A Quick Look at New Testament People With 2 Names Quiz

Answer: Simon

The disciple commonly known today as Peter, was originally called Simon. However, Jesus gave Simon the nickname Peter, which translates as stone. According to Wikipedia, Simon means "He (God) has heard."

Simon Peter was brash and bold, and often acted without thinking. Be it attempting to walk on the water on the Sea of Galilee or boldly proclaiming he would never deny Christ just prior to the crucifixion, Simon Peter was front and center. In other words, he was the shop foreman of the disciples. In Acts, he is seen as a completely different person. Rather than being a border-line flake, Peter is seen as one who was rock solid in working to spread the Gospel of a resurrected Jesus Christ. He would go on to be credited with writing two books in the New Testament, 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

Answer: Levi

Matthew, the writer of the first of the four Gospels in order of appearance, was also known as Levi. According to Mark 2:14, Levi was the son of Alphaeus. The Web site Christiananswers.net states Matthew was a common name after the exile. Before becoming a disciple, he was a tax collector, as per Matthew 9:9.

While Matthew is the most common name given to the disciple today, the name Levi appears more often in the New Testament. The name Levi, when referring to the disciple, appears seven times in the NKJV Bible, while the name Matthew appears five times.

Answer: Nathanael

The correct answer is Nathanael. Many theologians believe Bartholomew and Nathanael are the same person. In Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts, Bartholomew only appears when a list of names of the disciples is given. In John, where he's known as Nathanael, it's a different story.

His name appears six times in the fourth Gospel and he's credited with proclaiming Jesus is "the Son of God," as per John 1:49. His proclamation was made months, possibly years, before Peter's statement that Jesus is "the Son of God."

Answer: Didymus

Thomas is also known as Didymus in John 11:16 and John 20:24, using the KJV and the NIV. Didymus means twin. In the same verses of the NKJV, Thomas is described as the Twin, rather than Didymus.

However, there are no details about Thomas' twin. Thomas is quoted on three different occasions in the Gospel of John, but in the three other Gospels there are no quotes from him. His name appears in only a list of the names of the disciples in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Thomas is best known for refusing to believe reports about Christ's resurrection from the dead. His doubts were cast away forever when he had a dramatic meeting with the resurrected Christ, as per John 20:26-29.

Answer: Boanerges or Son of Thunder

John was known as the Son of Thunder as well as Boanerges. The two monickers also apply to John's brother James.

Jesus called John and James 'Boanerges', which means Sons of Thunder. Mark 3:16-19, in the NKJV Bible, gives a list of the names of the Twelve Disciples in which James and John are identified as both sons of Zebedee and Boanerges: "Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, 'Sons of Thunder'; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him."

Notes in the NIV Study Bible state the brothers were called Sons of Thunder because it was "probably descriptive of their dispositions."

The term Boanerges can be found in only this passage in Mark in the entire Bible, using the KJV, NKJV or the NIV.

Answer: Paul

Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was originally known as Saul. In Acts 7:58 through to Acts 13:9, the apostle is identified as Saul no less than eighteen times in the NKJV. Then suddenly, Acts 13:9 refers to Saul, "who is also called Paul". After this point, there are a handful of references to Saul, but gradually the text refers to him as Paul.

In other words, the apostle was originally known as Saul during the period he vehemently opposed Christianity, but gradually became known as Paul after his conversion experience and preaching the Gospel message to the Gentiles.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state Paul means "Small One", indicating he was of diminutive stature.

Answer: Tabitha

The second name for Dorcas is Tabitha, which means "gazelle". According to Scripture, Dorcas lived at Joppa and was well-liked because she was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36-43 tells the amazing story of Dorcas dying and Peter raising her from the dead.

Answer: Joses

Joses was the real name of Barnabas. (In the NIV he is known as Jospeh, rather than Joses.) According to Scripture, Joses was a Levite from Cyprus. However, the apostles opted to call him Barnabas, which means 'Son of Encouragement'.

He is often seen as a secondary worker in the early church, and this is unfortunate because Barnabas truly played a key role. In fact, he was so prominent his name often appears before the name of Paul, who was also known as Saul. For example, Acts 12:25 tells of Barnabas and Saul (not Saul and Barnabas) returning to Jerusalem after completing their mission. Acts 13:2 tells of the Holy Spirit telling believers in Antioch so "separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Answer: Barsabas

Joseph actually had three different names. In addition to Joseph, he was also known as Barsabas and as Justus. He would get the short end of the stick and Matthias would go on to replace Judas Iscariot, who had committed suicide. Acts 1:23-26 reports things this way: "And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, 'You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.' And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

However, there are no further reports about Matthias and the man known as Joesph, as well as Justus and Barsabas, after this event.

Answer: Mark

John, a cousin of Barnabas, was also known as Mark and as John Mark. There is no smoking gun, but many theologians believe John Mark was the writer of the Gospel of Mark.

It's interesting to note John Mark and Paul had a falling out when John Mark apparently abandoned Paul during a missionary trip. No details are given, apart from a passing reference in Acts 15:38. The verse simply states that Mark departed from Paul in Pamphylia. Scripture goes on to state Paul sharply disagreed with a suggestion by Barnabas that Mark should be included as a member of a second missionary journey. As a result, Paul selected Silas to accompany him on the journey and Scripture reports Barnabas and Mark headed for Cyprus.