Religion Final Exam Study Guide Notes

Pentateuch/Torah

The first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

First Creation Story (Genesis 1)

Structured, poetic creation over 7 days; God creates by command.

Second Creation Story (Genesis 2)

Intimate; God forms man from dust.

Abram/Sarai (Abraham and Sarah)

Founders of the Israelite people.

Patriarchs

The founding fathers of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Theophany

A visible manifestation of God to humans, like God appearing in the burning bush to Moses.

Infancy Narratives in Old and New Testaments (Purpose/Importance)

OT: Stories like Moses’ birth prefigure Jesus; NT: Jesus’ birth narratives show fulfillment of prophecy and divine identity.

The Jewish Feast of Passover (Importance in OT and NT)

OT: Celebrates God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt; NT: Jesus’ Last Supper is a Passover meal, symbolizing the new covenant.

Sinai Covenant and the Ten Commandments

A covenant given to Moses at Mount Sinai; laws to guide Israel’s relationship with God and others.

Moses

Leader who delivers Israel from Egypt, receives the Ten Commandments, and guides them in the desert.

Manna and Quail

Food miraculously provided by God for the Israelites in the desert.

Golden Calf

An idol made by the Israelites when Moses was on Mount Sinai; represented a failure to trust God.

Ark of the Covenant

A sacred chest holding the Ten Commandments; a sign of God's presence with Israel.

The Babylonian Exile (Captivity) 587 B.C.E.

The destruction of Jerusalem and exile of Israelites to Babylon.

The Temple in Jerusalem

Central place of worship built by Solomon; destroyed and rebuilt; symbol of God's dwelling.

King David

Second king of Israel; unified the kingdom, brought the Ark to Jerusalem, ancestor of Jesus.

The Role of the Kings

To govern God’s people, lead in faithfulness; many failed by turning to sin/idolatry.

“The Poor and Vulnerable” in the Old Testament

God commands justice and care for widows, orphans, and foreigners.

The Prophets (Major and Minor)

Messengers of God who called people back to the covenant.

Marks/Characteristics of the Prophets

Called by God, often reluctant, challenged injustice, faithful to the covenant.

The word “Gospel” and “Evangelist”

"Gospel" means "Good News" about Jesus; Evangelists are the writers of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke; called synoptic because they have a similar view and content.

Source “Q”

A hypothetical written source of Jesus’ sayings used by Matthew and Luke, not found in Mark.

Infancy/Birth Narratives

Found in Matthew and Luke; emphasize Jesus’ divine origin and fulfillment of prophecy.

Genealogy (in Matthew and Luke)

Matthew traces Jesus to Abraham (Jewish focus); Luke traces to Adam (universal focus).

Kingdom of God

Central message of Jesus; God’s reign of justice, peace, and love both present and still to come.

Parables and Metaphors

Stories Jesus used to teach about the Kingdom of God using familiar images.

Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes

Teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5–7) that reveal values of God’s kingdom: mercy, humility, peacemaking, etc.

Different Types of Miracles in the Gospels:

Life Restoration, Physical Healing and Signs of Divine Identity.

The Last Supper and Passover/Passion Narrative

Jesus transforms the Passover into the Eucharist and reveals the coming sacrifice of his body and blood.

Sadducees

Priestly class, strict to written law, deny resurrection.

Pharisees

Strict law followers, believed in resurrection.

Essenes

Isolated, purity-focused, likely wrote Dead Sea Scrolls.

Zealots

Wanted to overthrow Rome.

Gentiles

Non-Jews.

Jewish Institutions (Temple, Synagogue)

center of worship/sacrifice; Synagogue: local place for prayer and teaching.

Religious and Social Norms – Why does Jesus challenge them?

Jesus heals on the Sabbath, showing mercy over ritual; Jesus touches the unclean, showing love over legalism.

Judea

Southern region, includes Jerusalem.

Samaria

Central region, home to Samaritans.

Galilee

Northern region, where Jesus grew up and taught.

Importance of Jerusalem

Political and religious capital; location of Temple and crucifixion/resurrection.

The Paschal Mystery

Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and ascension; reveals God’s love and defeat of sin and death.

Incarnation

God becomes man in Jesus, fully divine and fully human.

Eucharist (Thanksgiving)

Sacrament of Jesus’ body and blood, instituted at the Last Supper.

Meals and Hospitality in the Gospels (especially Luke)

Sign of inclusion and God’s Kingdom; Jesus eats with sinners and the marginalized.

Role and Importance of Women in the Gospels

Women follow Jesus, support his ministry, and are the first witnesses to the resurrection.

Christology (especially in John’s Gospel)

The study of who Jesus is; John emphasizes Jesus’ divine identity (Word made flesh).

“I am” Sayings in John’s Gospel

Statements like “I am the Bread of Life” reveal Jesus’ divine nature and mission.

Peter

Leader of the apostles, denied Jesus, later became a key figure in the Church.

Mary Magdalene

First witness to the resurrection.

Judas

Betrayed Jesus.

Thomas

Doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus.

John

“Beloved Disciple,” present at the cross, raced with Peter to the empty tomb.

Pentecost

The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, empowering them to preach; seen as the birth of the Church.

The Acts of the Apostles

A New Testament book written by Luke detailing the spread of the early Church and the ministry of Peter and Paul.

Paul (Saul)

A Pharisee who persecuted Christians but converted after encountering Jesus. Became the most influential early missionary.

Epistles/Letters

Writings by early Church leaders (especially Paul) to communities, offering instruction and encouragement in faith.

Council of Jerusalem

A meeting of early Church leaders (Acts 15) to decide whether Gentile converts had to follow Jewish law.

Faith and Grace

Salvation is a gift from God, not earned.

The Body of Christ

The Church as a united spiritual body with many members.

Christian Freedom

Believers are free from the law’s burden but called to live in love.

Catholic Letters

General letters written to a broader audience, not specific churches.

Book of Revelation (Author, Symbolism, Purpose)

Written by John; full of symbolic imagery. Offers hope to persecuted Christians and assurance of God’s final victory over evil.