15b — Christmas Quiz
Test Your Bible Knowledge About Christmas —
Many of our thoughts about the Christmas story are based on picture books, movies, or tradition. See how much you really know about the facts of the Bible’s most popular story.
Instructions: Read each question in the order it appears and then select what you think is the best answer.
(No peeking at the answer key below until you have completed the entire quiz.)
1. Where do we find the Christmas story in the Bible?
a) Matthew and Luke
b) Mark and John
c) All four Gospels
d) Revelation
2. T or F: As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25th.
3. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
a) An angel
b) Joseph’s parents
c) Herod
d) Caesar Augustus
4. How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
a) Camel
b) Donkey
c) Walked
d) Who knows?
5. Where in Bethlehem was Jesus born?
a) Probably on the roadside.
b) Probably in an inn.
c) Probably in a stable with the animals.
d) Probably in the Bethlehem hospital.
6. The baby Jesus cried:
a) When the midwife slapped him on his behind.
b) When the little drummer boy started to beat his drum.
c) Just like other babies cry.
d) Not at all.
7. After his birth, Mary wrapped Jesus and laid him in a manger. A manger is a:
a) Stable for farm animals
b) Wooden hay storage bin
c) Feeding trough
d) Barn attached to a cave
8. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?
a) Cows, sheep, goats
b) Cows, donkeys, sheep
c) Sheep and goats only
d) None of the above
9. How many angels spoke to the shepherds who were out in the fields tending their sheep?
a) One
b) Three
c) A multitude
d) None of the above
10. What sign did the angels tell the shepherds to look for:
a) A star over Bethlehem
b) A baby in a manger
c) A baby with a halo
d) Both a and b
11. The host of angels praised God saying:
a) “Joy to the World”
b) “Alleluia”
c) “Glory to God in the Highest”
d) “It’s Party Time!”
12. What is a heavenly host?
a) An angel army
b) A guardian angel
c) An angel who takes people to Heaven
d) An angel choir
13. Who saw the “star in the east”?
a) Wise Men
b) Mary and Joseph
c) Shepherds
d) Both a and c
14. How many wise men came to see Jesus?
a) Four
b) Three
c) At least two
d) None of the above
15. How did the Wise Men know about the star?
a) They were educated men.
b) They were very wise kings with prophetic abilities.
c) They were told about the star in a dream.
d) They were astrologers (star gazers).
16. The Wise Men found Jesus in a:
a) Manger
b) Stable
c) House
d) Inn
17. The Wise Men stopped in Jerusalem:
a) To inform King Herod about Jesus.
b) To find out where Jesus was.
c) To ask the name of the star they saw.
d) To buy presents for Jesus.
18. What is frankincense?
a) A Middle Eastern monster story
b) A precious perfume
c) A precious metal
d) A precious jewel
19. What is myrrh?
a) An easily shaped metal
b) A spice used in burial
c) A soothing drink
d) An expensive fabric
20. Joseph left Bethlehem and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt:
a) To be taxed.
b) Because he was told to in a dream.
c) To protect Jesus from being killed by Herod.
d) Both b and c.
My Prayer
Dearest Father, Thank you for revealing who you are and what you have done in the Bible. May I be careful to base what I believe on the facts of your Word. Amen.
Answer Key
1. a — Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. Mark begins with Jesus’ baptism as an adult and John begins with Jesus as the Eternal Word.
2. False. Not until the 4th century A.D. did the date settle on December 25th. Other dates were accepted before then.
3. d — Luke 2:1,4
4. d — The Bible doesn’t say.
5. c — After Jesus was born, Mary laid him in a manger, so he was probably born in a stable, but the Bible doesn’t specifically say. See Luke 2:7
6. c — Since babies cry for other reasons than selfish ones, we have no reason to believe that Jesus wouldn’t have cried since he was a real human baby.
7. c
8. d
9. a — Luke 2:9
10. b — Luke 2:12
11. c — Luke 2:14
12. a
13. a — Matthew 2:1-2
14. c — There were three gifts, so we assume that there were 3 wise men also, but the Scriptures do not say. The best answer is “at least 2,” because they are referred to as “men” in the plural — so we know for sure there was more than 1.
15. d — See most any commentary.
16. c — Matthew 2:11
17. b — Matthew 2:1-2
18. b
19. b — See John 19:39
20. d — Matthew 2:13
