POLI 202 WESTERN POLITICAL
HERITAGE HANCOCK BYU EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
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VERSION
SECTION 1: LUTHER, CALVIN & THE REFORMATION
Question 1: According to Luther in Concerning Christian Liberty, what is needed
for justification and salvation?
A) Good works and charitable deeds
B) Faith—belief in God's promises
C) Participation in Church sacraments
D) Obedience to secular authority
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Luther argues that justification comes through faith alone—belief in God's
promises. This is the core of his doctrine of justification by faith, which rejects the
Catholic emphasis on works and sacraments for salvation .
Question 2: According to Luther in "The Three Walls of the Romanists," what is the
first "wall" the Romanists have built, and how does Luther attack it?
A) The wall of papal infallibility; Luther argues the Pope can err
B) The claim that the Pope, bishops, priests, and monks belong to a special "spiritual
estate" exempt from temporal power; Luther argues all Christians belong to a "royal
priesthood"
C) The wall of Church tradition; Luther argues scripture alone is authoritative
D) The wall of sacramental authority; Luther argues sacraments are unnecessary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's first "wall" is the Romanist claim that clergy belong to a special
spiritual estate exempt from temporal power. Luther attacks this by asserting the
"priesthood of all believers"—that all Christians belong to a royal priesthood and are
equal before God .
Question 3: "Now, these two, as we have divided them, are always to be viewed
apart from each other. When the one is considered, we should call off our minds,
and not allow them to think of the other." What two spheres or domains does
John Calvin refer to in this quotation?
A) The sacred and the profane
B) The spiritual and the temporal jurisdictions
C) The Church and the State
D) The Old Testament and the New Testament
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Calvin distinguishes between the spiritual jurisdiction (concerned with the
inner person and eternal life) and the temporal jurisdiction (concerned with outward
order and earthly justice). These two realms must be kept distinct in the mind .
,Question 4: According to Professor Hancock, Calvin's radical break with classical
moral and political philosophy consists of __________.
A) His rejection of the doctrine of original sin
B) His repudiation of the hierarchical view of nature and of human nature which makes it
possible to speak of what is "high" and "low"
C) His belief in free will over predestination
D) His support for democratic church governance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hancock argues that Calvin's radical break with classical thought lies in his
repudiation of the hierarchical view of nature and human nature. Classical philosophy
(Plato, Aristotle) viewed reality as ordered hierarchically with higher and lower goods;
Calvin's theology breaks with this framework .
Question 5: In "The Limits of Secular Authority," how does Luther explain the
Christian's duty to uphold secular authority, even though a Christian has no need
of it and must be willing to "turn the other cheek"?
A) Christians are called to overthrow secular authorities
B) Christians should obey secular authority because it is God's will
C) The Christian cooperates with secular authority only for the benefit of his neighbor,
not for benefit to himself; one may "turn the other cheek" inwardly while asserting rights
outwardly
D) Christians are exempt from secular law entirely
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Luther distinguishes between the inward realm of the spirit (where Christians
turn the other cheek) and the outward realm of the world (where Christians may assert
rights for the benefit of neighbors). This allows Christians to participate in secular
government while maintaining spiritual freedom .
, Question 6: What is the significance of Luther's doctrine of the "priesthood of all
believers"?
A) It abolished all religious authority
B) It eliminated the distinction between clergy and laity, arguing all Christians have
direct access to God
C) It gave political authority to all church members
D) It required all Christians to become priests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's "priesthood of all believers" asserts that all Christians have direct
access to God without the mediation of priests or the Church hierarchy. This was a
revolutionary challenge to papal authority and the Catholic Church's exclusive claim to
interpret scripture .
Question 7: How does Luther's view of salvation challenge the Catholic Church's
authority?
A) By arguing that good works are more important than faith
B) By arguing that salvation comes through faith alone, not through the Church's
sacraments or good works
C) By arguing that the Pope is the ultimate authority
D) By arguing that tradition is more important than scripture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's doctrine of salvation by faith alone directly challenged the Catholic
Church's authority, which claimed the power to grant salvation through its sacraments
and the Pope's authority. If salvation is by faith alone, the Church's mediating role is
diminished .
