Theology II Final Exam Study Guide

Key Terms and Concepts

Abba (134)

• Aramaic term for "father," reflecting Jesus's intimate relationship with God.

Acts of the Apostles (249, 253)

• New Testament book that recounts the history of the early Church, focusing on the actions of the Apostles, especially Peter and Paul.

Allegory (160)

• A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

"Amen" statements (150)

• Statements of affirmation or agreement, often used by Jesus at the end of prayers or pronouncements.

Anno Domini A.D. (class notes)

• Latin phrase meaning "in the year of our Lord," used to denote years after the traditionally reckoned year of Jesus's birth.

Apocalyptic Literature (290)

• A genre of literature characterized by symbolic visions of the future, often involving divine judgment and cosmic upheaval.

Anti-Semitism (102, 204)

• Prejudice, discrimination, or hostility directed against Jews.

Apostle (125-26)

• One who is sent; refers to the twelve chosen by Jesus to be his closest followers and to carry on his mission.

Baptism

• A Christian sacrament signifying spiritual cleansing and initiation into the Church.

Before Christ B.C. (class notes)

• Used to denote years before the traditionally reckoned year of Jesus's birth.

Beatitude

• Statements of blessing or happiness.

Beatitudes, the (154-55)

• A set of teachings by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, expressing the blessings of those who embody certain virtues or states of being.

Canon (of Scripture)

• The official list of books recognized as inspired and authoritative by the Church.

Chi-Rho (class notes)

• A Christian symbol formed by the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ (XP).

Christ, the (33-4)

• Greek word for "anointed one," equivalent to the Hebrew word Messiah.

Christology

• The study of the person and nature of Jesus Christ.

Conversion (137, 146)

• A change of heart, turning away from sin and towards God.

Covenant (14)

• A sacred agreement between God and his people.

Disciple (125-26)

• A follower or student of a teacher or leader.

Discourses

• Extended speeches or teachings.

Epiphany

• A manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, typically represented by the visit of the Magi.

Epistle (22)

• A letter, especially one of the letters in the New Testament.

Euangelion (Gospel) (27)

• Greek word meaning "good news."

Eucharist (225-26)

• The Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed as the body and blood of Christ.

Evangelist (26-7, 37-8)

• A writer of one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

Evangelion (27)

• Refer to Euangelion definition.

Exorcisms (171)

• The act of driving out evil spirits from a person or place.

Fire and Wind (231)

• Symbols of the Holy Spirit's presence and power, often associated with Pentecost.

Genealogy

• A line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor.

Gentile (41, 111)

• A person who is not Jewish.

Gospel(s) (15, 21, 27)

• The "good news" of Jesus Christ; also refers to the four books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Healing Miracles (171, 173)

• Miraculous events in which Jesus restores a person's physical or mental health.

Incarnation (287)

• The embodiment of God in human form as Jesus Christ.

Infancy Narratives (105, 108-09)

• The accounts of Jesus's birth and early life in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

INRI

• An acronym for the Latin phrase "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum," meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

Kerygma

• The essential message of the Gospel, proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Kingdom (Reign) of God (155)

• The spiritual realm of God's rule and presence, both present and future.

Legalism (139)

• Strict adherence to the law, often without regard for its spirit or intent.

Letter to the Hebrews

• A New Testament book written to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Christ and the new covenant.

Logos

• Greek word meaning "word" or "reason," used in John's Gospel to refer to Jesus as the divine Word of God.

Lord (233-34)

• A title of respect and authority, often used to refer to Jesus as divine.

Lord's Prayer, the

• The prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples, also known as the Our Father.

Magnificat

• Mary's song of praise in Luke's Gospel, expressing joy and gratitude for God's favor.

Messiah

• The promised deliverer of the Jewish people, believed by Christians to be Jesus Christ.

Messianic-Secret

• A motif in Mark's Gospel in which Jesus attempts to conceal his identity as the Messiah.

Metanoia (class notes)

• Greek word meaning "change of mind" or "repentance."

