CFE 101: Sacred Scripture, Faith, Covenants, and Prophets Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the CFE 101 course material on Sacred Scripture, biblical canon, interpretation, Old Testament covenants (Abraham and Moses), the prophets (Jeremiah and Jonah), and Christian faith concepts.

Abraham

The first patriarch of the Jewish people, originally named Abram, who at age 75 obeyed God's call to leave his home for Canaan and became known as 'Father of the people' or 'father of a multitude of nations'.

Abrahamic Covenant

The promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, offering him land, material blessings, and countless descendants through whom all families of the earth would find blessing.

Eliezer of Damascus

The servant of Abraham's household whom Abraham initially considered his heir before God promised him a child of his own offspring.

Moses

The leader called by God from the burning bush over 1,000 years after Abraham to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and receive God's covenant at Mount Sinai.

Passover

The event remembered in the Jewish faith celebrating the Israelites' exodus and escape from slavery in Egypt under Moses.

Ten Commandments

Also called the 'Ten Words,' these are the rules given by God to Israel at Mount Sinai to maintain a right relationship with Him and guide them toward fuller freedom.

Shofar

A ram's horn whose loud blast sounded at Mount Sinai during the manifestation of God's presence before Moses and the Israelites.

Major Prophets

Old Testament prophetic books containing substantial writings, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

Minor Prophets

A group of twelve Old Testament prophetic books with shorter recorded utterances, including Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

Jeremiah

A prophet appointed by God before his birth who began his ministry as a youth in 627 B.C. to warn Judah of its coming doom prior to the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Jonah

The son of Amittai, a prophet who attempted to flee to Tarshish from Joppa to avoid preaching against Nineveh, but later delivered God's warning after being thrown into the sea.

Nineveh

An ancient city whose inhabitants, upon hearing Jonah's proclamation that the city would be overthrown in forty days, repented through fasting and wearing sackcloth.

Prophet

A person called by God not to tell fortunes, but to speak His word, interpret current situations in God's sight, and call the people back to fidelity to the Covenant.

Prophetic Hope

A vision of hope grounded in past saving acts, focused on the future to overcome excessive individualism, bringing comfort through forgiveness, sketching a renewed life, and revealing a new creation.

Bible / Holy Bible

The collection of books recognized as Sacred Scripture, derived from the Greek word biblia ('books') and biblion ('book').

Sacred Scripture

The sacred writings of the Old and New Testaments, understood as the written Word of God produced under divine inspiration.

Inspiration

Divine guidance through the Holy Spirit (from Latin inspirare, 'to breathe in') working in human authors who used their own abilities and experiences to write Scripture.

Testament / Covenant

A pact, alliance, or sacred relationship between God and humanity, corresponding to the Hebrew word Berith.

Four Purposes of Scripture

Based on 2 Timothy 3:16-17: Teaching (instructing in truth), Refutation/Reproof (challenging error), Correction (changing wrong behavior), and Training in Righteousness (forming habits of right living).

Canon

Derived from the Greek kanon ('reed' or 'measuring rod'), it refers to the authoritative, official list of books recognized as Sacred Scripture.

New Testament Canon Criteria

The three standards used to determine canonical books: Apostolic origin, Orthodox teaching, and Consistent usage within the Christian community.

Septuagint (LXX)

The ancient Greek translation and collection of Jewish Scriptures associated with the Alexandrian tradition and the Catholic Old Testament canon.

Exegesis

Literally 'to lead out of'; careful, objective biblical analysis that draws the original intended meaning out of the text within its historical context.

Eisegesis

Literally 'to lead into'; a subjective, non-analytical way of reading where one forces their own external ideas or assumptions into a text.

Biblical Infallibility

The belief that what Sacred Scripture teaches concerning faith and Christian practice is wholly true and reliable.

Paniniwala

An everyday Filipino expression of faith referring to believing or accepting another person's words as true.

Pagsunod

An everyday Filipino expression of faith referring to following the directions or commands of someone in authority.

Pagtitiwala

An everyday Filipino expression of faith referring to entrusting one's welfare or personal well-being to someone else.

Dimensions of Faith

The three essential aspects of Christian faith: Doctrine (what is believed), Moral (how choices and conduct are shaped), and Worship (expression through prayer and sacraments).

Threefold Mission of Christ

The Christian call to share in Christ's work as Priest (prayer and life offering), Prophet (witnessing to truth), and King (servant leadership and care for others).

Deuterocanonical Books

The seven Old Testament books included in the Catholic Bible but excluded from the Protestant canon: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees.

TaNaKh

The Hebrew Bible, structured into three traditional divisions: Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings), containing 24 books by traditional Hebrew counting.