Introduction to Theology
St. Gregory Nazanzius on the Incarnation
"God became man so that man might become God not by nature but by participation."
St. Augustine on Salvation
"He who created you without you will not save you without you."
St. Augustine quote about Love
"Love and do what you will"
St. Augustine Quote about Scripture
"The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament, and the Old Testament is unveiled in the New Testament." -St. Augustine
St. Francis of Assisi on Crucifixion
"You crucified Him and you crucify Him still when you delight in your vices and sins"
Monothelitism
"one will"; Jesus only had one will; denied human will; 3rd Council of Constantinople; human will necessary to be human person
Possible Prescribed Acts for Plenary Indulgences
-Adoration for at least 30 minutes -Prayerfully read the Bible for 30 minutes -Pray the Rosary alone in a Church -Pray the Rosary with at least one other person anywhere -Praying of the Stations of the Cross
Mary's Perpetual Virginity
-Virgin before, during, and after Jesus -No relations with a man; Joseph not known her -No labor pains (until death on cross) because Jesus not destroy her virginity, instead miraculous birth -Not give her tabernacle to anyone else; only had cousins; first-born was a privilege -Protestant Reformers believed in Perpetual Divinity
Understanding of Divine Revelation
1 Source (God) 2 fold Deposit of Faith 3 channels
Three necessities to forming consciences
1) A life of prayer 2) Learning and studying theology 3) Obedience to the Magisterium and teachings
Original Sin Hinders our Image in God
1) Intellect is darkened 2) Will is weakened 3) Interpersonal Communion become objectified
4 Reasons Why Partial Inerrancy is Wrong
1) It is incompatible with Biblical Inspiration: God authored the Bible and doesn't make mistakes, so the Bible is 100% inerrant 2) It contradicts Vatican II: Dei Verbum says is plenary, so partial denies that 3) It violates all prior Magisterial Teaching 4) It violates the relationship between Faith and Reason: Some teachings, like Resurrection, are both matters of faith and history, so must be taught as true
Problem of anti-Semitism
1) Taught to love all 2) We are more responsible for Jesus's death 3) Jesus was a Jew
Two principles for the act of formation
1) The Golden Rule 2) "The ends don't justify the means"; Intention and Object must be good
Church Response to Macro Evolution
1) We all descend from one original set of parents 2) A human soul was infused into soul as a direct act of creation by God
Biblical Foundations of Purgatory
1. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15- We will be cleansed of what is not of God 2. Matthew 12:31-32- venial sins will be forgiven in the age to come 3. 2 Maccabees 12:41-45- Prayers for the dead so they can go to Heaven
Significance of the Sign of the Cross
1. Calls to mind the Redemption that our Lord accomplished through His Passion and Death 2. It reminds us of our Baptism and therefore our commitment to the Christian life 3. It invokes God's protection over evil; Demons flee when it is made 4. A visible way of professing our faith in the Trinity
Non-healing miracles
1. Calming of the sea (Mk 4:35-41); Jesus has power over nature and over chaos and evil 2. Feeding of the 5000 (Mk 6:30-44); only miracle mentioned in all 4 Gospels; took, blessed, broke, and gave mimic the Last Supper; shepherd and sheep 3. Jesus walks on water (Mk 6:45-51)
Sola Scriptura
1. Canon exists from Tradition 2. Non-biblical 3. Anti-biblical
Healing Miracles
1. Casting out of Demons (Mk 1:21-28); Jesus has power over Satan and Darkness 2. Man w/ withered hand on the Sabbath (Mk 3:1-6) 3. Rising of Jarius' Daughter (Mk 5:21-42); hemorrhaging woman, Jesus has power over death itself
Conditions for Plenary Indulgences
1. Go to Confession 2. Receive Holy Communion 3. Pray for the Intentions of the Pope 4. Be completely detached from sin (if missing these, indulgence is partial) (Have about 20 days before or after the act of indulgence to complete these objectives)
Three Outcomes of Particular Judgment
1. Immediately sent to Heaven 2. Immediately sent to Hell 3. Soul enters the condition of Purgatory
Papal Infalliability
1. Infallibility is not impeccability 2. Only concerns formal teachings in matters of faith and morals 3. Two forms of infallibility; ex-cathedra and ordinary 4. Significance for us; same faith
What can Private Revelation do?
