President Donald Trump praised the idea of introducing Bible literacy classes into public schools on Monday, naturally sparking questions on Twitter about Trump’s own knowledge of the Bible.

In a morning tweet, the president offered encouragement to politicians in several states who have pushed legislation that would allow public schools to offer an optional elective course on the historical significance of the Bible.

“Numerous states introducing Bible Literacy classes, giving students the option of studying the Bible,” Trump wrote. “Starting to make a turn back? Great!”

Numerous states introducing Bible Literacy classes, giving students the option of studying the Bible. Starting to make a turn back? Great! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019

He posted the tweet soon after a “Fox & Friends” segment reporting that at least six states ― North Dakota, Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia and Florida ― have seen the introduction of Bible literacy legislation this year.

North Dakota state Rep. Aaron McWilliams, who is co-sponsoring a Bible literacy measure, appeared on the conservative talk show Monday morning to defend these bills.

Under his bill, the Bible courses would be entirely optional for schools to offer and for students to take, McWilliams said. The classes, he explained, would explore the Bible’s influence on history, legal systems, America’s founding fathers ― and other much broader concepts.

“The concept of forgiveness, the concept of recompense, these are things that all come from the Bible,” McWilliams said. “If we don’t have a good foundational understanding of this, we’re not going to understand how the founding fathers of our country and other countries put it together to have the world that we have today.”

Watch the “Fox & Friends” segment with McWilliams below.

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Trump’s approval of Bible literacy classes drew backlash from some of his critics on Twitter, with many chiming in to question his scriptural bona fides.

The president, who identifies as a Presbyterian, has repeatedly claimed that the Bible is his favorite book. Yet he’s had a few public blunders when asked to display his own knowledge of the Scriptures. He said in 2016 that his favorite Bible verse is the one that demands “an eye for an eye” as punishment for crimes. But that verse from Exodus was later specifically addressed by Jesus, who told his followers to “turn the other cheek” to their enemies instead.

During a visit to Liberty University the same year, Trump famously referred to the biblical book Second Corinthians as “Two Corinthians,” eliciting some snickers from students at the evangelical school.

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, a longtime Trump ally who helped craft the Liberty University speech, later admitted that the presidential candidate’s botched reference “shows that he’s not familiar with the Bible.”

Trump’s ability to quote Scripture appears to have improved after he was elected to the White House, including in speeches after the Las Vegas and Parkland, Florida, mass shootings.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters Donald Trump takes the oath of office with his hand on a Bible held by his wife on Jan. 20, 2017.

Still, some Christian and Jewish Americans suggested on Monday that there were other Bible verses the president should familiarize himself with.

Some pointed out that the Bible calls on people of faith to welcome the stranger ― something Trump’s critics believe his immigration policies have failed to do.

Bible literacy? Excellent! Lesson one: show compassion and care for the stranger and resident alien among us. https://t.co/cp8iY1Y9cr — Tim Schenck (@FatherTim) January 28, 2019

Will the Bible Literacy classes cover God's heart for immigrants? https://t.co/UtTBnEiOPd — Every Billionaire is Blasphemy (@GuthrieGF) January 28, 2019

From this week's Torah reading:

"You shall not oppress the stranger, since you know the feelings of the stranger, having been strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 23:9)https://t.co/VoSotaXSGw#bibleliteracy@TheRaDR @PopChassid — Rabbi David Polsky (@MotownRabbi) January 28, 2019

"You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born." https://t.co/WFwEb6eONQ — Serene Jones (@SereneJones) January 28, 2019

Bible Literacy: When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love that person as yourself. Lev. 19:33 https://t.co/Pk1HwOEdiZ — RevDaniel (@RevDaniel) January 28, 2019

Others pointed out that the Bible often presents God as a defender of the poor, the sick and the powerless ― and that it calls on religious people to show compassion for those marginalized members of society.

Good idea. I'd suggest we start with the passages that talk about welcoming the stranger, helping the poor, forgiving those who have wronged you, praying for your enemies, turning away from the love of money, embracing humility and leading a life of love, mercy and compassion. https://t.co/tJd5nIdW0A — James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) January 28, 2019

The Bible tells the story of the God who has worked thru poor & rejected people to build a movement that lifts up the humble & removes the mighty from their thrones. #BiblicalLiteracy #PoorPeoplesCampaign pic.twitter.com/C6VE1Oyqi3 — Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (@wilsonhartgrove) January 28, 2019

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free." - Jesus' ministry, in his own words #BibleLiteracy https://t.co/8obEHajPPM — Benjamin Perry (@FaithfullyBP) January 28, 2019

Something I learned in #BibleLiteracyClass:



“God has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:50–53) https://t.co/b4HqNtZEAA — Zach Hoag (@zhoag) January 28, 2019

Twitter users noted that this responsibility to care for the marginalized doesn’t extend only to individuals. The Bible, they said, calls on governments to be just, too.

Before @realDonaldTrump celebrates #BiblicalLiteracy, he should read the more than 2000 Scriptures on how governments & politicians are called to treat the poor, immigrants, the sick, women & children. B/c his policies are not in line with the call of love & justice in the Bible https://t.co/TZ4TfYq4OT — Rev. Dr. Barber (@RevDrBarber) January 28, 2019

"Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people." #BibleLiteracy https://t.co/GmDAqUjine — Union Seminary (@UnionSeminary) January 28, 2019

Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, described Trump’s tweet as an attempt to “pander to his Religious Right base,” particularly in light of recent polling that suggests his approval rating among white evangelicals dipped during the partial government shutdown.

“As the leader of our diverse nation, the President should support religious freedom for all, not a select few ― and these bills do just the opposite,” Laser told HuffPost in an email.

In 2018, lawmakers in Alabama, Iowa and West Virginia floated Bible literacy bills that were eventually defeated, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. The effort had been more successful the previous year in Kentucky, where lawmakers passed a bill that allowed Bible courses to be taught in public schools. The ACLU contends that, in practice, these classes in Kentucky often flout constitutional restrictions that prohibit public school teachers from proselytizing students.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Trump holds up a Bible that was given to him by his mother as he speaks at the Values Voter Summit on Sept. 25, 2015.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State says these bills are part of a larger coordinated campaign by Christian nationalist groups. The effort, dubbed Project Blitz, seeks to flood state legislatures across the country with centrally crafted “model” bills that promote conservative Christian views.

Along with the Bible literacy bills, there’s been a recent push to have the national motto “In God We Trust” posted on public property, including public schools. Lawmakers in Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina and Indiana have already introduced “In God We Trust” bills this year.

Project Blitz has also been associated with bills that seek to allow workers in the private and public sectors to deny service to LGBTQ people and others based on the workers’ religious beliefs.

“As evidenced by Project Blitz, the goal of these [Biblical literacy] bills is not to have an objective discussion about the Bible at all but to promote Christianity and ultimately to push a more aggressive political agenda that allows religion to be used to discriminate,” Laser said.