The New Testament Literacy Test

Tasha Moore

Who were the Sadducees?

The Sadducees were a group of Jews who had tremendous social and religious influence. The book of Matthew recounts how Jesus perceived the Sadducees and Pharisees of his time. Jesus said, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."

In the New Testament, what book comes before Philemon?

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Titus, which is an epistle or instructional letter that contains spiritual teachings directed to a specific person or place. The epistle of Titus is addressed to Saint Titus and expounds the virtues of leadership in the early Christian church.

The New Testament was originally written in what language?

The New Testament is a collection of books that give multiple accounts of Jesus' life and the events that took place throughout the early Christian church. There are 27 books in the New Testament.

In the New Testament, who said, "Things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man"?

The 15th chapter of the gospel of Matthew states this quote by Jesus. The four gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, are filled with direct quotes from Jesus that reflect his moral and spiritual mission on Earth.

Can you identify the New Testament book that Jesus wrote?

Although the New Testament is primarily about Jesus' life and teachings, it contains no books that Jesus authored. The New Testament book of Revelation details some of Jesus' words that were recorded by a third party, and the books of Galatians and Romans are instructional letters, called epistles, that are based on Jesus' teachings.

How does the Lord's Prayer begin?

The books of Luke and Matthew detail Jesus' instructions on how Christians should pray. Many Christian denominations call the words of prayer that Jesus taught the "Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father."

Which is the shortest book of the New Testament?

Second John is an epistle, or a moral instructional letter, and the second of three New Testament epistles that are similarly named. The book of Second John contains one chapter and 13 verses.

Which one is not a book of the New Testament?

The book of Joel is the 29th book of the Old Testament. The book is considered a prophetic book that states what the prophet Joel interpreted as future events that were yet to happen at the time they were recorded.

In the New Testament, what is an epistle?

A New Testament epistle is an instructional letter based on the teachings of Jesus. Fourteen of the New Testament epistles are attributed to the Apostle Paul.

Which book comes immediately after Galatians in the New Testament?

The New Testament book of Ephesians is an epistle attributed to the Apostle Paul. In the first verse of this epistle, Paul greets the "saints" at Ephesus, or Ephesos, which was a Greek city in ancient times.

Which of these biblical figures was not a disciple of Jesus?

David is a prominent figure in the Old Testament. As a youth, David was a shepherd and musician. He is credited for slaying Goliath, a Philistine giant.

Which of the following is not a woman of the New Testament?

Sarah appears in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Sarah was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.

How many books are named after Timothy in the New Testament?

There are two New Testament books named after Timothy, First Timothy and Second Timothy. The Apostle Paul wrote these books, which are epistles to his assistant, Timothy.

Which one of these books is not a gospel?

The four gospels of the New Testament are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The book of Hebrews is an epistle to the Hebrews that casts Jesus as an Apostle and High Priest in its third chapter.

Who is the author of the book of Revelation?

The book of Revelation is the last book of the New Testament. The book illustrates prophetic details of the end times.

What are the first four books of the New Testament called?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are canonical gospels and the first four books of the New Testament. These books provide details about events that took place during Jesus' life.

After the gospel book of John, how many other books of the New Testament contain the name "John"?

The Evangelist John is alleged to have authored the First, Second and Third John epistles. These books appear toward the end of the New Testament.

What is the shortest Bible verse?

"Jesus wept" is the shortest Bible verse. It can be found in the 11th chapter of the gospel of John. The verse describes Jesus' reaction when he saw the mourners gathered after Lazarus' death.

What is the first book of the New Testament?

The book of Matthew is the first gospel and the first book of the New Testament. It is also considered to be one of the three synoptic gospels that also include Luke and Mark. Synoptic Gospels recount most of same stories of Jesus in similar sequencing.

What number book is Philippians in the New Testament?

Philippians is the 11th book of the New Testament, and it is an epistle written to the Christian community at Philippi in Greece. The Apostle Paul begins this epistle with a salutational introduction of himself and his assistant, Timothy.

