Biblical Studies: Revelation, Genesis, Exodus, and Prophets

Dei Verbum

A Vatican II document about divine revelation and how it is transmitted.

Divine Revelation

God's self-disclosure to humanity.

Sacred Scripture

The inspired writings of the Bible, written by human authors under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Sacred Tradition

The living transmission of God's revelation through the life of the Church.

Magisterium

The Church's teaching authority, which interprets Scripture and Tradition.

Theology

The study of God and religious faith; faith seeking understanding.

Evangelization

Spreading or proclaiming the Gospel.

Faith Seeking Understanding

The effort to understand faith through intellectual inquiry and reason.

Transcendence

God's existence beyond and above the created world.

Creation

The act of God bringing the world and everything in it into existence.

Image and Likeness of God

The description of humanity in Genesis 1, expressing a special relationship with God.

Ruach

A Hebrew word meaning wind, breath, or spirit.

Eden

The garden where God placed the first human beings in Genesis.

The Flood

The catastrophic flood in the story of Noah.

Noah's Ark

The vessel Noah built to preserve his family and animals during the Flood.

Nephilim

The offspring of the sons of God and women in Genesis 6.

Patriarchs

The ancestral fathers of Israel, especially Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

Abrahamic Covenant

God's promises to Abraham, including descendants, the land of Canaan, blessings, and protection.

Covenant

A solemn agreement or relationship establishing commitments between parties.

Hospitality

The welcoming and care of travelers or strangers, emphasized in the stories of Abraham and Lot.

Land of Canaan

The land God promised to Abraham and his descendants.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Cities whose story highlights Abraham and Lot's hospitality and the consequences of wrongdoing.

Moab and Ammon

Peoples described in Genesis as descendants of Lot's daughters; their origin involves incest.

Isaac

Abraham's son, portrayed as a relatively passive supporting character in many stories.

Jacob

A patriarch portrayed as a trickster who obtained the blessing intended for Esau.

Esau

Jacob's brother, whose intended blessing Jacob obtained by deception.

Israel

The new name given to Jacob after he wrestled with an angel or the LORD.

Moses

The leader who brought the Israelites out of Egypt and mediated the covenant at Mount Sinai.

Aaron

Moses' brother and spokesperson.

Midianites

A people associated with Moses' time in Midian and influences on his life before the Exodus.

YHW

The warrior-god concept associated with the Midianites in the review slides.

Exodus

The biblical account of Israel's liberation from Egypt and journey toward covenant with God.

The Ten Plagues

The series of plagues God brought upon Egypt before the Israelites' departure.

Pharaoh

The ruler of Egypt who resisted Moses' demand to release the Israelites.

Reed Sea

The body of water the Israelites cross in the Exodus account, as named in the review slides.

Passover

The biblical event associated with Israel's deliverance from Egypt and the sparing of the Israelites.

Mount Sinai

The mountain where God established the covenant with Israel through Moses.

Mosaic Covenant

The covenant made through Moses at Mount Sinai, ratified by blood sacrifice and a communal meal.

Golden Calf

The idol made by the Israelites while Moses was on Mount Sinai.

Deuteronomic History

The biblical history that evaluates Israel's actions according to the Mosaic Covenant.

Deuteronomy

Meaning Second Law; a restatement of the covenant through Moses, presented as his final speech.

Promised Land

The land Israel is promised and enters after the Exodus.

Conquest and Genocide

The literary perspective on Israel's entry into the land in Joshua 1-11.

Occupation and Domination

The literary perspective associated with Joshua 13 and the following chapters.

Revolution and Integration

The historical perspective on Israel's entry into the Promised Land.

Judges

Local tribal war leaders who led Israel before the monarchy.

Samson

A judge portrayed in the review as a loner and a self-serving anti-hero.

Monarchy

A form of government ruled by a king, established in Israel under Saul and David.

Samuel

The prophet who anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.

Saul

The first king of Israel, whose primary task was to fight the Philistines.

David

The king who united Israel, built a small empire, and brought peace and stability.

Davidic Covenant

God's promise to David concerning his descendants and the continuation of his royal line.

Solomon

David's son, known for wisdom, many wives, and building the Temple.

Temple

The central place of worship built in Jerusalem during Solomon's reign.

Rehoboam

Solomon's son, who listened to his young and foolish friends when making an important decision.

Elijah

A prophet who helped a widow during a drought, raised a boy from the dead, and was taken to God in a fiery chariot.

Prophet

A person called to communicate God's message and challenge the people or their leaders.

Social Injustice

Unfair treatment or social conditions that prophets such as Amos and Isaiah criticized.

Idolatry

The worship of idols or false gods, a major concern in the messages of Hosea and Jeremiah.

Seraphim

Celestial beings surrounding God in Isaiah's vision of the heavenly throne.

Amos

A prophet who condemned social injustice and addressed surrounding nations before announcing judgment.

Isaiah

A prophet who emphasized social justice and urged the king to trust God rather than human alliances.

Hosea

A prophet who used his failing marriage as a metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness to God.

Jeremiah

A reluctant prophet who complained about his mission and advised surrender to Babylon as acceptance of God's punishment.

Ezekiel

A prophet known for bizarre visions and dramatic symbolic actions, including lying on his side and eating a scroll.

Second Isaiah

The prophetic voice that announced unconditional hope with the message, 'Comfort, give comfort to my people.'

Unconditional Doom

A prophetic message of judgment that will not be revoked; associated with Amos in the review.

Unconditional Hope

A message of comfort and restoration associated with Second Isaiah.

Babylonian Exile

The period when the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon; the Davidic royal line ended in Jerusalem.