by David Langerfeld
The Daily Encourager
How well do you know the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth? Do you know what’s really in the scriptures, or have you assumed some things about the story from all the Christmas stories you’ve read and Christmas plays you’ve seen?
Take the following IQ Quiz. See how well you do. Check out the scripture verses at the end of each question and then check the answers at the end of the quiz. You might be surprised by what’s actually in, and what is not in, the Bible!
CHRISTMAS IQ QUIZ
1. What does the Bible say that the Innkeeper said to Mary and Joseph? (Luke 2:7)
A. “There is no room in the inn.”
B. “I have a stable you can use.”
C. “Come back later; I should have a vacancy”
D. Both A and B
E. None of the above
2. A manger is a…
A. Stable for domestic animals
B. Wooden hay storage bin
C. Feeding trough or watering trough
D. Barn
3. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?
A. Cows, sheep, goats
B. Cows, donkeys, sheep
C. Only sheep and cows
D. Miscellaneous barnyard animals
E. None of the above
4. According to the Bible, who saw the star in the east?
A. Shepherds
B. Mary and Joseph
C. Three Kings
D. Both A and C
E. None of the above
5. According to the Bible, how did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?
A. Camel
B. Donkey
C. Walked
D. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey
E. Horse-drawn chariot
F. The Bible doesn’t say
6. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? (Luke 2:10)
A. One
B. Three
C. Multitude
D. None of the above
7. What did the angels say/sing? (Luke 2:14)
A. “Glory to God in the highest, etc.”
B. “Alleluia”
C. “Joy the world, the Lord is come”
D. “Unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given”
8. What is a heavenly host?
A. An angel at the gate of heaven
B. The angel who serves refreshments in heaven
C. An angel choir
D. An angel army
9. What is Frankincense?
A. A precious metal
B. A precious fabric
C. A precious perfume
D. None of the above
10. In Matthew, what does “wise men” or “Magi” refer to?
A. Men of the educated class
B. Eastern Kings
C. Astronomers
D. Sages
11. What is Myrrh?
A. Middle Eastern Money
B. A drink
C. The sound a happy cat makes
D. A spice used for burying people
E. None of the above
12. How many wise men does the Bible say came to see Jesus? _____
13. Where did the “magi” find Jesus? (Matthew 2:11)
A. In a manger
B. In a stable
C. In Nazareth
D. In Egypt
E. In a house
F. None of the above
THE ANSWERS: (Read the scriptures beside the questions first)
1. E In the Bible, the innkeeper didn’t “say” anything. In fact, the Bible doesn’t even say that there was an “innkeeper”! (See Luke 2:7)
2. C Feeding trough or watering trough
3. E The Bible doesn’t say, we just assume that since Jesus was placed in a manger (and therefore probably in a place where animals were sheltered), that there were various barnyard animals present. However, since the shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks in the fields that night, all the other animals could have been out of the stable as well.
4. E This is a trick question. The magi saw the star. However, the Bible doesn’t say how many there were and they were not “kings,” but astronomers or “star gazers” (see answer 10).
5. F Although the modern “pictures” in a Bible will show Mary on a donkey with Joseph beside her, the Bible doesn’t actually say!
6. A Luke 2:10 “The angel of the Lord said unto them…”
7. A Luke 2:14
8. D The word “host” means “army” – literally thousands. Now, since there was a “multitude” of the heavenly army (hosts), there could easily have been from 10,000 – 100,000 angels there that night! No wonder the shepherds were “sore afraid”!
9. C Frankincense was used in the temple worship of the Lord. It represents his deity because he is truly God born in human flesh.
10. C The word “Magi” literally means “star-gazers.”
11. D Myrrh was used as part of the normal Jewish burial customs. Jesus was buried with a 75-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes. (See John 19:39. The Greek says he was buried with 100 “litra,” from where we get the word “liter,” which is approximately 75 pounds. This is the reason some translations will say about 100 pounds and some will say about 75 pounds.)
12. The Bible doesn’t give the number. Many people assume that there were three because of the three gifts. However, in ancient times, these men usually traveled in caravans of ten to twelve, along with a full entourage needed for meals. provisions and protection.
13. E Matthew 2:11 (see the next answer)
(Blogger’s note: Yes, please do, see the next questions and answers tomorrow as we finish the quiz. Are you learning anything? I am!)
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