2008 Bible Content Exam All biblical quotations have been taken from the NRSV. 1. According to Genesis 1, on the fifth day God created: a. the great sea monster and birds b. the tree of life c. human beings d. the sun and the moon 2. In the book of Genesis, God's promise to Abram follows most closely on which story? a. Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden b. the flood c. the murder of Abel d. the tower of Babel 3. What was the meaning God gave to the divine name when God revealed it to Moses at the burning bush? a. God Almighty b. God Most High c. I AM d. Lord of Hosts 4. What happened when Sarai was taken into the Pharaoh's house? a. The Pharaoh's first-born son died. b. The Pharaoh was blessed by God for Sarai's sake. c. The Pharaoh's house was afflicted with plagues. d. The Pharaoh appointed Ishmael his heir. 5. In which book is the following benediction: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." a. Genesis b. Exodus c. Leviticus d. Numbers 6. In which book is found "You shall love your neighbor as yourself?" a. Leviticus b. Numbers c. Deuteronomy d. None of the above 7. "Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." This appears in which book? a. Exodus b. Leviticus c. Deuteronomy d. Numbers 8. "I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you" was spoken to whom? a. Abraham b. Jacob c. Noah d. Moses 9. The feast celebrating the flight of the Hebrews from Egypt is called: a. Booths b. Ingathering c. Jubilee d. Passover 10. What did Jacob call the place where "he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar"? a. Beersheba b. Bethel c. Haran d. Shechem 11. Which book contains the following words: "one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord"? a. Genesis b. Leviticus c. Exodus d. Deuteronomy 12. In which book is the following saying found: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy"? a. Exodus b. Leviticus c. Numbers d. Deuteronomy 13. What were the cities of refuge? a. cities where homeless people were welcome b. cities where those accused of homicide could escape from the avenger c. fortresses guarding the borders of Canaan d. cities where Canaanites were protected 14. What is the first of the Ten Commandments? a. "Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you." b. "Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy." c. "You shall have no other gods before me." d. "You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God." 15. According to Genesis, Jacob's brother, Esau, settled in the hill country of Seir. Which nation does he represent? a. Ammon b. Edom c. Moab d. Assyria 16. Who proclaimed the rise of a prophet like himself? a. Abraham b. Jacob c. Moses d. Elijah 17. When the Gospel of John says, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," to which story in Numbers is it referring? a. the destruction of a golden idol b. the divine protection of Moses c. the healing of serpent bites d. Moses' staff 18. Who was spared in the destruction of Jericho? a. Dinah b. Rahab and her family c. Lot and his family d. Er and Tamar 19. As Israel became a monarchy, how was Samuel involved? a. He anointed David to serve as king. b. He anointed Saul to serve as king. c. He told the people that to want a king was to reject the Lord. d. All of the above. 20. Over which country was Ahab king? a. Tyre b. Israel c. Judah d. Syria 21. What "nazirite to God from birth" would "begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines"? a. Ehud b. Gideon c. Jepthah d. Samson 22. To what town did Naomi and Ruth return from Moab? a. Timnah b. Jerusalem c. Bethlehem d. Nazareth 23. Which city did Omri build that became the capital of the Northern Kingdom? a. Salem b. Samaria c. Sharon d. Shechem 24. King Artaxerxes of what country gave permission to Ezra and others to return to Jerusalem? a. Babylon b. Egypt c. Greece d. Persia 25. Who tells the parable of the rich man and the poor man who "had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought"? a. Samuel b. Nathan c. Saul d. Elijah 26. 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 27. Why did Joshua gather all of the tribes of Israel at Shechem? a. to begin a census b. to conscript men for the army c. to renew a covenant d. to set up twelve pillars 28. under whose leadership were the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt? a. Ezra b. Joshua c. Nehemiah d. Zerubabbel 29. Who were separated from one another by a chariot and horses of fire? a. Elijah and Elisha b. Elijah and Isaiah c. Ezekiel and Zechariah d. Moses and Joshua 30. Hezekiah initiated significant reforms in which country? a. Tyre b. Israel c. Judah d. Syria 31. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord," is found in which of the following books? a. Isaiah b. Ezekiel c. Daniel d. Habakkuk 32. In which book do these quotations appear: "Cursed be the day on which I was born!"; "Why does the way of the guilty prosper?"; and "Is there no balm in Gilead?" a. Jeremiah b. Ezekiel c. Hosea d. Job 33. Which book contains the following quotation: "O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you...I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me..."? a. Ezekiel b. Daniel c. Jonah d. Micah 34. Which prophet declared, "Thus says the Lord: 'For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals..."? a. Amos b. Malachi c. Micah d. Obadiah 35. This quotation appears in which prophetic book: "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?...My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender." a. Isaiah b. Amos c. Hosea d. Micah 36. Whose voice is prominent in the book of Lamentations? a. Rachel's b. Huldah's c. Zion's d. Naomi's 37. Which prophet justified his behavior by saying, "I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing"? a. Joel b. Jonah c. Micah d. Nahum 38. Which book contains the following: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks"? a. Daniel b. Hosea c. Jonah d. Micah 39. Who prophesied after the return from Babylonian exile? a. Amos b. Ezekiel c. Jeremiah d. Zechariah 40. 