I85PREP
⌘ K
MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge study materials
MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge study resources

MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge practice questions

One question at a time. Build your MATSEC AM Religious Knowledge understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which language was used for most of the Old Testament, with the exception of sections in Daniel and Ezra written in Aramaic?

  1. Hebrew Correct answer.
  2. Latin
  3. Coptic
  4. Greek

Explanation

The Hebrew Bible was written predominantly in biblical Hebrew, and Aramaic appears only in certain passages such as parts of Daniel and Ezra. Greek became the language of the New Testament and of the Septuagint translation.

Question 2The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

The first five books of the Bible, Genesis through Deuteronomy, are traditionally known by which collective name?

  1. The Pentateuch Correct answer.
  2. The Ketuvim
  3. The Lectionary
  4. The Deuteronomistic History

Explanation

The Pentateuch, also called the Torah or the Books of Moses, comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It forms the first major division of the Hebrew Bible and of the Christian Old Testament.

Question 3The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In the Hebrew Bible the three main divisions are the Law, the Prophets and which third section?

  1. The Gospels
  2. The Writings Correct answer.
  3. The Epistles
  4. The Apocrypha

Explanation

The Hebrew canon is traditionally arranged as Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings), giving the acronym Tanakh. The Gospels and Epistles belong to the New Testament, not to this Hebrew arrangement.

Question 4The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which genre best describes the book of Psalms?

  1. Gospel narrative
  2. Law code
  3. Apocalyptic vision
  4. Poetry and prayer Correct answer.

Explanation

Psalms is a collection of Hebrew poems used in prayer and worship, including laments, hymns and thanksgiving songs. Its parallel lines and imagery mark it as poetry rather than legal or narrative material.

Question 5The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which four books are traditionally called the Gospels?

  1. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel
  2. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers
  3. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Correct answer.
  4. Acts, Romans, Hebrews and James

Explanation

The four canonical Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, each presenting the life and teaching of Jesus. The other listed sets are, respectively, New Testament letters with Acts, Pentateuchal books and major prophets.

Question 6The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

What does the term 'exegesis' mean in biblical studies?

  1. Memorisation of a passage for liturgical recitation
  2. Translation of a text into a modern language
  3. Selection of readings for a church calendar
  4. Careful interpretation of a text to draw out its meaning Correct answer.

Explanation

Exegesis is the disciplined analysis of a biblical text to establish what it meant in its original context, drawing on language, history and literary form. It is distinguished from translation, memorisation and liturgical scheduling.

Question 7The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

The letters attributed to Paul that are addressed to individual persons rather than to congregations are known as which type?

  1. Deuteropauline letters
  2. Catholic Epistles
  3. Prison Epistles
  4. Pastoral Epistles Correct answer.

Explanation

The Pastoral Epistles are 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, addressed to individual leaders and concerned with church order and teaching. The Catholic Epistles are those attributed to other authors such as James and Peter.

Question 8The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which term describes the process by which the church came to recognise which books belonged in the biblical canon?

  1. Codification
  2. Transmission
  3. Canonisation Correct answer.
  4. Redaction

Explanation

Canonisation refers to the historical process by which certain books were recognised as authoritative scripture. Redaction concerns editorial shaping of texts, while transmission concerns copying and handing on.

Question 9The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which two-source theory is used to explain the similarities between Matthew and Luke that are absent from Mark?

  1. The Fragmentary Hypothesis, involving many independent units
  2. The Two-Source Hypothesis, involving Mark and a sayings source called Q Correct answer.
  3. The Documentary Hypothesis, involving four Pentateuchal sources
  4. The Supplementary Hypothesis, involving a single growing scroll

Explanation

The Two-Source Hypothesis holds that Matthew and Luke independently used Mark and a lost collection of sayings conventionally called Q. The Documentary Hypothesis concerns the Pentateuch rather than the Gospels.

Question 10The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A scholar compares parallel passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke and notes that Matthew and Luke rarely agree against Mark in wording. Which conclusion does this support?

  1. Mark was likely used as a source by Matthew and Luke Correct answer.
  2. All three Gospels drew independently on oral tradition alone
  3. Luke was likely used as a source by Matthew and Mark
  4. Matthew was likely used as a source by Mark and Luke

Explanation

Agreement of Matthew and Luke with Mark, rather than with each other against Mark, is a classic argument for Markan priority. If Mark were dependent on Matthew or Luke, we would expect the opposite pattern of agreements.

