Gospels: Heart of the New Testament Final Exam Study Guide
Units 1 & 2: Introduction to the New Testament and the World of Jesus
Foundational Concepts:
Lectio Divina: A traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer intended to promote communion with God.
Divine Revelation: God's self-communication through which he makes known the mystery of his divine plan.
Salvation History: The account of God's saving activity and intervention on behalf of humanity.
Sacred Scripture: The inspired word of God; the written record of God’s Revelation.
Sacred Tradition: The living transmission of the Church's Gospel message found in the Church's teaching, life, and worship.
Anno Domini (): Latin for "In the year of our Lord," used to label years after the birth of Jesus.
Jesus of History vs. Christ of Faith: The distinction between Jesus as a historical figure who lived in first-century Palestine and Jesus as the resurrected Savior recognized by believers.
Historical Non-Christian Sources:
Tacitus: Roman historian who verified the existence of Jesus and his execution under Pilate.
Suetonius: Roman biographer who documented the expulsion of Jews from Rome due to disturbances concerning "Chrestus."
Pliny the Younger: Roman administrator/senator who wrote to Trajan regarding the early Christians.
Josephus: Jewish historian who wrote "Jewish Antiquities" and provided early accounts of Jesus.
Gospel Foundations:
Evangelist: A person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, specifically the four Gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Inspiration: The guidance of the Holy Spirit that enabled authors to record faithfully and without error what God wanted revealed to us for our beliefs.
Canon: The official list of inspired books of the Bible.
Formation of the Gospels: Occurred in three distinct stages:
The period of the public life and teaching of Jesus ().
A period of oral tradition and preaching by the Apostles ().
The period of the actual writing of the Gospels ().
Kerygma: Preaching to unbelievers.
Didache: Teaching for those who accepted Jesus.
Liturgy: The official public worship of the Church, where the story of Jesus is celebrated.
Catechesis: Systematic education in the faith to make one a disciple of Christ.
Epistle: A letter; most of the New Testament letters were written by St. Paul or his followers to specific early Christian communities.
Scriptural Interpretation:
Spiritual Senses of Scripture:
Allegorical Sense: Understanding events by recognizing their connection and significance to Christ.
Moral Sense: How the scripture teaches us to act justly.
Anagogical Sense: Seeing earthly events and other realities in the context of their eternal significance (our destination/heaven).
Geography and Language of Palestine:
Regions: Galilee (North), Samaria (Central), Judea (South).
Key Cities:
Capernaum: The center of Jesus' ministry in Galilee.
Bethany: Home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary.
Jerusalem: Site of the Temple and Jesus' crucifixion.
Nazareth: Where Jesus grew up.
Caesarea Philippi: Where Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ.
Bethlehem: Jesus' birthplace.
Languages: Aramaic (the common language spoken by Jesus), Hebrew (used for prayer and scripture), Greek (the common language of the Roman Empire and the language the New Testament was written in), and Latin (limited use, primarily for Roman administration).
Jewish Context and Groups:
Synagogue: Local house of prayer and study of the Law.
Temple: The unique place of sacrifice in Jerusalem where God was believed to dwell.
Major Feasts:
Passover: Celebration of the Exodus from Egypt.
Pentecost: Commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses ( days after Passover).
Tabernacles: Fall harvest festival remembering the time spent in the wilderness.
Political/Religious Figures and Groups:
Herod the Great: King at the time of Jesus' birth.
Herod Antipas: Ruler of Galilee during Jesus' ministry.
Pontius Pilate: Roman procurator who condemned Jesus to death.
Sanhedrin: The -member supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people.
Sadducees: Priestly, conservative group that cared for Temple practices and did not believe in the resurrection.
Pharisees: Group focused on strict observance of the Law; often in conflict with Jesus over legalism.
Tax Collectors: Jews who worked for Romans; often despised as traitors.
Gentiles: Non-Jewish people.
Unit 3: The Incarnation and Infancy Narratives
Theological Concepts:
Incarnation: The dogma that God’s eternal Son assumed a human nature and became man in Jesus Christ to save us from our sins.
