My Word -- Common Sayings from the Bible -- #6 Online Trivia | Religion

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When someone is highly skeptical about something, they are sometimes referred to as a 'doubting Thomas.' The exact term is not found in the Bible, but the expression 'doubting Thomas' was definitely inspired by the actions of Thomas, one of the 12 Disciples, in the Gospel of John. What did he do to inspire the common expression 'doubting Thomas'?

Answer: Refused to believe reports about Christ having been resurrected from the dead.

Yes, the correct answer is that Thomas stubbornly refused to believe reports about Christ having been resurrected from the dead following his crucifixion. As a result, many people today refer to him as 'Thomas the Doubter' and when someone refuses to believe something they are referred to as a 'Doubting Thomas'.

The account of Thomas and his steadfast refusal to believe is found in John 20:24-29. Scripture records Thomas was in a locked room with the other disciples when Jesus appeared in their midst. John 20:27-29, in the NIV Bible, states: "Then he (Jesus) said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"

2. A common expression that comes from the Bible is 'love covers a multitude of sins.' In Proverbs 10:12, in the NIV Bible, it states "Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs." In the NIV, a New Testament passage states: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." In what book in the New Testament would you find the passage?

Answer: 1 Peter

The passage is found in 1 Peter 4:8. Many theologians believe this passage has been misinterpreted. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible has this to say about the passage: "Peter is not suggesting that one Christian's love atones for another Christian's sins. Rather, by introducing this proverb from the OT (Proverbs 10:12), he is reminding us that love does not stir up sins. We can demonstrate our love for fellow believers by truly forgiving them and not talking openly about their past sins." Peter, of course, was one of the original 12 Disciples and was part of an inner circle with Christ. Peter's brother, Andrew, was also a disciple.

3. Many believe the common expression 'a little birdie told me' originates from the Bible. They base this believe on the following passage from the NIV Bible: "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say." In what book in the Old Testament would you find this passage?

Answer: Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is the correct answer. According to Wiktionary, the common expression 'a little birdie told me' could have quite possibly originated in the Bible. However, Wiktionary also reports the term may have originated from a Dutch saying. In addition, Wiktionary reports others believe the expression "is a simple allusion to carrier pigeons or other such messenger birds." The term 'a little birdie told me' has come to mean that news has been received from a source who is informed, but wishes to remain anonymous.

4. 'Ashes to ashes and dust to dust' is an expression used at some Christian funerals. The term is contained in the "Book of Common Prayer" and is based on Genesis 3:19. Complete the missing word from the passage as it appears in the KJV: "In the _______ of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Answer: sweat

The correct answer is 'sweat'. The term 'ashes to ashes and dust to dust' does not appear together in the Bible. However, there is evidence to link 'ashes' and 'dust'. For example, in Genesis 18:27, Abraham, while talking to the LORD, describes himself as "dust and ashes." Meanwhile, Job, in Job 30:19, says he has become like "dust and ashes".

Incidentally, the Genesis 3:19 passage quotes the LORD after Adam and Eve both ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

5. The expression 'born again' is often used to refer to someone who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The term is found in the third chapter of John and was used by Jesus when he was having a late night discussion with a man. Who was the man Jesus told that he 'must be born again.'?

Answer: Nicodemus

Nicodemus is the correct answer. The account of his conversation with Jesus is found in John 3:1-21. Scripture reports Nicodemus was a Pharisee and he visited Jesus at night. Some people believe he met with Jesus in the evening because he did want to be seen associating with Christ as the Pharisees were vehemently opposed to him. Others believe he met with Jesus in the evening as it was the only time he could have a private one-on-one meeting with Christ, who was always surrounded by large crowds of people during the day. To be born again is to be 'born of the spirit' with the first birth being the physical birth of the flesh.

In John 3:3, in the NIV Bible, Jesus tells Nicodemus: "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." And in John 3:16, Christ makes the famous declaration: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

6. 'Coat of many colors' is a common expression that comes from the Old Testament. The account of Joseph and his unusual coat is found in the 37th chapter of Genesis. The story has been used as the script for a popular theater production called "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". Who wrote the famous production?