Question 11The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In form criticism, what is meant by a 'Sitz im Leben'?

  1. The date at which a manuscript was copied
  2. The geographical place where a book was written
  3. The rhetorical structure of a speech
  4. The life setting or social situation in which a tradition was used Correct answer.

Explanation

Form criticism studies the typical forms of units of tradition and asks about their Sitz im Leben, the community setting in which they functioned, such as preaching or catechesis. It is not primarily about dating manuscripts or locating authorship.

Question 12The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which method studies the final form of a biblical text as a unified literary work, focusing on narrative structure and point of view?

  1. Textual criticism
  2. Source criticism
  3. Narrative criticism Correct answer.
  4. Redaction criticism

Explanation

Narrative criticism analyses the finished text as a literary artefact, examining plot, characterisation, setting and narrative point of view. Source criticism asks about underlying documents, and textual criticism reconstructs the original wording.

Question 13The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A student argues that a biblical parable should be read as a detailed allegory in which every element stands for something else. Which caution is most appropriate?

  1. Parables are legal rulings and should be read as case law
  2. Over-allegorising parables can impose meanings not intended by the text's own frame Correct answer.
  3. Parables are historical reports and contain no symbolic elements
  4. Parables contain no figurative language and must be read literally

Explanation

Parables typically make a central point, and treating every detail as a coded symbol risks arbitrary interpretation. Interpreters therefore look to the parable's own introduction and conclusion to identify its main thrust.

Question 14The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following best describes 'typology' as a mode of biblical interpretation?

  1. Reading an earlier event or figure as a pattern fulfilled in a later one Correct answer.
  2. Establishing the earliest manuscript reading of a verse
  3. Assigning a precise date to an anonymous prophecy
  4. Identifying the documentary sources behind a narrative

Explanation

Typology interprets persons, events or institutions in earlier scripture as patterns that anticipate later fulfilments, especially in the New Testament. It is a hermeneutical approach, not a technique of textual or source criticism.

Question 15The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In what sense do Catholic and Orthodox traditions regard the deuterocanonical books, such as Tobit and Wisdom?

  1. As New Testament books placed after the Gospels
  2. As canonical scripture, though their status differs from the Hebrew Bible's shorter canon Correct answer.
  3. As purely secular historical documents with no religious value
  4. As texts that were never used in Christian worship

Explanation

Catholic and Orthodox canons include the deuterocanonical books as scripture, while Protestant Bibles usually place them in a separate Apocrypha section. The difference reflects divergent histories of canon formation rather than a denial of their religious use.

Question 16The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which criterion is commonly used by historians to assess the authenticity of a saying attributed to Jesus in the Gospels?

  1. The criterion of dissimilarity, judging whether a saying is unlike both contemporary Judaism and later church teaching Correct answer.
  2. The criterion of length, judging whether a saying is the shortest in the Gospel
  3. The criterion of position, judging whether a saying appears first in a chapter
  4. The criterion of alphabet, judging whether a saying begins with a particular letter

Explanation

The criterion of dissimilarity is one of several criteria of authenticity, along with multiple attestation and coherence. It argues that a saying unlikely to derive from either Judaism or the early church is more probably authentic.

Question 17The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which type of psalm expresses complaint and appeal for help in distress?

  1. Lament Correct answer.
  2. Wisdom psalm
  3. Royal psalm
  4. Hymn of praise

Explanation

Laments voice complaint, petition and often trust or praise, forming a large category within the Psalter. Hymns of praise celebrate God's greatness, royal psalms concern the king, and wisdom psalms reflect on instruction and the fear of the Lord.

Question 18The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

What is the difference between a 'dynamic' and a 'formal equivalence' approach to Bible translation?

  1. Dynamic equivalence translates only poetry, while formal equivalence translates only prose
  2. Dynamic equivalence omits difficult verses, while formal equivalence retains them
  3. Dynamic equivalence prioritises equivalent effect and natural expression, while formal equivalence stays close to the source wording Correct answer.
  4. Dynamic equivalence uses only one manuscript, while formal equivalence uses many

Explanation

Dynamic equivalence aims at reproducing the meaning and effect of the original in natural target-language style, while formal equivalence keeps closer to the source grammar and vocabulary. Both approaches work from the same manuscripts.

