Religion Unit 1: The Gospels and New Testament

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the formation of the Bible, Old and New Testament revelation, the Synoptic Gospels, Johannine literature, the Catholic Epistles, and biblical exegesis.

Pentateuch

The first five books of the Bible, also known as the Torah or 'five scrolls.'

Primitive Revelation

The initial pre-Christian Old Testament revelation that God made to Adam and Eve.

Patriarchal Revelation

The Old Testament revelation in which God revealed Himself to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Mosaic Revelation

The Old Testament revelation in which God revealed Himself to Moses and the prophets.

Incarnation

The mystery of God coming into the flesh and becoming human as Jesus Christ.

Sacred Tradition

One of the two parts of divine revelation (along with Sacred Scripture) that came first historically.

Kerygma

A form of oral tradition defined as preaching to non-believers; also refers to the core message that Jesus is our Savior and Lord.

Didache

A form of oral tradition in the formation of the New Testament meaning 'teachings.'

Liturgy

A form of oral tradition defined as the communal worship of the Christians.

St. Jerome

The scholar who spent approximately 35 years translating the Old and New Testaments from Hebrew and Greek into Latin.

Vulgate

The Latin translation of the Old and New Testaments produced by St. Jerome.

Synoptic Gospels

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share most of the same ordering, stories, and language, meaning 'seeing together.'

Source Criticism

A scholarly method that attempts to determine what oral and written sources Gospel and New Testament writers used to compose their works.

Letter to the Hebrews

An anonymous New Testament letter written for a local church losing faith, presenting Christ as the High Priest, model of faith, and sacrifice.

Catholic Epistles

A collection of seven New Testament letters (James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude) containing general advice accepted by all Eastern and Western churches ('catholic' meaning 'universal').

Letter of James

A Catholic epistle addressed to Jewish Christians outside the Holy Land, emphasizing Christian living, God's preferential love for the poor, and the obligation of the rich to care for the poor.

First Letter of Peter (1 Peter)

A Catholic epistle written by a disciple of Peter to boost the spirit of Gentile Christian converts, presenting Jesus as the Suffering Servant and giving the clearest New Testament teaching on suffering.

Second Letter of Peter (2 Peter)

The last New Testament work written, which borrows heavily from the Letter of Jude and focuses on Christ's second coming.

Letter of Jude

A New Testament letter that denounces outsiders who infiltrated the church, warning that they will face punishment for engaging in sexual acts.

First Letter of John (1 John)

A letter intimately connected in style and teaching to John's Gospel, written to support the Johannine community against a schism caused by false teachers.

Second Letter of John (2 John)

A letter reminding Christians to love one another and warning against 'antichrists' who deny the doctrine of the Incarnation.

Revelation to John

The final book of the Bible, also known as the Apocalypse, written by St. John using imaginative and symbolic language.

Gospel of Mark

The first, shortest, and fastest-paced Gospel, portraying Jesus as an authoritative teacher, the unrecognized Messiah, and the Suffering Servant for persecuted Gentile Christians.

Messianic Secret

A central motif in the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus repeatedly commands people and spirits not to reveal His identity as the Messiah.

Evangelist

A person who proclaims and spreads the 'good news' of Jesus Christ.

Gentiles

A biblical term referring to individuals who are not of Jewish descent or faith.

Pentecost

The event following Jesus' resurrection when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples to strengthen and guide them.

Paraclete

A title for the Holy Spirit who advocates, helps, and strengthens Jesus' followers and the Church.

Theophilus

The individual (whose name means 'lover of God') to whom the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are dedicated.

Acts of the Apostles

The New Testament book written by Luke that details the history of the early Church and describes how Christianity spread through Jesus' followers.

Gospel of Matthew

A Gospel originally written in Greek for Jewish Christian converts, incorporating approximately 80% of Mark, presenting Jesus as the Messiah, King, and a new Moses who fulfills Old Testament prophecies.

Emmanuel

A title for Jesus emphasized in the Gospel of Matthew meaning 'God with us.'

The Five Discourses

The five major teaching blocks in Matthew: 1. Sermon on the Mount, 2. Sharing the faith with others, 3. Parables about the kingdom, 4. Jesus founds and instructs the church, and 5. The final judgment.

Gospel of Luke

A Gospel written for Gentile Christians presenting Jesus as a compassionate Messiah and prophet who brings universal salvation, with special emphasis on prayer, the Holy Spirit, outcasts, and women.

Q Source

A hypothetical shared written collection of Jesus' sayings drawn upon by both Matthew and Luke in addition to Mark.

Logos

The Greek theological term for the 'Word of God,' identifying Jesus Christ's divine pre-existence in the Gospel of John.

Exegesis

The critical study and historical-literary examination of Scripture in its original context, language, history, and culture to answer: 'What did it mean back then?'

Hermeneutics

The branch of theology and interpretation that determines the contemporary meaning and practical application of Scripture: 'What does it mean for us today?'

Four Types of Miracles

The four categories of extraordinary acts performed by Jesus: healings, exorcisms, restorations of life, and nature miracles.

Gospel of John

A distinct theological Gospel emphasizing Jesus' divine identity as the Son of God, organized around major signs to strengthen faith and counter claims about John the Baptist.

The Seven Signs

The grand miracles in John's Gospel: turning water into wine, healing the official's son, healing the paralytic, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, healing the man born blind, and raising Lazarus.

Book of Signs

The first major structural division of the Gospel of John, recounting the seven miraculous signs that reveal Jesus' divine power and identity.

Book of Glory

The second major structural division of the Gospel of John, focusing on the Last Supper (washing of feet), Jesus' Passion, death, and resurrection.

Discipleship

The process of following Jesus and His teachings through faith, discipline, loving service to others, and remaining faithful amidst hardship and disagreement.

Moral Decision

A conscious choice made between right and wrong actions that directly affects other people.