JAMB Christian Religious Knowledge 1986

46 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was …

  1. The first woman
  2. The mother of all living
  3. The man’s partner
  4. Taken out of man.
Answer and explanation

D: Taken out of man.

Genesis 2:23 completes the statement by saying that the woman was taken out of man. This is the explanation given within that creation narrative.

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Question 3

‘This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven’, was said by

  1. Abraham at Shechem
  2. Jacob at Bethel
  3. Moses at the burning bush
  4. Moses at Sinai.
Answer and explanation

B: Jacob at Bethel

Genesis 28:17 records Jacob’s words after his dream. Verse 19 says he named the place Bethel.

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Question 4

The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and forced them to build

  1. store-cities
  2. bridges
  3. temples
  4. canals.
Answer and explanation

A: store-cities

Exodus 1:11 says the enslaved Israelites built Pithom and Raamses as storage cities for Pharaoh. Store-cities is the category named in the account.

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Question 6

The consecration of the people of Israel took place at the foot of Mount

  1. Carmel
  2. Nebo
  3. Sinai
  4. Gilboa
Answer and explanation

C: Sinai

Exodus 19 describes the people consecrating themselves and assembling at the foot of Mount Sinai. The mountain is named in the chapter’s setting.

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Question 7

What occasion is reflected in this statement? ‘It is not the sound of shouting for victory, or the sound of the cry of defeat, but the sound of singing that I hear.’

  1. Celebrating the Exodus
  2. Rejoicing for the water from the rock
  3. Praising God after receiving the Ten Commandments
  4. The apostasy of Aaron and the people.
Answer and explanation

D: The apostasy of Aaron and the people.

Exodus 32:17-19 places Moses’ remark as he returns to the camp and finds the calf and dancing. The sound belongs to that breach of the covenant.

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Question 8

When Moses was instructed to view the Promised Land afar, he

  1. made arrangements to capture it
  2. summoned the elders and informed them about the land
  3. was struck dead immediately
  4. prayed for a successor to shepherd the people
Answer and explanation

D: prayed for a successor to shepherd the people

After being told to view the land, Moses asks God to appoint a leader so the congregation will not be like sheep without a shepherd. This is the response in Numbers 27:15-17.

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Question 9

Who gave this advice? ‘Now therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.’

  1. Moses
  2. Joshua
  3. Aaron
  4. Caleb
Answer and explanation

B: Joshua

Joshua 24 introduces Joshua as the speaker at the assembly in Shechem. He then gives this instruction to serve the LORD faithfully.

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Question 10

To whom was this addressed? ‘Rule over us you and your son and your grandson also, for you have delivered us out of the hand of Midian.

  1. Deborah
  2. Samson
  3. Gideon
  4. Jephthah
Answer and explanation

C: Gideon

Judges 8:22 identifies Gideon as the person asked to rule after deliverance from Midian. His response rejects hereditary rule for himself and his son.

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Question 11

Who asked this question? ‘Which is better for you that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?

  1. Abimelech
  2. Ahimelech
  3. Jotham
  4. Elimelech
Answer and explanation

A: Abimelech

Judges 9:1-2 attributes the question to Abimelech. He seeks support from his mother’s relatives in Shechem against the other sons of Jerubbaal.

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Question 12

At childhood, the word of the Lord came to Samuel because he

  1. was righteous
  2. had the qualities of a prophet
  3. was to announce the punishment for the house of Eli
  4. slept near the altar
Answer and explanation

C: was to announce the punishment for the house of Eli

First Samuel 3:11-14 gives the message about judgment on Eli’s household. Samuel then reports it to Eli, which is the task represented in option C.

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Question 13

‘Cursed be the man who takes food before evening before I am able to avenge myself on my enemies.’ This was said by Saul during the battle between Israel and the

  1. Ammonites
  2. Jebusites
  3. Amalekites
  4. Philistines
Answer and explanation

D: Philistines

First Samuel 14 describes the battle with the Philistines. Saul’s oath against eating before evening appears in verse 24 during that episode.

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Question 14

Who was the man who, in an attempt to prevent a disaster, touched the Ark and died when David was returning it to Jerusalem?

