UNIT 1 THEO VOCAB

Unit I Test Study Guide 

The following study guide consists of broad suggestions of what to study for as well as a potential vocabulary list. This is not an exhaustive list! There may be items on the test that are not specified in this study Guide. You are still responsible for being familiar with the entire unit. This is meant to only be an aid to studying. 


10 matching (12 terms in the word box), 13 T/F, 23 multiple choices, 2/3 essays (choose your favorite 2)



Vocabulary




  • The Fall - When Adam and Eve, due to temptation and Satan’s lies, disobeyed God and rejected His love by eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

  • Church - Name given to the assembly of the People of God whom He has called together from all ends of the earth; both the earthly institution that Christ established during His earthly ministry and the heavenly communion of the saints and angels 

  • Salvation History - the story of God’s love and mercy revealed to us throughout human history, culminating in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and Resurrection from the dead, which won for us salvation from sin and death

  • Old Testament - 46 books of the Bible which record the history of salvation from creation through the Old Covenant with Israel in preparation for the appearance of Christ as savior of the world

  • New Testament - 27 books of the Bible

  • Chosen People - title given to the Israelites, the People of God, whom He had called out or assembled in His name. Most often used to describe the Israelites led out of slavery in Egypt during the Exodus, to whom the 10 commandments were given through Moses

  • Covenant - a sacred and permanent bond of family relationship. God entered into a series of covenants with His people throughout salvation history to invite us to His divine family and to prepare us gradually and in stages, words, and deeds to receive the gift of salvation 

  • Image of God - a phrase describing how God made human beings in His image and likeness, as persons with intellect, free will, and a capacity for love

  • Trinity - the central mystery of our faith, revealed to us by God that He is three Persons in one God: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

  • New Covenant - the new and everlasting covenant won for us by Christ’s Paschal Mystery (Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension). It is the fulfillment of centuries of prophecies and all of God’s promises for the forgiveness of sins. We can enter into the New Covenant through Baptism and participate in it every time we receive the Eucharist. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO THE PARTY

  • Messiah - Hebrew word meaning ‘anointed one,’ the title given to the savior God promised the Israelites

  • Kingdom of God - God’s reign or rule over all things. The Church is the seed (the beginning) of the Kingdom on earth, which will be fulfilled in heaven

  • New Law - Law of the New Covenant established by Jesus, the Law of Love (This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you), which governs the people of God through the HS today

  • Hierarchical Gifts - Hierarchical organization of the Catholic Church that is a gift of the HS; the leadership structure acknowledges the varied roles of each member of the church: 

    • Pope as universal vicar

    • bishops as leaders of their churches and dioceses

    • priests as coworkers of bishops, they are obedient to

    • deacons as helpers of priests and bishops

    • TO SERVE THE CHURCH MORE FULLY

  • Charismatic Gifts -  Graces (gifts, talents) of the HS granted to members of the Church which build up the church for the good of her members and the world

  • Canon Law - The body of universal rules and regulations that govern the Roman catholic church

  • Popes - successors to St. Peter as bishop of Rome and Supreme Pontiff of the universal catholic church. The Pope exercises primary authority as the vicar of Christ on Earth and shepherd of the whole Church

  • Infallibility - charism of being incapable of error in matters of faith and morals given to the Pope through the HS

  • Transubstantiation - changing of bread and wine into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ

  • Sacred Tradition - living transmission of the Gospel message in the Church

  • Sacred Scripture - written record of God’s revelation of Himself contained in the Old and New Testaments, composed by human authors and guided by the HS

  • Gospels - ‘Good News’ of salvation won for us by the Passion, Death, and Resurrection, encapsulating Jesus’ life

  • Apostolic Succession - Handing on of apostolic preaching and authority from the apostles to their successors, the bishops, through the laying on of hands, as a permanent office in the church

  • Councils - a formal gathering of all the world’s bishops called by the pope in order to authoritatively address issues of importance in the Church

  • Magisterium - teaching authority of the church comprised of the pope and bishops

  • Pentecost - The birthday of the Church, the day 50 days after the resurrection, when the big HS was sent down upon Mary and the apostles in the upper room in tongues of fire





To Know 



  • What are the three legs of the Revelation Footstool?

    • Magisterium

    • Sacred Tradition

    • Sacred Scripture

  • When did the Church begin?

