You Can't Spell the Bible Without S and T Quiz

Answer: Samson

Samson's story is described in Chapters 13 to 16 of the Book of Judges. He had taken a vow as a Nazarite and was granted great physical strength by God as long as he fulfilled his vow (including not cutting his hair). When he unwisely shared this secret with his foreign lover Delilah, she had her servant cut his hair taking away his strength.

She then turned him over to the Philistines, who blinded him.

Answer: Tarsus

Paul is one of the main characters in the New Testament. In Chapter 9 of Acts, he is described as being "of Tarsus", a city in what is now Turkey. Initially an opponent of Christianity, Paul later becomes one of its biggest advocates. Paul is credited as the author of several of the Epistles.

Answer: Samuel

As a young child, Samuel was dedicated to serving Eli, the Priest of Shiloh. As a older man, he would appoint two of his sons as judges over Israel. Their corrupt rule led to the people demanding a judge. Following God's command, Samuel would anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. Later, when David and Saul went to war with each other, Samuel would also anoint David as King on God's command. Samuel's story is told in the first of the two Books of Samuel.

Answer: Tattoo

Leviticus 19:28: "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the Lord." (King James Bible) Other verses in this chapter prohibit a large variety of things including wearing cloth made of two different materials and eating meat with the blood still in it.

Interestingly, while some prohibitions in the Mosaic Law are countermanded by the New Testament, Leviticus 19:28 is not one of them.

Answer: Simeon

Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah, Jacob's less favored wife, as described in the Book of Genesis. Simeon and his brother Levi took revenge against the city of Shechem when a resident of that city raped their sister Dinah. Extra-biblical sources suggest that Simeon may have been particularly jealous of Joseph's special status, even compared to his brothers. Simeon's name would later be given to the Tribe of Simeon.

Answer: Thirty

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas Iscariot was offered 30 pieces of silver by the Chief Priests in return for his assistance in capturing Jesus. Judas would use a kiss to identify Jesus to the guards. Judas would later regret his action and attempt to return the silver which was rejected by the priests since it was now "blood money".

Answer: Slings

The encounter between David and the Philistine Goliath is described in Chapter 17 of the first book of Samuel. David uses his sling to throw a stone which strikes Goliath in the center of his forehead causing him to fall. The defeat of Goliath brought David to the people's attention, eventually drawing the jealousy of King Saul.

Answer: Tobias

The story comes from the Deuterocanonical Book of Tobit. Tobias burns the liver and heart from the fish to drive off the demon Asmodeus, who has killed several previous husbands of Sarah (Tobias's wife). Tobias will later use the fish's gallbladder to cure his father Tobit of blindness. In these actions, Tobias is assisted by the angel Raphael, disguised as a human.

Answer: Storks

Storks are mentioned on several occasions. In the Book of Leviticus, reference is made to the affection of storks for their young. The Books of Jeremiah and Zechariah also mention storks. Storks can be found in Israel during the winter months.

Answer: Thomas

This story about Thomas appears in Chapter 20 of the Gospel of John. According to the story, the risen Jesus appears to the Apostles at a time when Thomas is absent. When they tell him about this afterwards, he says that he will not believe Jesus has risen unless he sees Jesus wounds from the cross. Later Jesus appears to the Apostles while Thomas is present and invites Thomas to touch his wounds if it will help him to believe.

This story is the origin of the term 'Doubting Thomas'.