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 41. Which book contains the following words: "The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones"? a. Isaiah b. Lamentations c. Ezekiel d. Joel 42. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" is found in which book? a. Isaiah b. Job c. Lamentations d. Daniel 43. "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" is found in which of the following books? a. Micah b. Ezekiel c. Hosea d. Jeremiah 44. In which book does this quotation appear: "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I; send me"? a. Isaiah b. Jeremiah c. Lamentations d. Jonah 45. Which prophet spoke the words of promise quoted in Acts 2, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh"? a. Hosea b. Joel c. Micah d. Zechariah 46. About what city was the prophet Nahum speaking when he said, "I will let nations look on your nakedness and kingdoms on your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt, and make you a spectacle"? a. Damascus b. Elkosh c. Nineveh d. Thebes 47. Where is Israel referred to repeatedly as the servant of the Lord? a. Isaiah 1-12 b. Isaiah 13-23 c. Isaiah 40-55 d. Isaiah 56-66 48. In which book is the following quotation found: "Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?" a. Job b. Psalms c. Proverbs d. Ecclesiastes 49. According to Psalm 137, what place provides the context for the following words: "On the willows there we hung up our harps"? a. "the Negeb" b. "Jordan' stormy banks" c. "the wilderness" d. "the rivers of Babylon" 50. In which book does the following appear: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight"? a. Job b. Psalms c. Proverbs d. Ecclesiastes 51. "Go and eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head" is found in which book? a. Job b. Proverbs c. Ecclesiastes d. Song of Solomon 52. "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave" is found in which book? a. Psalms b. Song of Solomon c. Proverbs d. Ecclesiastes 53. Which of the following statements is found in Ecclesiastes? a. "All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, 'I will be wise' but it was far from me." b. "Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly." c. "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary." d. "Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her." 54. "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord" is found in which book? a. Job b. Psalms c. Song of Solomon d. Ecclesiastes 55. Who says, "I am young in years and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you"? a. Eliphaz b. Bildad c. Elihu d. Zophar 56. Who declares, "By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me rulers rule, and nobles, and all who govern rightly. I love those who love me and those who seek me diligently find me"? a. Zion b. God c. Wisdom d. Cyrus 57. With what words do the last five Psalms all begin? a. "O give thanks to the Lord our God" b. "Blessed be the Lord, my rock" c. "I will extol you, my God and King" d. "Praise the Lord" 58. Which of the following teachings is NOT found in the Gospel according to Matthew? a. "Blessed are the poor in spirit." b. "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." c. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." d. "Remember Lot's wife." 59. At what point in Matthew's Gospel does Jesus say, "For all who take the sword will perish by the sword"? a. at his arrest b. at his entry into Jerusalem c. at his trial d. at the last supper 60. According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, what did Jesus do just after he was baptized? a. He called the twelve disciples. b. He returned to Galilee. c. He returned to Nazareth to tell his family. d. He went into the wilderness, where he was tempted. 61. What special favor did Mary and Martha ask from Jesus? a. to care for them in their old age b. to celebrate Passover in their house c. to heal their brother, Lazarus d. to sit at Jesus' feet 62. In Luke 10, what is the question that prompts Jesus to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan? a. Who can be saved? b. Do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? c. What will be a sign that this is about to take place? d. Who is my neighbor? 63. What did the woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years believe would bring about her healing? a. persuading Jesus' disciples to help her b. standing in Jesus' shadow when he walked past c. stepping into the pool of Siloam d. touching Jesus' clothes 64. Which of the following familiar phrases is NOT taken from the Bible? a. "Doctor, cure yourself!" b. "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown." c. "Relax, eat, drink, be merry." d. "To thine own self be true." 65. According to Luke, who was the Roman Emperor at the time when John and Jesus began their public ministries? a. Nero b. Augustus c. Tiberius d. Claudius 66. In which Gospel do blood and water flow from Jesus' dead body after it is stabbed by a spear? a. Matthew b. Mark c. Luke d. John 67. The conclusion of Mark's Gospel includes which of the following sentences? a. "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." b. "You are witnesses of these things." c. "These are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God." d. "They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." 68. To whom, and on what occasion, was it said, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean"? a. To John, when he preached by the Jordan River b. To Joseph of Arimathea, when he asked for Jesus' body c. To Peter, when he stood in the courtyard of the high priest d. To Stephen, when he preached in Jerusalem 69. Where can you find Jesus telling a parable about a sower who sows seed in different types of ground? a. In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John b. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke only c. In Matthew and Luke only d. In Mark and Luke only 70. Which of the following gospels tells of Jesus' driving the money changers out of the temple near the beginning of his ministry? a. Matthew b. Mark c. Luke d. John 71. Jesus said that Moses permitted men to divorce their wives for what reason? a. because of God's mercy b. because of the imperfection of the old law c. because a man needs to have children d. because the people were so hard-hearted 72. Who asked, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" a. Nathanael b. Nicodemus c. Philip d. Thomas 73. In Luke's Gospel, the centurion who witnessed Jesus' death remarked, "Certainly this man was..." a. ...God's Son b. ...the King of the Jews c. ...innocent d. ...full of grace and truth 74. 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 he sternly ordered them not to make him known." 75. Which of the following statements does NOT appear in the first two chapters of the Gospel according to Luke? a. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." b. "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." c. "My eyes have seen your salvation." d. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them." 76. What is Paul's situation at the end of the book of Acts? a. He is in jail in Corinth. b. He is on his way to Spain. c. He is on trial for his life. d. He is under house arrest in Rome. 77. According to the book of Acts, what sparks a riot in Ephesus? a. The local Jews were offended by Paul's disregard for the law. b. The local silversmiths thought their business was in jeopardy. c. The local citizens claimed that Christians were advocating customs unlawful for Romans. d. The local priests of Zeus wanted to offer sacrifices to Barnabas and Paul. 78. What is the issue that prompts the gathering in Jerusalem in Acts 15? a. the debate over circumcision and salvation b. the rejection of Jewish law by Paul c. the replacement of Judas d. the way to preach the gospel in synagogues 79. How does Paul answer the question, "Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?" a. "By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?" b. "You will fulfill the law of Christ." c. "Sin boldly! Grace will abound." d. "Love covers a multitude of sins." 80. Which letter contains this quotation: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love"? a. 1 Corinthians b. Ephesians c. Philippians d. Colossians 81. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - not the result of works, so that no one may boast" occurs in which book? a. Ephesians b. Colossians c. Titus d. Philemon 82. "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Where is this found? a. Romans b. 1 Corinthians c. Galatians d. Colossians 83. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" is found in which book? a. Romans b. 1 Corinthians c. Ephesians d. Philippians 84. "Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever" occurs in which book? a. 2 Corinthians b. Galatians c. Ephesians d. 1 Thessalonians 85. In which letter does Paul say, "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ"? a. Romans b. 1 Corinthians c. 2 Corinthians d. Galatians 86. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." From which letter does this quotation come? a. Romans b. 1 Corinthians c. Ephesians d. 1 Timothy 87. Which book warns of a time when a figure known as "the lawless one" will be revealed? a. 2 Corinthians b. Philippians c. 2 Thessalonians d. 1 Timothy 88. In Romans 9-11, as Paul discusses the fate of the Jewish people and their place in God's plan, which of the following statements does he make? a. "Your house is left to you, desolate" b. "All Israel will be saved" c. "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles" d. None of the above 89. How does this quotation from Philippians end: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..."? a. "for faith without works is dead." b. "for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure." c. "for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." d. "for the one who is righteous will live by faith." 90. What is the conclusion of this retrospective view of Paul's career: "I have fought the good fight..."? a. "and Christ has given me the victory." b. "and my strength is made perfect in weakness." c. "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." d. "and my head is bloody but unbowed." 91. The quotation, "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith" is found in which book? a. 2 Timothy b. Titus c. Philemon d. James 92. "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds" is found in which of the following? a. Acts b. 1 Corinthians c. Ephesians d. Hebrews 93. Which book includes the following: "The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance"? a. James b. 1 Peter c. 2 Peter d. 1 John 94. According to 1 John 1, the message being proclaimed is what? a. that the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord b. that God is one c. that the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword d. that God is light, and in God there is no darkness at all 95. Which book contains the following: "Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house..."? a. James b. 1 Peter c. 2 Peter d. Jude 96. Which of the following does NOT appear in the book of James? a. "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." b. "Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you." c. "God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth." d. "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you." 97. Because "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses," what should we do? a. Approach the sanctuary with a true heart in full assurance of faith. b. Run with perseverance the race that is set before us. c. Speak God's word with all boldness. d. Hold Fast to our confession. 98. Which book contains the following quotation: "You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture...For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it"? a. Hebrews b. James c. 1 Peter d. 2 John 99. In the book of Revelation, what causes John to weep bitterly? a. Multitudes of people are left behind on the earth. b. No one can be found to break the seals on a scroll. c. The whole world follows the antichrist. d. None of the above. 100. According to the book of Revelation, what will the Lord do? a. reign forever and ever b. wipe every tear from people's eyes c. rule the nations with a rod of iron d. all of the above