GRADE 9 CRE – THE EARLY CHURCH Quiz
1. Who was the first Christian martyr in the early church?
Stephen was stoned to death for preaching about Jesus, becoming the first Christian martyr according to the Bible.
2. Which Roman Emperor famously persecuted Christians in the early church?
Nero's persecution of Christians after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64 is well-documented by ancient historians.
3. Where was the apostle Paul originally from?
Paul, originally known as Saul, was from Tarsus in modern-day Turkey.
4. Which of the following councils addressed the Arian controversy in the early church?
The Council of Nicea in AD 325 dealt with the Arian heresy regarding the nature of Christ.
5. Who wrote the majority of the books in the New Testament?
Paul wrote the majority of the books in the New Testament, with 13 epistles to various churches.
6. Which emperor legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire?
Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in AD 313, legalizing Christianity throughout the empire.
7. Who was the first bishop of Rome, later known as the Pope?
According to tradition, Peter was the first bishop of Rome and is considered the first Pope.
8. In what city did the early church receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?
The early church received the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem as described in the Book of Acts.
9. Who was the first Christian convert in Europe according to the Bible?
Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira, was the first Christian convert in Europe as mentioned in Acts.
10. What event marked the beginning of the early church according to the Bible?
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is considered the beginning of the early church as described in Acts.
11. Which apostle was known as 'Doubting Thomas'?
Thomas earned the nickname 'Doubting Thomas' for his initial disbelief in the resurrection of Jesus until seeing him in person.
12. Who was known as the 'Apostle to the Gentiles'?
Paul is often referred to as the 'Apostle to the Gentiles' due to his efforts in spreading Christianity beyond Jewish communities.
13. Which book of the New Testament contains letters written by Paul to various churches?
The Epistle to the Romans is one of the thirteen letters (epistles) written by Paul to various churches in the New Testament.
14. Who was the disciple of Jesus known for betraying him to the authorities?
Judas Iscariot infamously betrayed Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver, leading to his crucifixion.
15. Who replaced Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles after his betrayal of Jesus?
Matthias was chosen by the remaining eleven apostles through the casting of lots to replace Judas Iscariot among the twelve.
16. Where did the apostle Paul write many of his epistles while in prison?
Paul wrote several of his epistles, commonly known as the 'prison epistles', while under house arrest in Rome.
17. What is considered the first Christian church council in Jerusalem primarily about?
The Council of Jerusalem in Acts addressed the question of whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish customs to be part of the church.
18. Who was the author of the Book of Revelation in the New Testament?
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, is traditionally attributed to John, one of the apostles of Jesus.
19. Which apostle was known as the 'Beloved Disciple'?
John is often referred to as the 'Beloved Disciple' in the New Testament, and he wrote the Gospel of John and several epistles.
20. Who was the first Gentile convert to Christianity in the early church?
Cornelius, a Roman centurion, became the first Gentile convert to Christianity after Peter's vision in Acts.
21. What city did Paul and Barnabas visit on their first missionary journey?
Paul and Barnabas visited Antioch in present-day Turkey on their first missionary journey, spreading the message of Jesus.
22. Who was the Roman governor who condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion?
Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion despite finding no guilt in him.
23. What was the primary reason for the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire?
Christians were often persecuted in the Roman Empire for refusing to acknowledge the emperor's divinity and placing their allegiance to Jesus above Caesar.
24. Which Roman emperor famously converted to Christianity?
Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity and played a significant role in the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
25. Who was the first deacon mentioned in the Bible appointed to serve the early church?
Stephen was appointed as one of the first deacons in the early church to assist with the distribution of food and serve the community.
26. Which city served as the headquarters of the early Christian church?
Jerusalem was considered the headquarters of the early Christian church until its dispersion following the Roman destruction in AD 70.
27. Who was the first bishop of the Christian church in Kenya?
St. Thomas is believed to be the first bishop of the Christian church in Kenya, as he is said to have evangelized in the region during the early church days.
28. Which Roman Emperor is known for persecuting Christians in the early church period?
Nero is known for persecuting Christians in the early church period, particularly after the Great Fire of Rome, which he blamed on them.
