Catholic Theology: Incarnation, Kingdom, and Church Doctrine

1. What is the definition of Incarnation?

God became a man. More specifically, the Word of God (God the Son, second person of the Trinity) became man; he took on flesh.

2. When theologians speak of the hypostatic union, what is meant by this phrase?

Jesus Christ is one divine person who unites two distinct, complete natures: he is fully God and fully man (100% God and 100% man).

3. In Hebrew biblical thought, what did a name tell you about the thing / person?

A name tells you the essence or nature of the thing/person — it answers "Who or what is this?"

4. How does Isaiah 7:14 ("A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Immanuel") prophesy the incarnation?

"Immanuel" means "God with us." The prophecy shows the child will be God in the flesh.

5. How is the tension between the people's demand for a human king (1 Samuel 8) and God's desire to be their sole king resolved in the incarnation?

Jesus is both God and man, so he can be both a human king and the divine King simultaneously.

6. How do the stories of Moses (Exodus 33) and Elijah (1 Kings 19) hint at Jesus' divinity at the Transfiguration?

Moses and Elijah wanted to see God's face but couldn't; at the Transfiguration they behold the radiant face of Christ (God).

7. What's strange about God's words concerning Joshua in Exodus 23:21?

God says "my name is in him." Joshua and Jesus share the same Hebrew name (Yeshua). St. Augustine saw this as hinting at Jesus' divinity.

8. How do the words of Psalm 22:16-18 apply differently to David vs. Jesus?

For David they were hyperbolic. For Jesus they were literally fulfilled (hands and feet pierced, lots cast for garments).

9. How do Zephaniah 3:15's words ("the king of Israel, the LORD, is in your womb") apply differently to Mary?

For Israel it was a metaphor of closeness. For Mary it became literally true — God was in her womb.

10. How is the tension in Ezekiel 34:15 and 34:23 resolved in the incarnation?

God himself becomes the shepherd (divine) while also being the servant David (human descendant) — one person, Jesus Christ.

11. What was similar about Pharaoh's two dreams (Joseph) and Nebuchadnezzar's two dreams (Daniel)?

Two dreams with different imagery but the same meaning.

12. What do the four metals in Daniel 2 and four beasts in Daniel 7 represent?

Four successive world empires from Daniel's time onward.

13. What did the fourth metal/beast represent and what did Daniel predict?

The Roman Empire. During this empire, God would set up an everlasting kingdom.

14. Who was the figure in Daniel 7 who inherits the kingdom? How did Jesus refer to himself?

The "Son of Man." Jesus frequently called himself "the Son of Man."

15. Who was the queen during Solomon's reign? How does this relate to Christ's kingdom?

Solomon's mother. In Christ's kingdom, Mary is the Queen Mother of Heaven.

16. What was a main responsibility of the Queen Mother?

To act as intercessor — people brought petitions to her, and she presented them to the king.

17. How did Solomon respond to Bathsheba in 1 Kings 2:16-20?

He rose from his throne, bowed to her, and said "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."

18. Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

We ask her to intercede and bring our petitions to Jesus, just as subjects asked Bathsheba to approach Solomon.

19. What was unique about Israel under David and Solomon? What happened afterward?

All twelve tribes were united. After Solomon, the kingdom split into the northern 10 tribes (house of Israel) and southern 2 (house of Judah).

20. Why was it anachronistic to speak of the "house of Israel" in Jeremiah's time?

The northern 10 tribes were conquered and scattered by Assyria in 722 BC and lost their distinct identity.

21. What does Jeremiah 31:31's new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah imply?

A reunification of the 12 tribes and restoration of the Davidic kingdom.

22. How can God reunite the lost 10 tribes?

By including the Gentiles in the new covenant, which brings the lost tribes back (Isaiah 66:20).

23. What does this have to do with Jesus choosing 12 apostles?

The 12 apostles symbolize the 12 tribes and are sent to gather all nations (including Gentiles) into the new covenant.

24. In addition to the 12 officers, what did Solomon appoint?

A royal steward (prime minister) over his household.

25. When was the royal steward in charge?

When the king was away.

26. What symbolized the royal steward's authority?

The keys to the palace (Isaiah 22:22).

27. Who did Jesus choose as the first royal steward?

St. Peter (Matthew 16:16-19).

28. What is this office called in the Church?

The papacy (the pope).

29. What two attributes of the royal steward match the pope?

Clothed in priestly garments and called "father." The pope is a priest and called "Holy Father."

30. What did "binding and loosing" mean, and what did Jesus give Peter?

Authority to interpret Scripture and declare what is forbidden (bound) or permitted (loosed), with heaven ratifying his decisions.

31. Why is binding/loosing authority necessary for Church unity?

It provides a final authoritative decision on disputed matters to prevent division.

32. How does the Catholic Church unite the Kingdom of God and the restored Kingdom of David?

Jesus is both divine Son of God and Son of David. The Church is the restored Davidic kingdom on earth that leads to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.

33. Who was Lamech and how was he worse than Cain?

Sixth descendant of Cain; he was even more violent and boasted of being eleven times worse.