1. Introduce new forms of piety 2. Help us to better embrace an aspect of our faith that has been forgotten or was never understood 3. Give new emphasis to aspects of our faith 4. Helps us to better live out the Gospel
Death because of Original sin
1. Spiritual- drive out life of soul through serious sin 2. Physical
4 Steps to Studying Scripture
1. Start w/ prayer to the Holy Spirit to ask for Wisdom 2. Ask Who?/What?/When?/Where?/Why?/How? 3. Use tools to interpret; Tradition, Magisterium, Canonically 4. Application to daily life; cannot leave at the level of the intellect, but must bring to the will
General Conditions for All Indulgences
1. State of Grace 2. General Intention to Earn Indulgence 3. Actually do the Indulgence
Three Stages of the Incarnation
1. The Annunciation commemorated on March 25th - context: Holy Family - significance: God came to save this family 2. The Nativity- December 25th - context: Son of God is born - significance: shepherds symbolize all Jews being saved 3. The Epiphany- January 6th - context: wisemen come - significance: Gentiles saved
Analogies of the Trinity
1. Three-leaf Shamrock: three leaves, one flower 2. Equilateral triangle: one figure w/ 3 equal sides 3. Mother, father, and child: one family, three persons
4 Reasons for the Incarnation
1. To save us from sin and reconcile us to God 2. To show us God's love 3. In Jesus we have a model of holiness of life 4. Divinization- that we might partake in the divine nature
Importance of Final Judgment
1. We get our bodies back/become complete 2. Public triumph of Christ over sin and death
Demons
1/3 of angels chose against God at one time; never any new demons; demons stronger than humans unless we have sanctifying grace; Satan is opposite in power to St. Michael, not God
The Rosary
20 mysteries about the life of Christ -Assumption and Coronation were because of Jesus Private revelation to St. Dominic JPII added Luminous "Holy Mary..." added during deaths of Bubonic Plague
First Council of Constantinople
381 AD; 2nd ecumenical council; refuted Apollinarinism
Council of Ephesus
3rd council; 431 AD; Nestorianism; Theotokos
Ascension
40 days after Easter; when Jesus went to Heaven in glorified human body; marks the entrance of humanity into Heaven
Council of Chalcedon
451 AD; 4th Council; Monophysitism
Pentecost
50 days after Easter; birthday of Church in the sense that formal ministry began; thousands Baptized
3rd Council of Constantinople
680-81 AD; Monothelitism
The Principle of Double Effect Qualifications
A. The act cannot be intrinsically evil B. The evil that is foreseen must not be intended C. The good intended must be at least proportionate to the evil that is foreseen D. There is no other reasonable course of action possible
St. Thomas Aquinas on the Incarnation
A. Was it necessary for God to become man in order to save us? Nope, God can do what He wants, but He most shows His love by becoming man B. Would God have become man if we had not sinned? No because the principle reason was to save us from sin, so would have been no need C. Could God have become man if we had not sinned? Yes, God can do what He wants and we don't restrain Him, but we don't know what He would've done D. Why did God not become man immediately after the first sin? Why wait? Two problems: 1) Come early and people not know enough to know they need help or 2) Come late and not save very many people; He came at the Fullness of Time
Gospels Overview
All of the Bible is inspired, but the Gospels are the most important because they are the most closely related to the life of Christ; The Gospels are privileged witnesses to the life and teachings of Jesus
Plenary Indulgences
All of the temporal punishment due to sin is removed; can earn a maximum of one per day
Apollinarianism
Apollinarius; Jesus did not have a human soul; can't be human without human soul; Jesus not became man if no soul; First Council of Constantinople; Jesus could not have saved us if not have a human soul
Arianism
Arius, priest of Alexandria; denied the true divinity of Jesus; Council of Nicaea; Two words at heart of controversy: 1) Homoousios-"same substance", Son and Father 2) Homoinusios- Arius and friends of similar substance; time when the Son was not; Jesus was "God-like"; Creed-consubstantial
God the Son
Before the Incarnation: Son as logos only Jesus only after the Incarnation when became man One person, two natures Role of Redeemer
Partial Biblical Inerrancy
Belief taught by many Catholic Scholars that matters of faith and morals in the Bible are inerrant but matters of history are not necessarily true
