1999 Bible Content Exam All Biblical quotations have been taken from the NRSV. 1. What did Hagar, Ruth, Zipporah, and Jezebel all have in common? a. They were all barren. b. They were all concubines. c. They were all righteous. d. They were all foreigners. 2. What did Rebekah do that led to her marriage with Isaac? a. She prayed to God to bring her a suitor. b. She gave Abraham's servant a drink. c. She lied about her parentage. d. She wore a heavy veil on her wedding night. 3. What did Jacob's daughter Dinah and David's daughter Tamar have in common? a. They were sacrificed to fulfill a vow. b. They were praised for their wisdom. c. They were raped, and avenged by their brothers. d. They led the Israelites to victory. 4. Which of the following are not included among the laws in Leviticus? a. childbirth and skin diseases b. diet and festivals c. unintended sins and offerings d. the ten commandments 5. How did the people of Israel corrupt themselves while Moses was on the mountain with the Lord? a. They made a molten calf, worshipped it, and sacrificed to it. b. They offered strange fire to the Lord. c. They sacrificed to Baal. d. They turned to Balaam to lead them in a new way. 6. Whom did the Lord command Moses to bring near to him "to serve me as priests"? a. Aaron and his sons b. Jethro and his brothers c. Joshua and his brothers d. the Rechabites 7. Which individual was allowed to enter the promised land? a. Aaron b. Jethro c. Joshua d. Miriam 8. When Abraham divided the land with him, what land did Lot choose? a. the hill country b. the plain of the Jordan c. the Negev d. the plain of Esdraelon 9. Who was the child of Hagar and Abraham? a. Dinah b. Esau c. Isaac d. Ishmael 10. The saying, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger" refers to which of the following? a. Assyria and Babylon b. Egypt and Cush c. Esau and Jacob d. Israel and Judah 11. What was the eventual result of Joseph's rise to prominence in Egypt? a. domination of Egypt by his sons b. final estrangement from his family c. return to Canaan with all his wealth d. settlement of his whole family in Egypt 12. To which tribe did Moses belong? a. Dan b. Judah c. Levi d. Simeon 13. Who sang: "Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea"? a. Aaron b. Balaam c. Joshua d. Miriam 14. When John's Gospel says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness..." to what story in Numbers is it referring? a. the destruction of a pagan idol b. the divine protection of Moses c. the healing of the Israelites from serpent bites d. Moses' rod 15. Which of the following was not a son of Noah? a. Ham b. Japheth c. Seth d. Shem 16. What happened to Jacob when he wrestles with a man at the river Jabbok? a. He dreamed about a ladder. b. He escaped from Esau. c. He received a new name. d. He was circumcised. 17. According to the Book of Numbers what position was assigned to the Levites in the Israelites' camp? a. around the tabernacle of the covenant b. outside the camp c. between Judah and Reuben d. dispersed among the other tribes 18. Who was the father of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David? a. Boaz b. Hezron c. Perez d. Ram 19. What were Shamgar, Gideon and Jephthah? a. judges b. priests c. princes d. singers 20. Mordecai's failure to bow down before Haman is recorded in which book? a. 2 Kings b. 2 Chronicles c. Ruth d. Esther 21. Why was Gideon's fighting force reduced to 300 men before they fought the Midianites? a. Gideon could not count on the allegiance of his men. b. God did not want Israel to be able to say that "my own hand has delivered me." c. The Midianite army was very small. d. The rest of Gideon's army had fled. 22. The duties of a "next of kin" figure strongly in what book? a. Judges b. Ruth c. 1 Kings d. 1 Samuel 23. Which two people were important in Samuel's life? a. Barak and Sisera b. Eli and Nathan c. Hannah and Eli d. Hannah and Nathan 24. Which does not belong in the same story with the others? a. Ahab b. Bulls c. Carmel d. Jehu 25. Who was the wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David married after her husband was killed in battle? a. Bathsheba b. Jezebel c. Deborah d. Rahab 26. King Hiram was most closely associated with which of the following? a. Babylon b. Israel c. Judah d. Tyre 27. Which prophet was associated with David? a. Barak b. Eli c. Elijah d. Nathan 28. King Artaxerxes of what country gave permission for Ezra and others to return to Jerusalem? a. Babylon b. Egypt c. Greece d. Persia 29. Which is not one of the sacred occasions traditionally associated with Moses? a. The feast of the Ingathering b. The feast of Purim c. The feast of Unleavened Bread d. The sacrifice of the Passover 30. Who was spared in the destruction of Jericho? a. Dinah b. Lot and his family c. Rahab and her household d. Tamar 31. Which prophet said, "I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint"? a. Habakkuk b. Joel c. Zechariah d. Zephaniah 32. "He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity" refers to an individual described in which book? a. Isaiah b. Jeremiah c. Ezekiel d. Malachi 33. Which prophet was commanded, "O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel"? a. Isaiah b. Ezekiel c. Jonah d. Micah 34. "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped" is found in which of the following? a. Isaiah b. Lamentations c. Daniel d. Amos 35. "Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land" was said by whom? a. Jeremiah b. Ezekiel c. Hosea d. Amos 36. Amos prophesied during the reign of which king of Israel? a. David b. Jeroboam II (son of Joash) c. Manasseh d. Solomon 37. Which prophet was in Judah at the time of the fall of Jerusalem? a. Amos b. Isaiah c. Jeremiah d. Ezekiel 38. When did Ezekiel's visions occur? a. before the Babylonian invasion b. during the Babylonian exile c. immediately following the fall of Samaria and the northern kingdom d. shortly after Solomon's death, when the kingdom was divided 39. Isaiah is associated with which location? a. Damascus b. Jerusalem c. Samaria d. Sinai 40. Why was Daniel cast into the den of lions? a. He asked to return to Jerusalem. b. He ate the forbidden meat. c. He insisted on praying to his God. d. He prophesied the destruction of the empire. 