34. What else was Lamech the first recorded example of in Scripture?

Polygamy.

35. Why did Lamech boast to his wives? What does it show?

To intimidate them. It reveals he was an abusive husband whose behavior should not be imitated.

36. How do Lamech's sins connect to the Flood?

Humanity became corrupted by widespread polygamy and violence.

37. How were Noah and his sons different from the rest of humanity?

They were monogamous.

38. What made the ark different from the world outside?

It was a place of peace and nonviolence. Animals entered two-by-two and left as families.

39. Why is Noah a model of faith?

He trusted God's word about the coming flood and built the ark long before there were any signs of it (Hebrews 11:7).

40. What was St. Peter's (and many apostles') occupation before Jesus called them?

Fishermen.

41. What did Jesus predict Peter would do on the night of the Last Supper? How did Peter respond?

Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed twice. Peter insisted he would never deny Jesus, even if it meant dying with him.

42. What happened when the apostles went fishing after the Resurrection?

They caught nothing all night, but at Jesus' command they caught a huge number of fish (echoing their original call).

43. What is the significance of the 153 fish in John 21?

Ancient sources listed 153 species of fish. It symbolizes the catholicity (universality) of the Church — people from every nation.

44. What does the untorn net in John 21 symbolize?

The Church can remain one (unified) while being universal (catholic).

45. How were Peter's three denials forgiven?

Jesus asked him three times "Do you love me?" by a charcoal fire (same setting as the denials).

46. After each affirmation of love, what did Jesus renew for Peter?

His calling to shepherd the Church ("Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep... Feed my sheep").

47. What was the ark a type (symbol) of? How are some church ceilings designed?

A type of the Church. Some church ceilings are built to resemble the ark.

48. How do the animals on the ark prefigure the catholicity of the Church?

A great variety of animals from all kinds were saved together, symbolizing people from every nation gathered into the Church.

49. How has the Church traditionally viewed those outside her?

Like those outside the ark who perished. "Outside the Church there is no salvation," with nuance for those who do not know Christ through no fault of their own.

50. How is Pentecost a reversal of the Tower of Babel?

At Babel languages caused confusion; at Pentecost the apostles were understood in every language.

51. How does Pentecost show the Church was catholic from the beginning?

People from many nations were present and received the Spirit on the very first day (Acts 2).

52. In the Good Samaritan parable as an allegory of salvation history, the man beaten on the road to Jericho represents...

Adam and fallen humanity — stripped of grace and left half-dead.

53. The Good Samaritan "came to where he was" and showed compassion. What do these mean?

Incarnation (God coming down to us) and the Passion (Jesus' suffering and death for us).

54. What do the oil, wine, and inn represent allegorically?

Oil and wine = the sacraments; the inn = the Church.

55. Who is the innkeeper and what does the Samaritan's return represent?

The innkeeper = the pope and ministers of the Church; the return = the Second Coming of Christ.

56. How did the old men react when they saw the rebuilt second temple?

They wept because it was far inferior to Solomon's original temple.

57. Haggai's prophecy that the latter temple would be more glorious refers to the temple of the...

Messiah.

58. What unique temple did Jesus build?

The temple of his Body — the Mystical Body of Christ / Communion of Saints.

59. What is the soul of the Mystical Body of Christ (the Church)?

The Holy Spirit.

60. According to St. Paul, what part of the Mystical Body is Christ?

The Head.

61. What happens to those who receive the Eucharist?

They are conformed more fully to the Mystical Body of Christ.

62. What did St. Augustine see prefigured in Jacob's birth holding Esau's heel?

The order of the Mystical Body: Old Testament saints first (the arm), then Christ the Head, then later Church members.

63. How do the three temples correspond to stages of humanity?

1. Solomon's temple → pre-Fall humanity\n2. Second temple → fallen humanity\n3. Mystical Body of Christ → glorified, redeemed humanity in heaven.

64. How are we given a pledge of heaven as members of the Church?

"Where the Head is, there the members will also be." Christ (the Head) is in heaven, so we His members will follow.

65. The laws of the Sermon on the Mount can be viewed as...

The constitution of the Kingdom of God.

66. What does the difference in the crowds at Moses' and Jesus' law-giving show?

Jesus' law is a higher standard. The people ascended the mountain with him, unlike with Moses.

67. Contrast Gentile authority with Christ's teaching. What title does the pope use?

Gentiles: power used for self-gain (tyranny). Christ: authority as service from the top down. The pope is "Servant of the Servants of God."

68. What is the significance of Jesus not drinking the fourth cup at the Last Supper?

The Eucharist and the sacrifice on the Cross are one single offering.

69. How was Rachel's birth of Benjamin a type of Mary at the Cross?

Rachel suffered great labor pains and died giving birth to her second son. Mary suffered at the Cross beholding her "second son."

70. How do lay people share in priestly and kingly roles?

Priest: offer daily prayers, works, joys, and sufferings.\nKing: exercise self-control and dominion over body and senses.

71. The works of mercy are divided into...

Corporal (for the body) and Spiritual (for the soul).