Nativity Of Jesus Quiz: Trivia!

The Gospel of Matthew describes the visit of the wise men (also known as the Magi), who bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the newborn Jesus. These gifts are symbolic: gold represents Jesus's kingship, frankincense his divinity, and myrrh his mortality (as it was used in embalming).

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Jesus being born in humble circumstances, in a stable or manger where animals were kept. This detail emphasizes the humility of Jesus's birth and contrasts with the traditional image of a king being born in a palace.

The Gospel of Luke describes the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary to announce that she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. Gabriel is a significant figure in both Christian and Islamic tradition, often serving as a messenger of God.

A synonym for "nativity" is "birth." The word "nativity" specifically refers to the circumstances of a person's birth, particularly in a religious or historical context. In Christian tradition, "The Nativity" commonly refers to the birth of Jesus Christ, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and is widely celebrated as Christmas.

The Gospel of Matthew describes how King Herod, threatened by the prophecy of a newborn "King of the Jews," orders the massacre of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to eliminate the potential threat to his rule. This event, known as the Massacre of the Innocents, highlights the political context surrounding Jesus's birth and the dangers he faced even as a child.

Myrrh is an aromatic tree resin derived from species of the Commiphora genus, particularly Commiphora myrrha. It has been used for thousands of years in perfumes, incense, and medicine due to its fragrant and antiseptic properties. In ancient times, myrrh was highly valued and often associated with religious rituals, embalming, and healing. It was also one of the gifts presented to Jesus by the wise men.

Swaddling clothes are strips of cloth used to wrap an infant snugly, a common practice in ancient times to provide warmth and security. The mention of Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes in Luke 2:7 highlights his humble birth. Swaddling mimics the womb’s comfort, prevents sudden movements that may startle a baby, and was considered a sign of proper newborn care in biblical times.

A manger is a feeding trough for animals, typically made of wood or stone, used to hold hay or grain for livestock. In the nativity story, Jesus was placed in a manger after his birth (Luke 2:7), symbolizing his humble arrival into the world. While many associate a manger with a stable, the Bible does not explicitly mention a stable—only the manger itself.

The Gospel of Luke provides a detailed account of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. This journey is prompted by a census ordered by Caesar Augustus, requiring everyone to return to their ancestral hometowns. This detail adds a historical context to the narrative of Jesus's birth.

Only the Gospels of Matthew and Luke contain accounts of Jesus's infancy. Mark begins with Jesus’s baptism as an adult, while John starts with a theological introduction about Jesus as the eternal Word. Matthew's account includes the visit of the wise men and Herod's massacre of infants, while Luke details the angelic announcement, shepherds, and Jesus's birth in a manger.

Luke refers to Bethlehem as "the city of David" because it was the birthplace of King David, Israel’s most famous ruler. Although David later established Jerusalem as his capital, his origins in Bethlehem made the town historically significant. This connection reinforces Jesus’s lineage as a descendant of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would come from David’s family line.

The virgin birth, a central tenet of Christian theology, emphasizes the miraculous nature of Jesus's conception and his divine origin. It underscores the belief that Jesus is the Son of God, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. This doctrine distinguishes Jesus from other religious figures and prophets, highlighting his unique status as both fully human and fully divine.

Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the Boswellia genus. It has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, traditional medicine, and perfumes. When burned, frankincense produces a fragrant smoke believed to have spiritual and medicinal benefits. It was one of the gifts given to Jesus by the wise men, symbolizing divinity and priestly significance in Christian tradition.

Jesus was likely born between 6 and 2 B.C. Our modern calendar, which aims to count years from Jesus’s birth, was established by a 6th-century monk named Dionysius Exiguus but miscalculated the date. Historical clues—such as Herod the Great’s death in 4 B.C. and Roman census records—suggest Jesus was born earlier than traditionally thought, likely during the reign of Herod.

The Bible does not specify the exact number of wise men who visited Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12) simply mentions "wise men from the East," making it clear that there was more than one. The traditional belief that there were three stems from the three gifts they brought—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—rather than any biblical enumeration of the visitors.

The genealogies of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke serve to establish his legitimacy as the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David. While the genealogies differ in some details, they both ultimately trace Jesus's lineage back to David, emphasizing his royal heritage and his connection to the Davidic covenant.

The Gospel of Luke recounts the story of angels appearing to shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus. This angelic proclamation highlights the significance of Jesus's birth and its impact on all of humanity, not just the religious elite.

The Bible does not mention an innkeeper at all. Luke 2:7 simply states that Mary laid Jesus in a manger "because there was no room for them in the inn." The traditional image of an innkeeper turning them away is a later interpretation. Some scholars suggest "inn" may refer to a guest room in a home, rather than a commercial lodging.

The Greek word translated "host" in Luke's phrase "a multitude of the heavenly host" is more literally translated . . .

In the Gospel of Luke, the Greek word translated as "host" is stratia, which more accurately means "army." This term reflects the idea of a great assembly of angelic beings, often envisioned as a celestial military force. The phrase "heavenly host" conveys a powerful image of divine warriors proclaiming the birth of Jesus and praising God.

According to Matthew 2:11, Jesus was in a house when the wise men arrived to visit him. Unlike Luke’s account, which describes Jesus being placed in a manger at birth, Matthew states that the wise men "entered the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother." This suggests that some time had passed since his birth, possibly several months or even up to two years.