Religion New Testament

Divine Revelation

God making himself and His will known to us beyond our 'natural' capacity.

Deposit of Faith

All that God has revealed to his people handed on by the Church through Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

Sacred Tradition

Means 'to hand on' in Latin, God’s revelation primarily transmitted orally through preaching and teaching.

Sacred Scripture

The inspired and inerrant Word of God.

The Magisterium

Universal teaching authority of the Church, made up of the Pope and bishops, means teaching office in Latin.

Infallibility

Immune from error; the Magisterium is infallible due to special protections by the Holy Spirit.

Kerygma

Preaching to non-believers.

Catechesis

Formal instruction, more in-depth teaching once a person accepts the initial proclamation.

Liturgy

How Christians worship; the Mass is the best example.

Canon

Greek word for 'rule' or 'norm'; the official list of inspired books in the Bible.

Gospel

Good News preached by Jesus Christ.

Evangelist

One who proclaims the Good News.

Feast of Passover

Recalls the beginning of Exodus from Egypt and escaping the 10th plague.

Pontius Pilate

Roman Procurator; Governor appointed to keep peace and collect taxes; stern ruler who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus.

Sanhedrin

71 members of the supreme legislative and judicial body, mostly made up of Sadducees.

Sadducees

Ruling class of priests and aristocrats in charge of worship practices, denied belief in angels, resurrection, and existence of the soul.

Pharisees

'Separated ones'; lay leaders focused on the 'letter of the law' not the 'spirit of the law.'

Tax Collectors/Publicans

Jews who worked for Rome and stole money; hated by other Jews; Matthew was a tax collector.

AD

After Death; Anno Domini.

BC

Before Christ.

Salvation History

Begins at the Original Sin and continues until the 2nd coming of Christ.

Sacred Tradition vs. Sacred Scripture

Sacred Tradition came first.

Three Stages of the Formation of the Gospels

1) Life and Teachings of Jesus, 2) Oral Tradition, 3) New Testament Writings.

Catholic Canon

46 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books.

Language of the New Testament

Greek.

Order of the Books of the New Testament

4 Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, 21 Epistles, Book of Revelation.

Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke took from each other and used common sources.

Samaritans

Descendants of foreigners who intermarried with Northern Israelites; considered corruption by Jews.

Jerusalem

The political, cultural, and religious capital of the Holy Land during the time of Jesus.

Formal Meals Position

Reclining positions.

Common Language of Jews During Jesus' Time

Aramaic.

Christology

Emphasis on Jesus’ human nature.

High Christology

Focus on Jesus' divine origins.

Low Christology

Focus on Jesus' human origins.

The Word

Logos in Greek.

Kenosis

Self-emptying; God the Son empties Himself to become a human.

Theosis/Divination

God calling us to become more like Him.

The Annunciation

The angel Gabriel sent by God to share the Father’s plan to Mary regarding the conception of the Son of God.

The Incarnation

The Son of God taking on the full reality of a human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

Mary’s Fiat

'Let it be done according to your word'; the moment in which the incarnation occurs.

The Hypostatic Union

The perfect union of the two natures, human and divine, in the one person of Jesus.

The Eucharist

Greek word 'thanksgiving'; the true body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ.

Emmanuel/Immanuel

'God with us' from the Prophecy of Isaiah.

Epiphany

The visiting of the Magi representing foreign/pagan believers shared in God’s Kingdom.

The Immaculate Conception

Mary has been and continues to be filled with grace and is not stained by original sin.

Climax of the Prologue in John’s Gospel

'And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us'.

Christology in John’s Gospel

John emphasizes High Christology.

Role of John the Baptist

John the Baptist was not God, but a witness to 'the light'.

Four Reasons for the Incarnation

1) To save us from our sins, 2) To reveal God’s love, 3) To provide a model of perfect holiness, 4) To allow us to partake in the divine nature.

Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant

The power of God overshadowed her to bear the Son of God.

Greek word for 'The Word' in John’s Gospel

Logos.

Jesus' Nature

Jesus is like us in all things except for sin.

Matthew’s Genealogy

Traces lineage through Joseph for legal title to the throne of David.

Luke’s Genealogy

Traces lineage through Mary to show Jesus as savior to Jews and Gentiles.

Old Testament Prophet of Virgin Birth

Isaiah.

Gifts of the Magi

Gold: Jesus is King; Frankincense: Jesus is God; Myrrh: Jesus was born to die.

Jewish Law 40 Days After Birth

Present the child in the temple.

Jesus Lost at the Temple

Foreshadows his death and resurrection on the 3rd day.

Name Jesus Meaning in Hebrew

God saves us.

Christ

Greek for 'anointed one'.

Messiah

Hebrew for 'anointed one'.

Lent

40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter.

Kingdom of God

Reign of God on earth and heaven.

Apostle

12 closest followers of Jesus Christ sent to preach the good news.

Disciple

Any follower of Jesus, regardless of leadership position.

Miracles (Latin Origin)

Latin word 'to wonder'.

Messianic Secret

Jesus instructs his disciples to keep his identity as Messiah a secret.

Jesus’ Baptism Significance

All 4 Gospels present Jesus’ baptism as the starting point of His ministry.

Jordan River Symbolism

Sign of Jewish freedom; symbolizing that Jews crossed into the promised land.

Three Reasons for Jesus' Baptism

1) Show perfect submission to the Father’s will, 2) Foreshadow the baptism of his death, 3) Serve as the model for our baptism.

Significance of John the Baptist's 'Lamb of God' Proclamation

The blood of the lamb saved the Hebrews in Egypt; now, the blood of Jesus offers salvation.

Jesus' Response to Temptations

1) 'Man shall not live by bread alone…', 2) 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God…', 3) 'You shall worship the Lord your God…'

Number 40 in Scripture

Time of preparation/fasting.

Leader of Jesus into the Desert

The Holy Spirit.

Inner Circle Apostles

Peter, James, and John.

Jesus' Proclamation in Mark 1:15

'The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel'.

Purposes of Jesus' Miracles

To prove the divinity/authority of Christ, show compassion of God, invite people to faith, reveal God’s power.

The Wedding at Cana Miracle

First public miracle performed by Jesus.

Significance of Jesus’ 'Hour'

The appointed time for his passion and death.

Healing of the Paralytic Spiritual Healing

'Your sins are forgiven'.

Healing of the Paralytic Physical Healing

'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'.

Feeding the 5000 Miracle Significance

Only miracle to appear in all 4 Gospels.

Feeding the 5000 Eucharistic Prefiguring

'Blessed, broke it and looked up at heaven'.

Raising Lazarus Declaration

'I AM the Resurrection and the life'.

Rabbi

Teacher.

Parable

'To throw aside'.

Beatitudes

Supreme happiness and righteousness before God.

Martyr

A witness to the faith, willing to suffer.

Letter of the Law

Strict interpretation of the law.

Spirit of the Law

Intent purpose of the law.

Golden Rule

Jesus’ instruction; 'whatever you wish men would do to you, do so to them'.

Holiness

Spiritual perfection that comes from aligning our will with God’s will.

Metanoia

Radical conversion of heart; repentance and change of life.

Blasphemy

Speaking against God in a contemptuous, scornful, abusive, or irrelevant way.

Jesus’ Authority Difference

He was authentic, pursued people, and spoke with authority.

Parable Meaning

Derived from Greek 'parabole' meaning 'to throw beside'.

Parables Teach Us About

The Kingdom of God.

Beatitudes Questions Answered

Who will enter the kingdom and what will be their reward.

Sermon on the Mount

Collection of the first and most important discourses in Matthew’s Gospel.

The Sower Emphasis

Different ways people interpret God’s word.