JAMB Christian Religious Knowledge 1983

45 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

Who said this, ‘there shall be neither dew nor rain these years except by my word?’

  1. Elisha
  2. Ezekiel
  3. Elijah
  4. Obadiah
  5. Nehemiah
Answer and explanation

C: Elijah

In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah announces the drought to Ahab. Elisha is a different prophet who appears later in the narrative.

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Question 2

In the case before Solomon over the dead and the living child, the mother of the dead child supported

  1. giving the living child to her opponent.
  2. killing the living child
  3. joint ownership of the living child.
  4. king Solomon having the living child.
  5. state ownership of the living child.
Answer and explanation

B: killing the living child

In 1 Kings 3:26, the woman whose son had died accepts dividing the living child. The living child’s mother instead asks that he be spared and given to the other woman.

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Question 3

Before Moses died, God appointed ... to succeed him.

  1. Joshua
  2. Aaron
  3. Eleazar
  4. Balaam
  5. Manasseh
Answer and explanation

A: Joshua

Numbers 27:18-23 names Joshua as the successor Moses is to commission. Eleazar the priest is present at that commissioning but is not the appointed leader.

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Question 4

The treatment for those bitten by the fiery serpent was to

  1. drink from the Red Sea
  2. look at the bronze serpent
  3. fast for seven days
  4. call upon the Lord
  5. repent
Answer and explanation

B: look at the bronze serpent

Numbers 21:8-9 says that a person bitten by a serpent could look at the bronze serpent and live. Looking at it is the action specified in the account.

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Question 5

In order that Benjamin might be brought to Egypt, Joseph detained

  1. Reuben
  2. Levi
  3. Judah
  4. Simeon
  5. Zebulon
Answer and explanation

D: Simeon

Genesis 42:24 names Simeon as the brother Joseph detained. The other brothers were to return with Benjamin to confirm what they had told him.

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Question 6

When Joseph’s brothers came to him in Egypt, he said to them, ‘You are...’

  1. spies
  2. robbers
  3. traitors
  4. sinners
  5. war-mongers
Answer and explanation

A: spies

In Genesis 42:9, Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies who have come to see the land’s vulnerability. The question asks for that accusation.

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Question 7

Sarah gave birth to...in her old age.

  1. Joseph
  2. Isaac
  3. Jacob
  4. Simeon
  5. Benjamin
Answer and explanation

B: Isaac

Genesis 21:2-3 says that Sarah bore Abraham a son in his old age and that Abraham named him Isaac. The other names refer to later generations.

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Question 8

As a condition of his covenant with God, Abraham had to

  1. circumcise every male
  2. sacrifice to God every month
  3. keep the Sabbath
  4. pray to God daily
  5. recite the Shema.
Answer and explanation

A: circumcise every male

Genesis 17:10-14 identifies male circumcision as the sign of the covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The other proposed requirements are not the sign specified there.

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Question 9

According to Genesis 1:2, what was the condition of the earth at the opening of the creation account?

  1. The earth was without form and void.
  2. There was a firmament above the earth.
  3. Light infrequently penetrated the earth.
  4. The heaven was very close to the earth.
  5. The earth was inhabited by angels and spirits.
Answer and explanation

A: The earth was without form and void.

Genesis 1:2 describes the earth as formless and empty, with darkness over the deep. This describes its initial condition in the narrative.

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Question 10

God wanted to destroy the world because

  1. Adam and Eve disobeyed him.
  2. Cain killed Abel his brother.
  3. the sons of God were taking the daughters of men as wives.
  4. the people made a tower of Babel to get to heaven.
  5. the earth was filled with violence.
Answer and explanation

E: the earth was filled with violence.

Genesis 6:11-13 describes the earth as corrupt and filled with violence, and gives that violence as the stated reason for the coming destruction.

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Question 11

What did Adonijah do to show that he feared Solomon? He

  1. begged Solomon for forgiveness.
  2. promised Solomon loyal support.
  3. caught hold of the horns of the altar.
  4. ran into the Temple.
  5. sent messengers to Solomon asking for a place of honour.
Answer and explanation

C: caught hold of the horns of the altar.

First Kings 1:50 says that Adonijah feared Solomon and took hold of the altar’s horns. It is this action that is reported to Solomon.

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Question 13

According to Jeremiah’s prophecy, the domination of nations by Nebuchadnezzar was

  1. against the wish of God.
  2. part of the divine purpose.
  3. the result of his military might.
  4. the result of the wickedness of nations.
  5. the result of his righteousness and belief in God.
Answer and explanation

B: part of the divine purpose.