29. What event marked the beginning of the early church according to Christian beliefs?
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is considered the key event that marked the beginning of the early church, as it signified the victory over sin and death.
30. Who was the first Christian martyr in the Bible?
Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr in the Bible, as he was stoned to death for his beliefs in Jesus Christ.
31. In the early church, what was the purpose of the Council of Jerusalem?
The Council of Jerusalem was convened to address the question of whether Gentile converts to Christianity needed to follow Jewish law, particularly regarding circumcision.
32. Who was the author of most of the Epistles in the New Testament?
Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, is credited with writing most of the Epistles (letters) in the New Testament, which were addressed to various early Christian communities.
33. Where did the early Christians meet for worship before churches were built?
Before churches were built, early Christians often met for worship in homes, where they would gather for prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread.
34. Who is considered the first Pope of the Catholic Church?
St. Peter is traditionally regarded as the first Pope of the Catholic Church, chosen by Jesus to lead His disciples and the early Christian community.
35. Which apostle wrote the Book of Revelation in the New Testament?
The apostle John is traditionally believed to be the author of the Book of Revelation, a prophetic book in the New Testament that describes visions of the future.
36. What is the significance of Pentecost in the early church?
Pentecost is celebrated as the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus, empowering them to spread the Gospel.
37. Who is known as the 'Apostle to the Gentiles'?
Paul is often referred to as the 'Apostle to the Gentiles', as he played a significant role in preaching and spreading Christianity to non-Jewish communities.
38. Which Roman Emperor legalized Christianity in the early 4th century AD?
Emperor Constantine is known for legalizing Christianity with the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, ending the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.
39. Which woman in the New Testament is known for being a devout follower of Jesus?
Mary Magdalene is recognized in the New Testament as a loyal disciple of Jesus, who witnessed His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
40. What event led to the spread of Christianity beyond Israel?
The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul, from a persecutor of Christians to a follower of Jesus, played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity beyond Israel.
41. Which apostle is known for denying Jesus three times before the crucifixion?
Peter famously denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion, as foretold by Jesus during the Last Supper.
42. What was the primary language used in the early Christian church for worship and scripture?
Greek was the primary language used in the early Christian church for worship and scripture, as many of the New Testament texts were written in Greek.
43. Who was the first Christian martyr according to the Bible?
Stephen is recognized as the first Christian martyr according to the Bible, as he was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus Christ.
44. Which apostle was also known as 'Doubting Thomas'?
Thomas, one of the apostles of Jesus, earned the nickname 'Doubting Thomas' for initially doubting the resurrection of Jesus until he saw Him in person.
45. What important event occurred at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD?
The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD resulted in the formulation of the Nicene Creed and the definition of the Trinity as a key doctrine of Christianity.
46. Who was the author of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament?
The Acts of the Apostles is traditionally attributed to Luke, who was a companion of the apostle Paul and wrote about the early spread of Christianity.
47. What Roman procurator presided over the trial of Jesus?
Pontius Pilate was the Roman procurator who presided over the trial of Jesus, leading to His crucifixion as depicted in the New Testament.
48. Which woman is known for her act of selfless generosity in the New Testament?
The Widow with Two Mites is commended in the New Testament for giving all she had in the form of two small copper coins, demonstrating selfless generosity.
49. Who was the first Christian convert in the Bible through Philip's evangelism?
The Ethiopian Eunuch is recognized as the first Christian convert through the evangelism of Philip, as described in the Book of Acts in the New Testament.
50. Which apostle is known for his faith in Jesus despite initially doubting Him on the water?
Peter is known for his strong faith in Jesus, demonstrated when he walked on water briefly before doubting and needing Jesus to rescue him from the sea.
51. Where is the traditional burial place of St. Mark, one of the early Christian evangelists?
St. Mark, traditionally identified as the author of the Gospel of Mark, is believed to be buried in Alexandria, Egypt, where he is venerated as a significant Christian evangelist.
52. Who was the first Gentile to be baptized into the Christian faith by Peter?
Cornelius, a Roman centurion, is documented in the New Testament as the first Gentile to be baptized into the Christian faith after Peter received a vision from God.