11% OF PROTESTANTS CAN'T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

More than one-tenth of Protestants in America cannot distinguish between the Old and New Testaments, according to a recent study. A report released by Lifeway Research last week, titled "Protestant Churchgoer Views on Bible Stories," revealed that of the 1,008 Protestant churchgoers surveyed in September 2023, several respondents cited New Testament stories when asked to name their favorite Old Testament passage.

In the survey, respondents were asked, "Of all the stories in the Old Testament of the Bible, which one is your favorite?" A total of 13% of respondents chose the Book of Exodus and the story of Moses as their favorite part. Meanwhile, the story of Noah and the Ark was the second most popular choice, with 11% of respondents naming it as their favorite Old Testament story.

However, the same percentage, 11%, mistakenly identified a story or book from the New Testament as their favorite Old Testament passage. Additionally, 7% of respondents said they did not have a favorite part of the Old Testament, while 3% stated they did not know.

This means that only 79% of the survey participants accurately identified a story or book from the Old Testament when asked about their favorite part of it.

"While churchgoers may frequently open the Bible at church, at least 1 in 5 people may not be familiar with how the Bible is organized or the difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament," said Scott McConnell, CEO of Lifeway Research, in a statement released by The Christian Post. McConnell added that some churchgoers might be less engaged in reading the Bible, while others may rely more on others to guide them in navigating its contents.

The survey also found that several other Old Testament stories were favored by churchgoers, including the Book of Genesis (10%), the story of David and Goliath (8%), the story of Adam and Eve (5%), the story of Job (4%), the story of Ruth (4%), and the story of Joseph (3%).

The research also highlighted the level of knowledge churchgoers have about well-known Bible stories. A total of 34% of respondents claimed they could accurately tell the story of David and Goliath, while 39% admitted they could retell it, though some details might be missing or incorrect. On the other hand, only 3% felt they could not tell the story at all.

A slightly higher percentage was found regarding the story of Noah's Ark, with 39% feeling they could tell the story in full, while 43% were confident they could recount most of it.

The study also revealed low awareness among churchgoers regarding fictional stories. For example, 39% of respondents recognized that the story of Romulus and Remus is not part of the Bible, yet the majority of respondents believed that it is included.

Many churchgoers readily admit that they struggle to remember details of God's interactions with the patriarchs, highlighting the need for regular Bible teaching in churches," McConnell said. "While recognizing every name mentioned in the Bible may not be critical, the Christian faith places great importance on a clear understanding of biblical teachings, as Jesus said He is the only way.