Religion Final Exam Study Guide Notes

Old Testament

• Pentateuch/Torah

  • The first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

  • Contain the core of Jewish law and story.

• First and Second Creation Stories

  • Genesis 1: Structured, poetic creation over 7 days; God creates by command.

  • Genesis 2: Intimate; God forms man from dust.

• Abram/Sarai (Abraham and Sarah)

  • Founders of the Israelite people.

  • God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising descendants and land.

• Patriarchs

  • The founding fathers of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

• Theophany

  • A visible manifestation of God to humans, like God appearing in the burning bush to Moses.

• Infancy Narratives in Old and New Testaments (Purpose/Importance)

  • Show God's intervention in human history.

  • OT: Stories like Moses’ birth prefigure Jesus.

  • NT: Jesus’ birth narratives show fulfillment of prophecy and divine identity.

• The Jewish Feast of Passover (Importance in OT and NT)

  • OT: Celebrates God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt.

  • NT: Jesus’ Last Supper is a Passover meal, symbolizing the new covenant.

• Sinai Covenant and the Ten Commandments

  • A covenant given to Moses at Mount Sinai.

  • Ten Commandments: laws to guide Israel’s relationship with God and others.

• Moses

  • Leader who delivers Israel from Egypt, receives the Ten Commandments, and guides them in the desert.

• Manna and Quail

  • Food miraculously provided by God for the Israelites in the desert.

• Golden Calf

  • An idol made by the Israelites when Moses was on Mount Sinai.

  • Represented a failure to trust God.

• Ark of the Covenant

  • A sacred chest holding the Ten Commandments; a sign of God's presence with Israel.

• The Babylonian Exile (Captivity) 587 B.C.E.

  • The destruction of Jerusalem and exile of Israelites to Babylon.

  • Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) involves language confusion, not the exile.

• The Temple in Jerusalem

  • Central place of worship built by Solomon; destroyed and rebuilt; symbol of God's dwelling.

• King David

  • Second king of Israel.

  • Unified the kingdom, brought the Ark to Jerusalem, ancestor of Jesus.

• The Role of the Kings

  • To govern God’s people, lead in faithfulness.

  • Many failed by turning to sin/idolatry.

• “The Poor and Vulnerable” in the Old Testament

  • God commands justice and care for widows, orphans, and foreigners.

• The Prophets (Major and Minor)

  • Messengers of God who called people back to the covenant.

  • Major: Isaiah, Jeremiah. Minor: Amos, Hosea, etc.

• Marks/Characteristics of the Prophets

  • Called by God, often reluctant, challenged injustice, faithful to the covenant.

New Testament: Gospels and Life of Jesus

• The word “Gospel” and “Evangelist”

  • "Gospel" means "Good News" about Jesus.

  • Evangelists are the writers of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

• Synoptic Gospels

  • Matthew, Mark, and Luke; called synoptic because they have a similar view and content.

• Source “Q”

  • A hypothetical written source of Jesus’ sayings used by Matthew and Luke, not found in Mark.

• Infancy/Birth Narratives

  • Found in Matthew and Luke; emphasize Jesus’ divine origin and fulfillment of prophecy.

• Genealogy (in Matthew and Luke)

  • Matthew traces Jesus to Abraham (Jewish focus).

  • Luke traces to Adam (universal focus).

• Kingdom of God

  • Central message of Jesus; God’s reign of justice, peace, and love both present and still to come.

• Parables and Metaphors

  • Stories Jesus used to teach about the Kingdom of God using familiar images.

• Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes

  • Teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5–7) that reveal values of God’s kingdom: mercy, humility, peacemaking, etc.

• Different Types of Miracles in the Gospels:

  • Life Restoration – Jesus raises the dead (e.g., Lazarus).

  • Physical Healing – Restoring sight, curing disease.

  • Signs in John’s Gospel – Miracles that point to Jesus' divine identity (e.g., turning water to wine).

• The Last Supper and Passover/Passion Narrative

  • Jesus transforms the Passover into the Eucharist and reveals the coming sacrifice of his body and blood.

• Different Groups/Types of People:

  • Sadducees – Priestly class, strict to written law, deny resurrection.

  • Pharisees – Strict law followers, believed in resurrection.

  • Essenes – Isolated, purity-focused, likely wrote Dead Sea Scrolls.

  • Zealots – Wanted to overthrow Rome.

  • Gentiles – Non-Jews.

• Jewish Institutions (Temple, Synagogue)

  • Temple: center of worship/sacrifice; Synagogue: local place for prayer and teaching.

• Religious and Social Norms – Why does Jesus challenge them?

  • Sabbath – Jesus heals on the Sabbath, showing mercy over ritual.

  • Purity Laws – Jesus touches the unclean, showing love over legalism.

• Geography of Roman Palestine:

  • Judea – Southern region, includes Jerusalem.

  • Samaria – Central region, home to Samaritans.

  • Galilee – Northern region, where Jesus grew up and taught.

• Importance of Jerusalem

  • Political and religious capital; location of Temple and crucifixion/resurrection.

• The Paschal Mystery

  • Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection, and ascension; reveals God’s love and defeat of sin and death.

• Incarnation

  • God becomes man in Jesus, fully divine and fully human.

• Eucharist (Thanksgiving)

  • Sacrament of Jesus’ body and blood, instituted at the Last Supper.

• Meals and Hospitality in the Gospels (especially Luke)

  • Sign of inclusion and God’s Kingdom; Jesus eats with sinners and the marginalized.

• Role and Importance of Women in the Gospels

  • Women follow Jesus, support his ministry, and are the first witnesses to the resurrection.

• Christology (especially in John’s Gospel)

  • The study of who Jesus is; John emphasizes Jesus’ divine identity (Word made flesh).

• “I am” Sayings in John’s Gospel

  • Statements like “I am the Bread of Life” reveal Jesus’ divine nature and mission.

• Important Disciples of Jesus:

  • Peter – Leader of the apostles, denied Jesus, later became a key figure in the Church.

  • Mary Magdalene – First witness to the resurrection.

  • Judas – Betrayed Jesus.

  • Thomas – Doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus.

  • John – “Beloved Disciple,” present at the cross, raced with Peter to the empty tomb.

  • Other disciples – Include James, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon the Zealot, Thaddeus, Matthias (replaced Judas).

Letters and Early Church

• Pentecost

  • The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, empowering them to preach; seen as the birth of the Church.

• The Acts of the Apostles

  • A New Testament book written by Luke detailing the spread of the early Church and the ministry of Peter and Paul.

• Paul (Saul)

  • A Pharisee who persecuted Christians but converted after encountering Jesus. Became the most influential early missionary.

• Epistles/Letters

  • Writings by early Church leaders (especially Paul) to communities, offering instruction and encouragement in faith.

• Council of Jerusalem

  • A meeting of early Church leaders (Acts 15) to decide whether Gentile converts had to follow Jewish law.

  • They decided they did not, affirming salvation through Jesus.

• Paul’s Major Themes:

  • Faith and Grace – Salvation is a gift from God, not earned.

  • The Body of Christ – The Church as a united spiritual body with many members.

  • Christian Freedom – Believers are free from the law’s burden but called to live in love.

• Catholic Letters

  • General letters written to a broader audience, not specific churches (e.g., James, Peter, John, Jude).

• Book of Revelation (Author, Symbolism, Purpose)

  • Written by John; full of symbolic imagery.

  • Offers hope to persecuted Christians and assurance of God’s final victory over evil.