JAMB Christian Religious Knowledge 1987

39 reviewed questions with answers and explanations.

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Question 1

“Our sister, be the mother of thousands and ten thousands…” Who was the sister?

  1. Rachel
  2. Rebekah
  3. Hannah
  4. Peniah
Answer and explanation

B: Rebekah

Genesis 24:59–60 names Rebekah as the sister being sent away. Her family blesses her with the hope of numerous descendants.

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Question 2

‘Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac. Who was the slave woman?

  1. Michael
  2. Sarah
  3. Hagar
  4. Puah
Answer and explanation

C: Hagar

Genesis 21 identifies Hagar as the Egyptian servant whose son Sarah wanted sent away. The quotation about Isaac is Sarah’s demand in verse 10.

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Question 3

“... thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you and you shall eat the plants of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” To whom were these words spoken?

  1. Cain
  2. Esau
  3. Adam
  4. Abel
Answer and explanation

C: Adam

Genesis 3:17 identifies Adam as the addressee. The following verses describe thorns, toil and eating bread through the sweat of his face.

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Question 4

Abraham circumcised his son, Isaac, on the eighth day because.

  1. It was the custom of his tribe to do so
  2. God commanded him to do so
  3. He wanted to distinguish Isaac from Ishmael
  4. Isaac was the son of promise.
Answer and explanation

B: God commanded him to do so

Genesis 21:4 explicitly says Abraham circumcised Isaac at eight days old as God had commanded him. The stated reason is obedience to that command.

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Question 5

Who among Joseph’s brothers was bound by Joseph when they went to Egypt to buy grain?

  1. Simeon
  2. Reuben
  3. Benjamin
  4. Judah
Answer and explanation

A: Simeon

Genesis 42:24 names Simeon as the brother Joseph bound before the others. Joseph required them to return with Benjamin.

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Question 6

Joshua was buried in the hill-country of

  1. Moab
  2. Naphtali
  3. Judah
  4. Ephraim
Answer and explanation

D: Ephraim

Joshua 24:30 locates his burial in his inheritance at Timnath Serah, in the hill country of Ephraim. Ephraim is the region asked for.

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Question 8

Whoever touches the ‘mountain of God’ shall be put to death by

  1. hanging
  2. shooting
  3. strangling
  4. beating
Answer and explanation

B: shooting

Exodus 19:13 specifies stoning or shooting for anyone who crosses the boundary. Of the listed choices, shooting matches the stated penalty.

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Question 10

God commanded that Aaron should speak for Moses to the Israelites, but Moses should be to Aaron as

  1. God
  2. master
  3. brother
  4. priest
Answer and explanation

A: God

Exodus 4:16 compares Aaron’s role to a mouth and Moses’ role to God for him. The analogy describes Moses supplying the message Aaron is to speak.

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Question 11

On the first day when the Israelites left part of the bread, it bred worms and became foul, but on the sixth day when they left part of the bread it did not become foul because

  1. they roasted it immediately
  2. God commanded them to keep it
  3. Moses wanted to save them the trouble of searching for bread every day
  4. by then they had discovered a better way of preserving it.
Answer and explanation

B: God commanded them to keep it

Exodus 16 contrasts disobedient overnight storage with the portion kept for the Sabbath as instructed. The latter did not breed worms or become foul.

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Question 12

Who was regarded as the greatest prophet in the Old Testament for seeing God face to face?

  1. Elijah
  2. Jeremiah
  3. Isaiah
  4. Moses
Answer and explanation

D: Moses

Deuteronomy 34:10 singles out Moses as the prophet whom the LORD knew face to face. The question draws on that description of his distinctive role.

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Question 13

Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.

The above passage was addressed to:

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

B: Joshua

Joshua 1:16 introduces the people’s answer to Joshua. They pledge obedience to him and conclude with the encouragement to be strong and courageous.

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Question 14

Which of these statements did God make to Joshua before the crossing of the Jordan?

  1. You shall lead my people with the staff of Moses in your hand
  2. The people of Israel will murmur against you as they did to Moses.
  3. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth
  4. You shall select for yourself men of valour who will cross the Jordan with you.
Answer and explanation

C: This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth

Joshua 1:8 tells Joshua to keep the book of the law in his mouth and meditate on it. This instruction comes before crossing the Jordan.

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Question 15

Achan, who took of the devoted things during the fall of Jericho was from the tribe of

  1. Reuben
  2. Benjamin
  3. Judah
  4. Manasseh
Answer and explanation

C: Judah

Joshua 7:1 identifies Achan through his family and states that he belonged to the tribe of Judah.

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Question 16

Who among the following people was connected with the war between Israel and King Jabin of Canaan?

  1. Eglon
  2. Jael
  3. Ehud
  4. Gideon
Answer and explanation

B: Jael

Judges 4 names Jabin as the Canaanite king and Jael as the woman who kills his commander Sisera. She is the person connected with that war.

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Question 18

Elkanah went to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD at Shiloh

  1. annually
  2. monthly
  3. fortnightly
  4. every Sabbath
Answer and explanation

A: annually

First Samuel 1:3 says Elkanah went up from his city year by year to worship and sacrifice at Shiloh. That means annually.

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Question 19

Uriah did not wish to go down to his house because

  1. his wife was pregnant
  2. Joab would set him in the forefront of the battle
  3. the Ark was in the battle field
  4. David lay with his wife.
Answer and explanation

C: the Ark was in the battle field

In 2 Samuel 11:11, Uriah explains that the ark, Israel and Judah are in temporary shelters while the army is in the field. He will not enjoy his home while they remain there.

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Question 21

The evil spirit that tormented Saul left him whenever he

  1. was asleep
  2. was at prayer
  3. drank wine
  4. heard David’s music
Answer and explanation

D: heard David’s music

First Samuel 16:23 says David played the harp and Saul was refreshed as the evil spirit departed. Hearing David’s music is the action described.

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Question 23

When the Queen of Sheba heard Solomon’s fame concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with her

  1. questions
  2. beauty
  3. army
  4. wealth.
Answer and explanation

A: questions

First Kings 10:1 says the queen of Sheba came to test Solomon with difficult questions. Verse 3 describes him answering them.

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Question 25

Besides the gifts of wisdom, what other gift did the Lord promise to Solomon but with a condition?

  1. Riches
  2. Honour
  3. Long life
  4. Victory in Warfare
Answer and explanation

C: Long life

First Kings 3 promises wisdom, riches and honour, then makes long life conditional on walking in God’s ways. Long life is the conditional gift.

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Question 26

When Joseph discovered that his betrothed Mary was with child, he decided to divorce her quietly because

  1. Mary was too tender and lovely.
  2. the angel warned Joseph not to be harsh on Mary.
  3. Joseph was disappointed with Mary.
  4. he was a just man.
Answer and explanation

D: he was a just man.

Matthew 1:19 describes Joseph as righteous and unwilling to expose Mary publicly, explaining his decision to separate quietly. The angel’s message comes afterwards.

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Question 27

Though Herod wanted to put John the Baptist to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a:

  1. priest
  2. preacher
  3. prophet
  4. forerunner of Christ.
Answer and explanation

C: prophet

Matthew 14:5 says Herod feared the multitude because they regarded John as a prophet. This is the reason given for his hesitation.

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Question 28

Which of these is NOT included in the instructions given to the disciples during their mission?

  1. Heal the sick
  2. Judge the people
  3. Cleanse lepers
  4. Raise the dead.
Answer and explanation

B: Judge the people

Matthew 10:8 includes healing the sick, raising the dead and cleansing lepers. Judging the people is not among these mission instructions.

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Question 29

Jesus asked his disciples not to disclose their vision of the transfiguration until the

  1. Crucifixion
  2. Resurrection
  3. Ascension
  4. Pentecost.
Answer and explanation

B: Resurrection

Matthew 17:9 tells the disciples not to report the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. The stated boundary is the Resurrection.

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Question 30

When Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, Jesus replied that it had been revealed to Peter by

  1. my Father
  2. flesh and blood
  3. the spirit of the living God
  4. the son of man.
Answer and explanation

A: my Father

Matthew 16:17 says the revelation came from Jesus’ Father in heaven, rather than from flesh and blood.

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Question 32

The parable of the labourers in the vineyard teaches above all God’s

  1. generosity
  2. strictness
  3. partiality
  4. justice.
Answer and explanation

A: generosity

The landowner asks whether the workers resent his goodness after he gives the later workers the same wage. The parable highlights generosity beyond what they expected.

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Question 33

According to Jesus, every kingdom divided against itself is

  1. laid waste
  2. selfish
  3. satanic
  4. without a leader.
Answer and explanation

A: laid waste

Matthew 12:25 states that every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Laid waste expresses that result.