  1. Obed-edom
  2. Abinadab
  3. Uzzah
  4. Ahio
Answer and explanation

C: Uzzah

Second Samuel 6:6-7 names Uzzah as the man who takes hold of the ark when the oxen stumble and then dies beside it.

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Question 15

The suggestion made by prophet Nathan to Bathsheba to foil Adonijah’s attempt to usurp the throne of David was to

  1. have Adonijah banished
  2. remind David of his promise that Solomon would succeed him
  3. have Solomon secretly anointed by Zadok
  4. plead with Adonijah to abandon the attempt.
Answer and explanation

B: remind David of his promise that Solomon would succeed him

In 1 Kings 1:13, Nathan tells Bathsheba to remind David of his oath that Solomon would succeed him. Nathan then plans to confirm her report.

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Question 16

It was wrong for King Solomon to have married foreign women because

  1. they would entice him to worship idols
  2. the women of Israel were more beautiful
  3. they were very jealous
  4. a King should not have too many children
Answer and explanation

A: they would entice him to worship idols

First Kings 11:2 states the warning that these marriages would turn Solomon’s heart toward other gods. Verse 4 describes that turning away.

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Question 17

How many months were the Israelites on forced labour in Lebanon allowed to spend at home for every month at the labour camp?

  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Four
  4. Five
Answer and explanation

A: Two

First Kings 5:14 says each group spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Two therefore answers the rotation question.

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Question 18

Which of the following Kings said ‘Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt?

  1. Rehoboam
  2. Ahab
  3. Jeroboam
  4. Zedekiah
Answer and explanation

C: Jeroboam

First Kings 12:28 attributes these words to Jeroboam when he presents the two golden calves. The surrounding verses explain his fear of losing his people’s allegiance.

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Question 19

The jar of meal shall not be spent and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth. From the context, which of these statements is UNTRUE?

  1. The meal in the jar and the oil in the cruse were continually replenished thereafter
  2. The widow of Zarephath prepared food for Elijah
  3. The widow and her son ate the food and waited for their death.
  4. The woman was gathering sticks to prepare her last meal
Answer and explanation

C: The widow and her son ate the food and waited for their death.

First Kings 17:15-16 says the widow, her household and Elijah continued eating because the meal and oil did not run out. Waiting to die was her earlier expectation, not the outcome.

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Question 20

Which of these Kings did not assassinate his predecessor but was assassinated by his successor?

  1. Shallum
  2. Pekah
  3. Hoshea
  4. Pekahiah
Answer and explanation

D: Pekahiah

Second Kings 15:22-25 says Pekahiah succeeded his father Menahem and was then assassinated by Pekah. He inherited the throne rather than killing his predecessor.

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Question 21

Hosea said that the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince without sacrifice or pillar, without …

  1. ephod or teraphim
  2. prophet or seer
  3. dream or vision
  4. Thummim or Urim
Answer and explanation

A: ephod or teraphim

Hosea 3:4 ends its list with the ephod and household idols, also called teraphim. Those are the two missing items in the quotation.

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Question 22

To whom does this refer? And he burned his son as an offering, and practised soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

  1. Hezekiah
  2. Manasseh
  3. Josiah
  4. Jehoiakim
Answer and explanation

B: Manasseh

Second Kings 21 introduces Manasseh and then lists these practices in verse 6. The description therefore refers to Manasseh.

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Question 23

Who was that Egyptian king who not only made Eliakim king of Judah but changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim?

  1. So
  2. Neco
  3. Shishak
  4. Hophra
Answer and explanation

B: Neco

Second Kings 23:34 states that Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim king and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Both actions identify Neco.

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Question 24

Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylon and encouraged them to

  1. fight for their return
  2. come back home to rebuild the temple
  3. seek the welfare of Babylon
  4. disobey the king of Babylon
Answer and explanation

C: seek the welfare of Babylon

Jeremiah 29:7 tells the exiles to seek the peace of the city where they have been sent and pray for it. Their welfare is linked to its welfare.

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Question 25

Which of these prophets made this prophecy of Zion’s happy future at the return of the exiles? “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

  1. Jeremiah
  2. Isaiah
  3. Zephaniah
  4. Ezekiel
Answer and explanation

B: Isaiah

Isaiah 35:10 describes the ransomed returning to Zion with singing and lasting joy. The promise of sorrow fleeing away belongs to Isaiah.

