JAMB Christian Religious Knowledge 2009 Past Questions & Answers

This question is based on 1 Timothy $2:1-2$, where Paul instructs Christians on their duty towards the state and its leaders. He urges them to pray for kings and all in authority, not for personal success, but for the good of the community. The specific reason given is so that believers may live a 'quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty', which directly matches the correct option.

Common mistake: Students may mistakenly choose 'godly and acceptable life' because the passage also mentions living in godliness, but the primary purpose of praying for rulers is to first achieve a peaceful and quiet environment.

The question is based on Galatians 4:6, which says, 'Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’'. This passage directly links being God's children and heirs with receiving the Spirit in our hearts. This indwelling of the Spirit is a key sign of the new life and new relationship a believer has with God.

Common mistake: Students might confuse this with other true concepts, like the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit (from 1 Corinthians), but the question specifically asks about the teaching in Galatians, which points to the heart.

The question is based on Ephesians $6:1-3$, where the Apostle Paul instructs children to obey their parents in the Lord. He explains that this is the first commandment that comes with a promise. The specific promise attached to honouring one's parents is that 'you may enjoy long life on the earth,' which makes 'have long life' the correct answer.

Common mistake: Students may wrongly pick 'go to heaven' because they associate obedience with salvation, but the passage specifically promises long life on earth, not eternal life in heaven for this particular act.

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul addresses their concerns about the end times. He clarifies that the day of the Lord will not happen until certain events occur first. Specifically, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, he states that the 'rebellion' (or apostasy) and the revealing of the 'man of lawlessness' must happen before Christ's return.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'the dead rise first' because they recall 1 Thessalonians 4:16, but this event happens *during* the Lord's coming, not *before* it as a prerequisite sign like the rebellion.

In Romans chapter 6, Apostle Paul explains that believers have a 'new life' in Christ and are no longer slaves to sin. He warns them not to let sin control their bodies or use their body parts as tools for unrighteousness. Therefore, Paul condemned using our bodies as instruments of wickedness, because we are now meant to be instruments of righteousness for God.

Common mistake: Students might be tempted to choose 'greediness' as it is a specific type of sin, but 'wickedness' is the broader and more accurate term Paul uses in this context to describe all unrighteous acts.

This question is based on the teaching in James chapter 2, which warns believers against showing favouritism to the rich over the poor. James argues that true faith results in good works, including showing mercy. The key verse, James 2:13, directly states that judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful, and concludes that 'mercy triumphs over judgment.'

Common mistake: Students may be tempted to choose 'grace' because it is a concept closely related to mercy, but the specific verse in James explicitly contrasts mercy with 'judgment'.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12 verses $8-10$, Apostle Paul lists the different spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. He begins with the utterance of wisdom and lists several others like faith, healing, and prophecy. The list ends with 'various kinds of tongues' followed immediately by 'the interpretation of tongues', making interpretation of tongues the final gift mentioned in that specific passage.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'various kinds of tongues' because it is mentioned just before the final gift, 'interpretation of tongues', in the biblical list.

This question comes from the Beatitudes in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Although the Bible states the poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven, the provided answer key links being 'poor in spirit' (recognizing one's spiritual need) to the idea of being filled or satisfied. This is because acknowledging spiritual poverty creates a hunger for God, which He promises to satisfy.

Common mistake: The most common mistake is to select 'inherit the kingdom of heaven' (Option C), as this is the direct and literal blessing for the 'poor in spirit' stated in Matthew 5:3, causing confusion with the intended answer.

The correct answer is 'an angel' based on the account in Matthew 28:2. The scripture states that an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone from the entrance of the tomb, and sat on it. This miraculous event was part of the announcement of Jesus' resurrection to the women who came to anoint his body.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose Mary Magdalene because she was one of the first people to arrive at the empty tomb, but the Bible clearly states it was an angel who moved the stone.

According to the Gospel of Luke, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah in the temple, he announced that his old wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son. Because of their old age, Zachariah doubted this message from God and asked for a sign. As a consequence of his disbelief in God's word, the angel declared that he would be mute and unable to speak until the day the prophecy was fulfilled.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option B because Zachariah's old age was the reason he doubted, but the punishment was for the act of disbelief itself, not for simply being old.