Who are these basic Bible questions for?
For new believers, people who are just starting to read the Bible, discipleship and baptism classes, and families who want to review the essentials of the Christian faith.
40 Basic Bible Questions and Answers with References
Updated November 10, 2026
Quick answer
Here are 40 basic Bible questions and answers, each with a short answer and a Scripture reference: how the Bible is organized, who God is, who Jesus is, what the gospel is and how a Christian lives (the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, baptism and the Lord's Supper). They are made for new believers, discipleship classes and anyone who is just starting to read the Bible.
If you have just come to faith or are starting to read the Bible, these 40 questions walk through the essentials in four parts: the Bible itself, God and Jesus, the gospel, and the Christian life. The answers are short and each one has a reference, so you can open your Bible and read the text for yourself.
The list works as a guide for new believers classes, one-on-one discipleship, adult Sunday school or a family review. You can print it after a free sign-up, with or without the answers, or show it on a screen in presentation mode.
The questions, with answers and references
The Bible
1. What is the Bible?
Answer: The written Word of God: all Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
2. How many books are in the Bible?
Answer: 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament
3. Into which two main parts is the Bible divided?
Answer: The Old Testament, written before Jesus, and the New Testament, from his coming on; "testament" means covenant — Jeremiah 31:31; Hebrews 8:8, 13
4. In which languages was the Bible originally written?
Answer: The Old Testament in Hebrew, with some parts in Aramaic, and the New Testament in Greek — Ezra 4:7; Daniel 2:4
5. What are the Gospels?
Answer: The four books that tell the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — Luke 1:1-4
6. Why was the Gospel of John written?
Answer: So that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing have life in his name — John 20:31
7. What does a reference like "John 3:16" mean?
Answer: The book of John, chapter 3, verse 16 — John 3:16
8. What is the first verse of the Bible?
Answer: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth" — Genesis 1:1
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit
9. Who created the universe?
Answer: God, who made it by his word — Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 11:3
10. How many gods are there according to the Bible?
Answer: Only one: "The LORD our God is one LORD" — Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 Timothy 2:5
11. Who is Jesus?
Answer: The Son of God, the Word who was God and became flesh and dwelt among us — John 1:1, 14; Matthew 16:16
12. Why was he given the name Jesus?
Answer: Because, as the angel told Joseph, "he shall save his people from their sins" — Matthew 1:21
13. What does the word "Christ" mean?
Answer: Anointed one; it is the Greek equivalent of "Messiah" — John 1:41
14. Why did Jesus die on the cross?
Answer: For our sins, according to the Scriptures: he bore our sins in his body on the tree — 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 2:24
15. What happened on the third day after his death?
Answer: Jesus rose from the dead — Luke 24:6-7; 1 Corinthians 15:4
16. Where is Jesus now?
Answer: He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God — Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9
17. Who is the Holy Spirit?
Answer: The Helper whom the Father sent in Jesus' name, who teaches and reminds us of his words — John 14:26
18. Will Jesus come back?
Answer: Yes. He promised to return, and the angels said he will come in the same way he was seen going into heaven — John 14:3; Acts 1:11
The gospel and salvation
19. What is the gospel?
Answer: The good news that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day — 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
20. What is sin?
Answer: Disobeying God; the Bible defines it as lawlessness — 1 John 3:4
21. Who has sinned?
Answer: Everyone: "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" — Romans 3:23
22. What is the wages of sin, and what is God's gift?
Answer: The wages of sin is death; the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus — Romans 6:23
23. Are we saved by our works?
Answer: No. We are saved by grace through faith; it is the gift of God, not a result of works — Ephesians 2:8-9
24. What does Paul say a person must do to be saved?
Answer: Confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in the heart that God raised him from the dead — Romans 10:9
25. What does it mean to repent?
Answer: To change direction: turn away from sin and back to God so that sins may be blotted out — Acts 3:19
26. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus was necessary to see the kingdom of God?
Answer: To be born again — John 3:3
The Christian life
27. What prayer did Jesus teach his disciples?
Answer: The Lord's Prayer, which begins: "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" — Matthew 6:9-13
28. Where are the Ten Commandments in the Bible?
Answer: In Exodus 20, and they are repeated in Deuteronomy 5 — Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21
29. What are the Ten Commandments, in short?
Answer: No other gods; no idols; do not take the LORD's name in vain; keep the Sabbath day holy; honor your father and mother; do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not covet — Exodus 20:3-17
30. How did Jesus sum up the whole law?
Answer: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself — Matthew 22:37-40
31. What is the so-called Golden Rule?
Answer: Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you — Matthew 7:12
32. In whose name are disciples baptized?
Answer: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit — Matthew 28:19
33. What is the Lord's Supper?
Answer: The meal Jesus instituted with bread and cup, to be done in remembrance of him and to proclaim his death until he comes — Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
34. What is the Great Commission?
Answer: Jesus' command to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything he commanded — Matthew 28:19-20
35. What is the fruit of the Spirit?
Answer: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control — Galatians 5:22-23
36. What is faith, according to the letter to the Hebrews?
Answer: The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen — Hebrews 11:1
37. What is the church?
Answer: The body of Christ, made up of believers, of which he is the head — Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:27
38. Why is it important to meet with other believers?
Answer: Because the Bible urges us not to neglect meeting together and to encourage one another — Hebrews 10:24-25
39. How often should we meditate on the Word of God?
Answer: Day and night, that is, constantly — Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2
40. What does God promise to the one who confesses his sins?
Answer: That he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness — 1 John 1:9
Activities to use with these questions
Open the meeting with a Bible activity and close with the questions from this list. Each page has step-by-step instructions, a key verse and a variation for your group.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the list in a new believers class?
Work through one part per meeting: read the question, let the group look up the reference in their Bibles and talk about the answer. They learn the content and also how to find their way around the Bible.
What comes after the basic questions?
The 100 easy Bible trivia questions walk through the best-known stories of the Bible, and the medium list goes deeper into names, places and details.
Can I print the questions?
Yes. After a free sign-up you can print the list as a PDF or show it in presentation mode, which works well for a class or a home group.
Is there a printable PDF?
Yes. With a free Cinira Master account you can print this list or save it as a PDF.