In Jeremiah 27:5-8, God says that he has given the nations into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. Within this prophecy, the domination is presented as part of a divine purpose.

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Question 14

Ezekiel was ordered to eat... and then go to speak to the house of Israel.

  1. honey
  2. locusts
  3. bread
  4. fish
  5. a scroll
Answer and explanation

E: a scroll

Ezekiel 3:1-3 instructs the prophet to eat the scroll and then speak to Israel. Honey describes its taste, not the object he is told to eat.

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Question 15

The place where Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac was

  1. Moriah
  2. Sinai
  3. Bethel
  4. Tabor
  5. Zion
Answer and explanation

A: Moriah

Genesis 22:2 names the land of Moriah as the destination where Abraham is to offer Isaac. The other places are not named in that instruction.

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Question 16

The one who was to be the wife of Isaac was known

  1. by her coming to the well to draw water.
  2. because she was a descendant of Abraham’s brother.
  3. because she said ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’.
  4. because her name was Rebecca.
  5. By her height and beauty.
Answer and explanation

C: because she said ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’.

The servant’s requested sign in Genesis 24:14 is a woman who offers water both to him and to his camels. Rebekah fulfils it in verses 18-20.

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Question 18

How is it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed? was said by

  1. Elijah to Ahab when Ahab sought to kill him.
  2. David to the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul.
  3. Joab to Absalom when the latter rebelled against David.
  4. David to Saul when Saul attacked him with a spear.
  5. David to Goliath.
Answer and explanation

B: David to the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul.

David says these words to the Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:14 after hearing his claim to have killed Saul. The question concerns David’s response to that claim.

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Question 19

The prophet regularly addressed as ‘son of man’ was

  1. Jeremiah
  2. Ezekiel
  3. Isaiah
  4. Amos
  5. Hosea.
Answer and explanation

B: Ezekiel

Ezekiel is repeatedly addressed as son of man, including in Ezekiel 2:1 and 3:1. Those repeated addresses identify him among the listed prophets.

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Question 20

What was the last miracle God performed before the Israelites were released from Egypt?

  1. Thick darkness brought about by the hot wind ‘Khamisin’.
  2. The pollution of the Nile.
  3. The slaughter of all the male children.
  4. The plague of locusts.
  5. The slaughter of the first born.
Answer and explanation

E: The slaughter of the first born.

Exodus 12:29-32 records the death of the firstborn immediately before Pharaoh tells Moses and Aaron to take the Israelites away. It is the final plague before their departure.

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Question 21

Who was the prophet who proved on Mount Carmel that Yahweh is greater than Baal?

  1. Elijah
  2. Elisha
  3. Nathan
  4. Hosea
  5. Amos.
Answer and explanation

A: Elijah

First Kings 18 describes Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. The people respond to the fire by declaring that the LORD is God.

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Question 22

On the third day of creation, God caused which of the following to appear?

  1. light.
  2. the firmament.
  3. the dry land, called earth.
  4. animals.
  5. man.
Answer and explanation

C: the dry land, called earth.

Genesis 1:9–13 places the appearance of dry land on the third day. God calls that dry land earth and the gathered waters seas.

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Question 23

The Lord said to Moses: Cut two tablets of stone like the first; and I will write upon the tablets the words that were upon the first tablets which you broke. On what occasion was this said?

  1. At the renewal of the Covenant.
  2. During the election of Aaron.
  3. Just before the election of Joshua.
  4. After the first fall of Manna from heaven.
  5. Shortly before the conquest of Jericho.
Answer and explanation

A: At the renewal of the Covenant.

Exodus 34 begins with replacement tablets after the earlier ones were broken. The chapter then records the renewal of the covenant, which is the occasion described.

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Question 24

The city of Jericho was captured by the Israelites

  1. after a fierce battle lasting seven days.
  2. because the army of the city was betrayed by some of its soldiers.
  3. because the defence system was very weak.
  4. at the blast of the trumpets of the priests.
  5. because famine had broken out in the city and the inhabitants surrendered because of hunger.
Answer and explanation

D: at the blast of the trumpets of the priests.

Joshua 6:20 describes the trumpet blast, the people’s shout and the collapse of the wall. The trumpet option matches the event; a prolonged battle or famine does not.

