The Adoration of the Shepherds by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665). Image procured from the Accordance module, "Christmas Classics."
Think you know the biblical Christmas story? Don't be so sure.
Way back in 2005, I posted this Christmas quiz on the original This Lamp website. I thought I'd post it here again.
To give credit where credit is due, this quiz is not my own creation but comes from a handout produced by Youth Specialties. I probably don't have permission to reproduce it here, but if they want me to take it down, I'll be glad to.
The quiz is reproduced (only slightly modified in places) first with the answers following. Get out a sheet of paper to write down your answers, or just use a Sharpie™ on your computer screen.
Let everyone know how well (or poorly) you do in the comments. You can also use the comments to nitpick the questions. Just remember I didn't write them!
Christmas IQ Test
1. As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25 (true or false).
2. Joseph was from...
a. Bethlehem
b. Jerusalem
c. Nazareth
d. Egypt
e. Minnesota
f. none of the above.
3. How did Mary travel from Bethlehem?
a. camel
b. donkey
c. walked
d. Volkswagen
e. Joseph walked; Mary rode a donkey
f. Who knows?
4. Mary and Joseph were married when Mary became pregnant (true or false).
5. Mary and Joseph were married when Jesus was born (true or false).
6. Mary was a virgin when she delivered Jesus (true or false).
7. What did the innkeeper tell Mary and Joseph?
a. "There is no room at the inn."
b. "I have a stable you can use."
c. "Come back after the Christmas rush, and I should have some vacancies."
d. Both A & B.
e. None of the above.
8. Jesus was delivered in a...
a. stable
b. manger
c. cave
d. barn
e. unknown
9. A manger is...
a. a barn for domestic animals.
b. a wooden hay storage bin.
c. a feeding trough.
d. a barn.
10. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus' birth?
a. cows, sheep, goats
b. cows, donkeys, sheep
c. sheep and goats only
d. miscellaneous barnyard animals
e. lions, tigers and elephants
f. none of the above
11. Who saw "the star in the east"?
a. shepherds
b. Mary and Joseph
c. three kings
d. both A and C
e. none of the above
12. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?
a. one
b. three
c. "a multitude"
d. none of the above
13. What sign did the angels tell the shepherds to look for?
a. "This way to the baby Jesus"
b. a star over Bethlehem
c. a baby that doesn't cry
d. a house with a Christmas tree
e. a baby in a stable
f. none of the above
14. What did the angels say?
a. "Joy to the world, the Lord is come!"
b. "Alleluia."
c. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."
d. "Glory to God in the highest, etc."
e. "Glory to the newborn king."
f. "My sweet Lord."
15. What is a heavenly host?
a. The angel at the gate of heaven
b. The angel who invites people to heaven
c. The angel who serves drinks in heaven
d. An angel choir
e. An angel army
f. none of the above
16. There was snow that first Christmas...
a. only at Bethlehem.
b. all over Israel.
c. Nowhere in Israel.
d. Somewhere in Israel.
e. Mary and Joseph only "dreamed" of a white Christmas.
17. The baby Jesus cried...
a. when the doctor slapped him on the behind.
b. when the little drummer boy started banging his drum.
c. just like other babies cry.
d. He never cried.
18. What is frankincense?
a. a precious metal
b. a precious fabric
c. a precious perfume
d. an eastern monster story
e. none of the above
19. What is myrrh?
a. an easily shaped metal
b. a spice used for burying people
c. a drink
d. aftershave lotion
e. none of the above
20. How many wise men came to see Jesus? (write in the correct number _____)
21. What does "wise men" refer to?
a. They were men of an educated class.
b. They were eastern kings.
c. They were astrologers.
d. They were smart enough to follow the star.
e. They were "sages."
22. The wise men found Jesus in a ...
a. manger
b. stable
c. house
d. Holiday Inn Express
e. good mood
23. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem...
a. to inform Herod about Jesus.
b. to find out where Jesus was.
c. to ask about the star they saw.
d. for gas.
e. to buy presents for Jesus.
24. Where do we find the Christmas story to check up on all these ridiculous questions?
a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John
e. All of the above
f. Only A and B
g. Only A and C
h. Only A, B, and C
i. Only X, Y, and Z
j. Aesop's Fables
25. When Joseph and Mary found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, what happened?
a. They got married.
b. Joseph wanted to break the engagement.
c. Mary left town for three months.
d. An angel told them to go to Bethlehem.
e. Both A and D.
f. Both B and C.
26. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
a. The angel
b. Mary's mother
c. Herod
d. Caesar Augustus
e. Alexander the Great
f. No one told them to.
27. Joseph took the baby Jesus to Egypt...
a. to show him the pyramids.
b. to teach him the wisdom of the pharaohs.
c. to put him in a basket of reeds by the river.
d. because he dreamed about it.
e. to be taxed.
f. Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt.
g. none of the above
28. I think this test was...
a. super
b. great
c. fantastic
d. all of the above
_______________________________________________________
Answers
1. False. Not until the 4th century did it settle on the 25th. Other dates were accepted before then.
2. a. See Luke 2:3-4.
3. f. The Bible doesn't say.
4. False. See Matthew 1:18.
5. False. See Luke 2:5.
6. True. See Matthew 1:25.
7. e. No word about the innkeeper.
8. e. No word about it.
9. c.
10. f. The Bible doesn't specify.
11. e. The wise men did (they were not kings). See Matthew 2:1-2.
12. a. See Luke 2:9.
13. f. See Luke 2:12.
14. d. See Luke 2:14.
15. e. Definition is an "army." See Living Bible also.
16. d. Mt. Hermon is snow covered.
17. c. We have no reason to believe he wouldn't.
18. c. By definition.
19. b. See John 19:39-40 or a dictionary.
20. No one knows. See Matthew 2:1.
21. c. See most any commentary. They were astrologers or "star gazers."
22. c. See Matthew 2:11.
23. b. See Matthew 2:1-2.
24. g. Mark begins with John the Baptist; John with "the Word."
25. f. See Matthew 1:19; Luke 1:39, 56.
26. d. See Luke 2:1, 4.
27. d. See Matthew 2:13.
28. d., of course.