Christmas Trivia Quiz
Much of what we believe about the Christmas Story is really a blending of two infancy narratives found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke combined with a bit of legend. Here's a fun way to test your knowledge of the Christmas Story to see what you really know about the birth of Jesus!(This is the same quiz taken during the Candian Bible Society staff Christmas party. Sadly, we didn't get most of the answers on the first try! Don't forget to share your results on the Canadian Bible Society page. )
- 1.
Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
- A.
An angel
- B.
A dream
- C.
Caesar Augustus
- D.
John the Baptist
Correct Answer
C. Caesar AugustusExplanation
Read Luke 2.1-4Rate this question:
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- 2.
When did the Magi begin following the star?
- A.
When they left Herod
- B.
When they saw it in the East
- C.
When they saw it in the West
- D.
About 2:30 Greenwich Mean Time
Correct Answer
A. When they left HerodExplanation
Ref: Matthew 2.1-12. They certainly came from the East, therefore saw his star while in the East. The translation in verse 2 lends itself to say they saw it rising from the East.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What did the Innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
- A.
We have no room in the inn
- B.
You can stay in our stable
- C.
The Holiday Inn is not too shabby
- D.
A and b
- E.
Inn keeper? What inn keeper?
Correct Answer
E. Inn keeper? What inn keeper?Explanation
There is no innkeeper in the biblical story. Luke 2.6-7 (You can check Matthew, but you won't find him there either)Rate this question:
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- 4.
Where did the Magi find the child Jesus?
- A.
In a stable
- B.
In a house
- C.
In the Holiday Inn, which was not too shabby
- D.
Who knows?
Correct Answer
B. In a houseExplanation
Ref: Matthew 2.9-11. It is interesting to note that Matthew has Mary and Joseph already living in Bethlehem, which is why Jesus is born in a house - presumably Josphe's house (Matthew 1.24). Whereas, Luke has both Mary and Joseph being from Nazareth and having to travel to Bethlehem for census, which is why there is no room for them at the inn and hence the scene with the manger.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Where did the shepherds find the child Jesus?
- A.
In a stable
- B.
In a house
- C.
In the Holiday Inn, which was not too shabby.
- D.
In a cave
- E.
Who knows?
Correct Answer
E. Who knows?Explanation
Ref: Luke 2.7,12. Luke talks about the child lying in a manger and nothing else. (Okay, okay, this is a pretty literalist interpretation, but the manger was a trough used for animal feed and could have been in a stable, a cave, or merely located hehind the inn. So who knows?)Rate this question:
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- 6.
What animals were around the manger?
- A.
Sheep, gotas, and narwhals
- B.
Babe, Willy, and Flipper
- C.
Who knows?
- D.
Sheeps, gotas, and donkeys
Correct Answer
C. Who knows?Explanation
Ref: Luke 2.7,12. Since there is no mention of stable in Luke, there is certainly no mention of animals. (Awww... they're so cute in the Christmas pageant though :-)Rate this question:
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- 7.
How did Mary and Joseph get to Bethlehem?
- A.
They walked (she waddled)
- B.
He walked, she rode a donkey
- C.
Limousine with all the fixins'
- D.
Who knows?
Correct Answer
D. Who knows?Explanation
Ref: Luke 2.4. Nope, no donkey either.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What were the "Magi"?
- A.
Wise Men
- B.
Kings
- C.
Astrologers/Astronomers
- D.
Who knows, but if they wre women they would have asked for directions and been there 3 weeks earlier
Correct Answer
C. Astrologers/AstronomersExplanation
Ref: Matthew 2.1 According to biblical scholarship, "Magi" translates better as 'astrologer' rather than 'wise men,' as it is translated in some versions of the Bible. One thing's definitely for sure… they weren't kings.Rate this question:
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- 9.
How many magi were there?
- A.
4
- B.
3
- C.
12
- D.
Who knows?
Correct Answer
D. Who knows?Explanation
Ref Matthew 2.11 Three gifts = three magi right? Wrong! Popular belief holds that 3 magi visited Bethlehem from the east because they came bearing 3 gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. However, Matthew makes no mention of the specific number. The names commonly attributed to the magi - Gaspar, Melchior and Balthasar – stem from a legend that arose some 500 years later.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What did the angels sing to the shepherds?
- A.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all people…”
- B.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all men…”
- C.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men…”
- D.
All of the above are implied
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
E. None of the aboveExplanation
Ref: Luke 2.13-14 Trick question. They didn't sing. They "said". A host usually refers to an army and is not used to portray a choir.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What was the name of the angel who appeared to Joseph and told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?
- A.
Gabriel
- B.
Michael
- C.
Uriel
- D.
None of the above
Correct Answer
D. None of the aboveExplanation
Ref: Matthew 2.13 An angel appears to Joseph in a dream on three separate occasions in Matthew's narrative (Matthew 1.20, 2.13, 2.19), but the angel is not mentioned by name.Rate this question:
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- 12.
Were Mary and Joseph married when Jesus was born?
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
ref: Matthew 1.18 states that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but that they did not live together yet. Despite that fact, the very next verse (1.9) identifies Joseph as her husband. It is not until after Joseph had an angel of the Lord appear to him in a dream that he takes Mary into his home rather than divorce her quietly (1:24). Luke merely states that Joseph and Mary were betrothed (Luke 2.5-6). Betrothal has nothing to do with being engaged to be married, as we understand engagement today. According to Jewish marriage rites, betrothal was the first part of the marriage, constituting a man and woman as husband and wife. The couple was considered married. (This is why Joseph contemplates divorcing Mary in Matthew 1.19 even though they were merely betrothed) Betrothal was followed some months later by the husband taking his wife into his home, at which time normal married life began.Rate this question:
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Quiz Review Timeline +
Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.
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Current Version
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Dec 23, 2014Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Dec 18, 2014Quiz Created by
Erabago
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