Mothers, Martyrs and Missionaries Quiz

Answer: Naomi, the mother of Kings

Naomi's story is found in the book of Ruth, where we learn that her husband and both of her adult sons died, leaving behind two daughters-in-law (one of whom was Ruth). Naomi tried to send the young women home to their families, but Ruth insisted on staying with her mother-in-law.

They traveled to Bethlehem, where Naomi was known, but when they called out to her, she replied with heartache, ""Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter."" (Ruth 1:20)

While Naomi's daughter-in-law Ruth would eventually marry Boaz and become the great-grandmother of King David, there was no direct blood relationship to Naomi for the line of kings that would come.

Answer: Methuselah

Genesis 5:25-27:

"When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died."

According to the Bible, Methuselah was the son of Enoch, the grandfather of Noah, and a descendant of Adam through the line of Seth. Methuselah is most famously noted for living 969 years, as noted above, making him the longest-lived human recorded in the Bible.

Methuselah is often viewed through symbolic or theological lenses due to his exceptionally long lifespan. Some interpretations suggest that he passed away either shortly before or during the time of the great flood.

Answer: Moses

The whole of Exodus 25 through 27 is given to instructions to build the tabernacle and all the parts thereof. The portions described in Exodus 25 include where the materials were to come from (vv. 1-9), the specifications for the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat (vv. 10-22), the table for bread (vv. 23-30), and the golden lampstand (vv. 31-40). Exodus 26 covers the tabernacle (the tent, its frame, and various screens and curtains), while Exodus 27 details the bronze altar and the oil for the lamp.

Here are the specifics on the Ark of the Covenant (including the Mercy Seat), found in Exodus 25:10-22:

"'Have them make an ark of acacia wood - two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.'

'Make an atonement cover of pure gold - two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.'"

Answer: Mishael

During the 'Babylonian Captivity', King Nebuchadnezzar's regime worked to control the displaced Hebrew population through a deliberate strategy of forced cultural and religious assimilation. The goal was to erase their Jewish identity and national loyalties, integrating them into Babylonian society and dedicating them to its pagan gods.

One of the ways this was done was through the practice of changing Hebrew names to Babylonian names. King Nebuchadnezzar gave explicit instructions on the matter, as seen in Daniel 1:3-7:

"Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king's service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king's table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king's service.

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego."

Answer: True

The Midianites were descendants of Midian, who was one of the children of Abraham and Keturah, whom Abraham married after Sarah's death.

Genesis 25:1-2 states, "Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah."

The Midianites made other appearances in biblical stories, including when Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery... to passing Midianite traders (Genesis 37:28). Moses fled to Midian after killing the Egyptian (Exodus 2:15), where he ended up marrying Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest. Later, in Judges 6 to 8, we learn that the Midianites were oppressing Israel, and in response, God raised up Gideon to defeat them with a small army of only 300 men.

Answer: James (son of Zebedee)

The fate of James, son of Zebedee (and brother of John) is related in the book of Acts, while the Christian church began to grow in the land, experiencing persecution in the process.

Acts 12:1-2 - "It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword."

Apart from Judas (who committed suicide) and James noted above, none of the other disciples of Jesus were seen to die within the pages of the bible. Accounts for the others are based on later Christian tradition and historical sources, and not the New Testament. The historical evidence for the martyrdom of many apostles is uncertain, but it is believed that all but John (James' brother) died a martyr's death.

Answer: Malachi

The book of Malachi, fittingly, is the last book of the Old Testament of the Christian bible.

Malachi was active nearly 100 years after the Babylonian captivity, estimated to be around 450 to 425 BCE. His message to the people of Israel was to renew their commitment and sincerity in their relationship with God. He confronted them for their indifference and inconsistent behavior, especially in how they worshipped, honoured marriage, and gave offerings. Alongside these warnings, Malachi also spoke of a future time of divine justice and the arrival of a promised savior who would bring restoration and hope.

Micah, contrastingly, was a biblical prophet who prophesied during the reigns of Judah's kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, which places his ministry from (approximately) 740 to 698 BCE, roughly 100 years before the Babylonian captivity.

Answer: False

Luke 8:1-3 explains how Mary Magdalene came to be a follower of Jesus:

"After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."

Martha and Lazarus had a sister named Mary, but it was not Mary Magdalene.

In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits the house of Martha and Mary, and in John 11, we learn of their brother Lazarus having died:

"Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

When Jesus heard the news, he came to Bethany and raised Lazarus from the dead.

Answer: Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew is the only one that included the Magi coming to see Jesus after his birth in Bethlehem. However, contrary to the many Nativity scenes that appear every Christmas season, they did not arrive while Mary and Joseph were in the manger. Rather, they had moved to a house.

Matthew 2:7-11

"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

Answer: A man of Macedonia

Paul was on his second missionary journey with Silas and Timothy when he had the following vision (Acts 16:9-10):

"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

This was significant in the development of the early church, as it marked the first time that the disciples moved into Europe proper. On this journey, Paul and his companions established churches in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth.