Biblical Alphabetics -- The Letter 'T' Quiz

Answer: Tola

Tola is the correct answer. According to Judges 10:1-2, Tola judged Israel for 23 years. Scripture states Tola was the son of Puah and the grandson of Dodo and he lived in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim. According to the two passages, Tola "rose to save Israel". After he died he was buried in Shamir, according to Scripture.

Answer: Tamar

Tamar is the correct answer and her story is told in Genesis 38:1-30. It's a long story, but Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah and was married to Judah's sons Er and Onan. However, after the two sons died, Judah apparently thought Tamar was a prostitute when he met up with her along the side of a road and as a result of the union, she gave birth to twins Perez and Zerah. (Scripture reports her face was covered during intercourse.) About three months later, when it was reported Tamar was pregnant and proclaimed a prostitute, Judah announced she should be brought out and "burned to death." However, Judah had to do some serious backpedaling when Tamar was able to prove he was actually the man who had impregnated her. (Genesis 38:18 states Judah had given Tamar his "seal and its cord, and the staff in his hand" as a pledge before he slept with her. When she was about to be put to death, she was able to produce Judah's pledge to her and her life was spared.)

According to Wikipedia, Tamar means 'date palm' and is the original form of the names Tamara and Tammy. Two rivers in the world also bear the name Tamar. River Tamar is found in England while the Tamar River is in Tasmania, part of Australia.

Answer: Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah

According to Scripture, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah were both commissioned by king Jehoshaphat of Judah to teach the law to the people. They were both Levites. 2 Chronicles 17:7-9, in the NIV Bible, states: "In the third year of his reign (Jehoshaphat) he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. With them were certain Levites -- Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah -- and the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people."

Answer: Thomas

Thomas is the correct answer. According to notes in the NIV Study Bible, Didymus means twin. To this end, John 11:16 in the NKJV version states Thomas was also called Twin, rather than Didymus.

Thomas, of course, is remembered for having major doubts about initial reports from others about seeing the resurrected Christ after the crucifixion. His doubts, however, disappeared forever, when according to John 20:24-29, Jesus appeared before Thomas and the other disciples while they were meeting in a locked room.

John 20:26-29, in the NKJV Bible, states: "And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'."

Answer: Theophilus

The two books, both credited with being written by Luke, are addressed to Theophilus. However, there is no conclusive proof as to who Theopilus actually was. 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 others because the Gospel of Luke describes Theophilus as "most excellent," a term for a specific person and not a collective body.

Answer: Tabitha

Tabitha was her other name. Acts 9:36 states Dorcas is the translation of Tabitha. According to information on the Web, Tabitha is of Aramaic origin and means 'gazelle.' For the account of Dorcas/Tabitha being raised from the dead by Peter, see Acts 9:36-43.

Answer: Timothy

In addition to being young, Timothy was known for being timid. For example, in 1 Corinthians 16:10, Paul tells the believers in Corinth to make sure Timothy has nothing to fear, should he visit. Paul, on a number of occasions, describes, Timothy as his son. The last we read about Timothy is in Hebrews 13:23 and it tells of him being released from prison.

Answer: Titus

Titus, similar to Timothy, was a recipient of a letter, or book, from Paul. Apart from Philemon, Titus and Timothy are the only individual recipients of letters from Paul to have the contents named after them. As a result, we have 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus. Paul's other books, of course, were named after various collective bodies of recipients, such as 1 and 2 Corinthians for believers at Corinth and Philippians for believers at Philippi.

While Timothy is known for being young and timid, not much is known about Titus, apart from the fact he was Greek and was a worker in the early church.

Answer: True

Yes, Tryphena and Tryphosa are two of a number of people who are listed in chapter 16 of Romans. The chapter is largely a long list of personal greetings Paul sends to believers in Rome. The chapter is seen by many today as a tribute to the common "Jane and Joe" Christians.

Answer: Tertius

Romans 16:22, states "I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord." There is no further mention of him in Scripture. According to Biblos.com, a website that serves as a Bible encyclopedia, some theologians suspect Tertius was a friend of Silas while others believe he was a Roman Christian living in Corinth. It's all speculation, of course.