Reasons for the Incarnation: To save us by reconciling us with God; so we might know God’s love; to be our model of holiness; and to make us partakers of the divine nature.
Theosis: The process of being made like God (divinization).
Kenosis: The "self-emptying" of Jesus' own will and becoming entirely receptive to God's divine will.
Logos: Greek for "Word"; used in the Prologue of John to identify Jesus as the eternal Word of God.
Christology: The study of Christ.
Low Christology: Focusing on Jesus' humanity.
High Christology: Focusing on Jesus' divinity.
Infancy Narrative Events and Figures:
Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would be the Mother of God.
Marian Dogmas: Including the Immaculate Conception, the teaching that Mary was born without the stain of original sin.
Fiat: Mary's "yes" to God's plan.
Visitation: Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.
Zechariah and Elizabeth: The elderly parents of John the Baptist.
Emmanuel: Name meaning "God is with us."
Magi: Wise men from the East who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus.
Epiphany: The feast that celebrates the mystery of Christ’s manifestation as the Savior of the world.
Midrash: A Jewish literary form used to relate past Scriptural events to present events (often seen in Matthew’s Gospel).
Holy Innocents: The male infants in Bethlehem killed by Herod the Great in an attempt to destroy the newborn King.
Anna and Simeon: Righteous elders who recognized Jesus as the Messiah at His presentation in the Temple.
Hidden Years: The period between Jesus’ childhood and the start of His public ministry.
Unit 4: Public Ministry and Miracles
Beginnings of Ministry:
John the Baptist: The precursor to Jesus who preached repentance; identified Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Baptism of Jesus: Took place in the Jordan River; it served as a model for our baptism and revealed the Trinity.
Temptation of Jesus: Jesus spent days in the desert being tempted by Satan; He remained faithful, unlike Adam or Israel. This event is the basis for Lent (fasting and prayer).
Nature of Jesus:
Hypostatic Union: The union of Jesus Christ's divine and human natures in one Divine Person.
The Kingdom of God: The process of God’s reconciling and renewing all things through His Son; it is "at hand" but also a future reality.
Paschal Mystery: The mystery of Christ's Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.
Apostolic Ministry:
Apostle: One who is "sent" for a purpose.
The Twelve: The inner circle of Jesus' followers; they represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
Miracles of Jesus:
Miracle: A powerful sign of God's Kingdom worked by Jesus.
Sign: The term John’s Gospel uses for miracles to emphasize their deeper meaning.
Miracle Pattern: Introduction, Display of Faith, Cure, Result, and Reaction.
Types of Miracles: Physical healings, Nature miracles, Exorcisms, and Raisings from the dead.
Messianic Secret: A motif primarily in Mark’s Gospel where Jesus commands his followers to remain silent about his identity as the Messiah until the appropriate time.
Unit 5: The Teachings of Christ
Jesus as Teacher:
Rabbi: Jesus was recognized as a Jewish teacher who taught with unique Authority (unlike the scribes).
Disciple: A follower or student of Jesus.
Pharisees and Blasphemy: Conflicts often arose when Jesus claimed authority to forgive sins, which the religious leaders considered blasphemy.
Letter vs. Spirit of the Law: Jesus emphasized the intention and heart behind the law rather than just legalistic external observance.
Major Sermons and Sayings:
Sermon on the Mount: A collection of Jesus' ethical teachings including the Beatitudes.
Metanoia: Greek for "change of heart" or "conversion."
Beatitudes: The eight blessings preached by Jesus (e.g., "Blessed are the poor in spirit"); they present a Paradox compared to worldly values.
New Law: Jesus’ teaching to love one another as he has loved us; it fulfills the Old Law.
The Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Our Father: The model prayer Jesus taught his disciples.
Parables and Discourses:
Parable: A vivid short story used to convey religious truths about the Kingdom of God.
Specific Parables to Know:
The Sower: About how the Word of God is received by different hearts.
Weeds and the Wheat: About the coexistence of good and evil until the final judgment.
Mustard Seed: About the exponential growth of the Kingdom.
Lost Parables: (Lost Sheep/Coin/Son) About God's joy in finding the repentant sinner.
