What is the Bible? Quiz: A true or false quiz. (25 Questions)

1. T  F  God gave us the Bible.

2. T  F  God inspired the Bible.

3. T  F  The humanity of the biblical writers introduced errors.

4. T  F  Scribes made errors as they copied the manuscripts.

5. T  F  Scribes rewrote parts of the manuscripts.

6. T  F  We no longer have an accurate copy of the Scriptures.

7. T  F  It is possible to be too literal in Bible interpretation.

8. T  F  There are three meanings to every passage of scripture.

9. T  F  The distance of time, space and culture does not affect our understanding of the Bible

10. T  F  All you need is the Bible and the Holy Spirit. All other books are a waste of time, money, and trees.

11. T  F  There is no interpretation to the Bible. Just read it and believe it.

12. T  F  The More you can put yourself into the biblical setting and culture, the better you can understand it.

13. T  F  The Bible is a good book but has no real authority today.

14. T  F  The Bible is equal to the Koran.

15. T  F   The Old Testament is useless to us today.

16. T  F  "The Book of Revelation" was written in a code and we have lost the "key" to unlock its meaning.

17. T  F  The Davinci Code is true and tells us things the Bible does not.

18. T  F  The Bible does not include all inspired scripture.

19. T  F  I read the Bible once and that is enough.

20. T  F  The Bible is complete now.

21. T  F  Modern prophets know more than the Bible tells us about our future.

22. T  F  We expect no new revelation from God.

23. T  F  If God wanted us to understand Bible prophecy, He would have said it plainly and clearly.

24. T  F  The Bible tells us everything we need to know.

25. T  F  The Bible is the ultimate authoritative rule for life.

Answers

TRUE 1. God gave us the Bible.

TRUE 2. God inspired the Bible.

Inspiration: The Bible is inspired, verbally – meaning God told the authors what to say, and plenary inspiration means all the Bible is inspired.

FALSE 3. The humanity of the biblical writers introduced errors.

The biblical writers wrote exactly what God wanted them to write without errors.

TRUE 4. Scribes made errors as they copied the manuscripts.

The scribes did make errors. We see the errors when we compare the manuscripts to each other, but we can in most cases correct the errors by comparing the manuscripts to each other. This gives us a very accurate text.

TRUE 5. Scribes rewrote parts of the manuscripts.

Sometimes it was accidental when a note written in the margin became incorporated into the text. Other times a scrip purposely inserted an explanation. We find these additions when we compare the manuscripts to each other.

FALSE 6. We no longer have an accurate copy of the Scriptures.

Errors introduced by humans: Some of the manuscripts available to scholars were from time periods during which copies of the originals or copies of copies of the originals were still in use.

The authors generally made multiple copies of each manuscript and it would be difficult for anyone to make a change and it go unnoticed. No one could have covered up what the original said. Scribes sometimes made copying errors in manuscripts. Sometimes they would leave out  half of a line by accidently skipping ahead to a similar word. Other times scribes added notes in the margins which a later scribe would inadvertently include in the text thinking it was a correction. We now have what we call a critical text. Thousands of manuscripts have been analyzed and people have sought to discover what the most ancient manuscripts said by comparing the many manuscripts to each other in order to weed out the scribal errors and additions. This critical text is very accurate and has improved the quality of our Bible translations considerably. Any possible inaccuracies currently existing certainly do not affect any major doctrine. Certainly, a scholar needs to take care in noticing the variances within different manuscripts and come to their own conclusions as to the text they should accept as accurate, but this is very different from not having a manuscript we can rely on. Our current literal translations of the Bible are also very accurate translations, closely conveying the message of the original authors.

TRUE 7. It is possible to be too literal in Bible interpretation.

We generally want to be quite literal in our interpretation of Scripture however there are times when the author intended for his writing or a part of it to not be taken literally and it is usually fairly clear when those times are. If a person takes figurative language, it would be too literal for that passage and lead to misunderstanding of the passage. The Bible uses many figures of speech and we need to recognize them and understand them the way the author intended. Most of the time literal interpretation of the Bible is best, but we must be careful.

