‘Jeopardy!’ controversial Bible clue sparks debate, fans say 'terribly worded and poorly researched question'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: ‘Jeopardy!’ is back in controversy yet again. Jeopardy!'s Tournament Of Champions, featuring plays from Amy Schneider, Andrew He and Sam Buttrey, has sparked a debate after using a Biblical clue on Wednesday's episode, November 16. Many have criticized and expressed their anger by calling it “awful” and “pathetic.”
According to CNN, in the episode hosted by Ken Jennings, the trio was faced with this clue, under the category ‘New Testament.’ It read, “Paul’s letter to them is the New Testament epistle with the most Old Testament quotations." Schneider got it correct according to the host with "Who are The Hebrews." Jennings said, “Yes, Jewish followers of Christianity so of course, Paul quoted the old testament.” Buttrey revealed he wrote the “Who are the Romans” - this alternative was not accepted. Jennings responded: "he wrote the Romans" and denied him the win while he said “Philippiaes,” likely in reference to the Philippians, which was also incorrect.
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Following the episode, as CNN detailed, the answer got a number of scholars talking about the question. The outlet stated, "All of the answers refer to books in the Bible that are collections of epistles, or letters, ostensibly from Jesus’ apostle Paul to different groups in the formative days of the Christian church. However, experts have varying opinions on whether Paul actually wrote the letter to the Hebrews – and thus, whether the answer was actually correct. In fact, there are bitter divisions among different schools of Christian thought regarding Paul’s Biblical influence and authorship. Many 'Jeopardy!' viewers thought Buttrey’s answer should have been the correct one, since scholars generally agree Paul was the author of the book of Romans."
Fans also took to Twitter and one of them said, "Jeopardy should be a game of facts. Stop using Bible questions since there is substantial dispute about their authenticity as demonstrated by the outrage over game 3’s Final Jeopardy question. There have been too many controversies lately." Another wrote, "So I actually think tonight’s final #jeopardy answer was unfair because Hebrews is not one of “Paul’s letters” and I don’t know any scholar who refers to it as such. I think @Jeopardy needs to select better Bible experts. I’d be furious if I were a contestant tonight." To which one replied, "Same! It was a terribly worded and poorly researched question."
Jeopardy should be a game of facts. Stop using Bible questions since there is substantial dispute about their authenticity as demonstrated by the outrage over game 3’s Final Jeopardy question. There have been too many controversies lately.
— Michael Manchester (@Michael53078115) November 17, 2022
Same! It was a terribly worded and poorly researched question.
— Michael Kurth (@mkurth1) November 17, 2022
The bashing continued with one saying, "Pathetic final today @Jeopardy Anyone who studies the Bible knows the author of Hebrews is unknown. Paul may be "one" of the supposed authors but to outright say he "is" the author is 100% misleading and deceptive." One more person commented, "Awful Final Jeopardy question tonight. Whoever wrote that question is clearly not a Bible scholar. Would not have made that the Final Jeopardy question during this tournament. Yikes." While one of many said, "Wish @Jeopardy would just put bible trivia into the Mythology category where it belongs."
Pathetic final today @Jeopardy
— Born Again David (@SOTEX2239) November 16, 2022
Anyone who studies the Bible knows the author of Hebrews is unknown.
Paul may be "one" of the supposed authors but to outright say he "is" the author is 100% misleading and deceptive.
Awful Final Jeopardy question tonight. Whoever wrote that question is clearly not a Bible scholar. Would not have made that the Final Jeopardy question during this tournament. Yikes. #Jeopardy
— Shelley Duckett (@MichElaine22) November 17, 2022
Wish @Jeopardy would just put bible trivia into the Mythology category where it belongs. #BSstandsforBibleStudy #Jeopardy
— Janek Mazurowski (@JohnPMazur) November 18, 2022
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