I hope some of the questions will be challenging to even you Bible Trivia buffs. There's a lot of assumptions in our typical nativity scenes that I didn't know until I began to research. One of the many joys of being a historical author. ;)
So, here's how it will work. I've got a list of questions below. I'll post the answers to the questions at the bottom of the quiz, but NO PEEKING until after you've commented with your answers! (You don't want to be on the naughty list.)
We've got to keep this fair, because the first commenter with the most correct answers will win a kindle copy of The Swaddling Clothes.
How Well Do You Know the First Christmas? Quiz
1) How Did Mary & Joseph Travel to Bethlehem? (Ex. in a chariot...by camel train...on a motorcycle...)
2) Who was the Roman Caesar at the time of Jesus' birth?
3) How many and which gospels record the Nativity story?
4) How far along was Mary when they traveled to Bethlehem? Was she really on the verge of birth?
5) How far apart in age was John the Baptist and Jesus?
6) How many wise men came to visit Jesus?
7) What was the name of the Angel that announced Jesus' birth?
8) What animal is mentioned in association with Christ's birth?
Comment with your answers below for a chance to win a kindle copy of The Swaddling Clothes!
Alright, no peeking until after you've answered the questions...
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Seriously, I'll put you on the naughty list if you peek.
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Okay, here it is.
1) Most nativity scenes depict Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem on a donkey, but no where in the Scriptural text is that mentioned. The most common form of travel in those days was on foot, but since Mary was pregnant, it is possible that they used a donkey, or even a cart to transport her. But the answer is, no one really knows.
2) According to Luke 2:1, Augustus was Caesar.
3) Only two gospels record the story of Christ's birth. Matthew and Luke.
4) Again, this is a tricky question that no one can really know the answer to. Luke records that Mary was "great with child", however it also mentions that certain "days were accomplished that she should be delivered" while they were in Bethlehem. We know that Mary was at least three months along, because this is the amount of time she spent with her cousin Elizabeth according to Luke 1:56.
5) Luke 1:26 mentions that Elizabeth was in the sixth month of her pregnancy when the angel appeared unto Mary, so Jesus would have been close to six months younger than John.
6) Almost all of the nativity scenes depict three wise men, however the Bible never declares how many wise men there were. They brought three gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, but that doesn't necessarily mean there were only three wise men.
7) Gabriel according to Luke 1:26.
8) Actually, none. It mentions shepherds watching over their flocks, but those flocks could have been goats, cows or possibly even camels. It mentions stables and mangers, but no animal is specifically mentioned.
Did you learn anything new today? Leave me another comment for an additional entry to win the ebook! Oh, and don't forget to check out The Swaddling Clothes on Amazon and add it to your Goodreads shelf!
1) I want to say donkey. I can picture it, but not sure.
ReplyDelete2) Caesar Augustus
3) Matthew and Luke
4) I have to say pretty far along, because there was not a lot of waiting around time.
5) Not sure on this one.
6) Three gifts, three wise men?
7) Gabriel
8) I’m going with sheep. The most obvious of flocks to my mind.
This was fun thank you.
Hi Mary! Thanks for taking the quiz! Winner will be announced in the Weekly Windup on Monday. :)
DeleteGreat list of questions. I thought about sharing my answers but I don't want to spoil things for our readers. :D Thanks for the fun, Amber!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Crystal! Thanks for participating. :D
DeleteI enjoyed your quiz and I agree that a lot of our perceptions of that first Christmas have been handed down by man, instead of actually being in God's Word. You mentioned that no one knows the number of wise men and I believe it is because of the three gifts mentioned that we think there were three. It was only as an adult that I learned that they weren't there on that Holy Night when Jesus was born and He was probably almost two years old when they finally found the Christ Child!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amber, for the time and effort you put in to make us think about 'the reason for the season'!
Hi Connie! Glad you enjoyed the quiz. You're right, the reason we usually think of three wise men is because of the three gifts. It's almost scary to think of all the things we just assume because we've seen it all our lives. Makes me pay closer attention when I read my Bible.
DeleteMerry Christmas!