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Question 26

Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel, which means

  1. Son of Emmaus
  2. God with us
  3. Saviour
  4. God is our Redeemer.
Answer and explanation

B: God with us

Matthew 1:23 supplies the translation of Immanuel as God with us. This explanation directly answers the meaning asked for.

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Question 27

What specific reply did John the Baptist give to the soldiers during his preaching?

  1. ‘Collect no more than is appointed you’
  2. ‘Do not begin to say to yourselves: we have Abraham as our Father
  3. ‘Bear fruits that befit repentance
  4. ‘Be content with your wages.
Answer and explanation

D: ‘Be content with your wages.

Luke 3:14 gives the soldiers’ instructions, including being content with their wages. The rule about collecting only the appointed amount is addressed to tax collectors.

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Question 28

The order of the locations of Jesus’ temptations according to Matthew is

  1. wilderness-high mountain-pinnacle of the Temple
  2. wilderness-pinnacle of the temple-high mountain
  3. high mountain-wilderness-pinnacle of the temple
  4. pinnacle of the temple-wilderness-high mountain
Answer and explanation

B: wilderness-pinnacle of the temple-high mountain

Matthew 4 begins in the wilderness, then places Jesus on the temple pinnacle, and finally on a high mountain. That sequence matches option B.

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Question 29

When Christ called Levi to follow Him, he

  1. waited two days before he obeyed
  2. accounted for the tax he collected and responded
  3. took some of the money he collected before following Him
  4. left everything and followed Him
Answer and explanation

D: left everything and followed Him

Luke 5:28 says Levi left everything, rose and followed Jesus. No delay or settling of accounts is described in that response.

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Question 30

The miracle which touched on ingratitude is the

  1. healing of Bartimaeus
  2. raising of Jairus’ daughter
  3. cure of the ten lepers
  4. cure of the demoniac
Answer and explanation

C: cure of the ten lepers

Luke 17 records ten people being cleansed of leprosy but only one returning to give thanks. Jesus’ question about the other nine highlights ingratitude.

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Question 31

The parable of the unmerciful servant teaches that

  1. we should exercise patience until our debtors pay us
  2. we should forgive our debtors from our hearts
  3. all debts should be reported
  4. debtors should be jailed until they pay all their debts.
Answer and explanation

B: we should forgive our debtors from our hearts

Matthew 18:35 applies the unmerciful servant’s story to forgiving one’s brother from the heart. It calls for mercy rather than imprisonment of debtors.

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Question 32

The ways in which various people hear the word of God are described in the parable of the

  1. Sower
  2. Wheat and the tares
  3. Fig tree
  4. Vineyard
Answer and explanation

A: Sower

Luke 8 explains the sower’s different soils as different responses to hearing the word of God. The seed represents the word.

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Question 33

But if it is by the spirit of God that I cast out demons, then …

  1. God has defeated Satan
  2. the kingdom of Satan cannot stand
  3. the kingdom of God has come upon you
  4. the kingdom of Satan is already divided.
Answer and explanation

C: the kingdom of God has come upon you

Matthew 12:28 concludes that if Jesus casts out demons by God’s Spirit, the kingdom of God has come upon his hearers. Option C completes the statement.

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Question 34

‘I assure you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.’ This is a warning by Jesus against

  1. anger
  2. ambition
  3. wealth
  4. disobedience
Answer and explanation

B: ambition

The disciples ask who is greatest, and Jesus responds by placing a child before them and teaching humility. The warning concerns ambition for status among them.

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Question 35

Jesus taught that fasting in addition to prayers, is necessary in some situations, during the healing of the

  1. blind beggar
  2. dropsied man
  3. gerasene demoniac
  4. epileptic boy
Answer and explanation

D: epileptic boy

Mark 9:29 links prayer and fasting with the healing of the boy whose father sought help. Matthew’s parallel account describes the boy as epileptic.

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Question 36

Jesus did not grant the request of the sons of Zebedee because

  1. they were not qualified for the privilege they asked for
  2. He did not want to encourage rivalry among the disciples
  3. it was not His to grant the request
  4. they could not drink with Jesus’ cup.
Answer and explanation

C: it was not His to grant the request

Matthew 20:23 says the places at Jesus’ right and left are for those for whom his Father has prepared them. Jesus says it is not his to grant them.

