The Nativity story, central to Christmas, is rich with details about Jesus’s birth, key figures, and prophecies. This article provides 25 trivia questions to make learning about the Nativity engaging for all ages. Here’s what you’ll find:
- How to Host Nativity Trivia: Tips for organizing a fun and smooth trivia game.
- Key Questions and Answers: Covering Jesus’s birthplace, his parents, the Wise Men, prophecies, and more.
- Common Myths vs. Biblical Facts: Clarifications on traditions like animals at the manger or the Magi’s visit.
Perfect for church activities, holiday gatherings, or family fun, this trivia set brings the Nativity story to life while clearing up misconceptions. Dive into the questions to test your knowledge and explore the deeper meaning behind Christmas.
25 Bible Questions About Jesus’ Birth – Test Your Knowledge!
How to Play Nativity Trivia
Here’s a straightforward guide to hosting your Nativity trivia game:
- Split participants into teams of 3 to 5 people. Give each team a name and an answer sheet.
- Read each question aloud, making sure everyone can hear clearly. Allow teams 30 seconds to jot down their answers.
- Assign one point for every correct answer. No partial points are allowed.
- Keep track of the scores throughout the game, and announce the winning team once all 25 questions have been answered.
These steps will help you run a smooth and enjoyable trivia game for everyone involved.
1. Jesus’s Birthplace
Question: Where was Jesus born according to the biblical account?
Answer: Bethlehem
The Bible, specifically Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4–7, states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. This aligns with the prophecy in Micah 5:2. Bethlehem, meaning "House of Bread" in Hebrew, is also known as the "City of David" since it was King David’s hometown.
2. Jesus’s Mother in the Nativity Account
Let’s focus on identifying Jesus’s mother in the Nativity story.
Question: What is the name of Jesus’s mother in the Nativity story?
Answer: Mary
Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, was visited by the angel Gabriel, who announced the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26–27).
3. Jesus’s Earthly Father
Question: Who was Jesus’s earthly father in the Nativity story?
Answer: Joseph
The Gospels depict Joseph as Jesus’s guardian, responsible for looking after Mary and the baby Jesus [1][2].
4. Joseph’s Job
Let’s take a closer look at Joseph’s role in the Nativity story.
Question: What was Joseph’s occupation in the Nativity story?
Answer: Carpenter
Joseph worked as a carpenter, using his skills to support Mary and Jesus while demonstrating hard work and dedication.
5. The Angel’s Message to Mary
Question: What message did the angel deliver to Mary?
Answer: The angel informed Mary that she would conceive a son through the Holy Spirit. She was instructed to name him Jesus. He would be known as the Son of the Most High, and his kingdom would have no end.
This moment, known as the Annunciation and detailed in Luke 1:26–38, revealed God’s plan for Mary to bear a child who would be the Son of the Most High. Despite the extraordinary nature of this message, Mary responded with faith and trust in God’s will.
Up next: learn the angel’s name.
6. The Angel’s Name
Question: Which angel appeared to Mary to announce Jesus’s birth?
Answer: Gabriel
In Luke 1:26-27, the angel Gabriel is specifically mentioned as the one who brought this message to Mary.
Coming up next: Find out who Mary’s pregnant cousin was.
7. Mary’s Pregnant Cousin
Question: Who was Mary’s pregnant cousin that she visited after receiving the angel’s message?
Answer: Elizabeth
After hearing the angel’s message, Mary traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child under extraordinary circumstances (Luke 1:39-40). When Mary greeted her, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb – John – moved with joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. This moment is often referred to as the Visitation. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before returning home.
Next, we’ll explore the remarkable child Elizabeth was carrying.
8. The Cousin’s Baby
Question: Who was the baby that Elizabeth was carrying when Mary visited her?
Answer: John the Baptist
Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, who would later play a key role in preparing people for Jesus’s ministry. In Luke 1:13–17, the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that John would lead Israel back to God, embody the spirit of Elijah, and get the people ready for the coming Messiah.
John was born about three months after Mary visited Elizabeth. He was named John, as instructed, and later became known for baptizing in the Jordan River. His life fulfilled Isaiah 40:3: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’”
Next: What brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem?
9. The Journey’s Purpose
Question: Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
Answer: Caesar Augustus issued an imperial decree requiring a census in ancestral hometowns.
According to Luke 2:1–3, Augustus mandated the census during Quirinius’s governance of Syria. Being a descendant of David, Joseph took the approximately 80-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary, who was heavily pregnant at the time. This journey fulfilled the prophecy found in Micah 5:2.
Next: How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
10. Travel to Bethlehem
Question: How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
Answer: The Bible doesn’t provide details about how they traveled.
Next: Where did they find shelter in Bethlehem?
11. The Shelter Location
Question: Where did Mary and Joseph find shelter in Bethlehem?
Answer: According to Luke 2:7, there was no room available at the inn, so they stayed in a nearby stable.
Next: What served as Jesus’s first bed?
12. Jesus’s First Bed
Question: What did baby Jesus sleep in after his birth?
Answer: As described in Luke 2:7, Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger, which is a feeding trough. This detail aligns with the angel’s message to the shepherds.
Next: Who were the first people to visit baby Jesus?
13. First Visitors
Question: According to the Bible, who were the first people to visit baby Jesus after his birth?
Answer: The shepherds. Luke 2:8–16 describes how shepherds, watching over their flocks nearby, were visited by an angel who announced Jesus’ birth. They went to find Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. After seeing Him, they shared the news and glorified God, highlighting the universal nature of the Nativity story.
Next: What message did the angels give to the shepherds?
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14. Angels’ Words to Shepherds
Question: What did the angels tell the shepherds about Jesus’s birth?
