Ch.3 Religion Test

Is Sacred Scripture free from error?

The Scriptures are both veracious and inerrant.

Why is Scripture sacred?

The Scriptures are holy because of their sacred origin, purpose, and precepts.

What are some factors to be considered to understand the intent of the human author of a book of the Bible?

The conditions of the time and culture; the literary forms used at the time; and the customary and characteristic patterns of perception, speech, and narrative must be considered.

What should be the response of the faithful to a teaching of the Magisterium when it proposes a doctrine for belief as divinely revealed?

The definitions "must be adhered to with the obedience of faith."

Which literary sense is primary?

The literal is primary because every passage has a literal sense.

Are all senses present in every passage in the Bible?

The literal sense proper is always present. The literal sense improper and the spiritual senses may or may not be depending on the passage.

What is Apostolic Succession?

The office of bishop has been passed along in an unbroken continuity from the Apostles to the present day.

Who presides over an ecumenical council?

The pope or his delegates presides.

What should be each person's response to what God reveals?

The proper response is faith.

How can a reader discover a Sacred Author's intention?

The reader must take into account the conditions of the Sacred Author's time and culture, the literary genres in use at his time, and his modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating.

Who guides the People of God in knowing the Faith?

The sacred teaching authority, or Magisterium, guides them.

Who are some of the Apostolic Fathers?

The text names Saints Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna.

How does a literal approach to the creation stories in the Book of Genesis help the reader to understand the author's intentions?

The unfolding of creation indicates creation itself is to be seen as the temple for the worship of God.

How many ecumenical councils have there been?

There have been 21 (Nicaea 1 through Vatican 2).

What is the role of the Ecumenical Council in the history of the Church?

These councils serve as the primary means by which bishops discussed and made definitive decisions about issues facing the entire Church.

What are the three aspects of the sanctity of the Bible?

They are its divine origin, its purpose, and its precepts.

Who are the Apostolic Fathers?

They are the earliest Fathers of the Church; they wrote during the first and at the beginning of the second century and were disciples of the Apostles.

What are the two literary senses of Sacred Scripture?

They are the literal and the spiritual?

Why do the Fathers of the Church have exceptional doctrinal authority?

They handed on the Faith received from the apostolic Church.

What is the value and permanence of human traditions in the Church?

They have a temporary value and can be developed or modified.

What kind of issues have Ecumenical Councils addressed?

They have addressed theological issues and matters to worship and Church discipline.

What are some literary forms found in Sacred Scripture?

They include historical, juridical, prophetic, apocalyptic, wisdom, poetic, and epistles.

How did most of the early Popes show their fidelity to the Gospel?

They were martyrs for the Faith.

How are Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church connected?

They work together and none can stand without the other two.

What is the spiritual sense?

This interpretation of Scripture sees people and events as signs of something beyond themselves.

What is the literal sense improper?

This sense understands words when taken in their figurative (or metaphorical) meaning.

Why is it erroneous to argue Revelation should be based on Sacred Scripture alone?

Tradition is both logically and chronologically prior to Scripture. The teachings of Christ were first passed on orally and later written down.

How does a literal approach to the Book of Revelation help the reader understand the use of lampstands and bowls?

We do not know if these objects exist in Heaven, but their use in the context of the book shows they figuratively draw connections in the minds of the readers to the most sacred elements of religious worship.

How is the faithfulness of the Church promised by Christ?

When Christ made St. Peter the head of the Church, he said, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it."

What are some literal questions to ask of a story?

Who is in the story? What happens in the story? Why does the action happen? What is the result of the action?

Where can Sacred Tradition be found?

Witnesses of Sacred Scripture include the Church's liturgies, the writing of the Church Fathers, and archaeology.

Are there legitimate human traditions in the Church?

Yes

Did St. Paul commend the Corinthians for keeping Tradition?

Yes; he praised them because they maintained the traditions he delivered to them.

Give an example of the literal sense of a biblical passage.

"God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1) which means God made everything out of nothing.

Which Person of the Blessed Trinity is the author of Sacred Scripture?

Although it is attributed to the Holy Spirit, like all the words of God, the inspiration given to the writers was an action of all three divine Persons of the Blessed Trinity.

What is an ecumenical council?

An Ecumenical Council is a meeting at which bishops from around the world convene to discuss and debate matters of concern to the whole Church.

What are some examples of human traditions in the Church?

Architectural forms and artistic treasures are human traditions.

Why is it possible for the Old Testament to have a spiritual sense even though it was written over thousands of years by different Sacred Authors?

Because God is the author of both the Old and New Testaments and he is infinitely wise, he could have disposed the events and words of the Old Testament so things of the past typified (or prefigured) those to come in the New Testament.

What Scriptural evidence indicates God gives the Church supernatural assistance?

