Westerhorstmann Final - Word of God

The Ark of the covenant contained important signs of the miracles God had done for his people. Inside the Ark there were:

The two stone tablets with the covenant/commandments, a golden pot of manna, and Aaron's rod

A certain pattern that can be found in the Old Testament covenants, is evident in the story of King David. Please describe in at least half a page in length.

A pattern found in the Old Testament covenants is that God chooses a person, makes promises, establishes a relationship, and asks for faithfulness in return. We see this in God’s covenants with Noah, Abraham, and Moses. We continue to see this with the Davidic Covenant between David and God in 2 Samuel 7. God chose David to be king over Israel and promised him that his kingdom would endure forever. God tells David that He will make his “house” lasting, meaning that his royal line would continue long after David’s death. David wanted to build God a temple, but that was a task completed by David’s son, Soloman, The Davidic Covenant also includes divine blessing, kingship, and the promise of a Messiah, who is the “Son of David”: Jesus Christ. This covenant shows God’s faithfulness and His plan of salvation.

What are the three essential elements of the covenant on Mount Sinai?

1. Creed - what to believe (the Shema Israel (WHAT WE SAY AT LILIES LORDS DAY))

2. Code - what to do (commandments, laws, rules)

3. Cult - how to worship (sacrifices, altar, vestments, lamps, etc.)

   1. “They shall make a sanctuary for me.” (Exodus 25:8)

   2. Covenant is sealed with blood of the sacrifice (24:8)

In the Old Testament we find the “covenant formular” many times, phrased in different ways. Give one example.

“I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.” - 2 Samuel 7:14

Name the principal forms of Psalms.

1. Praise Psalms

2. Lament Psalms

3. Wisdom Psalms

What is the “name” of Psalm 51?

Miserere

Isaiah 40 starts with the word “Comfort, comfort my people”. What is the “comfort” the prophet is asked to proclaim the people of Israel?

Hope is the “comfort” that Isaiah speaks of.

A person in the New Testament will quote Isaiah 40. Who is it, and what is his message about?

John the Baptist. He came to “prepare the way of the Lord”, calling the people to repent and prepare for Jesus’ coming.

What is the technical term for the description of Jesus’ childhood stories described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke?

Infancy Narratives

The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew are part of an important speech that is called…

The Sermon on the Mount

What do we learn about St. Joseph from the gospel of Matthew?

1. Betrothed to Mary (“husband”)

2. Call to remain her husband: “Do no be afraid to take Mary into your home.” - Joseph’s divine call to be Guardian of the Holy Family

3. Revelation of the virginal conception to Joseph: Matthew 1:20 - Inspiration is given to Joseph while he is sleeping (dreams)

4. Revelation of the son’s name: “Immanuel” (Matthew 1:23) - Instituting Joseph’s authority as head of the family (naming the child)

In whose gospel do we find detailed information about Mary, the mother of Jesus?

The Gospel of Luke (Annunciation, Magnificat, Visitation, and Nativity")

Name three specifics of the gospel of Luke with a short explanation for each of the points.

1. 18/24 parables are only in Luke

2. Mary

3. Canticles

In which gospel do we read the “great commission”, and what does it say?

Found in the Gospel of Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.”

Give an at least 1-page analysis of John 4:4-42 (refer to the author of the gospel (a), addressees (b), context (c), important words in the text (d), what

the passage means for the life of Christians (e), and in what way it speaks to you (f).) Be very specific.

