Bible Basics
The Bible is best described as one book, a collection of books, or a collection of religious laws?
A collection of books or a library.
What should you look at first when trying to find a particular book in the Bible?
The Table of Contents.
What is the term for carefully examining a biblical text to understand its original meaning?
Exegesis.
What does the Hebrew word Messiah (Mashiach) literally mean?
Anointed One.
Which Gospel is known for being the earliest and shortest, with a fast-paced narrative that presents Jesus as the Suffering Servant?
Mark
How many total books are in the Catholic Bible?
73 books.
In the Bible reference Luke 10:25, what does the number 10 represent?
The chapter.
What is the danger of taking a Bible verse, social media post, or quotation out of context?
The original meaning can be lost, misunderstood or misinterpreted.
During the first century, what kind of leader did many Jewish people expect the Messiah to be while living under Roman occupation?
A powerful military or political leader, or wealthy king, who would overthrow Roman rule.
Which Gospel was written for a Jewish-Christian audience and emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the new Moses?
Matthew.
How many books are in the Old Testament and how many are in the New Testament?
6 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.
In the Bible reference Luke 10:25, what does the number 25 represent?
The verse.
In Psalm 14:1, the words "There is no God" appear. Why would it be incorrect to assume that the author is saying they do not believe in God?
The complete verse explains that it is a fool who says in their heart that there is no God. The statement describes the fool's beliefs, not the author's.
At the Last Supper, Jesus performed an act of humble service by washing the feet of his disciples. What did this demonstrate about his understanding of leadership?
Leadership should involve humility, service and caring for others rather than seeking power or status.
Which Gospel emphasizes Jesus' compassion, social justice, inclusion of women, outcasts and the poor?
Luke
What does the word Testament mean in a biblical context?
Covenant or sacred agreement.
Your teacher asks you to find Matthew 5:9. Identify all three parts of this scripture address.
Matthew = Book; 5 = Chapter; 9 = Verse.
In 1 Timothy 6:10, what does the Bible identify as a root of all kinds of evil: money itself or the love of money?
The love of money, meaning greed. The passage does not say that money itself is evil.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he rode on a donkey rather than a war horse. Why was this significant?
It demonstrated humility and peace rather than military power, wealth or political domination. Jesus challenged the expectations people had of the Messiah.
Which Gospel emphasizes Jesus' divine nature, describes him as the Word of God made flesh, and includes the famous "I AM" statements?
John.
A student says, "The Old Testament is about Jesus, and the New Testament is about everything that happened before him." Explain what is incorrect about this statement.
The Old Testament contains texts written before the time of Jesus. The New Testament focuses on Jesus' life, teachings, death and resurrection, as well as the early Christian Church.
You need to find 1 Timothy 6:10, but you accidentally open the Gospel of Luke. Explain how you should correctly navigate to the passage.
You need to find 1 Timothy 6:10, but you accidentally open the Gospel of Luke. Explain how you should correctly navigate to the passage.
A student screenshots only the sentence "There is no God" from Psalm 14:1 and posts it online, claiming that the Bible teaches atheism. Identify the mistake the student has made and explain how exegesis would correct it.
The student has taken the passage out of context. Exegesis requires examining the complete verse and its surrounding message. The passage actually describes a fool who says there is no God, rather than expressing the author's own belief.
Jesus regularly associated with tax collectors, sick people and social outcasts. Why was this controversial, and what did it reveal about his message?
These groups were often judged, rejected or viewed negatively by society and religious leaders. Jesus challenged social boundaries by showing compassion, dignity and inclusion to people who were marginalized.
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan sacrifices himself to save Edmund and later returns to life. Explain two ways that Aslan's story represents Jesus.
Aslan sacrifices his life to save Edmund, reflecting Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for humanity.
Aslan's resurrection represents Jesus' Resurrection and victory over death and evil.