Biblical Terms and Jewish Scripture Quiz - Theology I

On February 26, 2025

What is the overarching covenant of the Old Testament and who is it between?

Between God and the Israelites

(Moses at Mt. Sinai)

Who received the Torah from God?

Moses

What is the Pentateuch?

Greek for 5 books; contains the first 5 books of what we know as the Bible; Torah

How do we define “Scripture?”

Texts that are inspired by God

What is the overarching covenant of the New Testament?

Between Jesus and the world

“Through my Cross, sacrificed death, and Resurrection, you have been set free.”

What is the Shema?

(Hebrew) To hear (and obey)

(No separate word for obey in Hebrew)

(Ex.: to ‘shema’ my voice)

Basic statement of the Jewish faith

Recited 2x a day

Who made the first covenant (not promise) of the Old Testament and what was it?

Made by God with Noah

God promised to never destroy the earth again by flood if Noah and his descendants:

Were fruitful and replenished the Earth

And established/enforced [God’s] ethical law

Why do observant Jews avoid pronouncing the define name and how is it written?

The name of God is too holy to say out loud

Written as YHWH (Adonai when pronounced)

Yahweh (spoken) = The Lord

What is the Torah?

The Law; Hebrew for instructions

Direct Revelation from God given at Mt. Sinai

Defines Worship and Ethical Conduct

613 Laws, including the 10 commandments

Who received the Torah from God?

Moses

What is the TaNaKh?

Made up of the

• Torah (Law),

• Nevi’im (Prophets),

• Ketuvim (Writings)

Hebrew for “knowledge”

Common name for the Hebrew Bible

Divinely inspired narrative of the people of God and their covenantal relationship with God

Written by many over 2,000 years

Originally in Hebrew, but translated to Greek

What are some characteristics of the Biblical Prophets?

(Prophonos; one who speaks for [Greek])

Historical account of Ancient Israel

Sharing the will of God

How is religion different from history and science?

Texts (in Christianity for example) are “inspired” not direct word

Religion focuses on seeking the truth of meaning rather than past human events or events in the natural world

God is directly involved in history

In what languages was the Bible originally written?

Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic

What is the overall message of the Bible?

God’s relationship with humanity, humanity’s need for salvation, redemption via Jesus

For whom is the story of the Bible intended?

Old Testament; for the Israelites

Later on; for all

Who was St Jerome and what was his major contribution to Biblical study?

St Jerome was a biblical scholar who, in around 400 AD, translated Bible into Latin (known as the Vulgate)

What is the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

The New Testament is the fulfillment (Jesus & his life), of the Old Testament (Israelites)

What is a religious Canon?

Collection of texts regarded as authoritative and inspired by a religious community

Christianity: Old/New Testament

Judaism: The TaNaKh

What comprises the Catholic Bible?

Old testament and New Testament ( Gospels)

What comprises the Old Testament?

Israelites before Jesus

Covenants with Noah (Pre-historical era)

Covenants with Abraham, Moses, David (Historical era)

What comprises the New Testament?

(200 years after the Old Testament)

Divinely inspired narrative of the life of Jesus, the Messiah

God is incarnate in the world

Life of Jesus and his followers

Covenant between Jesus and the world

How does the name of God appear in the Hebrew Bible?

YHWH (no vowels)