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Question 37

The parable which teaches persistence in prayer is that of the

  1. Unjust judge
  2. Sower
  3. Good Samaritan
  4. Prodigal son
Answer and explanation

A: Unjust judge

Luke 18:1 introduces the widow and unjust judge as a parable about always praying and not losing heart. Her repeated request illustrates persistence.

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Question 39

Which of these women is not named as present at Jesus’ crucifixion in Mark 15 and John 19?

  1. Mary Magdalene
  2. Elizabeth
  3. Mary mother of Jesus
  4. Salome
Answer and explanation

B: Elizabeth

Mark names Mary Magdalene and Salome among the women watching, while John names Jesus’ mother at the cross. Elizabeth is not named in those accounts.

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Question 40

To explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Prophet

  1. Isaiah
  2. Jeremiah
  3. Joel
  4. Ezekiel
Answer and explanation

C: Joel

Acts 2:16 identifies Joel as the prophet Peter quotes to explain the outpouring of the Spirit. The following verses reproduce that prophecy.

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Question 41

To whom was this addressed? “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

  1. Elymas
  2. Ananias
  3. Saul
  4. Sapphira
Answer and explanation

B: Ananias

Acts 5:3 addresses Ananias by name, and verse 4 continues Peter’s questions about the property and deception. Sapphira is questioned separately later.

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Question 42

“Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality” was said by

  1. Cornelius
  2. Peter
  3. Paul
  4. Philip
Answer and explanation

B: Peter

Acts 10:34 names Peter as the speaker who recognizes that God shows no partiality. He says this while addressing Cornelius and his household.

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Question 43

After the killing of James the son of Zebedee, Herod also arrested Peter because

  1. Peter had promised to die with Jesus
  2. the Jews were pleased with the murder of James
  3. Herod wanted to show his zeal for the Law of Moses
  4. Peter was the head of the Church
Answer and explanation

B: the Jews were pleased with the murder of James

Acts 12:2-3 says Herod killed James and then arrested Peter after seeing that this pleased the people described in the account. That is the motive the narrative gives.

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Question 44

The proconsul of Paphos during the visit of Paul and Barnabas was

  1. Marcus Felix
  2. Lucius Publius
  3. Sergius Paulus
  4. Porcius Festus
Answer and explanation

C: Sergius Paulus

Acts 13:6-7 places Paul and Barnabas at Paphos and names the proconsul as Sergius Paulus. He asks to hear the word of God.

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Question 46

Lydia received Paul and Silas into her house when they came to

  1. Philippi
  2. Thessalonica
  3. Ephesus
  4. Troas
Answer and explanation

A: Philippi

Acts 16 places the meeting with Lydia in Philippi. After her baptism, she invites Paul and his companions to stay in her house.

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Question 47

Paul standing in the Areopagus, used the teaching of the poets of the people to introduce God the Creator at

  1. Thessalonica
  2. Athens
  3. Corinth
  4. Salamis
Answer and explanation

B: Athens

Acts 17 places the Areopagus speech in Athens. Paul draws on the hearers’ poets when speaking about humanity’s relationship to its Creator.

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Question 48

On his final journey to Jerusalem, Paul lodged at the house of

  1. Jason
  2. Agabus
  3. Mnason
  4. Trophymus
Answer and explanation

C: Mnason

Acts 21:16 names Mnason of Cyprus as the early disciple with whom Paul’s party would lodge on their way to Jerusalem.

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Question 49

‘In a short time you think to make me a Christian’ was said by

  1. Claudius Lysias
  2. Felix the Governor
  3. King Agrippa
  4. Festus the Governor
Answer and explanation

C: King Agrippa

Acts 26:28 attributes this reply to King Agrippa after Paul asks whether he believes the prophets. Festus has spoken earlier in the hearing.

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Question 50

The port where the centurion put Paul aboard an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy was

  1. Myra
  2. Alexandria
  3. Syracuse
  4. Fair Havens
Answer and explanation

A: Myra

Acts 27:5–6 identifies Myra in Lycia as the place where the centurion finds an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy and puts Paul’s party aboard.

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