Jeopardy

These are some questions we used for a Jeopardy type game at a church event.  Numbers are point values for each question.

 

Category – Jesus

10. Why did Pontius Pilate wash his hands at the trial of Jesus?

                Pilate wanted to proclaim his innocence in the death of Jesus and the crowd’s decision.

 

10. Why was Jesus stabbed with a spear by a Roman soldier?

                He appeared to be dead already so instead of breaking his bones, he stabbed him.

 

20. Why was Jesus called the “Lamb of God?”

                It is linked with the lamb that Jews used for sacrifice for their sins.  Jesus became the sacrifice.

 

20. At the Last Supper, Jesus startled the Apostles by exchanging His role as master for that of a servant.  What did He do?

                He washed and dried the feet of the Apostles.

 

30. Why do Christians picture three wise men visiting the Christ child?

                Because of the three gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh.

 

30. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowd, believing that Jesus was the promised Messiah who would restore the freedom and glory of Israel, rushed toward Him and shouted what? And what is the translation?

                Hosanna – save us.

 

40. Why did Jesus choose 12 disciples?

                They were to sit on thrones in His kingdom and judge the 12 tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:29-30)

 

40. Jesus is the Latin form of the Hebrew name ------ which means?

                The Hebrew name is Joshua which means “God will save.”

 

50. What is the Greek word for Christ and what does it mean?

                The term “Christ” is the English form of the Greek word Christos ,meaning “the anointed one.”

 

50. Why did blood and water flow from Jesus when stabbed?

                One explanation - Jesus’ heart was pierced and it holds blood and the other sac holds a serum.

 

 

Category – Prayer and Worship

 

10. Why is Sunday the generally accepted day for Christians to worship?

                It was on Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead.  God said, “Remember the sabbath day.”

 

10. Why is it customary for Christians to close their eyes during prayer?

                Prayer demands complete concentration, for their minds not to wander and break communication.

 

20. Why do most Christians bow their heads when they pray?

                A bowed head is a sign of humility like a servant would bow his head before an earthly king.

 

20. What Old Testament book was used as a “hymnal” by the early church?

                Psalms

 

30. Why do some Christians say that God only hears the prayers of Christians?

                Some believe that the only valid prayer is in the name of Jesus.

 

30. “Glory to God in the highest” is a common worship phrase.  In the Gospels, who used these phrases?

                The angels who announced Jesus’s birth (Luke 2:14)

 

40. Why do Christians call the “Doxology” the “Old Hundreth”?

                It is based on the words of Psalm 100.

 

40. Why do some Christians give ten percent of their earnings to the church?

                Book of Genesis(28:22), Jacob vowed to give one-tenth to the Lord if God would be with him.

 

50. The famous “love passage” in the Bible so often read at church weddings is from what New Testament book?

                1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind….”

 

50. Why do Seventh-Day Adventists insist on worshiping on Saturday?

                The sabbath day was the seventh day on which God rested.  The early church was in error.

 

Category – Festivals and Seasons

 

10. Why do Christians celebrate Pentecost?

                It’s when tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit, came upon the disciples.

 

10. Why do Christians light four candles at Advent?

                They represent the four Sundays before Christmas.

 

20. Where did the word “Christmas” come from?

                It is a contraction of the phrase “Christ’s mass” which is a service of worship honoring Christ.

 

20. Why is Pentecost called the Birthday of the Church?

                The gift of the Holy Spirit was the beginning of the Holy Christian Church.

 

30. Why is Christmas sometimes abbreviated as “Xmas”?

The “X” is the first letter of the Greek word Xristos, meaning Christ.  “Mas” means Mass.  The two words together mean: “worship for Christ.”

 

30. What is the meaning of Advent and why do Christians celebrate it?

                It is a Latin term meaning “coming” or “arrival” to prepare for the coming of Jesus.

 

40. What does the word Pentecost mean and why?

                It is a Greek word meaning “the holiday of fifty days”.  50 days after Easter came the Holy Spirit.

 

40. Why do some people celebrate 12 days of Christmas?

Starting from the European Christians of the sixth century.  The 12 days are between December 25 and January 6 (Epiphany – the day celebrating the visit of the Wise Men to the Christ child).

 

40. Why do Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th?

It was a Roman feast called “Feast of the Sol Invictus” (Unconquerable Sun).  Around November the days starting getting shorter and Roman citizens feared that  the earth was dying.  The end of December started longer days.  Christians, being the “outlaw religion” in the eyes of the Romans, could celebrate without their true intentions being revealed.