Good Samaritan: About who our neighbor is (anyone in need).
Pharisee and Tax Collector: About humility in prayer.
Vine and the Branches: About staying connected to Jesus to produce fruit.
Wedding Feast: About the invitation to the Kingdom and the necessity of being prepared.
Ten Virgins: About being prepared for the Lord's return.
Parable of the Talents: About using the gifts God has given us.
Bread of Life Discourse: Jesus’ teaching in John about His flesh being real food; the foundation for the Eucharist.
Units 6 & 7: The Cross, Preparation, and Passion
Preparation and Authority:
Peter: Jesus designated him as the "Rock" and gave him the Keys to the Kingdom, establishing the foundation of the Church and Apostolic Succession.
Son of Man: Jesus' favorite title for himself, referencing his humanity and his role as the suffering servant from Daniel.
The "Hour": A term particularly in John for the time of Jesus' Passion and glorification.
Transfiguration: The event where Jesus' divine glory was manifested to Peter, James, and John on a mountain.
Suffering Servant: The identity of Jesus as predicted by Isaiah, one who would suffer for the sins of the people.
The Passion Narrative:
Jerusalem and Palm Sunday: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem; branches signify victory and royalty. People cried "Hosanna," meaning "Save us, we pray."
Cleansing the Temple: Jesus drives out the money changers, showing his authority over his Father's house.
Anointing at Bethany: A woman anoints Jesus with expensive oil, preparing him for burial.
Last Supper: Jesus celebrates the Passover, institutes the Eucharist and the New Covenant, and performs the Washing of the Feet as a model of service.
Transubstantiation: The bread and wine becoming the actual Body and Blood of Christ.
Gethsemane: The garden where Jesus suffered his Agony and was betrayed by Judas.
Key Figures: Pilate (sentenced Jesus), Simon of Cyrene (helped carry the cross), Joseph of Arimathea (provided the tomb).
Golgotha: "Place of the Skull"; the site of the crucifixion.
Martyr: Someone who dies for their faith.
Unit 8: The Resurrection and Ascension
Resurrection Details:
Timing: Occurred on the first day of the week (Sunday) after the crucifixion.
Witnesses: Mary Magdalene is consistently cited as the first to discover the empty tomb or see the risen Lord.
Proof: The empty tomb, numerous post-resurrection appearances, and the sudden transformation of the fearful Apostles into bold preachers.
Importance: The crowning truth of the faith; it confirms Christ's divinity and his teachings.
Post-Resurrection Accounts:
Road to Emmaus: Risen Jesus explains the scriptures to two disciples who recognize him in the "breaking of the bread."
Thomas: The apostle who doubted until he could touch Jesus' wounds.
Peter and Jesus: Jesus re-commissions Peter by asking "Do you love me?" three times.
The Great Commission: Jesus’ instruction to the Apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them.
Ascension: Jesus' return to his Father in heaven days after the Resurrection.
Final Exam Essay Requirements
Structure: Write a content-driven response to EACH of the three questions below. Each response must be at least ONE paragraph (three paragraphs total).
References: Must include a total of THREE references to Scripture (quotes or close paraphrases) across the three paragraphs.
Content Checklist: Ensure the essay makes meaningful reference to:
(a) The Incarnation.
(b) One or more specific teachings of Jesus.
(c) The Resurrection of Jesus.
Grammar: Use proper grammar, mechanics, and spelling. Do not write an intro or conclusion.
The Three Questions:
According to the testimony of the four canonical Gospels, who is Jesus of Nazareth? (Discuss His identity, character traits, and roles within salvation history.)
What were the primary goals of Jesus’ ministry (pre- and post-Resurrection), and how did He achieve those goals?
What specific things should Christians do to follow Christ in the modern world? (Focus strictly on actions, not beliefs.)
Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God and the Savior. In John 3:16, it says God gave His only Son.
The goals of Jesus’s ministry were to save people and teach about God. In Luke’s Gospel, the Good Samaritan teaches people to help others.
Christians should follow Christ by helping and loving others. In Matthew 25, Jesus says helping others is like helping Him.