Question 19The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A reader notices that Genesis 1 presents creation in six days with humanity created last, while Genesis 2 focuses on the human being before the plants and animals. Which explanation best fits mainstream scholarship?

  1. The two accounts come from different traditions and have different literary purposes within the book Correct answer.
  2. The second account was added by a modern editor in the nineteenth century
  3. The second account corrects a mistake in the first, which is therefore not scripture
  4. The two accounts are identical and the apparent difference is a translation error

Explanation

Source and literary analysis commonly treat Genesis 1 and 2 as distinct traditions with different emphases, one cosmic and ordered, the other close-up and relational. The compiler placed them side by side without harmonising every detail.

Question 20The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of apocalyptic literature such as Daniel 7 or Revelation?

  1. Legal casuistry and detailed ritual prescriptions
  2. Wisdom sayings offering practical advice for daily conduct
  3. Genealogies tracing family descent over generations
  4. Symbolic visions, heavenly mediators and a focus on the end of history Correct answer.

Explanation

Apocalyptic literature uses symbolic visions, angelic interpreters and dualistic imagery to disclose a future resolution of history. Legal, genealogical and wisdom material belong to other genres.

Question 21The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A student claims that because the Bible was copied by hand for centuries, no reliable text can be recovered. Which response best reflects textual criticism?

  1. Thousands of manuscripts allow scholars to compare variants and reconstruct the earliest attainable text Correct answer.
  2. Textual criticism only applies to the New Testament and not the Old
  3. Hand copying guarantees that every manuscript is identical
  4. Variant readings prove that no original text ever existed

Explanation

Textual criticism uses the large manuscript base, along with versions and patristic citations, to weigh variants and reconstruct the earliest attainable wording. Hand copying produced variants, but it did not erase the evidence.

Question 22The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

How does redaction criticism differ from form criticism?

  1. Redaction criticism studies the theological shaping by editors, while form criticism studies the pre-literary units and their settings Correct answer.
  2. Redaction criticism studies manuscripts, while form criticism studies printed editions
  3. Redaction criticism studies translation, while form criticism studies archaeology
  4. Redaction criticism studies canon lists, while form criticism studies liturgical calendars

Explanation

Form criticism works backwards to the oral units and their life settings, whereas redaction criticism focuses on the editors who collected and arranged those units, shaping them theologically. The two methods are complementary stages of historical-critical study.

Question 23The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which argument most strongly supports the view that the Gospel of John stands apart from the Synoptics in literary character?

  1. John shares Mark's exact wording in most of its miracle stories
  2. John follows the same three-source structure as Matthew and Luke
  3. John contains long discourses and a different chronology of the temple cleansing Correct answer.
  4. John reproduces the Sermon on the Mount almost verbatim

Explanation

John's extended discourses, distinct chronology and different miracle traditions mark it off from the Synoptics, which share a common narrative framework. The other options describe features that John does not in fact have.

Question 24The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A scholar applies the criterion of multiple attestation to a Gospel tradition. What is being assessed?

  1. Whether a tradition appears in several manuscripts of the same Gospel
  2. Whether a tradition is quoted by several liturgies
  3. Whether a tradition appears in several independent strands of the tradition Correct answer.
  4. Whether a tradition is attested by several modern translations

Explanation

Multiple attestation concerns independent early traditions, such as material found in both Mark and Q or in both Matthew and Luke's special material. Manuscripts, translations and liturgies are later witnesses and do not establish early independence.

Question 25The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which statement best captures the distinction between 'inspiration' and 'inerrancy' in theological discussion of scripture?

  1. Inspiration concerns God's action in producing scripture, while inerrancy concerns the claim that scripture is free from error Correct answer.
  2. Inspiration concerns authorship, while inerrancy concerns the date of composition
  3. Inspiration concerns canon lists, while inerrancy concerns liturgical use
  4. Inspiration concerns manuscript copying, while inerrancy concerns translation quality

Explanation

Inspiration is the doctrine that scripture is produced under the influence of the Holy Spirit, while inerrancy is a further claim about the truthfulness or errorlessness of scripture. The two doctrines are related but not identical, and inerrancy is understood differently across traditions.