Which of the four gospels reveals the Sermon on the Mount story?

The gospel of Matthew unveils the Sermon on the Mount story when Jesus gave his followers spiritual teachings or blessings known as the Beatitudes. The gospel of Luke reveals similar, although fewer, blessings in Jesus' Sermon on the Plain.

Which author penned the majority of the books in the New Testament?

The New Testament is comprised of four gospels that detail events that occurred during Jesus' life. The book of Acts chronicles Jesus' Ascension into heaven, the acts of the remaining apostles, and the trials of the early Christian church. The New Testament consists mostly of the Apostle Paul's 14 epistles which precede several other epistles and the book of Revelation.

In which city did Jesus walk on water?

All of the New Testament gospels provide details of Jesus' walking on water miracle except the book of Luke. In the story, the disciples witness Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee during a storm.

In the book of Luke, what is the popular name of the parable that begins: "A certain man had two sons."

The 15th chapter of the book of Luke in the New Testament tells the parable of the Prodigal Son. It is a powerful tale of redemption.

In the book of Luke, who informs Mary of her pregnancy?

Not only did the Angel Gabriel tell Mary that she was to conceive a son, but he told her what to name him. Mary is described as being "troubled" immediately upon receiving the news.

In which New Testament book does the following verse appear: "Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit."

The verse appears in the last chapter of the book of Ephesians. In this and in other epistles, Paul often uses symbolic language to describe the tremendous plight of the early Christians.

What is the longest book of the New Testament?

The book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament that immediately follows the four gospels. The book of Acts, which has 28 chapters, chronicles Jesus' Ascension and the events which took place in the early Christian church.

What is the last word of the New Testament?

The answer may vary according to the Bible version. The King James version, which is the most popular version of the Bible, ends with the word "Amen."

According to the Good Samaritan parable, which person was the first to come into contact with the injured man?

The Good Samaritan parable is told in the book of Luke in the 10th chapter. First the priest, then the Levite, avoid the injured traveler.

Which of the following biblical books did Paul not write?

The book of Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament. Romans, Colossians and Titus are epistles that Paul wrote and appear in the New Testament.

Where does this verse appear: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God"?

The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, tell similar stories of Jesus' life. However, the stories are told in different ways. It is rare to find the exact words used to describe the same events.

Who was a witness at Jesus' crucifixion?

Jesus' Crucifixion occurs in the New Testament. Abraham and Noah appear in the Old Testament, and Paul witnesses Jesus' likeness after Jesus' death.

According to the book of Romans, the word "Abba" means what?

"Abba" is a term of endearment that appears in the book of Romans in the eighth chapter. It's an Aramaic word that means "father."

What was the name of John the Baptist's father?

Zacharias, or Zechariah, was a priest and father of John the Baptist. His son was considered a prophet and forerunner of Christ.

Which one of these statements is a Beatitude?

Jesus delivered the Beatitudes during his Sermon on the Mount. Prior to his sermon, Jesus had been performing miracles and preaching among the people. His fame grew exponentially, as a result.

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Image: Gustave Doré via Wiki Commons

About This Quiz

How well do you really know the last 27 books of the Bible? This quiz will help you to identify subjects such as Jesus' miracles, the epistles, and parables that you may need to brush up on. Consider the mechanics of the New Testament when taking this quiz, since it explores authorship, form, and presentation of the Bible as much as it does the specific teachings of Christ.

The New Testament is a collection of books that offer details about the life, death, and legacy of Jesus. The plethora of his moral teachings contained therein form the basis of the Christian faith. The first four books are the Gospels, which detail Jesus' life. The book of Acts chronicles the trials of the disciples and one of Christ's fiercest crusaders for the faith, the Apostle Paul. Paul's epistles immediately precede Revelation, which illustrates in graphic detail why walking the narrow path is so crucial for Christians. 

If you are new to this religion or you are simply a fan of the faith, this quiz is a great way to get familiar with solid Christian concepts. Enhance your quiz experience and see how many questions you can answer correctly without peeking in your Bible!




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