25 Details About the Life of John - 'A' to 'Z' Quiz

Answer: 5

John is traditionally credited with writing five books in the New Testament. The books include the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.

Some modern theologians, however, dispute the claim John wrote five books. For example, some believe the book of Revelation was written by a man called John who has no connection with the Gospel of John.

Personally, I am on the side of tradition and believe John wrote all five of the books.

Answer: Sons of Thunder

Jesus called John and James 'Boanerges', which means Sons of Thunder. Mark 3:16-19, in the NKJV Bible, gives a list of the names of the Twelve Disciples in which James and John are identified as both sons of Zebedee and Boanerges: "Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of Thunder'; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him."

Notes in the NIV Study Bible state the brothers were called Sons of Thunder because it was "probably descriptive of their dispositions."

The term Boanerges can be found in only this passage in Mark in the entire Bible, using the KJV, NKJV or the NIV.

Answer: Peter

John was with Peter when the lame man was miraculously cured by the dynamic duo. Acts 3:1-2 tells of John and Peter going to the temple at the time of prayer -- three in the afternoon -- when they saw a crippled man being carried to the temple gate to beg for money. According to 3:2, the man had been paralyzed from birth, although no further details are given in the chapter. However, Acts 4:22 states the crippled beggar was more than 40 years old.

The crippled beggar had only one thought on his mind when he saw Peter and John: he wanted money. Verse 3 states the man asked the two disciples for money and they responded by looking "straight at him" and asked the man to look at them. Verse 5 goes on to state: "So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them." The beggar, however, would receive something much more valuable than money. He would soon be able to walk for the first time in his life.

In Acts 3:6, in the NKJV Bible, Peter declared to the crippled beggar "silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you." Then he commanded "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

After Peter made his statement to the man, a miracle happened. Act 3:7-8, describes things this way: "And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God."

It must have been a wonderful sight to behold.

This is the first documented account of a specific miracle performed by the disciples in Acts, a chapter which documents the growth of the early church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. However, Acts 2:43 states "many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles", but no further information is given.

Answer: Excecuted by Herod.

Out of the Twelve Disciples, James was the first to be executed. (Judas Iscariot was the first to die, but he committed suicide, as per Matthew 27:3-9.) Details of James' death are contained in Acts 12:1-2 where it states Herod "killed James the brother of John with the sword." In other words, James was beheaded.

Verse 3 goes on to state that Herod had Peter arrested when he saw people were pleased with the execution of James. Peter, however, would avoid execution when he made a miraculous escape from prison, as per Acts 12:1-19.

Answer: True

True. According to Scripture, John, "the disciple Jesus loved", was the only one of the Twelve to stay at the crucifixion scene. By this time, Judas Iscariot had killed himself and the other ten disciples had basically gone into hiding.

The Gospel of John tells of the "disciple Jesus loved" being at the crucifixion scene to the end and tradition holds that the disciple was John. However, some modern-day theologians question if John was really the "disciple Jesus loved."

Answer: Fishermen

According to Scripture, John and James were fishermen, just like Peter and Andrew. Matthew 4:21 tells of Jesus encountering John and James while they were tending their nets with their father. The following verse states, "immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him." Their lives would never be the same.

Answer: Their mother

According to Scripture, their mother made the plea to Jesus. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible identify the mother of John and James as Salome.

Study notes in the NKJV state Jesus basically told their mother the measure of greatness is in service, not position, power or prestige.

Matthew 20:26-28 quotes Jesus as saying "...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Or as the Easy to Read Version states: "Whoever wants to be your leader must be your servant. Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people."

Answer: True

True. While John is not specifically named, neither is any other disciple. However, Scripture makes it clear the ability to perform miracles was not limited to one or two individuals.

Acts 2:43 states "many wonders and signs were done through the apostles". Chapter 3 goes on to give a specific example of a miracle: the healing of a man who had been crippled since birth.

Answer: An angel set them free.

According to Scripture, the apostles were set free by an angel after they were incarcerated.

Here's how the story is told in Acts 5:17-23 in the NKJV:
"Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.' And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, 'Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!'"

The account appears after Acts 4:1-4, which also tells of John and Peter being arrested. The chapter goes on to tell of John and Peter appearing before the Sanhedrin with an order given to them not to "speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus."

Scriptures then quotes John and Peter as boldly telling the Sanhedrin they would continue preaching.

