Each team is then given one question based on an announced subject worth 30 points, and no penalty is assessed for an incorrect answer.

The teams then move to a backstage area, and are permitted up to ten minutes to study the Bible for information based on that category.

[6] The series began development with production staff approaching Troy Schmidt, a pastor at First Baptist Church in Windermere, Florida, to work as both a writer and a consultant for the show.

[8] After these changes were made, the test audience became more appreciative of the series,[8] and GSN announced its development to the public at an upfront presentation in New York City on March 21, 2012, for the network's upcoming programming.

[9] By this time, a pilot episode had already been shot;[10] which was hosted by American stand-up comedian and television personality Jeff Foxworthy.

[11][12] When first asked if he was interested in hosting the show, Foxworthy was hesitant;[13][14] he agreed to take on the role after learning that contestants would be playing for charity rather than on their own behalf.

An audience of 1.73 million viewers watched the debut episode,[18] making it GSN's highest-rated original program in its history.

[19][20] On October 18, 2012, Team Judson's Legacy, consisting of married couple Drake and Christina Levasheff of Irvine, California and their friend Dean Bobar, were crowned champions of the inaugural season's tournament,[5] winning a total of $140,000 for Hunter's Hope, a leukodystrophy charity,[21] chosen in honor of the Levasheffs' son, Judson, who had died in 2007 of late-onset Krabbe disease.

[24] GSN advertised that auditions would be held nationwide in November and December,[25] and that the season would also feature the addition of Franklin to the series.

[28] A portion of the winnings was used for Wagner Ministries' involvement in the "One Nation One Day" evangelical event in Honduras in July 2013.

The Wagners had previously won the national championship of Assemblies of God Teen Bible Quiz three times in four years.

[29][30] On August 8, 2013, GSN announced plans to renew The American Bible Challenge for a third season, with both Foxworthy and Franklin returning as hosts.

"[35] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times was also pleased, calling the show "nothing if not magnanimous, sending even the losing teams home with a little something for their charities.

"[4] Hank Stuever of The Washington Post was critical, calling the series "just as dull as it sounds," and arguing that "weariness" could be detected in Foxworthy's hosting.

[36] Rebecca Cusey of Patheos recommended the series for Christians in particular, saying, "Those that take the Bible as the word of God will enjoy this show.

"[37] Additionally, Bounce TV expressed excitement when announcing their acquisition of the series in 2013, network chief operating officer Jonathan Katz commented, "We are very confident that the broadcast premieres of The American Bible Challenge and Catch 21 will add fuel to Bounce TV's skyrocketing growth.

[40] In an effort to promote the show's second season, Schmidt released a study book titled The American Bible Challenge: A Daily Reader, Volume 1 in 2013.