Catholicism 1

The Bible is best described as:

A small library of books written over time

The Jewish Scriptures are often referred to by the acronym TaNaK. What does the “N” stand for?

Nevi’im (Prophets)

What do the “Ketuvim” (the “K” in TaNaK) consist of?

A diverse collection of writings, including poetry and wisdom

Which statement best summarizes the prophets’ view of Israel’s story?

It was central to what God was doing for all humanity

What do the Jewish Scriptures (TaNaK) anticipate but never resolve?

The arrival of a new leader who would renew creation

What did Jesus of Nazareth claim regarding the TaNaK?

That his life and ministry carried the story forward

What writings make up the New Testament?

The Gospels, Acts, letters to communities, and other writings

Which books are known as the Deutero-Canonical?

Certain Second Temple period texts officially recognized by the Catholic Church

During the Protestant Reformation, reformers:

Focused on returning to the oldest prophetic and apostolic writings

Which statement BEST explains the Christian recognition of Scripture?

All Christians accepted the TaNaK and New Testament, but differences arose over Second Temple texts

The Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit primarily to:

Reveal the truth about God's saving plan for humanity and all creation

Why must the Bible be interpreted?

Because it was written thousands of years ago in different cultures and contexts

If we do not follow good principles of biblical interpretation, we risk:

Arriving at misleading or erroneous conclusions about God's message

Which statement best describes the Bible’s composition?

It is more like a library of diverse books than a single-volume history book

Understanding a book’s genre or literary style is most important when applying which interpretive lens?

Literary Context

A book of symbolic visions, like Revelation, requires us to first understand its:

Literary genre

Which context focuses on the facts and assumptions known to the original audience?

Historical Context

Why is cultural context important in interpreting the Bible?

Because cultural practices and traditions shaped the meaning behind many passages

The principle that there can be no contradiction between revealed truths of salvation refers to:

Harmony between Elements of Faith (Analogy of Faith)

The belief that God’s revelation is passed down through both Scripture and Sacred Tradition reflects which context?

A Living Tradition Context

According to Catholic teaching, Sacred Tradition is:

The living transmission of God’s revelation guided by the Holy Spirit

Why must we understand the Bible as a unified whole?

Because all books together reveal God’s overall saving plan (salvation history)

Salvation history refers to:

God’s unfolding plan for humanity revealed across all of Scripture

Catholics believe the Bible is the word of God written by human authors who were:

Inspired by the Holy Spirit but using their own language and creativity

According to Catholic teaching, biblical inspiration means:

God guided the authors to write what He wanted known for salvation without dictating every word

What distinguishes Catholic interpretation of Genesis from some fundamentalist views?

Catholics see the creation story as revealing religious truth, not necessarily six literal 24-hour days

Catholics believe the Bible is without error in what sense?

It is free from error regarding truths needed for our salvation, even if not scientifically precise

What is the “single deposit of faith” in Catholic teaching?

The combination of Scripture and Sacred Tradition

According to John 21:25, why can’t Scripture alone contain all revealed truths?

Because not everything about Jesus' life and teachings was written down

The best summary of Catholic belief about the Bible is:

It is God’s word written by human authors under divine inspiration, reflecting their time and culture but perfectly conveying God’s saving message