Chapter 1-5

Agnostic

A person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God or gods, asserting that the existence of God is unknowable.

Apostle

One of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings, or any early Christian missionary, like Paul.

Atheist

A person who does not believe in the existence of God or gods.

Bible

The sacred scriptures of Christianity, comprising the Old and New Testaments.

Bishop

A senior Christian cleric responsible for overseeing a diocese or a group of churches.

Christ

The title given to Jesus of Nazareth, meaning 'the Anointed One' in Greek.

Covenant

A sacred agreement or promise between God and His people, as seen in the Bible (e.g., the Sinai Covenant with Israel).

Deposit of Faith

The body of revealed truth in the Scriptures and Sacred Tradition, handed down from the apostles.

Divine

Pertaining to God or a god; sacred.

Divine Revelation

God's self-communication to humanity, both in nature and through scripture and tradition.

Doctor of the Church

A title given to saints whose writings or teachings have had a significant impact on theology and doctrine.

Faith

Belief in God and acceptance of divine truths, often without empirical evidence.

Holy Trinity

The Christian doctrine that God exists as three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, but is one God.

Idolatry

The worship of idols or false gods, often seen as a sin in Christianity.

Incarnation

The Christian doctrine that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

Magisterium

The teaching authority of the Church, which is exercised by the pope and bishops in union with him.

Monotheism

The belief in a single, all-powerful God.

Natural Revelation

Knowledge of God derived from the natural world, such as through creation or human reason.

New Testament

The second part of the Christian Bible, containing the life and teachings of Jesus and early Christian writings.

Old Testament

The first part of the Christian Bible, comprising the Hebrew Scriptures, which includes the history of God's covenant with Israel.

Pentecost

The event, occurring 50 days after Easter, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, empowering them to spread the gospel.

Polytheism

The belief in many gods.

Resurrection

The Christian belief that Jesus rose from the dead after his crucifixion, symbolizing victory over sin and death.

Sacred Scripture

The holy writings of a religion; for Christianity, this includes the Old and New Testaments.

Sacred Tradition

The transmission of the faith and teachings of Christianity through practices, teachings, and liturgies not explicitly written in scripture.

Salvation History

The narrative of God's actions in human history to bring about salvation.

Secularism

The principle of separating religion from public life and governance.

Theology

The study of God, religious beliefs, and the nature of the divine.

Theist

A person who believes in the existence of God or gods.

Ark of the Covenant

The sacred chest that housed the tablets of the Ten Commandments, symbolizing God’s presence among the Israelites.

Canon

The official list of books that make up the Bible; also refers to ecclesiastical law.

Church Father

Early Christian theologians and writers who shaped Christian doctrine.

Dead Sea Scrolls

Ancient Jewish manuscripts found near the Dead Sea that include copies of parts of the Hebrew Bible.

Evangelist

A writer of one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).

Exegesis

The interpretation or explanation of a biblical text.

Exodus

The second book of the Bible, detailing the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt under Moses.

Gentile

A non-Jewish person.

Lectio Divina

A traditional Christian practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer.

Literary Genre

The type or category of writing, such as poetry, narrative, or history, in the Bible.

Literal Sense

Interpreting the Bible based on the plain meaning of the text, as opposed to allegorical or symbolic interpretations.

Liturgy

The prescribed form or set of rites for public worship.

Liturgy of the Hours

A set of prayers said at specific times throughout the day, part of the official prayer of the Church.

Oral Tradition

The passing down of stories, teachings, and customs by word of mouth.

Scribes

People who copied, wrote, or edited sacred texts, particularly in ancient times.

Second Vatican Council

A significant council of the Catholic Church (1962-1965) that introduced reforms in the Church's teachings, liturgy, and relations with other faiths.

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, used by early Christians.

Vulgate

The Latin translation of the Bible, completed by St. Jerome in the 4th century.

Apocalyptic

Referring to the genre of literature that deals with revelations, visions, or prophecies concerning the end of the world.

Catholic

Referring to the universal Church or the Roman Catholic Church specifically.

Didache

An early Christian treatise that offers instructions on Christian ethics, rituals, and Church organization.

Epistle

A letter or written communication, often referring to letters in the New Testament written by apostles.

Galilee

A region in northern Israel, the setting for much of Jesus' ministry.

Gospel

The good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, also the name of the first four books of the New Testament.

Judges

Leaders in ancient Israel who were raised up to deliver the Israelites from oppression.

Kerygma

The proclamation of the core gospel message, particularly the death, resurrection, and salvation through Christ.

Law

The commandments or regulations given by God, especially the Ten Commandments and Jewish law.

Pentateuch

The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

Remnant

The faithful group of people who remain loyal to God despite adversity.

Adonai

A Hebrew word for God, often used as a substitution for the name Yahweh.

Circumcision

A Jewish religious practice of removing the foreskin from male infants as a sign of the covenant with God.

Devil

A fallen angel, or Satan, representing evil and opposition to God.

Elohim

A Hebrew word for God, used in the Old Testament.

Fall

The event in which Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, bringing original sin into the world.

Free Will

The ability to choose between different courses of action, central to Christian teachings on morality.

Hebrews

The ancient people of Israel, or the ethnic group from which Jews descended.

Jews

Descendants of the ancient Hebrews, followers of Judaism.

Original Holiness and Original Justice

The state of perfection and harmony in creation before the Fall.

Passover

A Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt, marked by a ritual meal.

Patriarchs

The male leaders of the Hebrew people, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Protoevangelium

The first announcement of the gospel, found in Genesis 3:15, referring to the promise of a savior.

Sinai Covenant

The covenant between God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where God gave the Ten Commandments.

Tabernacle

A portable sanctuary for the Israelites during their wanderings in the desert.

Ten Commandments

The laws given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, which form the moral foundation of Judaism and Christianity.

Twelve Tribes of Israel

The twelve descendants of the sons of Jacob, the patriarch of Israel.

Apostasy

The abandonment or renunciation of one's faith.

Hanukkah

A Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Hasmonean Dynasty

A Jewish dynasty that ruled Judea from 140–37 BCE.

Hellenism

The spread of Greek culture and influence, particularly after Alexander the Great's conquests.

Kingdom of Israel

The northern kingdom of Israel after the split from the southern kingdom of Judah.

Kingdom of Judah

The southern kingdom of Israel, which remained after the split.

Lost Tribes of Israel

The ten tribes of Israel that were exiled and lost their identity after the Assyrian conquest.

Messiah

The promised savior and redeemer in Jewish prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus Christ in Christianity.

Rabbi

A Jewish religious leader or teacher, particularly one skilled in interpreting Jewish law.

Sabbath

The day of rest and worship, observed on the seventh day of the week in Judaism and Christianity.

Samaritans

A group of people in ancient Israel, considered heretics by Jews, who shared a similar but distinct version of the faith.

Synagogue

A Jewish house of worship, study, and community gathering.