Answer: John 3:16

The verse is found in John 3:16 and quotes Jesus in a conversation with Nicodemus. As a lead up to John 3:16, Jesus tells Nicodemus in Verse 3:3 and 3:7, he must be born again. It's that statement that has become the cornerstone of the evangelical Christian community.

Incidentally, the three other choices in the answer section feature "I am statements" by Jesus.

In John 6:35, Jesus says, "I am the bread of life."
In John 8:12, He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
And in John 14:6, Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Answer: 1 John

The correct answer is 1 John. When he wrote the epistle, theologians believe John was elderly and the aged apostle used fatherly concern to make his points. Here are the nine instances where John uses the term 'little children':

1 John 2:1 -- "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

1 John 2:12 -- "I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake."

1 John 2:13 -- "I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father."

1 John 2:18 -- "Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour."

1 John 2:28 -- "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."

1 John 3:7 -- "Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."

1 John 3:18 -- "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."

1 John 4:4 -- "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

1 John 5:21 -- "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen."

Answer: To the disciples.

Jesus made the statement to the disciples at the Last Supper, as reported in John 15:13. It wasn't long after this that Christ would indeed lay down His life. The four Gospels tell of Him being put on trial that amounted to a kangaroo court followed by barbaric torture and savage beating.

Then there was public humiliation which culminated with Christ being crucified with two common thieves on Golgotha. Scripture goes on to tell of Christ rising from the dead and then after appearing to a large number of people, ascending to Heaven.

Answer: Christ's mother

While dying in agony on the cross, Jesus asked John to take care of His mother. Here's how the story is told in John 19:25-27 in the NKJV:
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."

Tradition holds that the disciple Jesus loved was John. However, some modern day theologians dispute this fact, and claim it was someone else. I am squarely on the side of tradition and believe the disciple Jesus loved can be none other than John. I believe the reason John used the term 'the disciple Jesus loved' is that he didn't want to use his own name in Scripture. In other words, he didn't want to come across as boastful. At the same time, John wanted his account to be dead accurate and to this end, he used the term 'the disciple Jesus loved'. As a result, a casual reader of the Gospel of John might not realize John is actually talking about himself. However, one who slows down and studies the Scripture will know otherwise: They will know 'the disciple Jesus loved' and John are one and the same.

Answer: Nathanael

Nathanael is the correct answer. Nathanael, it seems, was one of a number of people who had two names in the New Testament. While Matthew, Mark and Luke opted to use Bartholomew, John used Nathanael. Other examples of people who had two names are Peter, also known as Simon; Matthew, also known as Levi; Mark, also known as John Mark; Barnabas, also known as Joses; and Paul also known as Saul. (Feel free to play another quiz I have on Fun Trivia titled 'New Testament Characters with Two Names'.

Most theologians are convinced there is no question Bartholomew and Nathanael are one and the same. Incidentally, Nathanael/Bartholomew was the first disciple to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. John 1:49, in the NKJV, quotes Nathanael as telling Jesus, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" The declaration is made months, perhaps years before Peter made his declaration in Matthew 16:16 that Christ is "the Son of the living God." Similar declarations by Peter are also recorded in Mark 8:29 and Luke 9:20.

Answer: Turning water to wine.

Turning water into wine, Christ's first miracle, is the correct answer. The miracle is recounted in John 2:1-11. According to the passage, Jesus performed the miracle at a wedding feast in Cana.

Verses 7 and 8 in the second chapter of John tell of Jesus instructing people to fill a number of jars with water and then to draw some out and give a sample to the master of the banquet. After tasting the liquid, the master expresses surprise at how fine the wine is. In Verse 10, the master compliments the bridegroom, stating "everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." According to the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible, Cana was west of the Sea of Galilee and about 10 miles north of Nazareth.

Here's how the miracle is recorded in John in the NKJV:
"On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, 'They have no wine.'

"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.'

"His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it.'

"Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, 'Fill the waterpots with water.' And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, 'Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.' And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, 'Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!'

"This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."

Answer: 0

It might come as a surprise to some, but the Gospel of John does not contain a single parable. All the parables are found in the first three Gospels -- Matthew, Mark and Luke. Much of John is devoted to telling of the days immediately before the crucifixion as well as the crucifixion and Christ's resurrection.