Question 26The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which term describes the scholarly study of the principles and methods used to interpret a biblical text?

  1. Textual criticism
  2. Apologetics
  3. Hermeneutics Correct answer.
  4. Homiletics

Explanation

Hermeneutics is the theory of interpretation: it examines the principles, assumptions and methods that guide how a reader moves from the biblical text to meaning. Textual criticism instead seeks to establish the earliest recoverable wording of the text.

Question 27The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In Catholic and Orthodox Bibles, which section of the Old Testament contains books such as Tobit, Judith, Wisdom and Sirach?

  1. The wisdom psalms
  2. The Former Prophets
  3. The deuterocanonical books Correct answer.
  4. The apocalyptic writings

Explanation

These books are called deuterocanonical in Catholic and Orthodox usage because they belong to the canon as received in those traditions, though they are absent from the Hebrew canon and are termed apocryphal by many Protestants. They are not a literary subsection such as Former Prophets or psalms.

Question 28The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following best describes the literary genre of a Gospel such as Mark?

  1. A collection of independent sayings without narrative framework
  2. A legal code for regulating community conduct
  3. A verbatim court transcript of eyewitness testimony
  4. A theological narrative proclaiming the significance of Jesus Correct answer.

Explanation

The Gospels are theological narratives: they arrange traditions about Jesus into a plotted story that makes a confessional claim about his identity and mission. They are not neutral transcripts, bare saying collections, or legal codes.

Question 29The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following is a characteristic of a parable as a literary form in the teaching of Jesus?

  1. It uses an everyday comparison to provoke a response about the kingdom of God Correct answer.
  2. It records a direct divine oracle introduced by 'Thus says the Lord'
  3. It lists ritual purity regulations for the community
  4. It presents a detailed allegory in which every element has a fixed symbolic meaning

Explanation

A parable typically draws on ordinary experience (a farmer, a merchant, a father) to illuminate the reign of God and to challenge the hearer. Allegory, prophetic oracle and legal instruction are distinct forms with different conventions.

Question 30The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A student reads Psalm 23 and notices the shift from speaking about God ('he makes me lie down') to addressing God directly ('you are with me'). Which feature of Hebrew poetry does this illustrate?

  1. The inclusion of a historical superscription
  2. The use of acrostic structure
  3. A change of grammatical person within the poem Correct answer.
  4. The presence of a refrain

Explanation

The psalm moves from third-person description of God to second-person address, a shift in grammatical person that is a recognised poetic technique. Acrostics, refrains and superscriptions are different devices and are not what this shift illustrates.

Question 31The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In the study of the Pentateuch, what does the 'Documentary Hypothesis' attempt to explain?

  1. The process by which the psalms were collected for worship
  2. The chronological order of the prophets
  3. The combination of distinct source traditions in the final text Correct answer.
  4. The textual variants among the Gospel manuscripts

Explanation

The Documentary Hypothesis proposes that the Pentateuch was formed by combining originally separate source documents, each with its own style, vocabulary and theology. It addresses the composition of the Torah, not the prophets, psalter or Gospel manuscripts.

Question 32The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A reader encounters the command in Leviticus 19:18, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'. Which type of biblical material does this verse belong to?

  1. Wisdom saying
  2. Apocalyptic vision
  3. Priestly legal instruction Correct answer.
  4. Prophetic oracle of judgement

Explanation

Leviticus is part of the Priestly legal material of the Pentateuch, and 19:18 belongs to a series of ethical and ritual commands. It is not a prophetic judgement oracle, a wisdom saying, or an apocalyptic vision.

Question 33The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following best explains why the four Gospels are described as 'canonical' rather than merely historical sources?

  1. They are received by the church as normative witnesses to the apostolic faith Correct answer.
  2. They are the only early Christian writings that have survived
  3. They were written by professional historians employed by the Roman state
  4. They contain no theological interpretation of the events they narrate

Explanation

Canonical status means the church recognises these writings as normative for faith and life, not simply as ancient documents. The Gospels are theological interpretations, were not state-sponsored histories, and many other early Christian writings survive.