41. The comparison of Israel to an unfaithful wife is important in the prophecy of which of the following? a. Isaiah b. Hosea c. Amos d. Micah 42. Which prophet complained that God enticed him, overpowered him, and made him a laughingstock all day long? a. Jeremiah b. Hosea c. Amos d. Micah 43. Which prophet addressed most of his oracles to Israel although he was from Judah? a. Hosea b. Amos c. Obadiah d. Malachi 44. After the sailors cast lots to determine who had caused their calamity, what did they do to Jonah? a. They arrested him. b. They put him in chains. c. They put him in the hold of the ship. d. They threw him overboard. 45. According to Isaiah, how would Sennacherib, king of Assyria, die? a. of a fall from a horse b. of the same illness that threatened Hezekiah c. by the sword in his own land d. in the siege of Jerusalem 46. "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals" is found in which book? a. Ezekiel b. Amos c. Micah d. Haggai 47. How did the prophet Micah answer the question, "What does the Lord require of you"? a. "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." b. "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." c. "Rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful." d. "To do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." 48. Which book warns that adultery leads one "like an ox to the slaughter"? a. Ecclesiastes b. Lamentations c. Proverbs d. Song of Songs 49. "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!" is found in which book? a. Job b. Psalms c. Proverbs d. Ecclesiastes 50. Which of the following completes the challenge of Satan to God regarding Job: "stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will...."? a. be made whole b. curse you to your face c. proclaim your presence d. question your mercy 51. With what do the last five Psalms all begin? a. "I call upon you, O Lord!" b. "I cry with my voice to the Lord!" c. "I will extol you, my God and King!" d. "Praise the Lord!" 52. "My child, keep your father's commandment, and do not forsake your mother's teaching" is found in which of the following? a. Job b. Proverbs c. Ecclesiastes d. Song of Solomon 53. In which book is the bride referred to as a "rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys"? a. Job b. Psalms c. Proverbs d. Song of Solomon 54. To what event does the book of Lamentations respond? a. the death of Jonathan b. the death of Josiah c. the division of the kingdom d. the destruction of Jerusalem 55. Which two female figures appear in the book Proverbs? a. Wisdom and the loose woman b. Wisdom and Righteousness c. Zion and Righteousness d. Zion and Babylon 56. Who was Bildad? a. one of the 3 companions of Daniel who were thrown in the fiery furnace b. one of the 3 apostate sons of David who died before their father c. one of the 3 companions of Job who came to comfort him d. one of the 3 warrior judges of Israel who delivered the nation 57. Which saying does not appear in the book of Ecclesiastes? a. "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." b. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." c. "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" d. "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting." 58. Which two of Jesus' disciples were sons of Zebedee? a. James and Jon b. Peter and John c. Simon and Andrew d. Simon and James 59. Which title appears most frequently in Mark? a. Son of David b. Messiah c. Son of God d. Son of Man 60. Who said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make 3 dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"? a. Judas b. Martha c. Peter d. Philip 61. The parable of the Unforgiving Servant is found in which Gospel? a. Matthew b. Mark c. Luke d. John 62. After Jesus' death, Joseph of Arimathea had the courage to do which of the following? a. ask Pilate for the body of Jesus b. go to Sabbath services c. hide the disciples d. preach in the marketplace 63. The word, a path, and rocky ground are part of which parable? a. the growing seed b. the lamp under a bushel basket c. the mustard seed d. the sower 64. Which biblical event is narrated as having taken place in the region of Caesarea Philippi? a. Jesus' baptism b. Peter's confession "You are the Messiah" c. the Sermon on the Mount d. the healing of the Syrophoenician woman's daughter 65. Which Gospel begins with an introduction explicitly addressed to the reader? a. Matthew b. Mark c. Luke d. John 66. Which is not part of the description of John the Baptist? a. He was a Nazorean. b. He wore clothing of camel's hair. c. He wore a leather belt around his waist. d. He ate locusts and wild honey 67. To whom did Jesus address this statement: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me"? a. to the inner circle of disciples b. to John the Baptist c. to a synagogue audience d. to the Sanhedrin 68. Which of the following appears in the Gospel of Mark? a. "Those who do what is true come to the light." b. "No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known." c. "What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit." d. "The unclean spirits...fell down before him and shouted, 'You are the Son of God!' But her sternly ordered them not to make him known." 69. Which of the following disciples brought his brother to Jesus? a. John b. Peter c. Simon d. Andrew 70. In the Gospel of John, when did Jesus say, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you"? a. after his baptism by John the Baptist b. after his farewell discourses with his disciples c. after his trial before Pilate d. on his way to Golgotha 71. What was Thomas's response when Jesus offered to let him touch his hands and side? a. "My Lord and my God!" b. "Our Lord and Savior." c. "You are the Christ, the Son of God." d. "You are the King of Israel!" 72. In his teaching on the mountain in Matthew 5, which of the following does Jesus say about the law? a. As Jesus increases, the law will decrease. b. He has come to abolish it. c. Not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. d. The law applies only to the scribes and Pharisees. 73. Instead of unclean hands, what does Jesus say defiles a person? a. a person's lack of faith b. a person's parents c. demons d. the things that come out of a person 74. To whom did Jesus say, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband"? a. a Samaritan woman b. a woman of Nazareth c. Mary, called Magdalene d. Salome 75. In John's Gospel, who asked, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" a. Judas Iscariot b. Martha c. Nathanael d. Philip 76. Paul appealed to the Lord three times to remove his "thorn in the flesh." What response did God give? a. "Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" b. "My grace is sufficient for you." c. "You must not boast about it." d. "You will inherit a spiritual body." 77. Which of Paul's letters maintains that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night"? a. Romans b. Ephesians c. Colossians d. 1 Thessalonians 78. What did the disciples of Jesus do to replace Judas? a. They commissioned Matthew to record the teaching of Jesus in a Gospel. b. They decided that the eleven disciples who had then received the Holy Spirit were sufficient. c. They selected a man converted on the day of Pentecost. d. They selected a man who had accompanied Jesus throughout his ministry. 79. According to the second chapter of Acts, the early followers of Jesus received the Holy Spirit during which feast? a. Booths b. Dedication c. Passover d. Pentecost 80. "The seven" in Acts 6 were appointed by the Jerusalem church for what purpose? a. to carry out a ministry of the word and prayer b. to carry a message to Antioch c. to wait on tables d. to undertake the Samaritan mission 81. "Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" is a cry from whom? a. Paul b. Peter c. Silas d. Titus 82. Paul's recommendation to the unmarried is found in which of the following? a. Romans b. 1 Corinthians c. Galatians d. Philemon 83. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" is a benediction given by whom? a. Jesus b. John c. Paul d. Peter 84. Where does the following quotation appear: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children"? a. 1 Corinthians b. Galatians c. Ephesians d. 1 Thessalonians 85. Paul urges Philemon to welcome Onesimus as he would welcome whom? a. Christ b. God c. Paul d. one in the Lord 86. According to the opening chapter of Acts, for how many days did the resurrected Jesus appear to the apostles? a. three b. twelve c. forty d. fifty 87. In what context did Paul quote from Greek poets? a. in his defense before the Emperor b. in his sermon in Antioch of Pisidia c. in his sermon in front of the Areopagus in Athens d. in his trial before the proconsul Gallio 88. According to Ephesians, how should husbands love their wives? a. as Christ loves the church b. as their wives love them c. by giving them clothing without spot or wrinkle d. by treating them fairly 89. Where was Paul when he wrote to the church in Philippi? a. at sea b. in prison c. shipwrecked d. visiting Aquila and Priscilla 90. For the sake of which church did Paul collect offerings? a. Athens b. Caesarea c. Ephesus d. Jerusalem 91. What will happen to the lukewarm Christians in Laodicea? a. One like the Son of Man will spit them out of his mouth. b. They will be cast into hell. c. They will be rebuked. d. They will be warmed up. 92. Hebrews describes which of the following as "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword"? a. the tongue of a woman b. the word of God c. the wiles of the devil d. the truth of Christ 93. Which of the following New Testament books warns: "Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour"? a. 1 John b. Revelation c. James d. Hebrews 94. In which letter is the following question central: "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?" a. Galatians b. Ephesians c. Hebrews d. James 95. Why do we love, according to 1 John? a. because love covers a multitude of sins b. because God loved us c. because love is the fulfilling of the law d. because love never ends 96. To whom is the book of Revelation addressed? a. seven churches in Asia b. the church in Jerusalem c. the church in Rome d. the Roman emperor 97. Which of the following concerns does 1 Timothy address at length? a. children b. drunkards c. the rich d. widows 98. According to Hebrews, why is Jesus able to sympathize with our weakness? a. because he has been tested as we are b. because he was poor as some of us are c. because he was rejected as we are d. because he was born in human likeness 99. According to Hebrews, which of the following is "the same yesterday and today and forever"? a. Jesus Christ b. the kingdom of God c. the new covenant d. the law of God 100. According to 1 Peter, what is the appropriate response when one suffers as a Christian? a. to endure b. to pray c. to rejoice d. to boast in one's suffering