Image: YouTube
About This Quiz
The Bible contains in its 66 books a huge variety of characters, from villains to sidekicks to redeemed criminals to prophets to recipients of miracles. Among all of this colorful cast are a variety of leaders: prophets, kings, queens, soldiers, judges, and merchants.ÂÂ
Some of them were born great, like those profiled in the books of Kings, while others were appointed by man, such as the Judges of Israel. Still more were chosen by God, such as prophets and preachers who spoke forth, often fruitlessly, about the risks and evils of the direction the people insisted on going.
Some Biblical leaders weren't actually the godliest people. Indeed, some of them were working for evil gods or worshiped idols, or simply didn't care that much about such things. Most of these got the message when they either lost to God's forces or were converted, often in dramatic and exciting ways.ÂÂ
Some rejected the call to leadership, claiming not to be qualified, which God typically found rather offensive since obviously He would be unlikely to choose wrong. Others leaped eagerly to the service of God in the form of leadership of their people. How well do you remember the leaders, good and bad, of the Good Book?
Abraham is one of the greatest leaders and fathers of the Bible. What is he best known for?
starting many tribes and nations
Abraham's sons and relatives started many tribes or nations in the Bible. Israelites were at the front and center of this large family tree.
first Bible writer
one of the oldest humans
calling down fire from the heavens
Moses was called the Lawgiver of Israel. What were the most important laws that were given to him by God?
the Book of Levi
Kabbalah
Ten Commandments
Moses was the one who led the Israelites out of Egypt. He went up to Mount Sinai to receive the ten commandments of the Lord.
Mosaic Law
Why was the apostle and saint Peter known as the Rock?
he had great endurance
he was stubborn
he had great strength
the Church is built on his efforts
Peter was already acknowledged as the leader of the Christ's apostles when Jesus was still alive. Later, he was instrumental in what would be the Christian Church through his efforts and actions.
Advertisement
Who is this woman whom Jesus simply could not say no to?
Jezebel
Mary of Nazareth
Mary of Nazareth, more known as Mother Mary, was one of Jesus's closest advisers. As His mother, she also had a certain authority to speak with him.
Delilah
Lilith
What was the experienced King Solomon also known for?
humility
wisdom
King Solomon was known for his wisdom. Some of the Bible stories are about how he solves problems presented to him in ways that normal people wouldn't think about.
skill in battle
diplomacy
Supposedly, what was the personal symbol of power of the mighty Samson?
big muscles
his eyes
an amulet
long hair
Samson was one of the last Judges of Israel. He had superhuman strength and skill in combat. But, if his long hair were cut, his strength would disappear.
Advertisement
Daniel was a prophet and servant of kings. He was practically untouchable. What happened when he was thrown to the lions?
the lions bowed before him
an angel saved him
David was a man faithful to God, even though he was persecuted for it. God showed his love for him by sending an angel to stop lions from eating him.
he died a martyr's death
he was saved by his master
Who did the young David kill with his slingshot?
Satan
Herod
Goliath
David was a young shepherd who became a king's favorite. He killed Goliath, a giant warrior from the Philistines, with stones thrown from a slingshot.
Caesar
Saint Paul the Apostle was one of the most influential figures in the early days of the Church. How did God make him see the light?
hit him with lightning
visited him in a dream
broke his leg
blinded him
Saint Paul originally hunted down Christians in or near Jerusalem. However, God whispered to him on the road to Damascus, then struck him blind. He was eventually cured of his blindness, and after that he became a firm believer in the Christian God.
