Unit 2: Divine Revelation and Sacred Scripture Study Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering Unit 2: Divine Revelation study guide, including definitions of key terms, biblical organization, facts, motives of credibility, and the formation of the Canon of Scripture.

Motives of Credibility

Signs and evidence showing that certain statements are made by God or by those chosen by God to speak His message.

Miracle

An extraordinary and admirable event or action produced by divine power.

Prophecy

Something spoken or revealed in the name of God.

Faith

A supernatural assent of the intellect to the truth revealed by God.

Testament

A word that means covenant.

Covenant

A solemn and sacred vow or agreement.

Old Testament

The section of Sacred Scripture containing prophecies and accounts of God's covenant with His people, which is fulfilled in the New Testament.

New Testament

The fulfillment of the Old Testament that centers on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sacred Oral Tradition

The transmission of divine revelation passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.

Organization of Biblical Books

The method of categorizing the books of the Bible based on writer, content, and the purpose of the document.

Four Categories of Old Testament Books

Law (Torah or Pentateuch), History, Wisdom, and Prophecy.

Four Categories of New Testament Books

Law (the four Gospels), History (the Acts of the Apostles), Wisdom (Paul's Epistles and Catholic/General Epistles), and Prophecy (the Revelation to St. John).

Purpose of the Bible

To communicate God's revelation to humanity, displaying His love and His saving plan for His people.

Formation of Sacred Scripture

Stories that began as oral tradition before being written down so early Christians and future believers could trust and live out their faith.

Total Number of Books in the Catholic Bible

73 books in total, consisting of 46 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament.

St. Jerome

The biblical scholar and saint who translated the Bible from its original Hebrew and Greek into Latin.

Original Biblical Languages

Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Saint Peter

The apostle who served as the first Pope.

Synoptic

A term meaning 'similar' or 'seeing together' with a shared point of view.

Synoptic Gospels

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

The Four Motives of Credibility

The miracles of Christ and His saints, the fulfillment of prophecies, the sublimity or dignity of the Gospel message, and the growth, holiness, fruitfulness, and stability of the Church.

Criteria for the New Testament Canon

Four standards used by the early Church: apostolic origin, orthodox content, use of the writings in liturgical celebration, and widespread acceptance of a book's message across Christian communities.

Canon of Scripture

The definitive collection or list of books that the Church recognizes as the inspired word of God, to which no books may be added or removed.

Dual Authorship of Scripture

The reality that God and human authors worked together; God inspired human beings through the Holy Spirit to write His truth for human salvation.

Divine Inspiration

The guidance of the Holy Spirit upon human authors, enabling them to record God's truth faithfully so that believers can grow in faith.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

Two sacred sources from God: Scripture helps believers know God, while Tradition guides them to live out their faith.