For the record, Luke contains the most parables with twenty-eight of them being found in the Gospel.

Answer: False

The staffer with Queen Candace was actually baptized by Philip the Evangelist, as per Acts 8:26-40. John is not at all mentioned in the account of Philip converting the staff member who is simply identified as an Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch would've been the first believer in Africa in a resurrected Jesus Christ.

The conversion of the eunuch is found in Acts 8:26-40. Some trivia about the eunuch. Acts 8:27 describes him as an "important official" as he was in charge of the treasury for Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.

Philip is referred to as Philip the evangelist in Acts 21:8. When making reference to him, many people today call him Philip the evangelist to avoid any confusion with Philip, one of the original Twelve Disciples.

Answer: Patmos

Patmos is the correct answer. Revelation 1:9 Verse 9 states: "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." What follows this verse is Scripture that has captivated and perplexed Christians for centuries. Revelation is an extremely difficult book to comprehend, but one country pastor, in a Sunday morning message, gave me the best synopsis I ever heard. Here's a precis: "Revelation is basically a tale of two cities. The two cities are Babylon and the New Jerusalem. Babylon faces a horrible fate while the New Jerusalem faces a glorious future."

Patmos is in the Aegean Sea and is part of Greece.

Answer: James and Peter

According to Scripture, Peter and James also fell asleep on three different occasions with John while Jesus was praying.

Here's how Matthew 26:36-45, in the NKJV, explains things: "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go and pray over there.' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.' And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, 'Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.'"

Scripture goes on to tell of the arrest of Jesus, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His ascension to heaven.

Answer: Moses and Elijah

Moses and Elijah were both on the mountain, according to Scripture.

Matthew 17:1-8, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!' And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, 'Arise, and do not be afraid.' When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."

John, James and Peter are credited with being part of Christ's inner circle as they were the only ones out of the Twelve Disciples who participated in events such as the transfiguration.

Answer: He would be carrying a pitcher of water

Jesus, according to Scripture, told John and Peter they would find a man carrying a pitcher of water and they were to follow him to the location of the upper room. And sure enough that's how things unfolded. It was here where Jesus and the disciples took part in the Last Supper with Christ washing their feet.

Here's how Luke 22:7-13 tells of John and Peter getting instructions to prepare for the Passover:
"Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, 'Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.' So they said to Him, 'Where do You want us to prepare?' And He said to them, 'Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, 'Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?' Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.' So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover."

Answer: Peter

Peter is the correct answer. In John 20:1-4, it tells of John, "the disciple Jesus loved" winning the foot race.

John 20:1-4 in the NKJV explains things this way: "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!' So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first."

The passage has caused some theologians to speculate John was somewhat younger than Peter. They have also speculated Peter was big and burly, and wasn't anywhere near as nimble as John.

It must be pointed out some modern-day theologians question if John was really the "disciple Jesus loved." They are entitled to their opinion. However, I am solidly on the side of tradition and believe the "disciple Jesus loved" was none other than John.

Answer: Scripture doesn't say.

Scripture simply doesn't say. When it comes to the Twelve Disciples the only one we can be certain about being married was Peter, as Scripture tells of Jesus healing his mother-in=-law.

However, there is one school of thought that it is "likely" John was married as Scripture tells of Jesus requesting John to take His mother Mary into his house after His death on the cross.

Here's how the story is told in John 19:25-27 in the NKJV:
"Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home."

(Tradition holds that the disciple Jesus loved was John. However, some modern day theologians dispute this fact, and claim it was someone else. I am squarely on the side of tradition.)

The fact, John is told to take Mary into his house seems to indicate he was married, or at the very least living independently. However, the correct answer to the question has to be "Scripture doesn't say".

Answer: False

Xerxes, also known as Ahasuerus, is not mentioned at all in the entire New Testament. What's more, 3 John does not contain a seventh chapter. The book contains only one chapter, consisting of only fourteen verses.

According to the Overviewbible.com Webhsite, 3 John is the shortest book in the Bible consisting of 219 words in its original language.

Answer: Zebedee

Zebedee is the correct answer. Not much is known about Zebedee as he is mentioned in passing reference. According to Matthew 4:21, he was a fisherman, just like his sons John and James. The verse tells of Jesus seeing two brothers, John and James, mending their nets in a boat with their father Zebedee. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state theologians believe the mother of John and James was Salome.