Before his Ascension, Christ promised his Apostles, "I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:20), and he told St. Peter, "The powers of death shall not prevail against the Church" (Matthew 16:18).

Why did Christ establish a Church?

By the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ established a Church under St. Peter and the Apostles so his Revelation could be preserved in its entirety and reach all nations without corruption.

How does the Bible reveal how it should be interpreted?

Christ granted his teaching authority, or Magisterium, to the Apostles; they passed on this authority to their successors, the bishops. Therefore, the Scripture indicates people should look to the Magisterium to help interpret the Bible.

Why is it true to say the more familiar a reader is with the many parts of the Bible, the richer his or her reading of it becomes?

Every part of the Bible exists in reference to other parts of the Bible.

In what four senses may a scriptural passage be interpreted?

Every passage of Scripture has a literal meaning. Many passages can also be read in a spiritual sense: allegorical, moral, and analogical.

Why is faith the essential condition to read the Bible?

Faith provides the right dispositions to read the Bible because of the Fall and the resultant pride and darkened intellect, a person may not want to understand what the Bible really teaches.

Who are the two authors of Scripture.

God and the human writers are both true authors of the Scripture.

What are the two types of truth revealed in the Bible?

God has revealed supernatural truths about his intimate life and the eternal decrees concerning human salvation. He has also revealed natural truths people could reach through reason but which he wished to make known easily, with absolute certainty, and without error.

Why can there be no contradiction among the passages of Sacred Scripture?

God is the author of the whole Bible.

Why is it important to pray before reading the Bible?

God is the perfect guide when one comes into contact with his Word.

Who is the principal author of Sacred Scripture?

God the Holy Spirit is its principal author.

What does it mean to say a Gospel is "according to St. Mark"?

God used St. Mark as an instrument to write a Gospel.

How was Christ critical of human traditions?

He accused the Pharisees of being too concerned about traditions of men and neglecting Sacred Traditions of God's Love; "You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." (Mark 7:8)

How did Christ guarantee his Revelation would reach all nations unadulterated?

He established his Church and granted his teaching authority to the apostles (successors of the apostles- popes and bishops).

How does St. Paul witness Tradition in 2 Timothy?

He exhorts his disciple St. Timothy to hold fast to the truth he has been given by the Holy Spirit. St. Timothy should then entrust his truth to other faithful men who will be able to pass it on to others.

What key instrument had God used to transmit salvation history?

He has used Sacred Scripture.

What are the criteria used to recognize someone as a Father of the Church?

He must be of antiquity, exemplify holiness of life, and be orthodox in his belief.

How does St. Paul witness to the twin sources of the Faith?

He wrote, "Brethren, stand for and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us either by word or by mouth or by letter." Extension: The phrase word of mouth refers to Sacred Tradition; by letter refers to Sacred Scripture.

What is the effect of decrees of the Magisterium emanating from an Ecumenical Council?

If ratified by the Pope, they are binding on all Christians.

How is the Bible holy in its divine origin?

In Scripture, evil is rejected and good is upheld.

What global factors must be considered in interpreting the Bible?

In interpreting Scripture, one must keep in mind the intention of the human divine authors, the content and unity of the whole Scripture, the Tradition of the Church, and the analogy of faith

What is one of the best resources available to understand how the Church interprets Scripture?

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the doctrines of the Church are explained; it is replete with quotations from Sacred Scripture and the Fathers, council, and saints of the Church.

When was the infallibility guaranteed to the teaching of the Apostles first seen?

In the Council of Jerusalem, the Apostles decided that Gentiles did not have to follow the Mosaic Law: "It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us."

Where can examples of the teaching of the Magisterium be found?

It can be found, among other places, in creeds and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

What is the Deposit of Faith?

It describes the whole content of Divine Revelation?

What effect did God's inspiration (or divine authorship of Scripture) have on the Sacred Authority?

It did not in any way diminish the role of the human writers; rather, it enabled them to write the truths revealed by God, who preserved them from error.

The Bible is free from error. What does this not guarantee?

It does not guarantee individuals can interpret it correctly.

Why is the Bible supernatural?

It has a supernatural origin, God, and it has supernatural content, the wisdom of God.

How is the Church a motive of credibility for the truth of Divine Revelation?

It has been faithful to Christ for 2 millennia despite severe trials.

What is a literary form?

It is a style of writing that communicates a message through particular creative means.

What is a good method to begin to understand a book of the Bible?

It is best to understand the literal sense first. The literal sense is the meaning intended by the Sacred Author.

In what context is Scripture best understood?

It is best understood within the context of a life of prayer.

To whom is Sacred Scripture entrusted?

It is entrusted to the Church.

What is the literal sense?

It is everything the Holy Spirit intended to express through the words themselves.

What is the nature of an apparent contradiction between two passages of Scripture?

It is improperly interpreted or understood; otherwise, there is no contradiction.

What is Sacred Tradition?