    • Creation, but we needed a Messiah

    • The hierarchic gifts began at Pentecost

  • Adam’s roles in the Garden of Eden.

    • High priest - lead and protect creation

    • King - naming animals offering sacrifice

  • Who was the first Pope?

    • Peter

  • What was God’s Covenant with Israel prepared for? 

    • The coming of Christ (& salvation)

  • Did Israel always follow God’s covenants?

    • No

  • What form does the Kingdom of God on earth take? 

    • The Church

  • What came out of Jesus’ Death?

    • The Sacraments, out of which comes the grace that brings the Church to life

  • What is the order of the hierarchy of the Church?

    • Pope, bishops, priests, deacons

  • What are we shown in the story of Pentecost?

    • The Church is for everyone

    • The role of Peter as leader of the Church

    • God will send us help when we need it (HS)

  • Who was the first martyr of the Church?

    • St. Stephen

  • St. Paul began an aggressive missionary campaign to whom?

    • Gentiles (non-Jews)

  • How do Jesus’ teachings come to us today?

    • Sacred Tradition and Scred Scripture

  • What happens when Sacred Scripture and Sacred tradition are combined with apostolic succession?

    • they form the teaching authority of the church and deposit of faith

  • Who was appointed to be the 12th Apostle after Judas killed himself?

    • Matthias

  • What was the central question asked at the Council of Jerusalem? 

    • Should jewish laws of the old testament still be followed (Mosaic Law - Circumcision, dietary laws, etc.)?

  • Who answered this question asked at the Council of Jerusalem?

    • Peter

  • How is Christ still present to us today?

    • The Eucharist

  • What is the Great Commission?

    • Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in  the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit, teaching them all I have commanded you. Remember I am with you always, to the end of the age (Jesus’ last command to the apostles before Ascension)





True or False

  1. Humanity is made to live in community with one another 

    • True

  2. God's chosen people, Israel, was the final manifestation of God's people

    • False

  3. Bishops, priests, and deacons can trace their authority back to the apostles so therefore back to Christ

    • True

  4. The faithful within the church are all equal and therefore all hold the same level of authority within the Church

    • False

  5. When the Holy Spirit descended across the crowd the apostles started preaching and everyone heard Latin

    • FALSE 

  6. Saint Paul prior to his conversion persecuted many Christians and over saw many christian deaths

    • True

  7. Christians do not have to follow Mosaic law 

    • True

  8. Council of Jerusalem was the last church council to occur

    • False

  9. Jesus is really, truly, and substantially present in the transubstantiated bread and wine

    • True







Potential Short Essays


Two of the following three potential essay questions will appear on the test. You must then choose one of those two to answer on the test with a well-constructed paragraph or two. A good short essay must refer directly to material from this unit of study. The short essay will be worth a total of 15 points.

 

  1. How are covenants and contracts different? Why is this distinction important when considering God’s covenants within Salvation History? Reference at least one example of a covenant God made with His Chosen People to support your answer.


Covenants and contracts differ in their purpose: contracts are transactional, temporary agreements based on mutual distrust and limited liability, while covenants are permanent, relational commitments based on mutual trust and unlimited responsibility. This distinction is crucial for understanding God's covenants in Salvation History because they demonstrate a relationship of grace and commitment, not a mere business deal. An example is the Noahic Covenant, where God promises to never again destroy the world with a flood, a permanent promise that does not depend on human performance to remain valid, unlike a contract which can be voided. 


  1. How is the hierarchy of the Church different from a democracy? What does authority mean in the Church and why is this important to understand the hierarchy? Be sure to reference the Church as the body of Christ to support your answer. 


The hierarchy of the Church differs fundamentally from a democracy in its source of authority and purpose. In a democracy, power comes from the consent of the people, who elect their leaders to represent their will. In the Church, however, authority is divinely instituted and flows from Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, to his designated representatives. This distinction is best understood through the metaphor of the Church as the Body of Christ


  1. How is Christ still present in the Church? How can we trust the teachings of the Church today? How did Jesus make sure that His authentic teaching reaches us today? 


Christ remains present in the Church through the Holy Spirit, the sacred liturgy, scripture, and apostolic tradition passed down from the apostles through their successors. We can trust the teachings today by looking to this continuous line of tradition and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which preserves the authentic message of Jesus. Jesus ensured His authentic teaching would reach us through a combination of oral proclamation and the written word, and the Church's mission to teach, which is empowered by the Holy Spirit