Can You Answer These Basic Bible Questions Every Christian Should Know?

Genesis means "origin" or "coming into being," and the first book of the Bible is a book of many firsts. In this book, the earth forms, light shines for the first time, the first people appear, and the Israelite lineage begins.

The Bible describes the serpent as "more [subtle] than any beast of the field." The serpent's words to Eve were quite enticing. He suggested that if she and Adam ate the fruit from the tree, they would be like gods and have great knowledge.

Within the past several years, archaeologists have suggested there may be strong proof that the Biblical account of the "Great Flood" actually happened. Researchers suspect that major activity connected to the event occurred in the area that encompasses the Black Sea along the coast of Turkey.

The commandments that are revealed in the Old Testament are so central to the Christian faith, that several of them and their themes reappear throughout the New Testament. Jesus echoes a similar commandment in the book of Matthew, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

God told Adam and Eve they could eat the fruit of any tree in the garden but one, and the two rebelled. Perhaps the Garden of Eden story is a commentary about human nature. The things humans can't or shouldn't have are usually the most tempting.

The water-into-wine transformation happened at the Marriage of Cana. When the wine ran out at the wedding, Jesus blessed the revelers by performing this miracle, which is considered his first.

The crucifixion story of Jesus is recorded in all four Gospels, which are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The stories give graphic accounts of human suffering, sacrifice and spiritual transformation.

The first five books of the Bible are ascribed to Moses. Although it is most commonly known that Moses received the 10 Commandments, there are actually 613 commandments that mention every aspect of life.

Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci painted a rendition of the Biblical Last Supper story, circa 1495 to 1498. Duke of Milan Ludovico Sforza commissioned the painting.

Judas sealed his betrayal of Jesus with a kiss. Judas told the chief priests to cart off the one whom he kissed.

According to the Bible, the angel Gabriel was sent to inform the Virgin Mary that she was to conceive Jesus. This account is found in the Book of Luke.

According to the Book of Genesis, God gave Noah very specific instructions for building the ark. For example, in the sixth chapter of Genesis God says, "The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits."

Easter is the major Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus' victory over death and his subsequent resurrection as depicted in the Bible. Many Christians believe that these two events are the cornerstone of their faith.

Western culture often depicts Eve eating a red apple from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The Bible, however, refers to the food she chose to eat as "fruit" or "fruit of the tree."

The book of Luke is the only Gospel that offers details about the humble manger in which the baby Jesus was placed. The book states that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in the manger because there was no room for them (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus) in the inn.

In B.C. times, the small nation of Israel had very little cultural significance in the Near East region. Today, the tenets of the Israelites' spiritual heritage is the cornerstone of Western values.

Noah's ark must have been rather huge. The book of Genesis states that God told Noah to bring a pair (one male, one female) of every living thing onto the ark.

The Bible teaches that Jesus chose his disciples among common men. The chosen were required to give up everything and follow him. Apparently, 12 made the cut.

Goliath towered over David. But David was equipped with courage and a slingshot, both of which he used to slay Goliath in one of the most celebrated victories of the Bible.

Many people confuse Hagar, a handmaid, with Sarah because Hagar gave birth to Abraham's first child, Ishmael. Sarah was Abraham's loyal and supportive wife who thought she could not conceive at her age.

Although Christians have long celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ during Christmas time, the holiday has Roman origins. In fact, the word "Christmas" does not appear in the Biblical text, and early Christians did not celebrate the holiday.

Moses was born of the Israel tribe of Levi. The daughter of Pharaoh discovered him as a baby nestled in a small ark floating on a river.

The Bible teaches that the conception of Jesus was a holy act. The Book of Matthew says that an angel of the Lord informed Joseph that Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost.

The Book of Matthew mentions the star that heralds the birth of Jesus, but the other Gospels do not mention it. While the star symbol made the three wise men rejoice, it angered King Herod. When Herod heard that the three wise men were looking for baby Jesus to worship him, the Book of Matthew states that Herod "was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

This commandment comes with a slight warning. In the book of Exodus, the commandment states, "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." So, a long life is the reward for Christians who honor their earthly origins.

The Book of Revelation says that God has reserved a day to judge the earth. Jesus Christ will judge both the living and the dead on the Day of Judgment.

The Gospel of John is quite a didactic text for Christians who strive to be more Christ-like, as it explains many miracles that Jesus performed and the meanings behind the good works. It is no wonder that the word "disciple" appears in the Book of John more than in the other Gospels.

Jesus's birth city is mentioned in all of the Gospels, except the book of Mark. Bethlehem is mentioned five times in the book of Matthew, two times in the book of Luke, and once in the book of John.

The three wise men were a tight-knit group of foreigners who sought to worship Jesus. And they came to Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

According to the book of Genesis, God removed one of Adam's ribs while he slept and from it made Eve. God did so because Adam had said that he was lonely.

The parables of Jesus have always been powerful teaching tools. The oral tradition from which parables evolved gave people from all walks of life the ability to learn moral codes from simplistic, clear and relatable teachings.

The King James Bible was commissioned by King James I. In 1611, the king of England had the Old and New Testaments translated into English.

The New Testament gives accounts of the life and times of Jesus Christ. These accounts are told primarily through Jesus' disciples, many of whom later went on to share Jesus' teachings with others.

Other words for Apocalypse are "Armageddon," "Revelation," "Inferno" and "Great Disaster." Since the Book of Revelation is the last book of the Bible, you don't need to be a Biblical scholar to figure out that from cover to cover, the story doesn't end well for many folks.

In the same verse, Jesus suggests that the prophets and the law established this same moral code that has not changed. Perhaps such a substantial rule of living is what makes it so "golden."