The Bible, Revelation, & the Old Testament Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining key theological concepts, biblical divisions, and Latin/Greek root terms from the lecture.

Revelation

Literal meaning 'to unveil', referring to the biblical revealing of truths about salvation history.

Divine Revelation

God's self-communication (self-disclosure) whereby He makes known the mystery of his divine plan.

Salvation History

The story of how God saves us through human history.

Sacred Tradition

The living transmission of the Church's Gospel message of Jesus Christ, meaning 'handed down.'

Deposit of Faith

The combination of Scripture and Tradition, which the pope and bishops preserve, teach, and spread.

Magisterium

From the Latin word for 'teacher,' the official authority of the Church that resides in the pope and the bishops in communion with him.

Biblia

Greek word meaning 'many books,' from which the word Bible originates.

Testamentum

Latin word meaning 'covenant/ agreement,' from which the word Testament originates.

Inspired Text

Writings whose authors, prompted by the Holy Spirit, convey God's message through their abilities in style of writing, understanding of the time, and historical context.

Inerrancy

The principle that the Bible is free from error in matters that relate to our salvation, containing no errors in religious truth.

Exegesis

The process used by scholars to discover the literal meaning of the biblical text.

Torah

Hebrew word meaning 'the law; instruction,' referring to the first five books of the Old Testament.

Pentateuch

Greek word meaning 'five books,' referring to the first 5 books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

Historical Books

Categories of Old Testament books that deal with the history of the nation of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Maccabean War.

Wisdom Books

A category of Old Testament books consisting of a collection of poetry, wise sayings, and the Book of Job.

Prophetic Books

Old Testament books containing the messages of men who spoke for God to rebuke covenant sins and foretell the coming of the Messiah.

Original Sin

A condition that we are born into, defined as the human tendency to sin and a built-in urge to disobey God.

Protoevangelium

Recorded in Genesis 3:15, it announces God's plans for a future Redeemer and a final victory over sin and death.