Answer: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice created the play in 1968 that has become an international sensation. According to Wikipedia, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is "one of the most dependably profitable titles in musical theatre." Webber and Rice then went on to write "Jesus Christ Superstar" followed by other productions.

The KJV describes Joseph's garment as a "coat of many colors" while the NIV simply describes it as an "ornate robe." Nowhere in Scripture is the coat described as an "amazing technicolor dreamcoat".

7. When couples are married in a Christian wedding, a term sometimes used is 'what God has joined together let no man put asunder.' The term can be found in Matthew 19:6 where it states in the KJV: "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Who spoke the words?

Answer: Jesus

Jesus is the one who spoke the words while answering a question from an unnamed Pharisee. True to form, Matthew 19:2, in the KJV, states "great multitudes" were following him at the time. His comments were based on Genesis 2:24 where, in the KJV, the LORD states: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Similar accounts of Christ's conversation with the unnamed Pharisee can be found in Mark 10:1-10 and Matthew 19:1-9.

8. 'Forgive them, they know not what they do' were words uttered by Jesus when he was being crucified. In what Gospel in the Bible would you find the words that have become part of a common expression?

Answer: Luke

Luke is the correct answer with Jesus uttering the words while being crucified. (See Luke 23:24.) The comments appear in only Luke, however, and not in the three other Gospels -- Matthew, Mark and John. A number of the parables told and miracles performed by Jesus also appear in only Luke.

For example, Luke is the only Gospel to contain the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son as well as the account of Jesus raising the widow's son from the dead at Nain.

9. Another common expression inspired by the Bible is 'the world's oldest profession,' used to describe prostitution. No where in the Bible will you find the term 'the world's oldest profession' but prostitution is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament, and as a result the description has been applied. What is the name of the prostitute who hid two Israeli spies and was spared her life by the Israelites when they took over Jericho?

Answer: Rahab

Rahab, of course, is the correct answer. Her story appears in the second and sixth chapter of Joshua. She gained fame because she hid the two spies when they were sent to check out the land around Jericho.

I find it interesting that some refer to prostitution as the world's oldest profession as they seem to think it is the first occupation mentioned in the Bible. However, the first reference to prostitution doesn't appear until Genesis 34:31 where the sons of Jacob expressed their anger at their sister Dinah being treated like a prostitute by Shechem. However, there are a number of other occupations listed before this use of the word 'prostitute'.

The first direct reference to a prostitute is the 38th chapter of Genesis where it tells of Judah mistaking his daughter-in-law Tamar for a prostitute. With this background, there's a strong case to be made that the world's oldest profession is farmer (Cain, Genesis 4:2) or music teacher (Jubal, Genesis 4:21).

Incidentally, Gomer (Hosea 1:2-3) was also a prostitute. Meanwhile, Oholah was not the name of an actual prostitute, but a symbolic reference to Samaria.

10. 'Bite the dust' is yet another common expression which comes from the Bible. The KJV Bible, uses the words 'lick the dust'. For example, Psalm 72:9 states: "They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust." Who is credited with writing the 72nd Psalm? (The writer is not David.)

Answer: Solomon

Solomon is the correct answer. Solomon, of course, was the son of David, and the third king of Israel. The term 'lick the dust' can be also found in Isiah 49:23 and Micah 7:17 in the KJV. 'Bites the dust' means that someone, usually a bad guy or an adversary, has suddenly died.

However, the term has also come to mean the sudden end of a hope or a plan. For example: I had planned to create a Biblical crossword for FunTrivia by the end of November, but my plan has bit the dust.

Source: Author Cowrofl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor CellarDoor before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

My Word -- Common Sayings from the Bible -- #6 Quiz

It might come as a surprise to some that many of the common sayings we use today originate from the Bible. How much do you know about the sayings? This is my sixth installment. (Different versions of the Bible were used for this quiz.)

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