An 'Alex Trebek' New Testament Quiz -- #17

Answer: What is 30?

Jesus started His ministry at "about age thirty", as per Luke 3:23 in various Bible translations, including the KJV, NKJV and NIV. It is commonly believed Jesus' ministry lasted three years, meaning He was about age thirty-three when He was crucified.

Answer: Who are the Pharisees and Saduccees?

The Pharisees and Sadducees were both called a brood of vipers by John the Baptist and Jesus, as per Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33 and Luke 3:7. (The KJV uses the term generation of vipers.) There were a number of reasons why Jesus and John were critical of the Pharisees and the Saduccees. However, the main concerns appears to be that the Pharisees and Sadducees were caught up in legalism; both taught man-made rules and were strongly opposed to the messages of Jesus and John.

Answer: Who is Gabriel?

The impending birth of John the Baptist was announced by the angel Gabriel. Luke 1:5-25 tells of Gabriel making the announcement to Zecharias, the father of John the Baptist. (Zecharias is known as Zechariah in the NIV.) Initially, Zecharias was filled with doubt when he heard Gabriel's announcement.

The passage states Zecharias and his wife Elizabeth were both elderly and they had been unable to have children.

Answer: What is Crete?

Titus was a worker in the early church who was serving on the island of Crete when he received a letter from Paul and the letter, or book, is now part of the New Testament. The book is known simply as Titus. Crete is in the Mediterranean Sea and is the largest and the most populated of the Greek islands. Two other individuals who received letters from Paul that have become part of the New Testament are Timothy and Philemon.

Answer: Who are Junia and Adronicus?

Junia and Adronicus were both imprisoned with Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, as per Romans 16:7. In the verse in the NKJV, Paul describes the two men as being "of note among the apostles", adding they were "in Christ before me." He also describes them as "my countrymen and my fellow prisoners." However, no further details are given.

Little is known about Junia and Adronicus as their names are mentioned in only Romans 16:7 and no where else in the Bible.

Answer: Who are Hymenaeus and Philetus?

Hymenaeus and Philetus are both described as false teachers by Paul in 2 Timothy 2:16-18. In the passage in the NKJV, Paul states he fears their "babblings" will "spread like cancer" and lead to "more ungodliness."

This is the only mention of Philetus in the New Testament. However, a man called Hymenaeus is also mentioned by Paul in 1 Timothy 1:20. In the verse, Paul states he had delivered Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan so "they may learn not to blaspheme."

Answer: Diotrephes

Diotrephes is described in 3 John 1:9 in the NKJV as a man who loved to have "preeminence" at his church and refused to receive the writer of the epistle. (In the NIV, it states Diotrephes loved to be first.) The verse also states John, the writer of 3 John, had expressed his concerns in a letter to the church attended by Diotrephes, but the letter received no action.

It is believed Diotrephes was asserting control over the church and didn't want John, or anyone else, to contradict his teachings. 3 John does not mention where Diotrephes lived, but it is commonly believed he was based somewhere in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey.

Answer: Demas

Demas was a worker in the early church who forsook Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. In 2 Timothy 4:10 in the NKJV, Paul writes, Demas, "has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica." No further details are given.

Demas is also mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24. In both verses, Paul states Demas extends greetings.

Answer: What is Acts?

In the order of appearance, Acts is the second book written in the New Testament by Luke, a physician and worker in the early church. The first book written by Luke is the Gospel of Luke. Sandwiched in between the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts is the Gospel of John.

Both books written by Luke were actually letters addressed to Theophilus.

Answer: What is 1 Timothy?

Using Bible versions such as the KJV, NKJV and NIV, 1 Timothy appears immediately after 2 Thessalonians in the New Testament. The book is actually a letter written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles to Timothy, a young and timid worker in the early church. 1 Timothy is followed by 2 Timothy.