Unit 1 Study Guide: Theology of the Body and Original Man

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms, art studies, theological concepts, Hebrew terms, and Genesis creation accounts from the Unit 1 study guide on Original Man.

Theology

The study of God, defined as faith seeking understanding.

Faith

Man's response to the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Belief

Certainty based not on your own experience or God test authority, but on that of another.

The Agedah

The account in Genesis where Abraham demonstrates faith and trust by being willing to obey God by sacrificing his son, until God stops him at the last moment and provides a ram.

Exegesis

Reading meaning out of or from Scripture.

Eisegesis

Reading one's own ideas into Scripture.

Adam (Hebrew)

Hebrew word meaning man or human.

Ish (Hebrew)

Hebrew word meaning man or male.

Issha (Hebrew)

Hebrew word meaning woman or female.

Tardema (Hebrew)

Hebrew word for deep sleep; the state God put Adam in before creating woman from his side.

Shame

Fear or experience felt when our dignity or value as a person is threatened or denied.

Original Man

Human beings as God first created them, before sin entered the world.

Original Solitude

Man's experience of his uniqueness amongst creation based on Genesis 2:18 ('not good that man should be alone'), where Adam realizes he needs another person like himself.

Original Unity

The experience of mutual, total (mind, will, body) self-gift based on Genesis 2:24 ('one flesh'), experienced in the creation of Eve and Adam and Eve's first meeting.

Original Nakedness

The experience based on Genesis 2:25 ('were both naked + were not ashamed') where man and woman saw each other fully and with pure love prior to the Fall.

Original Innocence

The state based on Genesis 2:25 where Adam and Eve were free from sin and selfish desire, able to love each other as God intended.

Spousal Meaning of the Body

The truth that the human body shows we are created to give ourselves to others in love, demonstrating that male and female bodies are made for relationship, self-gift, marriage, and family.

Anastasis Icon

An artwork depicting Jesus going down to the place of the dead and pulling Adam and Eve up, demonstrating that He has defeated death and saved humanity.

The Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner

An artwork depicting the angel Gabriel telling Mary she will be the mother of Jesus, highlighting Mary's choice of faith, freedom, and trust to say yes to God.

Narcissus by Caravaggio

An artwork showing Narcissus staring at his own reflection, symbolizing selfishness, pride, and loving oneself more than others.

Head Over Heels

A short film about a husband and wife who live in the same house but are separated and disconnected, having to work to find each other again, illustrating marriage and broken relationships.

Lilic the Dawn by Oh Hello

A song using the story of Adam and Eve to describe man seeing woman for the first time, original unity, creation, and man and woman as gifts for each other.

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo

An artwork showing Jesus judging humanity at the end of time, with people entering heaven or separated from God, emphasizing final judgment and that our choices matter.

Persons of the Trinity

The Father as Creator, the Son as Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as Sanctifier.

Image and Likeness of God

The state of being created to know, love, choose freely, and form relationships, reflecting God who is love.

Catholic Intellect

According to Frank Sheed, an intellect that tries to see and understand the world according to God's truth.

Catholic Will

According to Frank Sheed, a will that tries to love and live according to God's truth.

Matthew 19:3-9

The Gospel passage where Jesus responds to questions about marriage and divorce by pointing 'back to the beginning' in Genesis to explain God's original intention for love and marriage.

Genesis 1 Creation Account

The objective, big-picture creation account showing creation in an organized order, where God creates the universe and creates man and woman together in His image.

Genesis 2 Creation Account

The subjective creation account focusing closely on human experience, where Adam is formed from the earth, names animals, and Eve is created from Adam's side.

First Naming of the Body in Scripture

Occurs in Genesis 2:23 when Adam sees Eve and exclaims 'bone of my bones + flesh of my flesh', recognizing that Eve is a person like himself.

Man's First Experience of Joy

Adam's joy when he first sees Eve, happy because he has found another human person whom he can love and enjoy life with.

Freedom of the Gift

The state in which Adam and Eve were free to love each other without using each other.

Knowledge ('Knew') in Genesis

In Scripture ('Adam knew Eve'), 'knew' means a deep, personal, and physical union between husband and wife that can create new life, far beyond knowing facts about someone.