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Question 34

Jesus taught that one should make friends quickly with one’s

  1. enemy
  2. neighbour
  3. master
  4. accuser.
Answer and explanation

D: accuser.

Matthew 5:25 urges agreement with one’s adversary while on the way to court. In this legal setting the relevant person is the accuser.

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Question 35

The Pharisees and Scribes accused the disciples of Jesus of transgressing the tradition of the leaders because they

  1. did not regard synagogue rules
  2. did not pray before meals
  3. ate with unwashed hands
  4. disobeyed the elders.
Answer and explanation

C: ate with unwashed hands

Matthew 15:2 gives the complaint: the disciples did not wash their hands when eating bread, contrary to the tradition of the elders.

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Question 36

‘Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.’ The event which led to this saying took place in

  1. Capernaum
  2. Jerusalem
  3. Jericho
  4. Bethany.
Answer and explanation

D: Bethany.

Matthew 26:6 places the anointing at Bethany in Simon the leper’s house. The complaint about waste follows the pouring of expensive ointment.

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Question 39

“... Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

This passage is on the parable of the

  1. mustard seed
  2. sower
  3. tares
  4. treasure hidden in a field.
Answer and explanation

C: tares

Matthew 13:24-30 tells of weeds growing among wheat until harvest. The instruction to separate them belongs to the parable of the tares, or weeds.

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Question 40

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall ...’

  1. inherit the earth
  2. be satisfied
  3. obtain mercy
  4. see God.
Answer and explanation

B: be satisfied

Matthew 5:6 promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled or satisfied. That completes this beatitude.

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Question 41

Jesus charged his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father. This promise was fulfilled when

  1. Jesus ascended into heaven.
  2. the Holy Spirit filled the disciples on the day of Pentecost.
  3. Jesus resurrected from the dead.
  4. the holy Spirit descended upon Cornelius and all who heard Peter’s preaching.
Answer and explanation

B: the Holy Spirit filled the disciples on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 1 promises baptism with the Holy Spirit, and Acts 2 describes the disciples being filled with the Spirit at Pentecost. This fulfils the promise.

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Question 42

On their return to Jerusalem immediately after the Ascension, the apostles devoted themselves to

  1. preaching
  2. healing
  3. alms-giving
  4. prayer.
Answer and explanation

D: prayer.

After returning from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, the apostles persist together in prayer in Acts 1:14.

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Question 44

Peter explained that the disciples were not filled with new wine but with the Holy Spirit according to the prophecy of

  1. Joel
  2. Micah
  3. Isaiah
  4. Jonah
Answer and explanation

A: Joel

Peter denies that the disciples are drunk and immediately identifies Joel’s prophecy as the explanation. Joel is named in Acts 2:16.

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Question 45

Who advised the Sanhedrin to keep away from the apostles and let them alone?

  1. Cornelius
  2. Stephen
  3. Gamaliel
  4. James.
Answer and explanation

C: Gamaliel

Acts 5 names Gamaliel as the council member who advises leaving the apostles alone, warning against possibly fighting God.

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Question 46

Saul travelled to Damascus in order to

  1. obtain letters of authority from the High Priest
  2. be converted to Christianity
  3. be baptized by Ananias
  4. arrest those belonging to the Way.
Answer and explanation

D: arrest those belonging to the Way.

Acts 9:1-2 says Saul sought authority to find followers of the Way in Damascus and bring them bound to Jerusalem. Arresting them was his intention.

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Question 47

Peter was criticized by the circumcision party in Jerusalem because he

  1. converted the gentiles
  2. raised Dorcas to life
  3. ate with the gentiles
  4. baptized Cornelius
Answer and explanation

C: ate with the gentiles

Acts 11:3 records the circumcision party’s specific objection: Peter had gone to uncircumcised men and eaten with them.

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Question 48

Who prophesied a great famine over all the world at Antioch?

  1. Agabus
  2. Aeneas
  3. Claudius
  4. Barnabas.
Answer and explanation

A: Agabus

Acts 11:28 names Agabus as the prophet who announced a great famine. Claudius is the emperor during whose reign it occurred.

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Question 49

While Peter was still speaking this, the holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Where did this happen?

  1. Jerusalem
  2. Caesarea
  3. Antioch
  4. Damascus.
Answer and explanation

B: Caesarea

Acts 10 locates the visit to Cornelius in Caesarea. The Holy Spirit falls on the listeners while Peter is still speaking there.

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