Bouncing Through The Bible: 1st Edition Quiz

Answer: Tabitha

While Tabitha was the name that Peter uttered, she was also known by the name Dorcas.
(Rhoda, Phoebe and Lydia are also women mentioned in the New Testament.)

The name "Tabitha" translates roughly as "female gazelle", having as its root meaning "beautiful, glorious, goodly and pleasant". The name Dorcas means "gazelle", also, and the names were both quite appropriate because the scripture here states that she was "full of good works and alms deeds", which may be understood as her works of mercy towards others.

The passage closes with Peter telling her to arise, taking her by the hand as she sat up, then presenting her alive to the people that he had assembled together as witnesses.

Answer: purple

Purple was a fairly rare and expensive commodity at that time. Only the very wealthy, such as Roman senators in their wearing of purple togas, or royalty, who wore purple robes, could afford it due to the intense labor required in producing fabrics and textiles of that color.

The dyes used to create this color of fabric came from the process of crushing a particular type of shellfish, found primarily in the Mediterranean regions. After these creatures were meticulously crushed by hand, the fabrics were prepared to set the dye into; again, a process done by hand. The juice was white while it was in the veins of the fish, but when it was exposed to the sun, the liquid changed into bright purple and red colors. It took a lot of work to catch enough shellfish to dye even one garment. Labor intensive as it was, this process caused the price of the finished product to be exorbitantly high.

The church at Thyatira is mentioned in the book of Revelation. John, the Revelator, had some particular issues to address to this church, along with the other six churches that he wrote to in the first three chapters.

Answer: additional plagues and loss of entry into the book of life as well as the holy city

To me, these verses are so important that rather than offer any commentary of my own, I will simply let them stand on their own right. Directly quoting from the King James Version of the Bible, they state the following:

"For I testify to every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things; God shall add unto him the plagues that are mentioned in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Answer: a soldier

Paul tells Timothy to be "...as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

I have been a soldier, myself, and can appreciate the hardships, endurance required and the lack of physical rest that may be demanded in order to fulfill a mission. Paul was alluding to all that and more, self-discipline included, in this letter to Timothy.

It may also be inferred from the passage that all Christians may have to endure adversity and face tough times in order that the gospel may be spread. Christians may be called upon to perform some not-so pleasant tasks, but passages like this one argue that they should still do them for the sake of the furtherance of God's Word and for the sake of their fellow man.

Answer: entering into Jesus' rest

Most Christians believe that this entire passage is devoted to the perfect rest that all believers have in Christ. An interesting point is made in verse 2, where a distinction is made between believers and non-believers.

Put plainly, it states that the gospel is preached to many, but those who reject the gospel of Christ receive no profit from hearing it, because they cannot receive it without mixing this message with their own faith.

Answer: by being cursed for man's sake

The text indicates that He was cursed, with the phrase, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." This is referenced from Deuteronomy in the Old Testament in 21:23 which says, in part, "His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God..."

The Christian belief that Gentiles are now able to receive God's blessings, which were originally bestowed upon Abraham, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is based partly on verse 14 of this passage of scripture. It says, in essence, that Gentiles can receive the Spirit of God by living in faith in Jesus Christ.

Answer: this passage of scripture plainly states this to be true

Verse 11 makes reference back to the Old Testament practice of High Priest and the methods used by him on the annual Day of Atonement. The sanctification processes for the people followed his own sanctification, and the people's sins were put away for another year. This passage says that Christ, on the other hand, died once and for all for ALL sins of everyone.

Verse 12 states that Jesus "suffered without (outside) the gate", and in verse 13, readers are instructed to go to Him "without the camp." Since sin has no place in God's holy presence, this is a valid directive.

Christians believe that Christ, as mediator, has the ability to address the problem of sin, and offer forgiveness for it, yet He covers it with His blood so that the Father does not have to see it.

Answer: prior to his conception

Luke 2:21 says, "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb."

I know that this was tricky, and possibly unnecessary "hair-splitting", but I wanted to bring out the point that God had already provided his name via the angel Gabriel BEFORE Jesus was even conceived in Mary's womb. Mary and Joseph both honored God's authority in naming His only begotten Son.

Answer: they are led by the Spirit of God

The verse says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Many Christians believe that, until God's only begotten Son died and was resurrected, there was no family of God. They feel that it was only through Christ's resurrection that God was able to get what He had always desired: a family. Since Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, the reasoning goes, then all who follow in the born-again process through Him are part of God's family.

It would not necessarily be a correct assumption to say that all people are members of this family. While it IS true that all people and everything else is part of God's creation, some Christians feel that only those who are born again in Christ are actually "children" of God. If all CREATION was considered as His CHILDREN, then Lucifer himself would be eligible for status in the family.

Answer: the dead who are in Christ

Verse 16 of this passage puts it this way; "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST." (Emphasis mine)

While no time frame is mentioned, it may be that the rest of professing Christians may have to wait for a time for this event to occur, because the 14th verse ends with this statement; "...them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." There is no time frame given between these two separate events, so speculation is pointless. It is sufficient to state that God's perfect timing does not equal that of man's concept of time.

I think that the point being made here is simply to be ready for Christ's second advent, or arrival.