Overview Quiz

1. According to Howse, what is the main cause of bad theology? *

A. Reading translations rather than the original languages

B. Verses taken out of context by people who are often well-meaning but poorly trained

C. Studying the Bible without a seminary degree

D. Reading too many commentaries

2. What does Howse point out about chapter and verse divisions? *

A. They are inspired along with the text

B. They should be ignored entirely

C. They are useful for locating passages but are not themselves inspired

D. They were added by the original authors

3. How does knowing that Paul wrote Philippians from prison change the meaning of Philippians 4:13? *

A. It shows the verse is about enduring hardship rather than achieving ambitions

B. It shows the verse applies only to apostles

C. It shows the verse was added later

D. It shows the verse is about physical strength

4. What does Howse identify as the difference in purpose between the Gospel of John and First John? *

A. Both were written for the same purpose

B. John was written to Jews and First John to Gentiles

C. John records history while First John records prophecy

D. John was written that you may believe; First John that you may know you have eternal life

5. What did a first-century sheepfold look like, and why does it matter for John 10? *

A. It had a wooden gate, showing Jesus is a carpenter

B. It had a narrow opening with no gate, so the shepherd lay in the doorway and became the door

C. It had many entrances, showing there are many ways to God

D. It had no walls at all

6. Why does Howse wait until late in the process to consult commentaries? *

A. Because commentaries are always unreliable

B. Because they are too expensive

C. Because another person's conclusions can overshadow your own study before you have done it

D. Because they should never be used at all

7. What principle does Howse apply to Acts 2:38 and baptism? *

A. That baptism is required for salvation

B. That the verse should be skipped over

C. That Scripture cannot contradict Scripture, so an interpretation clashing with Ephesians 2:8-9 must be faulty

D. That the Greek is too difficult to examine

8. In examining Acts 2:17-21, what does reading the surrounding context reveal? *

A. That the events occur before the day of the Lord and concern Israel's sons and daughters

B. That the events are happening in the church today

C. That the passage has no time reference at all

D. That the passage refers to the church age only

9. Why does Howse say application is so important? *

A. Because it replaces the need for doctrine

B. Because knowledge alone can produce pride, while application exposes our shortcomings and keeps us humble

C. Because it makes Bible study shorter

D. Because every passage applies directly to us

10. What does Howse conclude about disagreeing with a commentator on a non-salvation issue? *

A. That the commentator should be discarded entirely

B. That all commentaries should be avoided

C. That such disagreement proves the Bible is unclear

D. That no theologian is flawless, so disagreement is no reason to discard an otherwise valuable teacher