Biblical Alphabetics -- The Letter 'P' Quiz

Answer: Potiphar

According to Genesis 37:36, Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar, one of the Pharaoh's officials and captain of the guard. Genesis 39:4 reports Potiphar liked Joseph and put him in charge of his household, entrusting "his care to everything he owned." Things would change dramatically, however, when Potiphar's wife falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape and he was tossed into prison.

Answer: Perez

The correct answer is Perez, an ancestor of King David, as per Ruth 4:18-22. Perez's name also shows up in the genealogy of Jesus in the third chapter of Luke. The twin brother of Perez was Zerah. Genesis 38:28-30, in the NIV Bible, offers this account of Tamar giving birth: "As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, 'This one came out first.' But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, 'So this is how you have broken out!' And he was named Perez.

Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah."

Answer: Peninnah

Peninnah and Hannah were both married to Elkanah and according to Scripture, the two didn't get along. In fact, it seems Penninah, who was the mother of children, took tremendous delight in taunting Hannah who was barren. 1 Samuel 1:6-7, in the NIV Bible states: "Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat." The chapter goes on to tell about Hannah fervently praying to the LORD and eventually giving birth to Samuel.

Answer: True

Yes, Haman had ten sons who were also executed and three of them had names that started with the letter 'P' Their names were Parshandatha, Poratha and Parmashta, according to Esther 9:9-10. Names of the seven other sons were Dalphon, Aspatha, Adalia, Aridatha, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha. Haman was thwarted in his plans to kill the Jews by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai.

Answer: Phinehas

Phinehas is the correct answer. He was the grandson of Aaron and is known for the zealousness of his faith. According to Numbers 25, Israelite men, while staying in Shittim, were indulging in sexual immorality with Moabite women "who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods". Scripture states the LORD's anger was burning against them with Numbers 25:4, in the NIV, stating: "The LORD said to Moses, 'Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel'."

This is when Phinehas decided to take things into his own hands. Verses 6 to 8, provide macabre details: "Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman's stomach."

Answer: Philip

Philip was responsible for converting the Ethiopian eunuch, 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: Peter

We know Peter, also known as Simon, was married because Scripture says Jesus healed his mother-in-law. Luke 4:38-39, in the NIV Bible, states: "Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now, Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.

She got up at once and began to wait on them."

Answer: Paul

Paul, of course, is the correct answer. In some circles today, he is known as 'Paul of Tarsus,' however, nowhere in the NIV Bible does it state Paul refers to himself as "Paul of Tarsus". In Acts 21:39, while addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, he states "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city." In Acts 22:3, Paul, who was also known as Saul, makes much the same statement. However, a drama by George Barber Paley in 1855 titled "Saul of Tarsus" changed things somewhat, with his birthplace being linked to his name. There's also a popular song titled "Saul of Tarsus" as well. Tarsus is in present-day Turkey.

Incidentally, Paul is credited with writing 13 books in the New Testament. The books include Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Some people believe Paul also wrote Hebrews, but there is no conclusive proof of this.

Answer: Priscilla

Aquila, along with his wife Priscilla, played a key role in helping spread the Gospel in the early days of the church. In Romans 16:4, Paul states Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him and "all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful for them." However, no details are given as to what exactly Priscilla and Aquila did to risk their lives for Paul.

It's also interesting to note Paul places Priscilla's name before Aquila's in most of his letters, and this at a time when women were seen as grossly inferior and not even included in census figures of the day.

As a result, many theologians believe Priscilla was extremely dynamic and a moving force in the early church.

Answer: Philemon

Philemon was the owner of the runaway slave Onesimus. Philemon lived in Colossae, in what is now part of Turkey, and after Onesimus ran away, he ended up in Rome where the apostle Paul converted him to Christianity. The tiny book of Philemon is a heart-felt request by Paul to Philemon to accept Onesimus back, but not as a runaway slave, but as an equal in Christ.