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Question 25

The call of Isaiah took place

  1. on the return from the Babaylonian captivity.
  2. in the year of the death of King Uzziah.
  3. during the dedication of the temple by king Solomon.
  4. shortly before the rise of the Maccabees.
  5. after David had completely defeated the Philistines.
Answer and explanation

B: in the year of the death of King Uzziah.

Isaiah 6:1 dates the vision to the year King Uzziah died. The prophet’s commissioning follows in the same account.

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Question 26

When Zechariah doubted the announcement of the birth of John he

  1. fell down and fainted.
  2. was struck dumb.
  3. rebuked the angel Gabriel.
  4. knelt down and prayed.
  5. told his wife about it.
Answer and explanation

B: was struck dumb.

Luke 1:20 says Zechariah will be unable to speak because he did not believe the announcement. The waiting people then observe that he cannot speak to them.

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Question 27

Herod wanted to kill the child Jesus because

  1. he thought he would became a prophet.
  2. he learnt that he was born king of the Jews.
  3. the wise men worshipped Jesus.
  4. he was born of a virgin.
  5. he was born in a manger.
Answer and explanation

B: he learnt that he was born king of the Jews.

Matthew 2 reports the visitors asking about the newborn king of the Jews and Herod’s alarm. The later warning identifies his intention to destroy the child.

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Question 29

‘These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them. Which town is referred to here?

  1. Tarsus
  2. Ephesus
  3. Corinth
  4. Thessalonica
  5. Athens.
Answer and explanation

D: Thessalonica

Acts 17 places the accusations against Jason and his guests in Thessalonica. The town is named at the start of the episode.

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Question 30

‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High’, refers to

  1. Samuel.
  2. Jesus.
  3. Jeremiah.
  4. John the Baptist.
  5. Moses.
Answer and explanation

D: John the Baptist.

Zechariah speaks this prophecy over John in Luke 1:76. He says the child will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.

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Question 31

The parable of the mustard seed teaches that

  1. the kingdom of God is invisible.
  2. although the kingdom of God is for all, very few enter it.
  3. the kingdom of God will expand world-wide from what appears to be an insignificant beginning.
  4. It is not certain when the kingdom of God will come.
  5. The kingdom of God is within us.
Answer and explanation

C: the kingdom of God will expand world-wide from what appears to be an insignificant beginning.

Matthew 13:31-32 contrasts a very small seed with a plant large enough for birds to nest in. The intended comparison is growth from a small beginning to a much larger reach.

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Question 32

When the women got to the tomb of Jesus they found the stone rolled away and

  1. saw Jesus coming out of the tomb.
  2. Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
  3. Jesus was sitting in the tomb.
  4. immediately saw a vision of Jesus.
  5. saw an angel singing hallelujah.
Answer and explanation

B: Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

Luke 24:2-3 says the women found the stone rolled away but did not find Jesus’ body. They are then told that he has risen.

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Question 33

‘You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and ... and to the end of the earth.

  1. Rome.
  2. Antioch.
  3. Damascus.
  4. Samaria
  5. Israel.
Answer and explanation

D: Samaria

Acts 1:8 gives the sequence Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth. Samaria is the missing place.

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Question 35

Which country in Africa provided Jesus with a refuge when Herod sought to destroy him?

  1. Algeria.
  2. Egypt.
  3. Morocco.
  4. Ethiopia.
  5. Libya.
Answer and explanation

B: Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-15 records Joseph taking the child and his mother to Egypt after the warning about Herod. Egypt is the refuge named in the account.

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Question 36

‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie’. Who said this?

  1. Jesus Christ.
  2. Mary Magdalene.
  3. Mark
  4. John the Baptist
  5. The annunciation angel.
Answer and explanation

D: John the Baptist

Mark 1:7 attributes these words to John the Baptist. He contrasts his own role with that of the more powerful person coming after him.

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Question 37

Who addressed Jesus at Jericho, saying, ‘Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me?’

  1. Bartimaeus the blind beggar.
  2. Simon the leper.
  3. Simon of Cyrene.
  4. James the son of Zebedee.
  5. Peter the Apostle.
Answer and explanation

A: Bartimaeus the blind beggar.

Mark 10:46-47 names Bartimaeus, a blind beggar at Jericho, as the man who cries out to Jesus as Son of David.

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Question 38

By whom did the Lord heal the blindness of Paul?

  1. Ananias
  2. Cephas
  3. John Mark
  4. Silas
  5. Timothy.
Answer and explanation

A: Ananias

Acts 9:17-18 names Ananias as the person sent to Saul. He lays hands on him, and Saul regains his sight.