 

50. What does Maundy mean regarding Maundy Thursday and why do Christians celebrate it?

“Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment.”  On the night of the Last Supper Jesus gave a new command to His apostles to love one another and Jesus also commanded them to repeat the custom of breaking bread and drinking wine whenever they met.

 

50. What are the names given to the four candles or Advent?

1.        The Prophecy Candle, a reminder of the foretelling of Jesus’ birth.

2.        The Bethlehem Candle, recalling the words of Micah 5:2.

3.        The Shepherds’ Candle, the first people to worship the baby Jesus.

4.        The Angels’ Candle, to remember the angel who spoke to the Virgin Mary and the angels who appeared to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem.

 

50. Why are Christmas trees brought into homes and decorated with bright lights?

Martin Luther wanted to recreate a scene he saw outside that was a fir tree silhouetted against the starlit sky.  The candles were the light given to the world throught the birth of Jesus.  The evergreen of the fir tree represented the deathlessness of the living God.

 

50. Why do wreaths hang on doors of Christian homes at Christmas?

It represents the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus.  The purpose of the birth of Jesus was to give his life for all mankind.  Lately Christians prefer to look at it as symbolic of the “crown of righteousness” given to all believers on the Day of Judgment.

 

Category – The Bible in America

 

10. What popular TV game show regularly features questions about the Bible?

                Jeopardy.

 

10. What name was given to the modernized King James Version first published in 1982?

                The New King James Version.

 

10. What organization, founded in 1898, is famous for placing Bibles in hotel rooms?

                The Gideons.

 

20. When Richard Nixon took his oath of office as president, who held the Bible for him?

His wife, Pat Nixon, departing from the tradition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court holding the Bible.

 

20. What Bible version do the Mormons use?

                The King James Version, in addition to their Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.

 

20. What well-known religious sect owns the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society?

                The Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 

30. What organization famous for distributing free or inexpensive Bibles was founded in 1816?

                The American Bible Society.

 

30. What was the old-fashioned way of getting rid of a worn-out Bible?

Burying it.  It is intended as an act of reverence and respect instead of burning it or throwing it into the garbage.

 

40. What Bible passage was ordered removed from Kentucky public school classrooms after the 1980 Supreme Court decision?

                The Ten Commandments.

 

40. What president-to-be of the 1800s got over a broken engagement by reading the Bible?

                Abraham Lincoln, who said that the Bible was “the best cure for the blues”.

 

50. What version of the Bible did the Pilgrims bring with them to America in the 1620’s?

                The Geneva Bible made in 1560, The King James Version published in 1611 was not popular yet.

 

50. In what language was the first American Bible?

Algonquin Indian, published in 1661, until the American Revolution all English Bibles came from England.

 

 

Category – The Bible in Art

 

10. Madonna is the name usually given in artwork to what New Testament woman?

                Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Madonna literally means “my lady.”

 

10. A nativity portrays what event found in the Gospels?

                The birth of Christ.

 

10. When you see a painting showing a beautiful woman looking at a decapitated head on a platter, what New Testament scene is being illustrated?

                John the Baptist’s head being presented to Herod’s daughter as she requested (Mark 6).

 

10. What do we call the circle of light (or gold) surrounding the head of Christ in a picture?

                The halo.  Christians borrowed this device from the way that some emperors were presented in art.

 

20. What biblical characters gave artists the opportunity to draw nudes?

                Adam and Eve during periods when the painting of nudes was frowned on.

 

20. In paintings of the Last Supper, which disciple is usually shown holding a bag in his hand?

                Judas Iscariot, the bag contains the thirty pieces of silver he accepted for betraying Jesus.

 

20. In artwork, what saintly New Testament man is shown being pelted with stones?

                Stephen, the first Christian martyr who was stoned to death (Acts 7).

 

20. Which disciple is often pictured with a rooster?

                Peter, calling to mind his denying Christ 3 times before the rooster crowed (Matt. 26:34).

 

30. When you see a painting of a swordsman about to cut a child in half, what scene from the OT is being protrayed?

Solomon’s judgment on the two prostitutes who were arguing about a child they both claimed was theirs.  His decision was to divide the child, knowing that the real mother would give up the child rather than allow this to happen (1 Kings 3:16-28).

 

30. Who is being betrayed in paintings that show an elderly bald man being crucified upside down?

                Peter, requesting this because he did not deserve to be crucified in the same manner as Christ.

 

30. Many paintings that show King David also show a naked woman in the picture.  Who is she?

                Bathsheba, showing the incident of David seeing her bathe on her rooftop (2 Samuel 11).

 

30. In the “Transfiguration of Jesus” paintings, who are the two Old Testament figures with Him?

                Moses and Elijah, found in Matthew 17 and Luke 9.