Miracles (178-81)

• Supernatural events that demonstrate God's power and presence.

Nationalism (138-39)

• Identification with and devotion to one's nation, sometimes leading to exclusion or hostility towards others.

Nativity

• The birth of Jesus Christ.

Natural Miracles

• Miracles that involve the control of natural forces, such as calming a storm or multiplying food.

New Testament

• The second major division of the Christian Bible, containing books written after the time of Jesus.

Non-Violent Resistance

• The practice of achieving political or social change through methods that do not involve violence.

Old Testament

• The first major division of the Christian Bible, containing books written before the time of Jesus.

Oral Tradition (35-6)

• The transmission of stories, teachings, and customs by word of mouth.

Our Lord (33, 53)

• A title of respect and reverence for Jesus Christ.

Parable (125)

• A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

Paschal Mystery (223-24)

• The suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

Paschal Lamb (198)

• The lamb sacrificed at Passover, symbolizing Jesus as the sacrificial lamb of God.

Passion (194)

• The suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Patriarchal (90-91)

• Relating to a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.

Pauline Epistles (21, 240)

• Letters written by the Apostle Paul to various churches and individuals in the early Church.

Proverbs

• Short, wise sayings that offer guidance for living.

Quelle/Q

• A hypothetical source of sayings of Jesus used by Matthew and Luke in addition to Mark's Gospel.

Rabbi (103)

• A Jewish teacher or religious leader.

Ransom

• The price paid to release a captive; in Christian theology, Jesus's death is seen as a ransom for humanity.

Real Presence

• The doctrine that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.

Restoration of Life Miracles

• Miracles in which Jesus brings a dead person back to life.

Revelation, Book of

• The final book of the New Testament, containing symbolic visions of the end times.

Rusch (EdPuzzle)

• Likely refers to material presented by Rusch in an EdPuzzle assignment.

Sacred Scripture

• The Bible, regarded as the inspired word of God.

Sacred Tradition (see Tradition)

• The living transmission of the Gospel message in the Church.

Signs (in John's Gospel)

• Miraculous events in John's gospel that reveal Jesus's divine glory and call people to believe in him.

Sin

• A violation of God's will.

Son of God (233)

• A title for Jesus Christ, affirming his divine status.

666

• Symbolic number in the Book of Revelation, often associated with the Antichrist or evil forces.

Synoptic Gospels

• The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share a similar structure and content.

Suffering Servant (62)

• A figure in the Book of Isaiah who suffers for the sins of others, often seen as a prophecy of Jesus.

Tradition (29)

• The living transmission of the Gospel message in the Church, both written and oral.

Transubstantiation

• The doctrine that the bread and wine in the Eucharist are transformed into the body and blood of Christ.

Testimonies of Faith (27)

• Accounts of personal experiences and beliefs.

Wealth, Pleasure, Power, Honor (notes)

• Worldly pursuits that can distract from God.

Written Tradition (38)

• The written form of the Gospel message, found in the Bible.

Locations

Dead Sea (68)

• A salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west.

Galilee (68)

• A region in northern Israel.

Jerusalem

• A city in the Holy Land, regarded as sacred by Christians, Muslims, and Jews.

Judea (68)

• An ancient Roman province in the southern part of Palestine.

Samaria (68)

• An ancient city and region in central Palestine.

Sea of Galilee (68)

• A freshwater lake in northern Israel.

People and Events

Agony in the Garden

• The mental, physical, and spiritual anguish suffered by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.

Ascension (229-30)

• The ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven forty days after his Resurrection.

Baptism of Jesus (105)

• The event in which John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.

Bethlehem (31, 111)

• The town where Jesus was born.

Caiaphas (101, 202)

• The high priest who presided over the trial of Jesus.

Crucifixion of Jesus (7, 72, 194-195)

• The execution of Jesus by being nailed to a cross.

Death of Jesus (194)

• The end of Jesus's earthly life, marking the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins.

Elijah

• A Hebrew prophet in the Old Testament.

Essenes (66, 72)

• A Jewish sect that lived in communities apart from society and practiced ritual purity.