Canonical Methodology
Bible as a unity; whenever you read the Bible, you must be mindful of what comes before and what comes after
Nestorianism
Bishop Nestorius; thought there were two persons in Jesus; Mary was the Christotokos-Christ bearer; Christ human person with divine person within Him; Council of Ephesus; Mary is "Theotokos" and gave Jesus a human nature
The Human Person
Body and Soul composite; body dissolves at death; re-become fully human at the end of the world; Created in the image and likeness of God
Three Essential Criteria for Biblical Interpretation
Canonical Methodology, Attentiveness to Sacred Tradition, and the Analogy of Faith
Mary's Divine Maternity
Centrality of this dogma-most important; Theotokos
General/Final/Last Judgment (differences from Particular)
Concerns the entire human race (public and universal), body and soul rejoined together before God, Purgatory will cease to exist,
Plenary Biblical Inerrancy
Correct belief that all of the Bible is without error when properly understood
The Work of Creation
Creation ex nihilo; everything that exists is good; only God can create
Artistic Representations of the Trinity
Don't take at face value because all three persons are equal in wisdom and strength and are co-eternal
The Persons of the Trinity
Equal in every respect except in relation; all three persons are equally cooperative in all matter; Father=Work of Creation; Son=Work of Redemption; Holy Spirit=Work of Sanctification
Monophysitism
Eutyches; "one nature"; only divine nature; tried to correct Nestorius but then said only divine; Council of Chalcedon
The problem of evil
Evil is not a creation, because all creation is good; privation of good; evil is never willed by God but is allowed because He respects our free will and allows good out of evil
Attentiveness to Sacred Tradition
Find Divine Revelation in Tradition; have to believe Divine Revelation for salvation; Sacred Tradition is the memory of the Church; same teaching for all generations; Tradition by: Fathers, Doctors, Saints, Liturgy
Biblical Implications of Immaculate Conception
Genesis 3:15- "enmity between you and the woman"; free from sin in order to be in complete opposition-Mary is that woman Luke 1:28- "Rejoice, Full of Grace"; substituted for name; full in context of past, present, and future; full means no room for anything else
Angels
Greek for "messenger"; God's helpers in His governance; all created at one time; Angels free will at one time
Christ
Greek word for Messiah
Messiah
Hebrew word and title that refers to someone who has received an anointing; ex: Kings, priests, prophets Jesus was Priest, Prophet, and King
Image of God
Intellect, Will, Interpersonal Communion, Anticipation of the Incarnation (image of the Son); dignity because in God's image; nothing can eradicate our being in the image of God
Redemptive Suffering
JPII; Jesus gave suffering a meaning, which can get us through something; embrace our suffering to purify us of our sins and offer it up for others; God chose suffering to redeem us; offer suffering in union with Christ's
Theological Death of Christ
Jesus actively offered up Himself on the Cross; we are all responsible because He died for our sins; we are more culpable than Romans and Jews
12 Apostles
Jesus called men to begin public ministry; first bishops and priests of the Church; perfect the 12 tribes of Israel
Historical Persons responsible for Jesus's death
Jews: Pharisees, High Priest, Sanhedrin, Chief Priests Romans: Pontius Pilate and Roman soldiers
Institution of the Papacy
Matthew 16; Peter's name change and change in role; Peter chosen because he was the apostle who most needed God's mercy, and he will have compassion on us
Biblical Foundations for the Trinity
Matthew 28:19-The Great Commission; Word not used, but concept present
The Gospels
Matthew-first to be proclaimed and written; most used; Apostle Mark- not an Apostle, but disciple of Peter; written account of Peter's catechesis Luke- only Gentile author of the NT; not an Apostle; Blessed Virgin Mary main source John- most profound; Apostle of Charity; Beloved
Resurrection
Most important miracle; proved Himself to be true; broke bond of sin and death; verified the truth of everything He did
How to Enter into Heaven
Must be in a state of sanctifying grace, perfect as Christ calls us to be, free from venial sins, and atoned for injustice of all sins
God the Spirit
Name denotes qualities of the other two persons; bond of love between Father & Son; Role of Sanctifier
Vincible Ignorance
Not knowing something that you should've
Who can indulgences be gained for?