 

30. In artwork, which notable angel of the Bible is pictured as an armored man carrying a sword and a shield?

Michael, Revelation 12:7 speaks of him leading the angels in warfare against the dragon (Satan) and the evil angels.

 

30. Who painted the most famous Last Supper in the world?

                Leonardo da Vinci, painted on a wall in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

 

40. Michelangelo’s famous nude statue of David has an error in it.  What is it?

His David is uncircumcised.  Michelangelo was a brilliant man who most probably knew this so no one knows why he would do this.

 

40. Hundreds of paintings have been done showing the Assumption of the Virgin Mary being taken bodily into heaven.  What Bible passage is the basis for these paintings?

None is, the Assumption is not mentioned in the Bible but it has been a favorite subject for Roman Catholic artists.

 

50. What do we call the chubby little naked angels in pictures?

Putti, plural for putto, they are sometimes incorrectly called cherubs.  It is questionable whether the putti are angels or just mythological figures.

 

50. Which of Jesus’ disciples is represented in art by an X-shaped cross?

                Andrew, according to old tradition, he was crucified in Greece on an X-shaped cross.

 

Category – Four-Letter Words

 

10. What New Testament book tells the history of the early Christians? -  Acts.

 

10. John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the _____________ of God. – Lamb.

 

10. What word, commonly used in the Bible and in Christian worship means “so be it”? – Amen.

 

10. What sea mentioned in the Bible is actually a very salty landlocked lake? -  Dead.

 

10. What are the streets of heaven paved with? Gold (Revelation 21:21).

 

10. What shape did the Holy Spirit take at Jesus’ baptism? – Dove (John 1:32).

 

10. What was the name of the first garden? – Eden (Genesis 2).

 

20. Canaan was supposed to be a land flowing with __________ and honey. – Milk (Exodus 3:8).

 

20. Who had surgery performed on him as he slept? – Adam (Genesis 2:21).

 

20. What did Jesus come to save people from? – Sins (Matthew 1:21).

 

20. In what animal shape did Aaron make the golden idol the Israelites worshiped while Moses was away?

                Calf – (Exodus 32:4).

 

20. What was the apostle Paul’s original name? – Saul (Acts 7:58).

 

20. Who was the world’s first murderer? – Cain, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4).

 

20. What was the Sabbath day made for? – Rest (Exodus 20).

 

30. Which of the twelve tribes of Israel were Moses and Aaron descended from? – Levi.

 

30. What did Judas betray Jesus with? – Kiss (Matthew 26:49).

 

30. Who was the world’s first drunk? – Noah, after surviving the Flood he planted a vineyard and became drunk (Genesis 9:20-21).

 

30. The Dead Sea is also called the _________ Sea. – Salt.

 

30. What was Saul the first of in Israel? – King.

 

30. How many loaves of bread did Jesus use to feed the five thousand? – Five (Matthew 14:15-21).

 

40. What was Lot’s wife turned into when she looked back on the doomed city of Sodom?

Salt (Genesis 19:26).

 

40. According to Jesus’ parable, what does a foolish man build his house on? – Sand (Matthew 7:26).

 

40. What according to Paul is greater than all the spiritual gifts? – Love (1 Corinthians 13).  

 

50. Who was Jacob’s first wife (before he married Rachel)? – Leah.

 

50. Which of Noah’s three sons were the Hebrews descended from? – Shem.

 

50. What color was the cloth draped over the ark of the covenant? – Blue (Numbers 4:6).

 

 

Category – Mentioned in the Bible – Not!

 

10. Sexual practices forbidden: homosexuality, incest, rape, deep kissing

                Deep kissing

 

10. Disciples of Jesus: James, Matthias, Thomas, Philip

                Matthias is an apostle in the book of Acts but not one of Jesus’ original twelve.

 

10. Apostles: Paul, Barnabas, Elymas, Peter

                Elymas was a sorcerer in the book of Acts

 

10. New Testament people: James, John, Jethro, Judas

                Jethro is Moses father-in-law in the Old Testament

 

10. Roman officials: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Pilate, Sergius Paulus

                Julius Caesar

 

20. Men who lived long lives: Adam, Abel, Methuselah, Jared

                Abel was murdered by Cain.  The others lived over 900 years each.