Great Commission

• Jesus's command to his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations.

Herod the Great (115)

• The king of Judea at the time of Jesus's birth.

Holy Spirit (290-91)

• The third person of the Trinity, the divine presence who empowers and guides believers.

I AM Statements

• Statements made by Jesus in John's Gospel, declaring his divine identity and authority.

Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke

• The accounts of Jesus's birth and early life in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which are distinct in their details and perspectives.

John (45-6)

• The author of the fourth Gospel, characterized by its unique theological perspective and emphasis on Jesus's divinity.

John the Baptist (71)

• The prophet who prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan River.

Joseph of Arimathea (216)

• The wealthy disciple who provided the tomb for Jesus's burial.

Joseph (89, 116)

• The husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus.

Josephius (16)

• A first-century Romano-Jewish historian.

Judas (200)

• The disciple who betrayed Jesus to the authorities.

Last Supper (194, 197)

• The final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, in which he instituted the Eucharist.

Luke

• The author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, known for his emphasis on compassion and the universal scope of salvation.

Mark

• The author of the second Gospel, characterized by its fast-paced narrative and focus on Jesus's actions.

Mary (89)

• The mother of Jesus.

Matthew

• The author of the first Gospel, known for its emphasis on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and its focus on Jewish customs and concerns.

Moses (55-6)

• The prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.

Nero (16-7)

• Roman emperor who persecuted Christians.

Parable of the Lost Son (162-63,168)

• A story told by Jesus about a son who squanders his inheritance but is welcomed back with love by his father.

Passion of Jesus (194-5)

• The suffering and death of Jesus Christ.

Paul (235, 242)

• An apostle who wrote many of the letters in the New Testament and played a key role in spreading Christianity to the Gentiles.

Pentecost (230-31)

• The day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the Gospel.

Peter

• One of Jesus's closest disciples, considered the first leader of the Church.

Pharisees (66, 72, 101-2)

• A Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to the law and their belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Pontius Pilate (71-2, 202)

• The Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his crucifixion.

Resurrection of Jesus (194)

• The event in which Jesus rose from the dead, demonstrating his victory over sin and death.

Road to Emmaus (220)

• The story of Jesus appearing to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after his resurrection.

Romans (70-73)

• The people of the Roman Empire, which ruled Palestine during the time of Jesus.

Sadducees (66, 72)

• A Jewish sect associated with the Temple in Jerusalem, who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

Sanhedrin (95, 102-103, 202)

• The Jewish high court.

Sermon on the Mount

• A collection of Jesus's teachings in Matthew's Gospel, including the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer.

Sermon on the Plain

• A similar collection of Jesus's teachings in Luke's Gospel.

Temptation in the Desert (121-23)

• The event in which Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.

Transfiguration (194)

• The event in which Jesus was transformed and appeared in glory with Moses and Elijah.

Trinity

• The Christian doctrine that God is one being in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Washing of the Disciples Feet (198)

• An act of humility and service performed by Jesus at the Last Supper.

Wedding Feast at Cana (89)

• The first miracle performed by Jesus in John's Gospel, in which he turned water into wine.

Zealots (72-3)

• A Jewish sect that advocated armed rebellion against Roman rule.

Student Learning Objectives

• Identify the author, date written, and sources for each of the four Gospels.

• Identify the stages of the development of the writing of the New Testament.

• Identify and explain the four pieces of evidence that support the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus.

• Explain the difference between the Jesus of history and the Jesus Christ of faith and explain why the Gospels are not considered historical sources.

• Read a miracle account and correctly identify the miracle (nature, healing, exorcism, restoration of life).

• Read a parable and correctly identify the type of parable (King of the Kingdom, Kingdom Responses, Relationships with neighbors, fulfillment of the Kingdom).

• Describe the portrait of Jesus that emerges from each of the four Gospels.

• Identify several distinct characteristics of the Gospel of John and what makes it unique from the Synoptic Gospels.

• Explain how the Gospel of John reveals the divine nature of Jesus.