Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Bible Trivia - 10/1/2008

Question: What is the term used to refer to the collection of statements which Jesus began with the words, “Blessed are...”

Answer: The Beatitudes.

Comments: The beatitudes appear at the outset of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12). The name comes from Latin beatus, meaning "blessed" or "happy". In each beattitude, Jesus sets out a condition that is typically undesired and then states a favorable result of that condition. These statements were to demonstrate the radical nature of the kingdom of heaven and likely shocked the original audience. As an example:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3, NASB)


Most scholars count eight Beatitudes in Matthew. Four of the eight appear in Luke 6:20-26.

No comments: