Sorry it's late, but here they are. Great to see so many of you taking part, and following the simple rules (insert eye roll here :p)
1) T/F An angel told Mary that she will give birth to a son who is to be called Jesus.
True
2) T/F Joseph was also visited by an angel.
True
3) For what reason did they have to travel to Bethlehem?
The Census.
4) How did they travel to Bethlehem?
This is somewhat of an unknown. It is most likely however that Mary rode a donkey whilst Joseph walked along side them.
5)T/F Jesus was born in a stable.
Again this is somewhat unknown. People have presumed this to be the case (and it may well be) due to the fact that Jesus was laid in a manger. However there is disagreement on this, some people say that it is quite possible that someone would have had animals, and so a manger, in their house.
6)T/F there was a star above the stable Jesus was born in.
F it was above the house that he lived in with Mary and Joseph (and so not in Bethlehem at all)
7) T/F Jesus was born on the 25th December.
Well it's possible but it is doubtful.
8)T/F It was winter when Jesus was born.
Possible but again doubtful. Although there is no specific mention of the time of year in the Bible it would be unlikely that a Census would be called during the winter as this would make it harder for people to go and register (it is uncommon for elections to be called during the winter for the same reason today) Also the Shepherds were in the field with their sheep, it would be unlikely during the winter.
9) T/F Shepherds visited Jesus at the manger.
True
10) T/F The wise people who came to visit Jesus did so at the manger.
False they did so at the house he lived in the Mary and Joseph.
11) What sex were the wise people that came to visit Jesus?
We don't know. Some people argue it is more likely that they would be men whilst I have also seen others arguing that they would more likely be female.
12) How may wise people where there?
Again we don't know. The fact that there were three gifts has lead people to believe there to have been 3 wise people, however it could have been that they bought three gifts between then as a group or that they each bought an amount of all three gifts.
So I'm sorry if I have ruined the nativity story for anyone. The point to doing the quiz was really to show how we can so willingly and blindly believe something because someone tells us it is so without checking the validity of what we are being told. Really we always need to question what someone is telling us to believe and check for ourselves whether their point is valid or not.
The links below are what I have used for references for the quiz along with checking the gospel accounts of the nativity in my copy of the NIV. If you feel that any of my answers are misleading or untruthful then please contact me with the evidence to back your point and I will consider changing the answers. I was not able to cross reference with the gospel accounts in other translations or with the rest of the biblical text (could you imagine how long that would take!) and so there is a possibility that I have missed a reference to certain things and so gotten my answer wrong.
http://www.bible.ca/D-Xmas-story.htm
http://www.revneal.org/Writings/jesusbirth.htm
http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/was-jesus-born-on-december-25-faq.htm
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a012.html
I hope that you are all had a good Christmas. I look forward to seeing you soon :)
Love James
