A Bible Quiz to Try in the Comfort of Your Home

Answer: Jacob weeping for Joseph

Jacob weeping for Joseph is the correct answer. The occasion was after Jacob had been tricked by his sons into believing Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. In actuality, they had sold Joseph to a group of Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Later, Joseph would be taken to Egypt where he was sold to Potiphar. (Genesis 37:28-36)

Incidentally, the first mention of the word 'comfort' in the NKJV Bible is in Genesis 5:29, Scripture telling of Lamech naming his son Noah. The verse states: "And he [Lamech] called his name Noah, saying, 'This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed.'" Lamech was the second murderer in the Bible and is mentioned in the same chapter as Cain.

Then there's this information from FunTrivia member Arpeggionist in regards to the first mention of the word comfort: "That verse may indeed be Jacob refusing to be comforted over Joseph, but the first mention of comfort is in chapter 21 of Genesis, when Isaac marries Rebeckah, and the text states 'and Isaac was comforted over his mother's passing.' The Hebrew word for comfort is 'n 'chamah', and the same root can be used to mean 'regret.' The first time the word is used in the Bible is in Genesis 6, where God expresses regret over creating humanity and resolves to destroy all but Noah 's family."

Answer: Job

Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar attempted to comfort Job after he experienced a series of calamitous events, according to the book of Job. (A fourth friend, Elihu, appears in the 32nd chapter of Job.) Their conversations with Job comprise a major portion of the book.

According to Job 1:18-19, his children were eating and drinking at their oldest brother's house when "suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people," killing all of them.

In addition to losing his children and a number of servants, Scripture states Job lost his immense wealth which was the result of ownership in large herds of livestock.

The book ends with Job's fortunes changing dramatically for the better. Job 42:12-13, in the NKJV, states: "Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters."

Answer: Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is known as 'The Lord is My Shepherd'. It was written by David and it's a favorite with Jews and Christians alike. Shepherding and goatherding were among the major occupations of Palestine throughout it history, according to notes in the NKJV Study Bible. David himself was a shepherd and it perhaps only stands to reason he would liken the LORD to a shepherd.

Here's how Psalm 23 reads in its entirety:
"The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever."

Answer: Isaiah

The two verses are found in Isaiah. The first verse is from Isaiah 51:3 and the second one is from Isaiah 66:13.

Tradition holds that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, wrote the book of prophecy that bears his name. However, notes in the NKJV Study Bible, state a number of scholars are questioning that belief.

The book contains a number of prophetic warnings but also offers much hope and comfort.

After the quiz was posted, I received the following information from bobbi418: "In question #4, you cited two passages from Isaiah, but the one I, as a Jew, am most familiar with is Isaiah 40:1. In the Hebrew it begins, 'Nacham, nachamu ami' ('Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people'). It is chanted in every synagogue on the Sabbath following Tisha B'Av, the solemn fast day which commemorates the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem."

Answer: The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes is the correct answer. The passage runs from Matthew 5:1-11 and a similar passage is found in Luke 6:20-26. The Beatitudes are part of an extended piece of Scripture known as The Sermon on the Mount.

Here's how Matthew 5:1-11, reads in its entirety, as in the NKJV:
"And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'"

Answer: False

False. The Parable is known as The Rich Man and Lazarus. It's a parable that appears in only the Gospel of Luke, and no where else in Scripture. For that matter, the parable of The Prodigal Son also appears in only Luke.

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus is found in Luke 16:19-31. According to the parable Lazarus lived outside the door of a rich man and he was so helpless the dogs would come to lick his sores. However, no name is given for the rich man.

Scripture tells of Lazarus and the rich man dying, with Lazarus ending up by the side of Abraham and the rich man in a place of torment. When the rich man requests that Lazarus come and dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his tongue, Abraham tells him this is not possible because there is a "great chasm" and no one can cross over it.

Answer: Tertius

The correct answer is Tertius. Not much is known about him as he is mentioned in passing reference. Romans 16:22, in the NKJV, simply states: "I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord."

Romans 16 is largely devoted to greetings by Paul. The people mentioned in the passage are largely seen as 'Joe' and 'Jill' Christians of the day.

Answer: Titus

Titus is the correct answer. His name, along with the word 'comfort,' appears a few verses later in 2 Corinthians 7:13 when Paul writes: "Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all."

Titus was a worker in the early church who obviously labored alongside Paul. One of the thirteen books Paul is credited with writing is addressed to Titus. The book is simply known as Titus and in the order the books appear in the New Testament, it is found after 2 Timothy and before Philemon.

Answer: Corinth

Corinth is the correct answer with the verse found in 2 Corinthians 13:11.

Two books were addressed to believers in Corinth. The books are 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. Both books were written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.

On the surface, this question might have appeared difficult. But when you think about it, it was relatively easy if you are astute at Biblical geography. Out of the four communities listed, Corinth is the only one that is in Greece. Ephesus, Galatia and Colosse were all communities in Asia Minor, an area of land known today as Turkey.

Answer: Paul

The book was written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. Paul is credited with writing no less than thirteen books in the New Testament. They are Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon.

Some scholars believe Paul also wrote Hebrews but many others strongly contest the assumption.