Question 8: According to Calvin, the spiritual and temporal jurisdictions are:
A) Completely separate and should never interact
B) Distinct spheres that must be viewed apart when considering one but ultimately both
HERITAGE HANCOCK BYU EXAM
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027 ACCURATE
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED SOLUTIONS || 100%
GUARANTEED PASS NEWEST
VERSION
SECTION 1: LUTHER, CALVIN & THE REFORMATION
Question 1: According to Luther in Concerning Christian Liberty, what is needed
for justification and salvation?
A) Good works and charitable deeds
B) Faith—belief in God's promises
C) Participation in Church sacraments
D) Obedience to secular authority
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Luther argues that justification comes through faith alone—belief in God's
promises. This is the core of his doctrine of justification by faith, which rejects the
Catholic emphasis on works and sacraments for salvation .
Question 2: According to Luther in "The Three Walls of the Romanists," what is the
first "wall" the Romanists have built, and how does Luther attack it?
A) The wall of papal infallibility; Luther argues the Pope can err
B) The claim that the Pope, bishops, priests, and monks belong to a special "spiritual
estate" exempt from temporal power; Luther argues all Christians belong to a "royal
priesthood"
C) The wall of Church tradition; Luther argues scripture alone is authoritative
D) The wall of sacramental authority; Luther argues sacraments are unnecessary
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's first "wall" is the Romanist claim that clergy belong to a special
spiritual estate exempt from temporal power. Luther attacks this by asserting the
"priesthood of all believers"—that all Christians belong to a royal priesthood and are
equal before God .
Question 3: "Now, these two, as we have divided them, are always to be viewed
apart from each other. When the one is considered, we should call off our minds,
and not allow them to think of the other." What two spheres or domains does
John Calvin refer to in this quotation?
A) The sacred and the profane
B) The spiritual and the temporal jurisdictions
C) The Church and the State
D) The Old Testament and the New Testament
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Calvin distinguishes between the spiritual jurisdiction (concerned with the
inner person and eternal life) and the temporal jurisdiction (concerned with outward
order and earthly justice). These two realms must be kept distinct in the mind .
,Question 4: According to Professor Hancock, Calvin's radical break with classical
moral and political philosophy consists of __________.
A) His rejection of the doctrine of original sin
B) His repudiation of the hierarchical view of nature and of human nature which makes it
possible to speak of what is "high" and "low"
C) His belief in free will over predestination
D) His support for democratic church governance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hancock argues that Calvin's radical break with classical thought lies in his
repudiation of the hierarchical view of nature and human nature. Classical philosophy
(Plato, Aristotle) viewed reality as ordered hierarchically with higher and lower goods;
Calvin's theology breaks with this framework .
Question 5: In "The Limits of Secular Authority," how does Luther explain the
Christian's duty to uphold secular authority, even though a Christian has no need
of it and must be willing to "turn the other cheek"?
A) Christians are called to overthrow secular authorities
B) Christians should obey secular authority because it is God's will
C) The Christian cooperates with secular authority only for the benefit of his neighbor,
not for benefit to himself; one may "turn the other cheek" inwardly while asserting rights
outwardly
D) Christians are exempt from secular law entirely
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Luther distinguishes between the inward realm of the spirit (where Christians
turn the other cheek) and the outward realm of the world (where Christians may assert
rights for the benefit of neighbors). This allows Christians to participate in secular
government while maintaining spiritual freedom .
, Question 6: What is the significance of Luther's doctrine of the "priesthood of all
believers"?
A) It abolished all religious authority
B) It eliminated the distinction between clergy and laity, arguing all Christians have
direct access to God
C) It gave political authority to all church members
D) It required all Christians to become priests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's "priesthood of all believers" asserts that all Christians have direct
access to God without the mediation of priests or the Church hierarchy. This was a
revolutionary challenge to papal authority and the Catholic Church's exclusive claim to
interpret scripture .
Question 7: How does Luther's view of salvation challenge the Catholic Church's
authority?
A) By arguing that good works are more important than faith
B) By arguing that salvation comes through faith alone, not through the Church's
sacraments or good works
C) By arguing that the Pope is the ultimate authority
D) By arguing that tradition is more important than scripture
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Luther's doctrine of salvation by faith alone directly challenged the Catholic
Church's authority, which claimed the power to grant salvation through its sacraments
and the Pope's authority. If salvation is by faith alone, the Church's mediating role is
diminished .
Question 8: According to Calvin, the spiritual and temporal jurisdictions are:
A) Completely separate and should never interact
B) Distinct spheres that must be viewed apart when considering one but ultimately both