Advertisement
Why did Noah build the ark in the first place?
great flood
Noah had been told by God that a great flood would happen. He was instructed to build a large boat that could house all the animals and good people. People thought he was crazy, until the rains came.
hurricane
landslide
ice age
Gideon was a military leader and Judge of Israel. How did he defeat a large army with only 300 men?
he negotiated with them
he killed them group by group
he surprised them
Gideon was ordered by God to fight with only a small group, as a larger one would make people think they won without God's help. He attacked with only 300 men, all shouting and carrying torches in the middle of the night. The enemy army was so surprised, they fled.
he retreated, instead
What great disaster did Joseph, prophet and Egyptian official, foresee?
seven years of famine
Joseph, who'd been sold into slavery, eventually rose in rank as an Egyptian official. His prophetic visions of a coming famine allowed him to prepare for it. He eventually invited his family to settle in Egypt, so they could survive the natural disaster.
blood flowing into the Nile
earthquake
a great storm
Advertisement
The Biblical Jacob was also known by another name. What was his other, now-geographical name?
Arabia
Israel
Jacob was Joseph's father, and was a patriarch from the line of Abraham. He wrestled with and angel, and thus earned his new name, Israel.
Syria
Mesopotamia
Joseph of Arimathea took care of finding a burial cave for Jesus. What is he the patron saint of?
diplomats
administrators
janitors
funeral directors
Joseph of Arimathea was not mentioned much in the Bible, but his status as a rich man and a probable member of the priestly council made him a key ally for Jesus. He was the one who made sure that Jesus would have a resting place.
God usually helped Israelites out of love for them. What was unusual about Joshua, the leader after Moses, when it came to his relationship with God?
he was a true military leader
he was a spy
God fought for him in battle
Joshua was able to pray to God to get active support during one battle. There, God had large hailstones fall from the sky, killing more of the enemy than the Israelites did.
he was not originally an Israelite
Advertisement
Nehemiah qualifies as a true great leader, but in a different sense. What did this governor do for the city of Jerusalem?
founded it
relocated it
rebuilt it
Nehemiah was a cup bearer to the Persian king. But when he learned of how Jerusalem had fallen on hard times, he asked the king for permission to rebuild the city. He then became the governor of Persian Judea.
defended it
Samuel was a proven prophet in his day. However, he also had one other major role for the leadership of Israel. What was it?
kingmaker
Samuel is known to have crowned two kings. The first one was Saul, and the second was David.
butler
high priest
strategist
In the New Testament, why did Jesus visit John the Baptist?
to ask him to join
to be baptized
Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized. Some scholars point to this as the institution of Baptism as a Christian sacrament. John was also a great leader in his own right, and research indicates that Jesus may have studied under him for a short time.
to ask him for help
to recruit followers
Advertisement
Some of the Apostles may actually have been freedom fighters, like Simon the Zealot. What was he originally fighting for?
Return of the Jewish Kings
Freedom from the Priests
Equal status with Rome
Jewish freedom
Simon the Zealot has been linked to the freedom fighters that didn’t like Roman rule. Some even say that aside from being one of the Apostles, he may have maintained ties with the rebels, and led a failed revolt.
Isaac was one of the great father figures of the Old Testament. What was so unusual about his time as the leader of the Israelite?
much traveling
peaceful reign
Isaac was known for having a relatively peaceful time as the leader of the Israelites. He was also known for being very faithful to his wife, having no mistresses.
was a merchant
meek character
Of all the Prophets, Jonah had something in common with Captain Ahab. What was it?
a peg leg
a whale
Jonah was a prophet who had been instructed to warn the city of Nineveh of a coming disaster. Along the way, he was swallowed by a whale. He was spat out by the whale, and he managed to complete his mission. Some experts believe that the Book of Jonah may have been entirely fictional.
a love for the sea
an obsession
Advertisement
Miriam was the sister of Moses, and was, in her way, a great leader. However, her greatest act was in saving another person. Who did she save?
Aaron
her father
her son
Moses
Miriam was already known as a great prophet in her own right, as she helped save marriages and male children when Israelites were being oppressed in Egypt. Her greatest contribution, however, was to make sure that Moses would survive and be adopted by Egyptian nobles.
