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Quiz about Quizzing the New Testament Mark
Quiz about Quizzing the New Testament Mark

Quizzing the New Testament: Mark


This quiz is part of a series looking at the books of the New Testament. Mark is generally reckoned to be the earliest of the gospels, used by Matthew and Luke in their accounts. Come and step inside.

A multiple-choice quiz by glendathecat. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
glendathecat
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
318,621
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
1730
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 106 (5/10), Guest 219 (3/10), Guest 72 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way' - 'a voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him."'" (Mark 1 v. 2-3)

Mark begins his gospel by quoting these words from the prophet Isaiah. Whom does he see as being the fulfilment of this prophecy?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Mark gives no definite autobiographical detail in his gospel. Which of the following, though, is often used to argue that he didn't come from Israel? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The phrase "messianic secret" was coined by scholars to describe which seemingly surprising tendency of Jesus as reported in Mark's gospel? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Mark is keen to show his readers that Jesus is the Son of God. On several occasions, therefore, he records Jesus being recognised as such. Which of the following does NOT acknowledge Jesus in this way? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The suffering of Jesus is another strong theme in Mark. Which of the disciples, at Caesarea Philippi, refused to acknowledge that Jesus "must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again" (Mark 8 v. 31)? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Of the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke), Mark gives greatest prominence to the final week of Jesus' life. How many of the 16 chapters cover this short period? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Chapter 13 is devoted to the end times and second coming of Jesus. Which of the following, does Jesus say, knows the timing of this event? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A young man is described in chapter 14 whom many have deduced to be the gospel's author. What is distinctive about him? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The earliest manuscripts of Mark do not have the present ending. At which point do they conclude the story? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. One verse in the closing chapter of Mark's gospel has spawned which unusual phenomenon in some American churches? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way' - 'a voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him."'" (Mark 1 v. 2-3) Mark begins his gospel by quoting these words from the prophet Isaiah. Whom does he see as being the fulfilment of this prophecy?

Answer: John the Baptist

"And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Mark 1 v. 4)

Mark attributes both of these quotes to Isaiah but the first is actually taken from Malachi.

The opening to Mark's gospel is characteristically action-packed. Matthew and Luke choose to begin with the birth of Jesus. John has a reflective prologue. By the end of the first chapter of Mark, on the other hand, so much has happened. John the Baptist appears and is imprisoned. Jesus takes up John's mantle of preaching repentance. He is baptized and tempted. He calls disciples and preaches in the synagogue where he impresses with his authority. He eats a meal. He exorcises, heals, plans for strategic expansion and still has time to pray on his own. All this in the first chapter!
2. Mark gives no definite autobiographical detail in his gospel. Which of the following, though, is often used to argue that he didn't come from Israel?

Answer: He makes errors about the local geography.

"Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis." (Mark 7 v. 31)

The Sea of Galilee and the Decapolis lie to the south-east of Tyre yet Sidon is considerably to its north.

Whilst it's true that Mark did write substantially in Greek, this would not have precluded him from originating in Israel as many people there would have been versed in the language.
3. The phrase "messianic secret" was coined by scholars to describe which seemingly surprising tendency of Jesus as reported in Mark's gospel?

Answer: He didn't want people to know that he was the Messiah.

The term was first used by German theologian, W. Wrede, in 1901. It stems from the fact that, several times in Mark, Jesus forbids people to talk about him. One such example comes in the gospel's opening chapter:
"Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.'" (Mark 1 v. 43-44)
4. Mark is keen to show his readers that Jesus is the Son of God. On several occasions, therefore, he records Jesus being recognised as such. Which of the following does NOT acknowledge Jesus in this way?

Answer: Pontius Pilate

We, the readers, are told in the very first verse that Jesus is the Son of God but, within the gospel, Mark uses an unfolding pattern of recognition. Firstly, at Jesus' baptism, we hear God affirming him. Subsequently, he is recognised by the forces of evil and by his own disciples (although Peter uses the term Christ rather than Son of God - Mark 8). Finally, even the Gentile centurion acknowledges him.

"And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."" (Mark 1 v. 11)

"He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." (Mark 1 v. 34)

"And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"" (Mark 15 v. 39)
5. The suffering of Jesus is another strong theme in Mark. Which of the disciples, at Caesarea Philippi, refused to acknowledge that Jesus "must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again" (Mark 8 v. 31)?

Answer: Peter

It had all been going so well. Shortly before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah, but he completely failed to understand why Jesus was speaking of the need to suffer. He tried to rebuke Jesus but only ended up being rebuked himself in the words, "Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8 v. 33).
6. Of the synoptic gospel writers (Matthew, Mark and Luke), Mark gives greatest prominence to the final week of Jesus' life. How many of the 16 chapters cover this short period?

Answer: Six

The word synoptic, meaning "seeing together", is used of the first three gospels because of the amount of common material they share. The entry into Jerusalem on "Palm Sunday" comes at the beginning of chapter 11. By contrast, Matthew allocates 8 out of 28 chapters; Luke 5.5 out of 24. John has 10 of his 21 chapters set during this time.

In Mark's mind is the idea that you cannot see Jesus for who he truly is except in the light of his passion and suffering.
7. Chapter 13 is devoted to the end times and second coming of Jesus. Which of the following, does Jesus say, knows the timing of this event?

Answer: The Father

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13 v. 32)

Many have speculated that Mark's gospel, in its present form, appeared soon after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. They suggest that many Christians were disillusioned, having expected this to be a sign that the end was imminent. Mark uses his material to reassure his readers, encouraging them to stay expectant and vigilant but to realise that only God knows when it will happen.
8. A young man is described in chapter 14 whom many have deduced to be the gospel's author. What is distinctive about him?

Answer: He is naked.

"A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind." (Mark 14 v. 51-52)

The incident occurs in the garden of Gethsemane. No other gospel writer records the fact and it's argued that this is a strange detail to include unless Mark wants us to understand that he is that man.

The gospel itself does not identify its writer. Church tradition attributed it to Mark from statements made by the third century historian Eusebius, himself quoting an earlier writer named Papias. Mark was said to have written an account of the life of Jesus derived from his conversations with the apostle, Peter.
9. The earliest manuscripts of Mark do not have the present ending. At which point do they conclude the story?

Answer: Women witnessing the resurrection but too afraid to pass on the news

"Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid." (Mark 16 v. 8)

The additional verses are a brief summary of some of the post-resurrection stories from the other gospels.
10. One verse in the closing chapter of Mark's gospel has spawned which unusual phenomenon in some American churches?

Answer: Snake handling

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."" (Mark 16 v. 17-18)

Snake-handling churches take these words literally and incorporate into their worship, on occasions, the handling of venomous snakes. This is sometimes accompanied by the drinking of poison. The movement dates from the early twentieth century and, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, comprised 40 churches in America and 4 in Canada. (Source: Wikipedia)

One of the movement's pioneers was George Went Hensley who died in 1955 - of a snake bite.
Source: Author glendathecat

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
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