FALSE 8. There are three meanings to every passage of scripture.

Method of Interpretation: In the past, some Bible interpreters thought there were three or four meanings to every passage of Scripture. This does not happen when using good interpretation methods. When the New Testament quotes from the Old Testament, the New Testament writer may use it differently, but that is ok because they were inspired by God to write the Bible, whereas we are not inspired by God to apply passages to new context as the New Testament writers did.

TRUE 9. The distance of time, space and culture affects our understanding of the Bible.

In many ways culture affects how a person thinks. We think differently if our culture is different than that of Bible times. Also, we may misunderstand something because of things the local people knew about the lands of their region that we do not know. We need to try to span the gap between ourselves and the culture of the Biblical people, their technology, and knowledge of the region.

FALSE 10. All you need is the Bible and the Holy Spirit. All other books are a waste of time, money, and trees.

I have heard people claim this. Good Bible study requires additional resources. As we try to understand the Bible, we want to understand it in the same way the authors intended when they wrote it and the way the original readers or hearers would have understood it. Since customs have changed over time and across cultures we need extra materials to help us understand what their culture was like so we can understand it in the context of the situation of the biblical hearers and the writer and also to avoid putting our own thoughts and context into it. For example, Ezekiel 24:23 (KJV) says, "And your tires shall be upon your heads." Does this make you think of a big black doughnut on their head, like a small car tire? To the author in the original hearers it meant a turban on their head indicating proper attire.

A person must be careful because some of the biblical scholarship today is the result of overuse of the most recent tools of the time which produces unsatisfactory results. But there is much benefit to availing one’s self of the work and insight of others along with one’s own careful Bible study and prayer. A single person cannot know everything necessary to interpret the Bible correctly, i.e. languages, culture, history, ancient technology etc.

FALSE 11. There is no interpretation to the Bible. Just read it and believe it.

The Bible is a complex document that involves many genres. Plus, we are separated from the text by language, cultural, and technological differences that we must overcome if we are to understand the Bible. Interpretation involves all these things and more. So, yes there is interpretation to the Bible.

TRUE 12. The More you can put yourself into the biblical setting and culture, the better you can understand it.

Some things simply will not make sense until a person sees it through the eyes of the original audience. Cultural and geographical insights are often quite enlightening.

FALSE 13. The Bible is a good book but has no real authority today.

Though the Bible, often affectionately referred to as “the good book,” is much more than “a good book.” It is the word of God and is accurate in everything it says. All so-called contradictions are a result of misunderstanding it. The Bible’s authority comes from God.

FALSE 14. The Bible is equal to the Koran.

We seek to understand the Bible as the original authors intended. The understanding of the Koran depends on how their latest teachers interpret it. The meaning of the Koran has changed over the years. Though there are similarities at some points, the two do not say the same thing and only one of them can be the true word of God. The Bible is much more specific it what it tells us, and it gets its authority from God rather than the latest teachers.

FALSE 15. The Old Testament is useless to us today.

A person will not understand the New Testament without knowing the Old Testament. We need both testaments to understand God’s message to us. Many New Testament topics are fore shadowed in the Old Testament and point toward the New Testament.

FALSE 16. "The Book of Revelation" was written in a code and we have lost the "key" to unlock its meaning.

People have used four different approaches to interpreting The Book of Revelation. Scholars still do not agree to which approach to use. If God inspired it, and I believe He did, people can understand its meaning. It may be that it simply is not the right time for us to understand some of it as it may be for those who live through some of the events mentioned in the book. It is much easier to understand prophecy after it has come to be than before the events prophesied. So, keep studying so your ready when the time is right.

FALSE 17. The Davinci Code is true and tells us things the Bible does not.

To say the Davinci Code is true is to say the Bible is false or corrupted.  Peyton Jones, the author of Church Zero, once used “The Da Vinci Code” as an evangelistic tool. He led a study through the book because it caught the interest of the people he was trying to reach, and it gave him a chance to introduce them to what the Bible really says.

