Theology Midterm Vocabulary

Vocabulary Flashcards for the Theology midterm on 1/23/25. Some chapters share the same vocab words (Pink: Chapter 1 / Blue: Chapter 2 / Yellow: Chapter 3/Green: Chapter 4/Purple: Chapter 5)

Canon

The list of the Old and New Testament books that are accepted by the Catholic Church as the inspired Word of God.

Old Testament

The first part of the Sacred Scripture that contains the Pentateuch, historical books, wisdom literature, and prophetic books. These books come from before Christ in ancient Israel and are inspired by God.

Torah

Made up of the first five books in the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Bible

The books that contain the truth of God’s revelation and were composed by human authors who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Contains both the 46 OT books and 27 NT books. (73 books total)

Oral Tradition

The passing of stories orally or by words/mouth

Canaan

Land that God promised Abraham which is now Israel.

Patriarchs

The head of a family or tribe in the Old Testament. Founding fathers of the Jewish people.

Creation

The act by which the eternal God gave a beginning to all that exists outside of himself. Creation also refers too the created universe or totality of what exists

Evil

The opposite or absence of good. The entire revelation of God’s goodness in Christ is a response to the existence of evil.

Faith

Both a gift of God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed.

The Fall

1) Biblical revelation about the reality of sin in human history.

2) In the “fall” of angels, scripture and Church Tradition see the emergence of “Satan” and “The Devil”

Holy Trinity

The one true God, eternal, infinite, changeable, incomprehensible, and almighty, in three divide Persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit

Human person

The human individual, made in the image of God. The human person needs to life in society.

Original Sin

The personal sin of disobedience committed by the first human beings, resulting in the deprivation of original holiness and justice and the experience of suffering and death.

Prayer

The raising of one’s mind and heart to God in thanksgiving and in praise of his glory. It can also include the requesting of good things. It is an act by which one enters into an awarness of a loving communion with God.

Sabbath

In scripture, the Sabbath was the seventh day of the week that the people of Ancient Israel were to keep holy by praising God for the Creation and the covenant and by resting from ordinary work.

Salvation

The forgiveness of sins and restoration of friendship with God, which can be done by God alone.

Sin

An offense against God as well as against reason, truth, and right conscience; In which a person freely chooses evil good.

Soul

The subject of human consciousness and freedom; Soul and body together form one unique human nature. Each human soul is individual and immortal, immediately created by God.

Divine Revelation

God’s communications of himself and his loving plan to save us. This is a gift of self-communication.

Intellect/Reason

Our God-given power and ability to know what is good and true. Our intellect and free will are the bases of our responsibility and accountability for our moral choices

Magisterium

The official teaching office/authority of the Catholic Church. (Popes and bishops)

Moral Law

The goodness or evil of human acts. Morality refers to the manner of life and action formed according to the teaching of Christ Jesus.

Mystery of God

We can never exhaust God’s divine and infinite meaning.

Sacred Scripture

The inspired written Word of God.

Sacred Tradition

The tradition of the Catholic Church refers to the body of teaching of the Church. Honoring Mary is a sacred tradition.

Transcendence

Refers to the idea that God is so “beyond” the universe and so different from anything else that exists, that God cannot be directly experienced by human beings. A shorthand way of saying that God is transcendent is “God is the absolute other.”

Ascension

The entry of Jesus’ humanity into divine glory to be at the right hand of the Father.

Charity (love)

One of the 3 Theological Virtues by which we give our love to God for his own sake and our love to our neighbor on our account of our love for God.

Church

Refers to the whole Catholic community of believers throughout the world.

Covenant

A solemn agreement made between human beings or between God and a human being involving mutual commitments or guarantees.

Grace

The free and undeserved gift that God gives to respond to our vocation to become his adopted children.

Great Commandment

The commandment to love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind and to love others as ourselves because of our love for God.

Hebrews

Another name for the ancient Israelites and the Jews.

Jesus

Hebrew name that means “God saves.”

Jesus Christ

Son of God who became one of us in all ways except sin without giving up his Divinity. Fully divine and Fully human.

Kingdom of God

The actualization of God’s will for human beings proclaimed by Jesus Christ as a community of justice, peace, mercy, and love, the seed of which is the Church on earth, and the fulfillment of which is in eternity.

Law of Love

The heart of God’s law that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Messiah

The one whom God would send to inaugurate his kingdom which definitively means “anointed.”

New Commandment

Given at the last supper. Summarizes the manner of living and acting that Jesus taught.

New Covenant

The new “dispensation, order, or covenant established by God in Jesus Christ to succeed and perfect the Old Covenant.

New Testament

The 2nd part of the bible which teaches us about Jesus’ life, teachings, and beginning of the Church.

People of God

Given to those called by God to announce and bring about the divine plan of salvation.

Prophets

One sent by God to form the people of the old covenant in the hope of salvation.

Resurrection

The triumph of Jesus over death on the third day after his crucifixion

Word of God

The entire content of Revelation is contained in the Holy Bible and proclaimed in the Church.

Apostolic Tradition

Jesus entrusted his revelation and teachings to his Apostles.

Liturgy

Refers to the public worship of the Church; The mass and highest form of worship.

Gospel

Refers to the four New Testament books that proclaim the life, teaching, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Good news.

Inerrancy

Because the authors of Sacred Scripture were inspired by God, the saving meaning or truth found in the scriptures can not be wrong.

Apocrypha

Writings about Jesus and God’s Revelation that the Church has judged not to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Gnosticism

The variety of Christian “sects” that arose in the first century.

Vulgate

The translation of the Hebrew/Greek Bible into Latin by St. Jerome.

Evangelist

Means “one who announces the good news.” Given to the writers to the four accounts of the Gospel.

Old/New Testament Canon

List of the Old/New Testament books.

Lectio Divinia

A manner of prayer with scripture, the person praying either reflectively reads a passage from scripture or listens attentively to it being read, and then meditates to words or phrases that resonates.

Lectionary

The official liturgical book of the Church containing Scripture passages for use.

Literary Genres

Forms of literary expression such as history, hymns, psalms, letters, metaphor and simile, poetry, proverbs, and songs.

Gnosis

Means “knowledge.”

Quaran

Sacred writings of Islam

TaNaK

Contains the Scripture of the Jewish people.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

When the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of Christ.

Divine Inspiration

The gift of the Holy Spirit given to the human writers of the Bible.

Septuagint

Greek translation of the Bible made by Jewish scholars.

Liturgical Calendar

Going with time based on the life of Christ

Psalms

Songs and hymns from the Israelites about their hopes and sorrows.

The year Cycle of Scripture Reading (Sunday)

The Sunday scripture readings is separated into three “years.”

A, B, and C

Liturgy of the Eucharist

The part of the mass where the bread and wine is turned into to Body and Blood of Christ.

Deposit of Faith

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The truth of God’s faith.

Historical Context

The views and beliefs of the people at the time. Religion and Government was mixed.

Political Context

Patriarchs/The Romans were in charge of Israel and taxes

Faith Context

The Bible is a book of faith that tells a story.

Exegesis

Means to understand the scripture

Literal Meaning

Understanding scripture as it is

Allegorical

Scripture has connection the life of Jesus and Church. An interpretation of the Bible.

Moral

The Scripture suggests what should we do and how we should act.

Anagogical

Describes to how a passage of Scripture refers to heaven or to the end of time.

5 Proofs of Saint Thomas Aquinas

1. Prime Mover

2. Uncreated creator

3. Necessary Being

4. Perfect Standard

5. Intelligent Being