Christ, he does not emphasize recent theological developments as a theme in his Against Heresies.

Question 4

Gnostic believe which of the following?&#10;A) Salvation is achieved through acquiring secret knowledge&#10;B) The physical or material world is evil&#10;C) There are multiple divine beings&#10;D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Gnostics believe in all three concepts mentioned in the options. They believe that salvation is achieved through acquiring secret knowledge, that the physical or material world is evil, and that there are multiple divine beings.

Question 5

The Nag Hammadi library:&#10;A) was an important source of doctrine in the Middle Ages&#10;B) proves the Gospel of Thomas to have apostolic authority&#10;C) is a collection of Gnostic texts&#10;D) is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Accepted Answer

The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of Gnostic texts that were discovered in Egypt in 1945. They were written in Coptic and include Gnostic gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and other writings.

Question 6

Which of the following was a famous Gnostic theologian from the second century?&#10;A) Aristides&#10;B) Theophilus&#10;C) Valentinus&#10;D) Hermius.

Accepted Answer

Valentinus was a famous Gnostic theologian from the second century. Aristides and Theophilus were early Christian apologists, and Hermius is not a known figure in early Christianity or Gnosticism.

Question 7

The Ebionites affirmed all of the following except:&#10;A) Christians must hold tenaciously to Jewish customs and law.&#10;B) The teachings of Paul should be rejected.&#10;C) Jesus was divine.&#10;D) Jesus died for the sins of the world

Accepted Answer

The Ebionites did not affirm the divinity of Jesus, believing him to be a human prophet chosen by God. They also rejected the teachings of Paul, believing that he had corrupted the true teachings of Jesus. They held to Jewish customs and law, and some believed that Jesus only died symbolically for the sins of humanity.

Question 8

Which Christian apologist opposed the teachings of the Marcionites and Ebionites?&#10;A) Origen of Alexendria&#10;B) Valentinus&#10;C) Tertullian&#10;D) Ammonius Saccas

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which Christian apologist opposed the teachings of...

Question 9

Activity of the Christian apologists in the second century led to which development?&#10;A) Establishment of the Church as an authority&#10;B) Formation of the New Testament canon&#10;C) The discipline of systematic theology&#10;D) Rejection of Jewish law

Accepted Answer

The answer of Activity of the Christian apologists in the...

Question 10

The Marcionites affirmed which of the following?&#10;A) Paul was the only authentic apostle of Jesus&#10;B) All of the books of the New Testament were authoritative&#10;C) Marcion was the legitimate Pope.&#10;D) Faith and works are united in the character of the one true God.

Accepted Answer

The Marcionites believed that Paul was the only authentic apostle of Jesus, and rejected the other apostles and their writings, as well as the Old Testament.

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