Overview Quiz

1. What does Carlson's opening story of the lifeboats and the compass illustrate? *

A. That the Bible is one book among many

B. That the Bible is a compass God gave to guide us to know Him and where we are going

C. That survival at sea depends on luck

D. That history cannot be trusted

2. What is the difference between general and special revelation? *

A. General revelation is creation testifying that God exists; special revelation is God revealed through Christ and the Bible

B. General revelation is the Old Testament; special revelation is the New

C. They mean the same thing

D. General revelation is prophecy; special revelation is history

3. How does Carlson answer the charge that using the Bible to support the Bible is circular? *

A. He admits it is circular and moves on

B. He says the Bible needs no evidence

C. He points out that the Bible is 66 books by 40 authors over 1,500 years, yet has one unified theme

D. He says only faith matters

4. What is the "library test" Carlson proposes? *

A. Trying to assemble even a few books by different authors that share one cohering theme

B. Counting how many Bibles are in a library

C. Reading the whole Bible in a library in one day

D. Comparing translations side by side

5. Which two passages does Carlson cite for the Bible's claim to be inspired? *

A. John 3:16 and Romans 1:20

B. 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21

C. Genesis 1:1 and Psalm 22

D. Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 7:14

6. How does Carlson illustrate the doctrine of inspiration? *

A. By comparing it to translating a foreign language

B. By comparing it to copying a manuscript

C. By comparing it to a compass guiding a ship

D. By comparing it to the virgin birth, the Spirit producing a perfect result through imperfect humanity

7. What providential preparation for Christ's coming does Carlson describe? *

A. Jewish monotheism, Greek common language, and Roman roads converging in the fullness of time

B. The invention of the printing press

C. The founding of the early universities

D. The translation of the Bible into English

8. Which archaeological find does Carlson mention as confirming an empire skeptics once doubted? *

A. The Dead Sea Scrolls

B. The Merneptah Stele

C. The Hittite capital and clay tablets in northern Turkey

D. The Tel Dan inscription

9. Why does Carlson consider Psalm 22 such a striking prophecy? *

A. Because it names Jesus directly

B. Because it was written after the crucifixion

C. Because it predicts the fall of Jerusalem

D. Because it describes crucifixion in detail centuries before that method of execution existed

10. What does Carlson conclude about the reliability of the biblical text, based partly on the Dead Sea Scrolls? *

A. That modern translations are over 99 percent accurate, with only minor grammatical differences

B. That the text has changed substantially over time

C. That no early manuscripts survive

D. That the Old Testament cannot be verified