One in Ten Protestants Can’t Tell the Old Testament from the New

A recent study shows that more than one in ten Protestant churchgoers can't distinguish between the Old and New Testaments. When asked about their favorite Old Testament story, 11% of respondents cited tales from the New Testament instead.

The study, conducted by Lifeway Research and based on responses from over 1,000 American Protestants, exposes a striking gap in biblical knowledge. The survey inquired, “Of all the stories in the Old Testament Bible, which is your favorite?” While many pointed to the familiar tales of Moses in Exodus (13%) and Noah and the Ark (11%), the same percentage mistakenly mentioned New Testament stories.

Scott McConnell, CEO of Lifeway Research, commented on the findings, noting, “While churchgoers may open a Bible at church, at least 1 in 5 may not be familiar with how it is organized and what distinguishes the New Testament from the Old Testament.” This suggests that many attendees rely heavily on their church leaders for guidance in navigating the scriptures.

The study also shed light on the broader issue of biblical literacy. When respondents were asked if they could recount stories like David and Goliath or Noah's Ark from memory, many admitted to being uncertain about the details. For example, only 34% claimed they could tell the David and Goliath story accurately, with the rest admitting to potential gaps in their knowledge.

Interestingly, the survey also tested respondents' recognition of a fictitious Bible story, “Romulus and Remus,” revealing that 61% either didn’t recognize the story as fake or falsely believed they could recount it.

McConnell emphasized the importance of regular Bible teaching in churches, citing that the confusion highlighted by the study underscores the need for better biblical education. “The Christian faith places great value on recognizing biblical teaching from other voices because Jesus said He is the only way,” McConnell concluded.