theology ch.1-2 vocab

Deposit of Faith “The heritage of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Tradition, handed

on in the Church from the time of the Apostles, from which the Magisterium draws all that

it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed” (CCC, Glossary).

disciples Followers of Jesus. The word disciple means “learner.”

dogma A central truth of Revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe.

Gospel Literally, “Good News.” Gospel refers to the Good News preached by Jesus; the

Good News of salvation won in the Person of Jesus Christ; and the four written accounts of

the Good News—the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

heresy An obstinate denial after Baptism of a truth that must be believed with faith, or an

obstinate doubt of such truth.

Incarnation The assumption of a human nature by Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, who

became man in order to save humankind from sin. The term literally means “being made

flesh.”

Magisterium The official teaching authority of the Church. Christ bestowed the right and

power to teach in his name on Peter and the Apostles and their successors. The Magisterium

is the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the bishop of Rome (the pope).

Sacred Scripture The written transmission of the Church’s gospel message found in the

Church’s teaching, life, and worship. It is faithfully preserved, handed down, and interpreted

by the Church’s Magisterium.

Sacred Tradition The living transmission of the Church’s gospel message found in the

Church’s teaching, life, and worship. It is faithfully preserved, handed down, and

interpreted by the Church’s Magisterium.

canon The official list of inspired books of the Bible. Catholics count forty-six Old

Testament books and twenty-seven New Testament books in the canon.

catechesis From a Greek term meaning “instruction by word of mouth.” Catechesis is

the process of religious instruction and formation in the major elements of the Catholic

faith.

evangelist A Latin term that literally means “preacher of the Gospel.” An evangelist is

a person who proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. The four evangelists are the

authors of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Gentiles A term for non-Jews or people not of the Jewish faith.

New Covenant A description of the climax of salvation history, the coming of Jesus

Christ, and the fullness of God’s Revelation.

Septuagint The oldest complete edition of the Old Testament. It is a Greek translation

of earlier Hebrew texts, probably written in Alexandria during the time of the

Ptolemaic rule over Palestine. The word itself is Latin for “seventy,” which refers to the

traditional story that seventy scholars from the Holy Land were brought to Alexandria

to accomplish the translation.

synoptic Gospels The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which, because of their

similarities, can be “seen together” in parallel columns and mutually compared.