 

20. Books written by Moses: Deuteronomy, Exodus, Genesis, Lamentations

                Lamentations was written by Jeremiah according to tradition

 

20. Names of the devil: the tempter, the father of lies, the prince of demons, the burning one

                The burning one

 

20. Food: manna, locusts, bagels, raisins

                Bagels

 

20. People in Genesis: Nimrod, Joseph, Moses, Isaac

                Moses is not mentioned until the book of Exodus

 

20. Sons of Jacob: Benjamin, Asher, Gad, Ishmael

                Ishmael was the son of Abraham

 

30. Fruit of the Spirit: tolerance, peace, kindness, self-control

                Tolerance is not in the list (Galatians 5)

 

30. Places in Jerusalem: Mount Zion, the temple, the pool of Bethesda, Jesus’ birthplace

                Jesus was born in Bethlehem

 

30. Rivers: the Nile, the Tigris, the Jordan, the Jabbok

                The Nile is referred to many times in the Bible as “the river” but never by name

 

30. Men who performed healing miracles: Elijah, Isaiah, Elisha, Jesus

                Isaiah

 

40. Tribes: Israelites, Moabites, Mennonites, Levites

                Mennonites are a Protestant denomination that originated in Europe in the 1500s

 

40. Women: Gomer, Rachel, Joanna, Aquila

                Aquila was a male friend of Paul, husband of Priscilla.  Gomer was the unfaithful wife of Hosea.

 

40. Biblical cities that still exist: Damascus, Athens, Nazareth, Nineveh

                Nineveh, the capital of Assyria has been a ruin for centuries

 

50. Books named for their main character: Matthew, Joshua, Ezra, Ruth

                Matthew is not the main character, Jesus is.

 

50. Saintly men: Job, Joab, Josiah, Joseph of Arimathea

                Joab was captain of David’s army, loyal but hardly a saint

 

50. Old Testament nations: Iraq, Assyria, Persia, Egypt

Iraq is a fairly modern name.  The area of modern Iraq was called Mesopotamia, Assyria, or Babylon in the Old Testament.

 

50. Biblical Birds: the bat, eagle, stork, parrot

                The parrot.  The bat is mentioned in the Old Testament and is named in a list of birds.

 

 

Category – Think Again!

 

10. What kind of wood did Moses use to build the ark?

                Moses didn’t build the ark, Noah did.

 

10. Which Old Testament book contains the words “God helps those who help themselves”?

                Those words are not found in the Old or New Testaments.

 

10. Who predicted that the Messiah would be born in Nazareth?

                No one did.  There was a prediction of that he would be born in Bethlehem.

 

10. To whom did Jesus say, “I am the salt of the earth”?

                Jesus said “You are the salt of the earth” – referring to his disciples.

 

10. In which Gospel does Jesus turn wine into water?

                Jesus turned water into wine.

 

20. How long was Moses on Mount Zion receiving the Law?

                Moses received the Law on Sinai not Zion.

 

20. Who succeeded Samson as king of Israel?

                Samson was a judge of Israel not a king.

 

20. How did Abraham begin the practice of resting on the Sabbath?

                The Sabbath is not actually mentioned before the time of Moses.

 

20. What Old Testament book forbids eating veal?

                None does, veal was commonly eaten in Israel.

 

20. Which Supreme Court decision prohibits the reading of the Bible in private schools?

                The decision prohibits the reading of the Bible in the public schools.

 

20. Why did Moses send the plague of frogs upon Israel?

                The plague was on Egypt, not Israel.

 

30. Who first translated the Gospels from Hebrew into English?

                The Gospels were written in Greek not Hebrew.

 

30. What led Julius Caesar to decree the Roman census mentioned in Luke 2?

                Augustus Caesar  did.

 

30. How old was David when he dedicated the temple to the Lord?

                David didn’t build or dedicate the temple, his son Solomon did.

 

30. How long was Samson married to Delilah?

                They were never married.

 

30. In which Gospel does Jesus curse an olive tree for not bearing fruit?

                It was a fig tree not an olive tree.

 

30. From what prison did Paul write the Epistle to the Hebrews?

The Epistle to the Hebrews is anonymous although some older Bible versions imply that Paul wrote it.

 

40. Which of the Gospels records Jesus’ seven last words from the cross?

None of them records all seven.  We get the “seven last words” by combining all four Gospel accounts of the Crucifixion.

 

40. Who wrote the Epistle to Jude?

                The book of Jude is actually an epistle from Jude, not to him.

 

40. In which Gospel does Jesus condemn speaking in tongues?

                Jesus said nothing about speaking in tongues.

 

50. What books did Timothy write in addition to 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy?

                Timothy didn’t write either of those.  They were written to him from Paul.

 

50. What happens in the book of Revelation when the angel Gabriel blows his trumpet?

Gabriel is not the angel who blows the trumpet.  The trumpeting angels in Revelation are not named.

 

50. What method was used to execute the apostle Paul?

Paul’s death is not recorded in the Bible.  According to an old tradition, he was beheaded in Rome by order of Emperor Nero.