Answer: In Luke 2:10–14, an angel tells the shepherds about the birth of Christ the Lord in the town of David, reassuring them not to be afraid. Following this, a host of angels glorified God, proclaiming, "peace on earth, good will toward men."
Next: Learn about the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus.
15. Wise Men’s Gifts
Question: What three gifts did the Wise Men bring to Jesus?
Answer: According to Matthew 2:11, the Wise Men brought three gifts, each with a special meaning tied to Jesus’s identity:
- Gold: Representing his role as king
- Frankincense: Highlighting his divine nature
- Myrrh: Foreshadowing his death and burial
Next: How many Magi does Scripture actually mention?
16. Number of Wise Men
Question: How many Wise Men (Magi) visited Jesus according to the Bible?
Answer: The Bible, specifically Matthew 2:1, simply refers to "Magi from the east" and does not provide a specific number. The idea of there being three Wise Men likely comes from the three gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Next: What role did the star play in guiding these visitors?
17. The Star’s Role
Question: What role did the star play in guiding visitors to Jesus?
Answer: The star first appeared in the east, leading the Magi to Jerusalem. It then reappeared to guide them further to Bethlehem, finally stopping above the house where Mary and Jesus were staying. This marked the exact location of the Messiah.
Next: Who was the king that felt threatened by Jesus’s birth?
18. King Who Felt Threatened by Jesus
Question: Which king felt threatened by Jesus’s birth and wanted to kill Him?
Answer: Herod the Great wanted to kill Jesus because he saw Him as a potential threat to his reign (Matthew 2:3–8).
Next: What drove Herod to see Jesus as a danger to his rule?
19. Herod’s Motives
Question: Why did King Herod want to kill baby Jesus?
Answer: Herod felt threatened by the idea of a rival king. When the Magi referred to the newborn as the "King of the Jews", Herod, already insecure about his position as a Roman-appointed ruler, became alarmed. Pretending to want to worship the child, he asked the Magi to reveal the baby’s location (Matt 2:7-8). His fear and paranoia led him to order the killing of all boys under two years old in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas (Matt 2:16). This tragic event, known as the Massacre of the Innocents, prompted the Holy Family to flee for safety.
Next: Where did Jesus’s family flee to escape Herod’s persecution?
20. The Family’s Escape
Question: Where did Jesus’s family flee to escape Herod’s persecution?
Answer: Joseph was warned in a dream by an angel about Herod’s plan to kill Jesus (Matt. 2:13–15). Acting on this warning, he took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod died. This event fulfilled the prophecy in Hosea 11:1. Later, upon hearing that Herod’s son Archelaus was ruling Judea, they decided to settle in Nazareth, located in Galilee.
Next: Which prophet foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
21. Bethlehem Prophecy
Question: Which prophet predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
Answer: The prophet Micah, in Micah 5:2, predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Next: What animals were present at Jesus’s birth according to the Bible?
22. Animals at the Birth
Question: What animals were present at Jesus’s birth according to the Bible?
Answer: None. The Bible doesn’t mention any animals being present at Jesus’s birth. The familiar images of a donkey, ox, or other animals in nativity scenes come from later traditions, not the biblical account.
Next: What is the meaning of the name Emmanuel?
23. Meaning of Emmanuel
Question: What does the name Emmanuel mean in the context of the Nativity story?
Answer: The name Emmanuel translates to "God with us", as referenced in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.
Next question: What is the meaning of Jesus’s name?
24. Meaning of Jesus’s Name
Question: What does the name Jesus mean in the Nativity story?
Answer: The name Jesus, derived from the Hebrew Yeshua, translates to "the Lord saves." This is explained in Matthew 1:21: "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
This name emphasizes his purpose – salvation. Paired with Emmanuel, meaning "God with us", it reflects the profound idea of God living among His people to bring them salvation.
Next question: What is the main Bible source for the Nativity story?
25. Main Bible Source
Question: Which books of the Bible tell the Nativity story?
Answer: The Nativity story is found in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2, while Mark and John skip the birth narrative and start with Jesus’s adult ministry. Matthew focuses on Joseph’s perspective, the visit of the Magi, Herod’s actions, and the escape to Egypt, emphasizing Jesus’s royal lineage and its importance to a Jewish audience. Luke, on the other hand, highlights Mary’s experiences, Gabriel’s announcement, the journey to Bethlehem, and the shepherds’ visit, offering historical details and a message aimed at a broader, Gentile audience.
Next: Common Nativity Story Myths
Common Nativity Story Myths
Many details commonly associated with the Nativity story come from tradition rather than Scripture. Here are a few myths clarified:
-
Myth: Jesus was born on December 25th.
Fact: The Bible does not mention a specific date for Jesus’s birth. December 25th was chosen as Christmas Day centuries later. -
Myth: Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem.
Fact: The Bible does not describe how Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem. -
Myth: The Magi visited Jesus in the manger on the night of His birth.
Fact: According to Matthew 2:11, the Magi visited Jesus in a house, likely months after His birth. -
Myth: The Magi were three kings named Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthasar.
Fact: The Bible does not specify their number, names, or whether they were kings. -
Myth: A donkey and ox stood by the manger.
Fact: There is no mention of animals being present at Jesus’s birth in the Bible.
These traditional elements, while familiar, don’t align with the biblical text.
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Summary
This set of 25 questions dives into important Nativity details – like locations, key figures, prophecies, and events – while clearing up common misconceptions. Perfect for family get-togethers, church activities, or holiday parties, these questions encourage conversation, enhance understanding of the biblical story, and add depth to Christmas celebrations.
