Most people in the pews would fail a pop quiz on the Bible. That is how Lifeway Research opens its new report, released Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The survey asked 2,012 American churchgoers, Protestant, nondenominational, Catholic and Orthodox, dozens of questions about the Bible. The average score was 51, and 65% earned an F.

Lifeway says the online survey ran from August 12 to 29, 2026, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2%. The questions covered eight categories, including people of the Bible, which books hold certain stories, the order of events, filling in famous verses and which books belong in Scripture. The grades broke down this way: 65% earned an F, 9% a D, 9% a C, 8% a B and 9% an A. Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said the questions drew on significant examples from the Bible, not obscure characters or events. "The goal was not to trick anyone but to understand their recall of what they have read and been taught," he said.

Some of the mistakes stand out. Two in three churchgoers (67%) wrongly said Hezekiah is a book of the Bible. Forty-four percent believed the Gospel of Thomas is in the Bible. Only half (51%) correctly said that "God shall help those who help themselves" is not in Scripture. Men and women scored about the same, 52% and 51%. Churchgoers ages 30 to 49 averaged 54%, while those 50 to 64 averaged 48% and were the most likely to fail, at 71%.

Reading habits made the biggest difference. Lifeway found that 21% of churchgoers read the Bible every day and 24% read a few times a week. Another 9% read weekly, 14% a few times a month and 8% once a month. Twenty-two percent rarely or never read it. Daily readers averaged 66%, weekly readers 50% and those who rarely or never read 36%. Daily readers were the most likely to earn an A (19%) or a B (17%). Those who read once a month failed at 84%, and those who rarely or never read failed at 91%. Lifeway's analysis found that daily reading raised a person's expected score by about 13.8 points, more than any other factor it tested.

Lifeway also asked how churchgoers learn Scripture in a typical week. The pastor's sermon was the top answer at 56%. Almost 2 in 5 (38%) read devotional material, 30% read Bible passages or chapters straight through, and 30% study verses on a topic or question. Lifeway has posted a 25-question Bible literacy quiz for individuals and churches. Psalm 119:105 calls God's Word a lamp for our feet, and the survey's lesson is simple: the ones who keep reading keep learning.

Read Psalm 119:105