Religion 9 Final Exam Study Guide Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the Religion 9 Final Exam Study Guide notes.

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition

The two ways in which the Word of God is transmitted, interpreted authoritatively by the Magisterium of the Church.

Magisterium

The teaching authority of the Church, entrusted with the authoritative interpretation of the Word of God.

Sacred Scripture

The written Word of God, central to which is Jesus Christ.

Salvation History

The type of history contained within the Bible, focused on God's plan to save humanity.

Literal Sense of Scripture

The meaning that the Sacred Author intended to express in the Scriptures.

Spiritual Sense of Scripture

The meaning of Scripture when read under the influence of the Holy Spirit in light of Christ.

Salvation History

God's plan to save humanity, specifically the story of the covenants made between God and his people.

Apostolicity

A criterion used by the Church to decide which books to include in the Canon of Scripture, indicating the book goes back to an Apostle or his companion.

Orthodoxy

A criterion used by the Church to decide which books to include in the Canon of Scripture, meaning the content conforms with correct teaching about Christ and the Church.

Catholicity

A criterion used by the Church to decide which books to include in the Canon of Scripture, indicating the book was used by all (or nearly all) of the communities of the faithful in their liturgical worship.

Torah

The Hebrew name for the first five books of the Bible, also known as the books of the Law or the Pentateuch.

Typology

Shows the unity of the two Testaments. God’s works of the Old Covenant prefigured what he would accomplish in the New Covenant in the Person of his Son.

Elohim

A name for God used in Genesis, suggesting the infinite power of God the Creator.

Yahweh

A name for God, often rendered “LORD,” suggesting God’s “covenant” love, His love as Father for us.

Original Holiness

One of the things lost by Adam and Eve when they sinned, referring to the state of grace and communion with God.

Original Justice

One of the things lost by Adam and Eve when they sinned, referring to the state of harmony within themselves and with creation.

Bigamist/Polygamist

Someone who has two wives, as in the case of Cain's descendant Lamech.

Number Forty

Symbolizes trial and repentance in Scripture.

Rainbow

The sign of the covenant God made with Noah, promising to never again destroy the inhabitants of the whole world by flood.

Babylon

Symbolized everything evil and decadent for the Israelites.

Abram

Exalted Father

Abraham

Father of the multitude

Israel

He who strives with God.

Decalogue

Literally the ten words, or ten statements; God gave Moses these ten Commandments by which the Chosen People were to live within the covenant.

Natural Law

Those rules of moral behavior which can be known by reason.

Leviticus

Latin for “of the Levites,” the Hebrews called it the Manual for Priests. It was an instruction book for the Levitical priesthood.

Numbers

The book in English is called “Numbers” because it numbers, or is a census of, all the tribes of Israel. Its Hebrew name is “In the Wilderness” because it chronicles Israel’s forty years’ wandering. It is a history of Israel’s failure to live up to the Law.

Deuteronomy

The last book of the Pentateuch, meaning second law, a law given not directly by God but by Moses.

Judges

Warrior-prophets who led Israel and rescued the nation from surrounding enemies.

Messiah/Christ

Anointed one. Samuel anointed Saul, making him the Messiah of Israel.

Davidic Covenant

David’s line will inherit a kingdom, his line will be a dynasty, and when anointed king, his son will be God’s own son. Also, the covenant is unlimited in time and space, Jewish life will be centered in Jerusalem, the Temple will be the center of worldwide worship, and there will be a law for all nations.

Hellenization

The spread of Greek culture

Pharisees

A Jewish sect that believed in keeping separate from the Gentiles. They followed the Law of Moses strictly and added many traditional interpretations and regulations of their own.

Sadducees

A Jewish sect that believed in accommodating Judaism to modern life. They held most of the positions of power in the priesthood. Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and denied the existence of angels and spirits.

Proselytes of the Gate

Gentiles who worshiped the True God and knew the Jewish Scriptures but were not circumcised and did not keep the whole law of Moses.

Herod the Great

A wickedly ambitious king who took over the government of Palestine with the support of the Romans. He was Edomite but he portrayed himself as a Jew who returned from exile. He made Israel prosperous which made him popular with many Jews who thought him to be the promised king.

Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They are called “synoptic” (from Greek, seeing together) because they have a similar point of view when contrasted with the Gospel of John.

Incarnation

The fact that the Son of God assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it.

Perpetual Virginity

Dogma of the faith that says that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the Birth of her Son.

Immaculate Conception

Dogma of the faith that states that Mary remained sinless from her conception on by reason of the merits of her Son (she was preserved from Original and all personal sins).

Parable

A story or example based on a life experience that illustrates a principle.

Sanhedrin

The Jewish governing council with religious responsibilities.

Crucifixion

A form of execution used by the Romans in which the victim is nailed to the cross and left to die slowly.

Bishop

The Greek world means, literally, “overseer.” A successor of the apostles as a teacher, leader, and shepherd of the Church

Pentecost

A Jewish festival, fifty days after Passover, celebrating the giving of the Law to Moses at Sinai. Also the birthday of the Church.

The Way

First name used by the followers of Christ

Justification

St. Paul taught justification means God justifies—makes right with himself— people through the atonement for sin, which Christ accomplished, and the benefit of which God freely gives to people.

Sacrament

An efficacious sign of God’s grace instituted by Jesus Christ and entrusted to the Church.

Mortal Sin

Breaks one’s relationship with God.

Venial Sin

Harms one’s relationship with God.

Beatific Vision

Christ will return in glory, reward each person according to his or her works, and give the faithful eternal happiness with him in Heaven

Literal Sense of Scripture

The immediate and direct meaning of what is read, taking into account the literary forms, techniques, and the historical period.

Allegorical Sense of Scripture

How people and events in the Bible point to future people and events.

Moral Sense of Scripture

Views people and events in terms of the good or evil of their actions and extracts admonitions for behavior.

Anagogical Sense of Scripture

The sense in which events point to what will be known and experienced in Heaven.