My Word -- Common Sayings from the Bible -- #5 Quiz

Answer: The 12 Disciples

The correct answer is the 12 Disciples. Jesus made the statement just after he made a fig tree wither because it had only leaves and no fruit. A similar account about the withered fig tree appears in the 11th chapter of Mark along with Christ's statement about faith being so powerful it can move mountains. According to Scripture, he made the statement just prior to his crucifixion and his resurrection.

Answer: Paul

Paul used the words 'a man after my own heart." According to Scripture, he used the term in reference to King David, the second king of Israel. In this incident, Paul is saying God viewed David as a man after His own heart. The passage, in part, in the NIV Bible states: "He made David their king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Paul goes on to state that it was through the line of David that "God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus."

Answer: Trying to be justified through observing the law and ignoring faith.

Trying to be justified through observing the law and ignoring faith is the correct answer. To put things in perspective, let's take a look at Galatians 5:4-6, in the NIV Bible: "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." In other words, Paul is accusing the Galatians of trying to be justified through observance of Old Testament law with no attention whatsoever paid to faith in Christ having paid the price for forgiveness of mankind's sins. To fall from grace, of course, has come to mean to fall out of favor, or to no longer command respect.

Answer: Genesis

Methuselah's age of 969 years appears in Genesis 5:27. His name appears five times in Genesis. However, his name also appears in 1 Chronicles 1:3 and in Luke 3:37 where the genealogy of Jesus is given. Although the expression is 'as old as Methuselah', one could very well say 'as old as Jared'. According to Genesis 5:20, Jared lived for 962 years.

Not all that far behind was Adam, who lived for 930 years, as per Genesis 5:5. Methuselah, Jared and Adam are the three oldest characters mentioned in the Bible.

Answer: war

The missing word in the passage is 'war'. It would indeed be a dramatically changed world in which there is no war. Incidentally, Joel 3:10 has this verse reversed, stating "beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into swords." The term 'beat swords into plowshares' has been interpreted by many to stop the production of military equipment in favor of agricultural equipment. Notes in the NIV Study Bible see things slightly differently.

The notes indicate a plowshare in Biblical times was actually an iron point mounted on a wooden beam.

In other words, ancient plows did not have a plowshare proper, the notes state.

Answer: Paul

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, is credited with writing Ephesians, as well as 12 other books in the New Testament. The book of Ephesians was addressed to members of the early church in Ephesus, part of present day Turkey. 'Let not the sun go down on your wrath,' appears to make only common sense when one reads it, but in reality it's a whole different story when one attempts to put the teaching into practice.

Answer: Jesus

Jesus made the statement. In the following verse, Jesus states people will be able to discern the false prophets by their fruit. To make his point, Christ goes on to ask this question: "Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?". According to Wikipedia, some people have falsely credited the statement 'wolf in sheep's clothing' to Aesop's Fables.

Answer: Abram

Abram is the correct answer. (He would later become known as Abraham and his wife Sarai would become known as Sarah.) Scripture states Abram was depressed because he had no offspring to inherit his estate and the recipient would be his servant, Eliezer of Damascus. Genesis 15:3-5 in the NIV Bible states: "And Abram said, 'You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.' Then the word of the LORD came to him: 'This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.' He took him outside and said, 'Look up at the sky and count the stars -- if indeed you can count them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'"

Answer: John

John is the correct answer. Jesus makes the comment in Matthew 5:43, 19:19 and 22:39, Mark 12:31 and 33 and in Luke 10:27. While Matthew, Mark and Luke mainly concentrate on telling the story of Jesus' three years of ministry, John largely focuses on the last couple months with major emphases on the events leading up to his crucifixion, his death and his resurrection.

As a result, many of the miracles and parables found in the first three Gospels are not found in John.

Answer: Signs of the end of the age.

Jesus, of course was talking about signs of the end of the age. According to Matthew 24:3, Jesus made the statement on the Mount of Olives while talking privately to the 12 Disciples. The Scripture about signs of the end of the age is some of the best known in the Bible. Matthew 24:4-8, in the KJV Bible, states: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.'"