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Question 39

Who insisted in his speech that God does not dwell in houses made with hands?

  1. Peter.
  2. James.
  3. Paul.
  4. Matthew.
  5. Stephen.
Answer and explanation

E: Stephen.

Stephen makes this statement in his speech in Acts 7. He quotes the prophet’s description of heaven as God’s throne and earth as his footstool.

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Question 40

‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God’. This was said by the angel Gabriel to

  1. Elizabeth
  2. Zechariah
  3. Mary
  4. Joseph
  5. The Shepherds.
Answer and explanation

C: Mary

Luke 1:26-35 identifies Mary as the person to whom Gabriel explains the birth of the holy child. Elizabeth is mentioned in the surrounding account but is not the addressee.

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Question 41

“But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” According to Luke’s account, Jesus said this

  1. on the road to Calvary.
  2. on the road to Emmaus.
  3. on the road to Jerusalem.
  4. during the Transfiguration.
  5. during the Sermon on the Plain.
Answer and explanation

E: during the Sermon on the Plain.

Luke 6 places these instructions in the teaching given after Jesus stands on a level place. This setting is commonly called the Sermon on the Plain.

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Question 42

What did the Apostles do when complaints were made to them that some sections of the new Christian community were not being supplied with their needs for sustenance? They

  1. gave out more money for buying food.
  2. said that they had neither gold nor silver.
  3. appointed seven deacons to undertake the care of the new Christians.
  4. appointed the Apostles: James, Peter and John to oversee the supply of provisions to the new Christians.
  5. decided to call a council in Jerusalem to look into the matter.
Answer and explanation

C: appointed seven deacons to undertake the care of the new Christians.

Acts 6:1-6 records complaints about neglected widows and the selection of seven people for the daily service. This frees the apostles for prayer and the ministry of the word.

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Question 43

When Paul came to Rome, the first set of people to whom he preached were the

  1. Romans
  2. Jews
  3. Greeks
  4. Samaritans
  5. Corinthians.
Answer and explanation

B: Jews

Acts 28:17 says Paul called together the local Jewish leaders after arriving in Rome. The account then describes his explaining his situation and teaching them about Jesus.

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Question 44

‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb’. This was said by

  1. the angel Gabriel
  2. Simeon
  3. Anna
  4. Elizabeth
  5. Zechariah.
Answer and explanation

D: Elizabeth

Luke 1:41-42 attributes the blessing to Elizabeth when Mary visits her. Gabriel announces the birth earlier, but Elizabeth speaks this particular blessing.

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Question 46

And he came to ... where he had been brought up; and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read. Identify the missing place in the quotation.

  1. Jerusalem.
  2. Bethlehem.
  3. Nazareth.
  4. Capernaum.
  5. Bethany.
Answer and explanation

C: Nazareth.

Luke 4:16 names Nazareth as the place where Jesus had been brought up and where he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath.

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Question 47

‘Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven for they all had her? This question was put to Jesus by the

  1. Pharisees.
  2. Scribes.
  3. Chief Priests.
  4. Sadducees.
  5. Sanhedrin.
Answer and explanation

D: Sadducees.

Matthew 22:23 introduces the Sadducees as the people asking the resurrection question. Their example concerns seven brothers who successively married the same woman.

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Question 48

According to Luke 23, Pilate ordered that Jesus be crucified because

  1. he found Jesus guilty of the charges.
  2. Jesus refused to defend himself.
  3. the crowd gave him money.
  4. Jesus did not answer him.
  5. the crowd brought pressure upon him.
Answer and explanation

E: the crowd brought pressure upon him.

Luke 23:20–25 says Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the crowd kept demanding crucifixion. Their urgent voices prevailed and Pilate granted their request.

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Question 49

Paul was converted so that he might

  1. stop persecuting the Apostles.
  2. help Peter in the work.
  3. not be killed for his sins.
  4. bear the name of the Lord before the Gentiles.
  5. see visions.
Answer and explanation

D: bear the name of the Lord before the Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 calls Saul a chosen instrument to bear Jesus’ name before Gentiles, kings and Israel. The Gentile mission is the purpose represented in the options.

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Question 50

Paul and Silas were imprisoned at

  1. Athens.
  2. Philippi
  3. Antioch
  4. Corinth
  5. Ephesus.
Answer and explanation

B: Philippi

Acts 16 places Paul and Silas in Philippi before describing their beating and imprisonment. The other cities are not the setting of this imprisonment.

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