And Finally -- Last Lines in New Testament Books Quiz

Answer: John

The correct answer is the Gospel of John. The concluding verse to the book is found in John 21:25. Most people believe the book was written by John, one of the original Twelve Disciples. Christian tradition holds the disciple also wrote 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.

While the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke focus on the three years of Christ's ministry, the Gospel of John largely concentrates on the events prior to Christ's crucifixion followed by His resurrection.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about the Gospel: "John focuses on Jesus' claim that He was God by including Christ's seven 'I am' statements -- "I am the bread of life' (6:35, 48); 'I am the light of the world' (8:12); 'I am the door' (10:7,9); 'I am the good shepherd' (10:11, 14); 'I am the resurrection and the life' (11:25); 'I am the way the truth and the life' (14:6); 'I am the true vine' (15:1)".

Answer: Luke

The final four verses of Luke are found in the 24th chapter and include verses 50-53. Luke was a doctor and the Gospel of Luke was addressed to a man known simply as Theophilus.

A number of Christ's miracles are found only in Luke. They include the Healing on the Ten Lepers, Escape From the Hostile Multitude, Draught of Fish, Raising the Widow's Son from the Dead at Nain, Healing the Infirm Bowed Woman, Healing the Man with Dropsy and Restoring a Servant's Ear.

Parables found in only Luke include the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, A Friend in Need, The Rich Fool, The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant, The Faithful and Wise Steward, The Barren Fig Tree, The Great Supper, Building a Tower and King Making War, The Lost Coin, The Unjust Steward, The Rich Man and Lazarus, Unprofitable Servants, The Persistent Widow, The Pharisee and the Tax Collector and finally The Minas (Pounds).

Luke appears to have been a man with tremendous compassion and special love for the disadvantaged, the downtrodden of society, the outcasts. Time and again we read in his Gospel accounts of the down-and-out winning special favor in the Lord's eyes. We read of people who made mistakes and messed up their lives big time.

The Bible states God's eye is on the sparrow. Well, to paraphrase Luke, God's eye is not only on the sparrow - but on the turkey too! (And for this fact, I am forever grateful.)

Answer: Mark

The verses in question come from Mark 16:19-20.

It is widely believed the Gospel was written by Mark, also known as John Mark. The worker in the early church was a cousin of Barnabas. In a nutshell, the Gospel of Mark concentrates on Jesus' miracles, rather than His teachings.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about the Gospel: "Mark leaves no doubt that he is documenting a unique account of a unique man. He's spotlighting the Son of Man who came from heaven to serve, not to be served, and to give His life as a ransom (10:45). So in Mark, we see Jesus the obedient Servant of God actively and compassionately coming alongside hurting people. But it's not just the physical hurts that haunt Him. Jesus is moved by the spiritual diseases He sees all around Him.

"If Mark's intent is to present Jesus as a humble Servant, there is no need for an impressive family tree (like Matthew and Luke include). That is why the author begins with Jesus' public ministry. Mark's frequent use of the word 'immediately' (used more in this compact book than all the rest of the New Testament) reminds us that Jesus is continually on the move. Even though He knows He has a limited time to fulfill the purpose for which He came to earth, others don't. What they do come to understand is that Jesus viewed Himself as the Son of God. Mark attests to that frequently (1:1; 11, 3:1; 5:7; 9:7; 13:32; 14:61; 15:39)."

Answer: Matthew

The three verses are the final lines in Matthew. They can be found in the 28th chapter and include verses 18-20.

There is no smoking gun, but it is widely perceived the Gospel was written by Matthew, also known as Levi, who was one of the original Twelve Disciples. Matthew was a tax collector and he came from Capernaum and wouldn't you know it: there are more references to money in Matthew than the three other Gospels. What's more, when Capernaum is mentioned, some special attention is given to it, according the NKJV Study Bible.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about the Gospel: "Matthew as a Jew, unashamedly shapes his account about Jesus' life so it is understood by a Jewish audience. His goal is to convince his peers that the King of kings has come. With this in mind, he uses terms and names that Jews will resonate with. By quoting more passages from the Old Testament than any other New Testament writer, he attempts to validate that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah. No less than 12 times Matthew presents Jesus as Israel's Messianic King (1:23; 2:2, 6; 3:17; 4:15-17; 21:5, 9; 22: 44, 45; 26:64; 27:11, 27-37).

