Jesus’ Friends and Family Quiz

Nope! While Medieval Christians where sure that Joseph of Arimathea was Jesus’ great-uncle on Mary’s side, there is no early church evidence for this, it is more related to myths around the Holy Grail (which Joseph supposedly bought to Britain shortly after the Crucifixion).

Elizabeth was a relative of Mary’s. So Jesus could have been Zacharias’ first cousin by marriage once removed if Zacharias’ wife Elizabeth was a first cousin to Mary, but he wasn’t an uncle and was probably a few steps further away from Jesus’ than even first cousin.

Eli is listed as Mary’s Father, and Simeon is a name I stuck in as an extra.

Uh-uh-ah?

Tamar seduced her father-in-law Judah when her second husband Onan, brother to her first husband, died and Judah didn’t want to marry her to his third and final son. Ten generations later David was born of this line. Ruth is part of this same line. Milcah was Abraham’s niece and also the grand-mother of Rebekah who married Isaac.

Nope… but hey, who ever reads those lists of names anyway.

No, no, no, no no. It is true that Samuel was considered to be the “prophet like Moses” who came after him but there’s the clue… he came after Moses has already prophesied his stuff. Adam is considered a prophet by Islam… but there is nothing in the Bible to back that up… Adam’s ability to see possible outcomes is anything but prophet like. Noah made boats and was the first person to make wine… for which we should be thankful, but that’s it, plus he comes after Enoch.

Bad…Move…Space…Ca…det!

Wrong, but OK this is a contentious issue, Catholics and Orthodox Christians hold that Mary only had Jesus, the others named and enumerated in the Bible where either step-family from a previous marriage of Joseph or cousins as “brothers” could be used in a wider sense. But this ignores that Tertullian writing at the end of the second century is emphatic that those listed are full family members of Mary and Joseph’s family and that is why they are listed alongside Mary in the Gospels.

“the Other Mary” as she is called is married to Clopas who we know was Joseph’s brother, She is an aunt by marriage. Salome is described in the gospels as “Mary’s Sister” and “the Mother of James and John”… so for the sharp eyed, Zebedee is also an uncle of Jesus but you were not given him as a choice on that question.

Bad Luck – Technically Jesus is not a physical descendant of any of these, but he is heir to the throne through all of them. He is a physical descendant of David through his non-kingly son Nathan.

Wrong, but no shame here. Your faith will do just fine despite this hole in your Christo-consciousness.

Oops, been caught out here!

Better luck next time.

sad-face sad-face epic fail!

This is a bit cryptic … remember that Jesus means “salvation”!

Sorry, there’s a twist in the list!