It is the Word of God received from Christ through the Apostles that has been handed on without alteration by the Church under the protection of the Holy Spirit.

What is the literal sense proper?

It is the direct or the ordinary meaning of the words.

What is the Magisterium?

It is the teaching office of the Church; safeguarded from error by the Holy Spirit, it transmits Christ's Gospel faithfully and correctly.

What is the analogy of faith?

It refers to the coherence of the truths of the Faith among themselves and within the whole plan of God's Revelation.

To what does the sanctity of the Bible refer?

It refers to the moral perfection of the doctrine contained in it.

With respect to his message, when was Christ's guarantee fulfilled?

It was fulfilled on Pentecost when the Holt Spirit descended upon the Apostles.

How is the Bible holy in its purpose?

Its purpose is the salvation of all. The New Testament explicitly reveals the channels of grace Christ instituted by which man can become holy.

Is Genesis a collection of fictional stories?

No. These events occurred; however, they are told to us in a way that makes the importance of the meaning of what happened most apparent.

Can each bishop interpret the Scriptures without error?

No; this authority belongs to the Church as a whole, not as an individual bishop.

What literary forms are found in the Scriptures?

One factor to understanding the Bible is the literary form in which a passage is written, for example, history, law, prophecy, apocalyptic, wisdom literature, poetry, or an epistle.

What three criteria did the Council of Fathers of Vatican II indicate to help interpret Scripture correctly?

One should pay attention to the content and unity of the whole of Scripture, the living Tradition of the Church, and the analogy of the faith.

How should one read the Bible?

One should read the Bible under the Church's guidance—beginning with the more accessible books—in a spirit of prayer and with faith.

What is an ecumenical council?

One way the Church has exercised her Magisterium is through Ecumenical Councils.

Who is the author of Sacred Scripture?

Sacred Scripture has two authors: God, its primary author, and inspired human writers who faithfully wrote what God desired.

How does Sacred Scripture relate to Sacred Tradition?

Sacred Scripture is the part of Sacred Tradition written down because of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

What is the relationship between Sacred Scripture and Tradition?

Sacred Scripture is the part of Tradition that was written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

What are the twin sources of the Deposit of Faith?

Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are its sources.

What is the difference between Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture?

Sacred Tradition encompasses the entire Deposit of Faith, while Sacred Scripture refers to part of the Tradition written down.

Why is it logical to think God would provide a means by which his Revelation should be fully preserved and transmitted in the future?

Since the Good News is for all people and all times, it makes sense he would provide a way for all people to have access to this Revelation.

Who constitutes Magisterium?

The Apostles and their successors (the pope and bishops) comprise it.

How do the contemporary terms priest, bishop, and Pope apply to the Apostles?

The Apostles were what we would call the first priests and bishops for the Church, and St. Peter is regarded as the first Pope.

What aspects of history does Scripture reveal?

The Bible narrates historical events as well as the divine meaning and theological purposes of those events.

What is the relationship between Sacred Tradition and human traditions in the Catholic Faith?

The Catholic Faith includes both Sacred, unchangeable Tradition and human, changeable traditions. The Church's human traditions grow out of her Sacred Tradition.

What is the infallibility of the Magisterium?

The Church cannot teach error in matters of Faith and morals.

Why is Tradition sacred?

The Church receives supernatural assistance from God to transmit the Gospel.

How do human traditions relate to Sacred Tradition?

The Church's theological disciplinary, liturgical, and devotional traditions were born in the local churches over time and express Sacred Tradition in particular circumstances. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified, or abandoned under the guidance of the Magisterium.

What is a model for ecumenical councils?

The Council of Jerusalem is a model.

What are some examples of Sacred Tradition?

The Divinity of Christ and the Blessed Trinity belong to Sacred Tradition.

Why are these councils called ecumenical?

The Greek word, oikoumene, means the inhabited world.

What does it mean to say God is the author of Scripture?

The Holy Spirit did not simply assist the human writers but actually authored what they wrote. Inspiration is nothing less than divine authorship.

What ensures the infallibility of the Magisterium?

The Holy Spirit ensures it.

What guarantees the Church can infallibly transmit the Faith?

The Holy Spirit guarantees it.

What is Apostolic succession?

The Magisterium is preserved through Apostolic Succession, the lineage of Catholic bishops through the ages, in which each holds his office in direct link to one of the Twelve Apostles.

What is the Magisterium?

The Magisterium is the name given to the universal teaching authority of the Pope and all of the bishops in communion with him, which guides the members of the Church without error in matters of Faith and morals through the interpretation of Sacred Scripture and Tradition.

How is the Bible holy in its precepts?

The Old Testament reveals precepts of the natural and moral law. In the New Testament, Christ perfects the moral precepts of the Old Testament by declaring their true meaning, establishing the best way of fulfilling them, and teaching his disciples how to achieve greater sanctity.