Question 34The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following best describes the role of 'tradition' in the formation of the Gospels?

  1. The Gospel writers relied exclusively on Roman administrative records
  2. The Gospel writers invented their material without any prior tradition
  3. The Gospel writers copied one another without any earlier sources
  4. Oral and written traditions about Jesus were transmitted and shaped before being incorporated into written Gospels Correct answer.

Explanation

The Gospels draw on earlier traditions, both oral and written, which were transmitted in Christian communities before being arranged into the final narratives. This does not mean the evangelists invented material, copied one another exclusively, or used Roman archives.

Question 35The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A student compares the call of Levi in Mark 2:14 with the call of Matthew in Matthew 9:9 and asks why the name of the tax collector differs. Which explanation is most consistent with source-critical study?

  1. One of the two Gospels must be historically false
  2. The difference proves that neither Gospel used earlier tradition
  3. Matthew has reworked the Marcan tradition, perhaps to link the disciple Matthew with the tax collector Correct answer.
  4. Mark and Matthew record two entirely unrelated events

Explanation

Source-critical study commonly explains the difference as Matthean redaction of the Marcan account, linking the tax collector with the disciple Matthew. The other options misstate the relationship between the Gospels or draw unwarranted conclusions.

Question 36The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

Which of the following best describes the function of a 'superscription' in the Psalter?

  1. It provides a heading, often with author, occasion or liturgical instruction Correct answer.
  2. It divides the Psalter into five books
  3. It marks the end of a psalm with a doxology
  4. It supplies a prose summary of the psalm's theology

Explanation

Superscriptions are the headings attached to many psalms, giving information such as 'Of David', historical occasion, or musical direction. They are not concluding doxologies, book divisions, or theological summaries.

Question 37The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A reader notes that the book of Proverbs contains both short two-line sayings and longer instructional poems addressed as 'my child'. Which conclusion best follows?

  1. Proverbs is a prophetic oracle collection
  2. Proverbs is an apocalyptic vision
  3. Proverbs is a single unified poem with no variety
  4. Proverbs is a composite book containing more than one wisdom form Correct answer.

Explanation

The presence of both short sayings and longer instructional poems shows that Proverbs is a composite collection drawing on several wisdom forms. It is not a single poem, a prophetic oracle collection, or an apocalypse.

Question 38The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A student argues that because the Bible contains different literary genres, it should be read with attention to the conventions of each genre. Which principle does this best illustrate?

  1. Literalist interpretation
  2. Proof-texting
  3. Genre-sensitive interpretation Correct answer.
  4. Allegorical interpretation

Explanation

Genre-sensitive interpretation recognises that poetry, law, prophecy, Gospel and apocalypse each have their own conventions and should be read accordingly. Allegory, literalism and proof-texting are different approaches that do not centre on genre.

Question 39The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

A scholar notes that the four Gospels differ in wording, order and emphasis, yet all proclaim Jesus as Messiah and Son of God. Which conclusion best follows for interpretation?

  1. The differences prove that only one Gospel can be inspired
  2. The differences indicate that the Gospels were written without any theological intent
  3. The differences show that the Gospels have no historical value
  4. The differences reflect the distinct theological purposes of each evangelist Correct answer.

Explanation

The evangelists select, arrange and phrase traditions to serve their own theological purposes, which explains both the unity of the kerygma and the diversity of the four accounts. The other options draw conclusions that the evidence does not support.

Question 40The Bible: formation, genres and interpretation

In interpreting a prophetic book such as Amos, which approach best respects both its original setting and its later canonical use?

  1. Ignoring the book's poetic imagery in favour of its prose sections only
  2. Reading every verse as a direct prediction of twenty-first-century events
  3. Treating the book as a collection of timeless moral maxims without historical context
  4. Attending to the historical situation addressed and to the book's later reception in the canon Correct answer.

Explanation

Responsible interpretation holds together the original historical address of the prophet and the book's later canonical reception by the community of faith. The other approaches either decontextualise the text or arbitrarily privilege part of it.

Question 41The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the Synoptic Gospels, which title is spoken by the heavenly voice at Jesus' baptism in the Jordan?