John 4:4-42 is the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well. The Gospel of John, where this story is found, has its authorship traditionally attributed to St. John, but it may have been a member of the Johannine community instead. The scripture passage is addressed to the reader in hopes of them getting spiritual fruit from it, but in the story, Jesus is addressing the Samaritan woman. Back in the day, Jews and Samaritans did not mix. Technically, Jesus was not "allowed" to speak with the Samaritan woman according to first-century cultural and religious rules. The Samaritan woman was also an outcast among her own people because she had seven husbands. In John 3, Jesus meets with Nicodemus under the cover of night in secret. Jesus’s meeting with the woman is the complete opposite. The woman goes to the well for water in the middle of the day when no one else is there, implying that she chooses to go when no one else will be there, either because she does not want to or because she is not welcome among the other women when they go to the well in the cool of the morning. Jesus met her in the moment of her daily routine where she felt the most outcast. When Jesus met with Nicodemus in John 3, Nicodemus could not understand what Jesus was trying to tell him. However, the Samaritan woman is very open to learning. Jesus was alone with the woman because the disciples left to get Jesus some food, but for him, this conversation with the woman was his “food”. Jesus’s relationship with the Father, His interior life, and His ministry all “fed” him, for one does not live on bread alone! When Jesus meets her, he asks her for a drink. But Jesus is thirsting for more than water: he is thirsting for her and for her conversion and for her soul to come to him. When Jesus speaks to her about her seven husbands, she doesn’t shy away, but instead rejoices, because only the Messiah would know every detail of her life: even things she had never told anyone! She knew that the Messiah would be all-knowing. Jesus revealed to her that He was the Messiah, calling himself “I AM” referring to the name of God that was spoken to Moses at the burning bush. The Samaritan woman joyfully went to be a missionary to the others in her town and proclaimed the name of Jesus and what she had seen and heard, rejoicing in the fact that only the Messiah could’ve known everything she’s ever done. The Samaritan woman got a taste of “living water” from the Lord (salvation). The passage of the Samaritan woman (John 4) teaches Christians that Jesus offers grace, transformation, and "living water" to all, regardless of past sins, social stigma, or cultural barriers. This passage speaks to me because... 

In St. John’s gospel, there are seven “I am” (“ego eimi”) words Jesus uses to explain who he is. Name 5 of them and explain which you think is the most significant and why.

1. I am the Bread of Life

2. I am the Light of the World

3. I am the Good Shepherd

4. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

5. I am the Gate for the sheep

Why was the decision taken at the Apostles’ council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-12) so important for the infant Church, and has been ever since? Give an answer in one paragraph.

The Council/Synod of Jerusalem determined that Gentiles who wanted to become Christians did not need to first become Jewish. This decision showed that Christians are not bound by the Mosaic Law and established the right to differences in lifestyle between Christians and Jews, showing that salvation was open to all and not just the Jews.

Which important event concerning the Church is found in the book of Acts?

Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles - the birth of the Church.

Which metaphor does St. Paul use in his Letter to the Romans to explain the relationship between Christianity (the Church) and the Jews? Please name and explain in one paragraph.

St. Paul uses the “Olive Tree” metaphor. Israel is the original olive tree, and Gentile Christians are the branches grafted in. Christians are joined to God’s covenant people through Israel, not replacing them but sharing in the promises. Not all the branches will remain, however. Some will be cut away to make space for the fruitful branches.

Name two main themes from the letter to the Hebrews, and one important quote from those we discussed in class.

1. Jesus’ priesthood and sacrifice as The Ultimate High Priest

2. Exhortation to the Christians to remain faithful

   1. Hebrews 3:15 - “Oh, if today you hear his voice: harden not your hearts.”

Name three key aspects from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.

1. Paul is the only apostle called by the risen Lord (Romans 1:1)

2. The law is the “natural law” and was written on the hearts of the Gentiles (Romans 2:15)

3. Christians receive new freedom through forgiveness of sins to become “slaves of righteousness”

In the book of Revelation, different text genres are used. Name them.

1. Epistolary

2. Prophetic

3. Apocalyptic

Name the canticles found in the gospel of Luke, and for each mention the person who sings it according to the New Testament.

1. Magnificat - Mary (Luke 1:46-55)

2. Benedictus - Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79)

3. Nunc Dimittis - Simeon

Who is, according to the gospel, the “beloved disciple”?

St. John the Apostle

There is an angel who plays an important role in overcoming the power of Satan in Revelation 12. What is his name and how does the name translate into English?

Michael. His name translates to “Who is like God.”

Who wrote the Book of Acts and whose “acts” is it about?

St. Luke wrote the Book of Acts, and it details the acts of the Apostles and their ministry after Christ’s Ascension, particularly the ministries of Peter and Paul.

There are parables in the gospel of Luke. How many, and name one that is uniquely found in his gospel.

There are 24 parables in Luke, and 18 of them can only be found in Luke, such as the Prodigal Son,

Mention two conversations Jesus had with one single person in the gospel of John.

Jesus had conversations with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman on two separate occassions, when it was just Jesus and the other person.