Jael is a woman who also figures in the Book of Judges. What did she do with some camping tools, which ended a war?
set up a new city
welcomed the injured
killed an army commander
Jael was from a tribe that had close ties with Israelites. When the enemy commander fled and found himself in her tent, she allowed him to fall asleep. She then hammered a tent pin through his head.
found a proper husband
John, one of the Beloved Apostles, was a leader of men. He is also unique among the apostles for one thing. What was it?
he outlived them all
John the Apostle was the only apostle to supposedly die of old age, though this is still being contested. He has written many of the books in the New Testament. He was called the Beloved Disciple, and was the youngest of the Apostles.
he could still talk to Jesus
he was educated
he kept himself hidden
Advertisement
Saul, one of the early Kings of Israel, was anointed by God through a prophet. Even though his relationship with God was troubled by his own pride, what was he good at?
diplomacy
combat
Saul was an aggressive King, and many stories in the Bible about him were battles. However, his increasing distance from God eventually led to his downfall. He committed suicide rather than be captured by an enemy.
trade
religion
Mary Magdalene was on the first to witness Christ's triumph. What did she see, exactly?
Christ hovering in the air
Christ's body
an empty tomb
Mary Magdalene was one of the named women who accompanied and supported Jesus and the Apostles. In keeping with their role, Mary went with some others to visit Jesus's burial cave. And there, she found an empty tomb.
A bright light
Elijah was a great and powerful prophet, and his passing was epic in nature. How was he taken up to heaven?
in a flash of light
with angels accompanying him
he died surrounded by loved ones
in a whirlwind
Elijah was known as a powerful prophet of God, who at one time even called down fire from the sky. His passing from Earth was equally miraculous, as he ascended to heaven on a whirlwind, in front of his disciple.
Advertisement
Enoch, Methuselah's dad, lived a short life, but had an unusual way of passing away. What was it?
he was killed in battle
he went to heaven alive
Enoch had a short life, but he more than made up for by being faithful to God. When it was his time to go, he took a walk with the Lord, and disappeared from the Earth.
he died peacefully
he turned to ash in front of everyone
What made Deborah unique among the Judges of Israel?
she was a woman
Deborah is the only female Judge of Israel In the Old Testament. It doesn’t detract from her being a strong character and a decisive leader, as the Book of Judges attest to.
she had no miracles
she was a strategist
she was a mighty warrior
Lazarus eventually became a bishop in the early times of the Church. But what was the true miracle received by this twice-buried man?
healed
resurrected
Lazarus was known in the New Testament as a supporter of Jesus, who had died of illness. Even after being dead for four days, Jesus was able to resurrect him. He became the ultimate miracle.
enlightened
saved from prison
Advertisement
Barnabas was an important person in the formation of the Early Church. He was also known later in life for addressing an issue in the Early Church. What was the internal problem?
martyrdoms
money
accepting non-Jews
Barnabas was one of those who proposed in the council of Jerusalem that non-Jews should be accepted into the Christian faith. Interestingly, he is a patron saints of peacemakers.
written texts
While Esau became a powerful and rich leader in his own right, what was his problem with his brother Jacob?
stolen wife
Jacob was richer
stolen birthright
Esau was the firstborn of Isaac, but because of some trickery on part of Jacob's mom and Jacob himself, birthright and leadership went to Jacob. Jacob and Esau eventually got over it, though there were lingering issues.
Jealous of Jacob
Esther was a different kind of leader, as she became a queen for a King of Persia. What did she do, that made her a great hero?
siring a great military leader
converted the Persian king
prevented the death of all Jews in Persia
Esther was taken in by the King of Persia, and when a political issue led to the possible killing of all Jews in the kingdom, she used her knowledge of Persian court culture to have a few dinners with the King. She saved her people, and killed the man who almost caused the tragedy.
became the King's right hand
Advertisement
Why was Jesus called the Messiah?
he was a great prophet
he was the Son of God
Jesus is the fulfillment of God's Promise. In him, the covenant of God is renewed, fulfilled, and expanded on.
he was of the proper lineage
he was brave against the Romans
You Got:
/35
YouTube