  1. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God
  2. This is the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee
  3. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased Correct answer.
  4. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away sin

Explanation

At the baptism the voice from heaven addresses Jesus in royal and messianic language drawn from Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42, declaring him the beloved Son in whom God delights. The words identify Jesus' sonship and his role as the servant who pleases God.

Question 42The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the temptation narrative, Jesus answers each of the devil's proposals by quoting from which part of Scripture?

  1. The Psalms of lament
  2. The prophetic books
  3. The wisdom literature
  4. The book of Deuteronomy Correct answer.

Explanation

All three replies in the wilderness temptation are citations from Deuteronomy, where Israel's own testing in the desert is recorded. Jesus thus interprets his forty days as a recapitulation of Israel's trial, answering with obedience where Israel failed.

Question 43The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

Which set of brothers did Jesus call while they were casting and mending nets by the Sea of Galilee?

  1. James and John Correct answer.
  2. Thomas and Judas
  3. Philip and Nathanael
  4. Andrew and Matthew

Explanation

The call narrative presents Jesus summoning the sons of Zebedee, James and John, from their fishing work with their father. Their immediate response, leaving boat and father, becomes a model of discipleship in the Synoptic tradition.

Question 44The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his disciples the salt of the earth and warns that salt which has lost its taste is good for what?

  1. Being kept in the storehouse for the harvest
  2. Being thrown out and trampled underfoot Correct answer.
  3. Being offered on the altar of the temple
  4. Being mixed with oil for the lamps

Explanation

The saying stresses the uselessness of tasteless salt: it can neither season nor fertilise and is simply discarded. The image warns disciples that failure to live out the kingdom's righteousness makes their witness worthless.

Question 45The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the Beatitudes, which promise is attached to those who mourn?

  1. They shall be comforted Correct answer.
  2. They shall be called sons of God
  3. They shall obtain mercy
  4. They shall inherit the earth

Explanation

The promise to those who mourn is consolation, echoing Isaiah's hope that God will wipe away tears. The passive form points to divine comfort rather than any human remedy.

Question 46The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

Which prayer does Jesus teach his disciples when they ask him to teach them to pray in Luke's Gospel?

  1. The Benedictus
  2. The Lord's Prayer Correct answer.
  3. The Nunc Dimittis
  4. The Magnificat

Explanation

Luke places the request of a disciple within Jesus' own practice of prayer and gives the shorter form of the prayer addressing God as Father. The prayer's petitions focus on God's name, kingdom, bread, forgiveness and deliverance from trial.

Question 47The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

Which Gospel alone records the raising of Lazarus at Bethany as the sign that precipitates the decision to put Jesus to death?

  1. Mark
  2. Matthew
  3. Luke
  4. John Correct answer.

Explanation

The Lazarus narrative belongs to the Fourth Gospel's Book of Signs and is followed by the council's decision that Jesus must die. The Synoptics contain other raisings, such as Jairus' daughter, but not this sign.

Question 48The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

At Caesarea Philippi, what does Jesus say must happen to the Son of Man after Peter confesses him as Messiah?

  1. He must suffer, be rejected and be killed Correct answer.
  2. He must withdraw to Galilee until the kingdom comes
  3. He must be crowned by the elders of the people
  4. He must be acclaimed by the crowds in Jerusalem

Explanation

The confession is immediately followed by the first passion prediction, which redefines messiahship in terms of suffering and rejection. Peter's rebuke and Jesus' reply show how shocking this teaching was to contemporary expectations.

Question 49The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, what motivates the Samaritan to stop and help the wounded man?

  1. He is moved with compassion at the sight of him Correct answer.
  2. He wishes to embarrass the priest and Levite
  3. He recognises the man as a fellow countryman
  4. He hopes for a reward from the innkeeper

Explanation

The parable contrasts the religious officials, who pass by, with the outsider who is moved with compassion. The motive is inner mercy rather than calculation, and Jesus tells the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Question 50The person and teaching of Jesus Christ

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, what does the father do when he sees the son returning while still far off?

  1. He waits until the son reaches the door
  2. He sends a servant to test the son's intentions
  3. He runs, embraces him and orders the best robe Correct answer.
  4. He demands a public confession before the village

Explanation

The father's running, embracing and clothing of the son portray extravagant, uncalculating mercy that restores the son's status. The robe, ring and sandals signify full reinstatement rather than servitude.