Shincheonji Church Bible Exam in Tanzania Reveals Major Score Gap Between Members and Protestant Pastors

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, conducted a comprehensive Bible examination focused exclusively on the Book of Revelation in multiple Tanzanian cities, with results revealing a substantial disparity in biblical knowledge between church members and local Protestant clergy. The examination, administered on August 18th, attracted 138 participants including 40 Shincheonji members and 98 Protestant pastors, all of whom completed an assessment consisting of 10 main questions and 33 sub-questions designed to test deep understanding of Revelation's content and themes.

The results demonstrated a dramatic contrast in performance, with Shincheonji Church members achieving an average score of 95 points while Protestant pastors averaged merely 7 points. Church representatives emphasized that the examination's purpose was not to establish superiority but to provide participants with an opportunity for spiritual self-assessment and growth. According to church leadership, the exam serves as a mechanism for individuals to evaluate whether their faith foundation aligns with biblical teachings rather than human traditions or denominational doctrines.

One participating pastor expressed profound reflection after witnessing Shincheonji members' confident responses, stating the experience prompted serious consideration of his own pastoral calling and commitment to biblical literacy. The pastor indicated his intention to pursue further Revelation studies through the Shincheonji Zion Christian Mission Center and to guide his congregation toward deeper scriptural understanding. This response reflects the church's broader mission to promote Bible-centered faith through educational initiatives and interdenominational dialogue.

Shincheonji Church Chairman Lee Man-hee has consistently emphasized Revelation 22:18–19 as foundational to the church's approach to scripture, maintaining that heavenly entry requires complete understanding and adherence to Revelation's teachings without addition or subtraction. Chairman Lee's theological position asserts that biblical text itself, rather than human interpretation or tradition, serves as the ultimate standard for distinguishing truth from falsehood and orthodoxy from heresy. This perspective informs the church's educational programs and examination methodology.

The Tanzania examination follows a similar event conducted in Korea during 2024, where only one church pastor participated among 313 examinees. Church representatives characterize these examinations as tools for verifying whether individuals' faith genuinely rests on biblical foundation rather than mere knowledge testing. The growing participation of international pastors reflects increasing global engagement with the church's Bible-centered approach. Since its establishment in 2018, Shincheonji Tanzania Church has expanded to 2,440 members as of August 2025, continuing its mission of promoting scriptural literacy through pastoral collaboration and religious education initiatives that challenge conventional approaches to biblical interpretation and theological training.