Some people give this novel more credence than it deserves simply because some of the details in the plots have been around for years, centuries, millenniums. In early Christianity back in the times of the New Testament there was a sect called Gnostics. Some of the biblical authors combated the erroneous teachings of the Gnostics. “The Da Vinci Code” used some of these ideas. So really, “The Da Vinci Code” is not a reliable source of information because it is a fictitious novel that used some interesting, though false, ideas.

FALSE 18. The Bible does not include all inspired scripture.

Question 18 is little tricky, as a person studies the books of Corinthians, we become aware that there was another book that Paul wrote to them that we do not have today. See 1 Corinthians 5:9. If archeologist dug up that missing book, it would probably be considered inspired and included in the Bible after scholars thoroughly studied it. Other than that possibility, the Bible is considered complete and includes all inspired scripture. Based on Revelation 22:18, nothing else should be added.

FALSE 19. I read the Bible once and that is enough.

Question 19 might be true if you are really reading the Bible as literature for entertainment. But for the word of God, once is not enough. It will take many times of going through the Bible, hearing it, reading it, and studying it to really absorb it to truly understand it and apply it to your life. Unless you have a photographic memory and can perfectly recall, contemplate it, meditate on it, understand it, and apply the Bible to your life, you will need to keep reading. We read our bibles to feed out spirits, not to only gain knowledge.

TRUE 20. The Bible is complete now.

We consider the Bible to be complete and contains everything God has revealed to us.

FALSE 21. Modern prophets know more than the Bible tells us about our future.

Many Christians do not believe there are even prophets today so there are no modern prophets so that you would quickly make this question false. If a person does believe there are profits today, all prophecy must be tried and tested by the word of God and it must also bear witness with one’s own spirit. And then again, we do not expect any new revelations since that would be like adding to the Bible. So, question 21 is still false.

TRUE 22. We expect no new revelation from God.

Completeness of Scriptures: We do not expect God to reveal anything new to us. We consider the Bible as the complete revelation of God.

FALSE 23. If God wanted us to understand Bible prophecy, He would have said it plainly and clearly.

Sometimes we would like for everything to be handed to us on a platter ready for us to digest. But just as Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would not understand. Only those who were ready to understand could understand them. God has given us biblical prophecy in the same way and whether we understand it or not it will serve God’s purpose.

TRUE 24. The Bible tells us everything we need to know.

We need resources to assist in Bible study. As we try to understand the Bible, we want to understand it in the same way the authors intended when they wrote it and the way the original readers or hearers would have understood it. Since customs have changed over time and across cultures we need extra materials to help us understand what their culture was like so we can understand it in the context of the situation of the biblical hearers and the writer and also to avoid putting our own thoughts and context into it. For example, Ezekiel 24:23 (KJV) says, "And your tires shall be upon your heads." Does this make you think of a big black doughnut on their head, like a small car tire? To the author in the original hearers it meant a turban on their head indicating proper attire.

Question 24 It is true that the Bible tells us everything that we need to know about God or from God. But it does not tell us everything we need to know on every subject to live life today. Studying the Bible will not turn one into a doctor or scientist so in that sense it does not. But in the sense of understanding God, The Bible does tell us everything we need to know about God once we understand it but we may need other resources to help us understand it since our culture is different from the culture within which it was written.

TRUE 25. The Bible is the ultimate authoritative rule for life.

Authority of Scripture: There are many people today who would think that question 13 is true however it is incorrect. (13) The Bible is a good book but as God’s word, it is intended to provide an authoritative rule for us today. It teaches us God’s way which is different from the tendencies of humanity. We do not measure the Bible by our culture or our reasoning. (15) The Bible should serve us as measure by which to judge our culture and our actions so that we can live a godly life pleasing to Him. The Bible should be our ultimate authoritative rule for life as we serve the Lord. If anything speaks counter to the Bible, the Bible is always right. Sometimes our understanding of the Bible is incorrect but still the Bible is always right. (14) The Koran is not inspired by God and therefore does not possess the same authority as the Bible. (25) The Bible should serve as our ultimate authoritative rule for life in all subjects it speaks on.

Hope you enjoyed the quiz!