Bible Basics
The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblia. What does it mean?
what is -- Books?
Who wrote the earliest letters of the New Testament?
Who is -- Paul?
Finish the teaching: “The last shall be ___, and the first shall be ___.”
What is -- First | last?
Which Gospel portrays Jesus as the “New Moses”?
Matthew
In the Good Samaritan story, who was the person who helped the man?
A Samaritan
How many Testaments are in the Bible?
What is -- 2
Give one reason early Christians began writing down their stories instead of only relying on oral tradition
what is -- (examples) to preserve teachings as eyewitnesses died, to avoid distortion, to spread message further.
In a spiritual sense, what does it mean to be “born again”?
What is -- A transformation of heart and spirit through faith in God.
Which Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the “Suffering Messiah”?
Mark
Who might the “Samaritans” represent in today’s world?
Outsiders, marginalized groups, people different from us.
How many books are in the Catholic Bible?
What is -- 73?
Why were some early Christian writings not included in the canon? Give one reason.
What is -- They weren’t widely used, didn’t align with apostolic teaching, lacked connection to apostles or divine inspiration (examples).
How can prayer help align believers with God’s will?
What is -- it guides reflection, helps discern choices, strengthens relationship with God, focuses on love and justice.
Which Gospel highlights Jesus as the “Savior for All People”?
In the parable of the Prodigal Son, what does the father’s forgiveness represent?
God's unconditional mercy and love
What do we call the first five books of the Bible?
Pentateuch
Put these in order: Written Tradition, Oral Tradition, Canon Formation (Edited Tradition), Missionary Campaign.
What is -- Missionary Campaign → Oral Tradition → Written Tradition → Canon Formation
Why is the Eucharist important for Christians?
What is -- it is a sacrament remembering Jesus’ Last Supper, uniting believers with Christ.
Which Gospel shows Jesus as the “Eternal Son of God”?
John
Give one modern example of living according to the Kingdom of God (love, forgiveness, justice).
Volunteering, forgiving a friend, advocating for justice, etc.
What does the word Testament mean in this (biblical) context?
Define inerrancy in relation to the Bible.
What is -- The Bible is without error in matters of faith and salvation (not science/history | names\dates).
Give one example of following the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law.
What is -- Obeying rules exactly but ignoring compassion (e.g., not healing on Sabbath).
Name one unique aspect of Matthew’s Gospel and one of Luke’s.
example answers: Matthew → strong Jewish connections (genealogy, fulfillment of law). Luke → concern for outcasts, women, poor.
Describe a time you (or someone you know) experienced undeserved mercy. How does this connect to Jesus’ teachings?
Open-ended reflection -- class agreement for points (e.g., being forgiven, given a second chance, shown compassion).