"Also unique to Matthew is the expression 'that it might be fulfilled' which was spoken by various prophets. By footnoting familiar passages the Jews accepted as God's inspired Word, Matthew builds his case for Christ with the precision of a former tax collector. Examine for yourself how he substantiates the prophecies that pointed to Jesus' miraculous and obscure birth, His birthplace, His exile to Egypt and return to Israel, and His rejection and suffering. No wonder Matthew begins his book with an impressive genealogy of Jesus' link to King David."

Answer: Acts

The verses are from Acts 28:30-31. Acts was written by Luke. Similar to the Gospel of Luke, the Book of Acts is addressed to a man simply known as Theophilus. Not much is known about Theophilus, however. Some believe he was a prominent official in the Roman government while others believe he was a lawyer who represented Paul in his trial before Felix. Some believe Theophilus is a collective name for Christians in general but this view is disputed by many because the Gospel of Luke describes Theophilus as "most excellent," a term for a specific person and not a collective body.

The Book of Acts is seen as a history of the early church and provides a treasure chest of information about how the Gospel spread to the Gentiles in Europe as well as in what is present-day Turkey.

Answer: Hebrews

Hebrews is the correct answer. The verses are from verses 22-25 in the the 13th chapter.

While the final verses are from Hebrews, no one knows for certain who wrote the book. There are a variety of views with some theologians saying Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, wrote Hebrews. Others, however, disagree with such a view.

The 11th chapter of Hebrews is all about faith. The chapter pays tribute to a long list of people in the Old Testament who were stars for their faith. Names range from Abraham to Rahab the prostitute. Hebrews 11:6, in the NKJV, has this classic verse: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Answer: 1 John

The verses are from 1 John 5:20-21.

It is believed the author of the book was John, one of the original Twelve Disciples. Tradition has it he also wrote the Gospel of John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to state about 1 John: "Part of the arrogance of human nature is to think we know more than others do. In this letter, the apostle John addresses the problem of false teachers who were making lofty claims about their knowledge regarding the deity and nature of Christ. John encounters their false claims by reminding his readers of the eyewitness accounts of the apostles, including himself. Jesus Christ came in human flesh, lived a human life, died, and then was raised from the dead. He was fully human and fully God. Anything else being taught by others was false. In this letter, John sounded the alarm: False teaching could not be tolerated. Falsehoods would lead to immorality and immorality would lead to eternal death. In contrast, the truth would demonstrate itself in love, and love would lead to eternal life. For John, what one believed truly mattered."

PeggyLouisa, a fellow member of the Bible Believers' Brigade, just recently posted a quiz about 1 John at FunTrivia. It's called 'BBB Bible Series: 1 John' and I highly recommend it.

Answer: Philippians

Philippians is the correct answer. The verses are from 4:22-23.

Philippians was written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. The book was addressed to believers at Philippi, a community in present-day Greece. Incidentally, some of the people who belonged to the early church at Philippi were Lydia, the first convert to Christianity in Europe, and the Philippi jailer. Their conversion is recorded in Acts 16:11-40.

Two of the major themes in Philippians are joy and being content in whatever the circumstance. In his letter to the believers at Philippi, Paul praises them for being generous givers (Philippians 4:14-16).

Answer: Philemon

Philemon is the correct answer. The verses are from chapter 1, verses 21-25.

Onesimus, a run-away slave, is the subject of the the tiny book of Philemon. The slave's master was Philemon, who lived in Colosse (which is in present day Turkey). Paul converted Philemon to Christianity and then preached the news of a resurrected Jesus Christ in a number of other communities in Turkey and Europe before ending up in Rome. Philemon's slave Onesimus ran away and headed to Rome and wouldn't you know it, he met up with Paul who in turn converted the run-away slave to Christianity. Later, Paul would write the book of Philemon, a passionate appeal to Onesimus' master to accept him back, not as a slave, but as an equal in Christ.

Answer: Revelation

The verses comes from Revelation 22:20-21. Revelation is the final book in the New Testament and as a result, these two verses are the final words in the English Bible.

The book has puzzled and perplexed its readers for centuries with many different interpretations being offered about what it is 'really saying'. One thing is certain, however -- the residents of Babylon will face a horrific future while the residents of the New Jerusalem will be ecstatic. A way to simplify the topic of Revelation is to call it a Tale of Two Cities.