Scripture Background and Church History Flashcards

Development of Egyptian Civilization: The Egyptian state developed in the fertile land along the Nile River. It began as a distinct state around $3000\,BC$ and prospered through Roman times.
Biblical Connections to Egypt: * Abraham: When famine struck Canaan, Abraham escaped to Egypt ( $\text{Genesis 12:10}$ ). * Joseph: Abraham's great-grandson, Joseph, rescued his father and brothers and helped them settle in the land of Egypt ( $\text{Genesis 47:1-12}$ ). * The Exodus: The Book of Exodus recounts the eventual enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt and their escape to the Promised Land under the leadership of Moses.
Geographic Landmarks: Key locations mentioned in the journey include Memphis, Goshen, the Nile River, the Mediterranean Sea, Gaza, Judea, and Mt. Sinai.

Biographical Profile: Saint Peter Claver was a Spanish Jesuit missionary.
Missionary Work: He was sent to Cartagena (part of modern-day Colombia) in $1610$ .
Ministry to the Enslaved: Cartagena served as a port of entry for slave-trading ships. Claver focused his efforts on sick and demoralized slaves who survived inhumane ship conditions. * He physically entered the holds of the ships to provide food and water. * He preached a message of human dignity, telling the enslaved that they were precious in God's eyes, contradicting owners who viewed them only as property.
Title and Legacy: He called himself "a slave to the Negroes forever." His feast day is observed on September $9$ .

God's Promise: God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give them land that would be home to their descendants.
The Rise of Oppression: Long after Joseph's death, the Israelites (descendants of Joseph's family) prospered and grew numerous. A new Pharaoh, fearing their power, enslaved the Hebrews, forcing them to build cities and work in fields.
Pharaoh's Decree: To control the population, Pharaoh ordered that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the river.
The Early Life of Moses: * Jochebed: Moses' mother, hid him to keep him from being killed. * The Basket: Moses was placed in a basket in the reeds on the riverbank. * Adoption: Pharaoh's daughter found the baby, adopted him, and named him Moses.
The Burning Bush (Exodus 3): * Moses, while leading a flock across the desert, saw a bush on fire that was not consumed by the flames. * God's Command: God called from the bush, saying, "Moses! Moses!" and instructed him, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." * The Divine Identification: God identified himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Sacred Name: When Moses asked for God's name, God replied, "I am who I am," and told him to tell the Israelites that "I AM" had sent him.

The Plagues of Egypt: Because Pharaoh refused to let the people go, plagues struck the land: 1. The Nile River turned into blood. 2. Frogs. 3. Gnats. 4. Flies. 5. Animal disease. 6. Boils. 7. Hail. 8. Locusts. 9. Three days of darkness. 10. Death of the firstborn.
The Passover: Hebrew families marked their doorways with lamb's blood so the plague of death would "pass over" their homes.
The Crossing of the Sea: Pharaoh eventually sent the Israelites away but then chased them with warriors and chariots. At the Red Sea, the Lord told Moses to stretch out his hand. The Lord swept the sea into dry land, with water forming walls on the right and left. When the Egyptian army followed, the water flowed back and drowned them.
Definitions: The Exodus is the story of God's people being delivered from slavery and led to freedom.

Discussion on the Resurrection (Luke 20): * The Sadducees, who did not believe in everlasting happiness after death, asked Jesus a trick question regarding a woman who had married seven brothers in succession (following the custom of raising descendants for a deceased brother). * Jesus’ Response: He explained that those worthy of the resurrection neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, as they are like angels and are "children of God because they are the ones who rise."
Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14): * Context: Jesus had gone to a deserted place to mourn John the Baptist. * The Miracle: With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus blessed, broke, and gave the food to his disciples to distribute to a vast crowd. * Outcome: Approximately $5000$ men (not counting women and children) ate and were satisfied. Twelve wicker baskets of fragments were left over.

The Conclave Process: * Cardinals meet at the Vatican in Rome. * They remain secluded without newspapers or TV, praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. * The Smoke Signal: Black smoke from the chimney indicates no decision has been reached. Chemicals are used to produce white smoke when a new pope is elected.
Pope Francis: * Born Jorge Bergoglio in Argentina (the first pope from Latin America). * A Jesuit, named a cardinal in $2001$ by Pope John Paul II, and elected pope in March $2013$ . * He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. * He is the successor to Saint Peter, the first leader of the Church on Earth.

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20): God gave Moses laws on Mount Sinai to guide the Israelites' relationship with Him and others.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7): Jesus taught the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule, revealing the fullness of God's law as the new law of love through the Holy Spirit.
The Covenant at Sinai: * Divine Provision: In the desert, God provided manna (white flakes tasting like honey wafers) and water from a rock (struck by Moses). * The Decalogue: 1. No other gods besides the Lord. 2. Do not invoke the Lord's name in vain. 3. Keep the Sabbath holy. 4. Honor father and mother. 5. You shall not kill. 6. You shall not commit adultery. 7. You shall not steal. 8. Do not bear false witness. 9. Do not covet your neighbor's wife. 10. Do not covet your neighbor's property.
The Ark of the Covenant: A gold and wood box built to store the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments. It was carried by the Israelites as a sign of God's presence.

Eternal Light (Ner Tamid): Originating from oil lamps kept burning outside the Ark of the Covenant and in synagogues, this light represents God’s eternal covenant.
The Tabernacle Light: In Catholic churches, an oil lamp or candle burns near the tabernacle to signify the presence of Christ, the "Light of the World," in the Blessed Sacrament.

Dialogue on Everlasting Life: * Question: The Sadducees asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' …Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." * Response: Jesus clarified that in the coming age, the resurrected are like angels and children of God, and the social structures of marriage like those in "this age" do not apply. * Reaction: Scribes replied, "Teacher, you have answered well," and the crowd ceased asking trick questions.