Oneself or a soul in Purgatory
Why is a proper understanding of biblical inerrancy important?
Partial allows Christians to selectively choose what is true and what is not so that they don't have to believe what is hard, but God gave us the Bible as a tool to salvation, so it must be completely inerrant in order for it to be a normative guide
Adoptionism
Paul of Samosata; God chose a man to save the world; Son of God by adoption; denies divinity of Jesus-only good and holy, not God
Temporal Punishment
Punishment incurred from a forgiven mortal or venial sin
Eternal Punishment
Punishment incurred from an un-forgiven mortal sin (Hell)
3 Channels of Divine Revelation
Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium
Partial Indulgences
Some of the temporal punishment due to sin is removed
The Assumption of Mary
Taken to heaven body and soul; glorified body; unsure if died or not
The Analogy of Faith
The Magisterium exists to guard us from falsehood; no teaching of the Magisterium can contradict a teaching of Scripture; Church is both mater and magistra; What the Church says is true we must believe
Power of the Keys
The Pope has the power to regulate indlugences
Purgatory Overview
The mercy of God that allows us the opportunity to rid ourselves of the venial sins and sin residue on our souls; must be in a state of sanctifying grace
Indulgences
The remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin for a sin that has already been forgiven
Teachings of Jesus in Mark
Use of parables; Parable of the Sower (Mk 4:1-9), Mustard Seed (Mk 4:30-32), Wicked Tenants (Mk 12:1-12)
Phenomonological
When authors refer to science in scripture they are not giving a literal natural scientific way
Two Great Commandments
You shall love God with every fiber of your being Love your neighbor as yourself
sin
a thought, word, deed, or a desire contrary to God's law
Immaculate Conception
a. Mary did not incur original sin b. Mary was not subject to the effects of original sin c. Mary was redeemed by her son through the application of the merits of Calvary in advance d. A singular privilege e. Mary remained without sin her entire life
The Relationship between the Old and New Testaments
a. NT recognizes the authority of the OT b. NT is in conformity with the OT c. NT fulfills and brings to completion the OT
Judea
bottom "county" of Judea; Jerusalem located here, Jesus' Passion, Death, and Resurrection
Capernum
bustling town where Jesus set up "base camp" for ministry
Legend of St. Augustine
child on the beach; sand; too much info about the Trinity
Docetism
claim that Jesus only appeared to be human; believe matter is evil so God would not become matter; Gregory Nanziansus "What has not been assumed has not been healed" Our bodies are important to our being
Jesus
common name at the time; means "God saves us/God is Salvation"
The Last Four Things
death, judgment, Heaven, Hell
Final Judgment and Particular Judgment
does not undo Particular Judgment (stay in hell/heaven)
exegisis
draw out meaning of Bible; requires wisdom
Typology
drawn out correlation of something to Christ
Council of Nicaea
first ecumenical council called by Constantine in 325 AD; defeated Arianism
Adam and Eve
first two human persons to ever exist; all biologically descended from them; heresy of polygenism-"many beginnings", few different evolved apes
John the Baptist
greatest prophet for Christ; the precursor to Christ; prepared the way for Christ; Two Main Jobs: 1) Prepare people spiritually for the coming of the Messiah; call to repentance and necessity of Christ 2) Point out Messiah to those awaiting Him; many false Messiahs, so needed authoritative voice to point Him out Baptized Jesus in the Jordan as example for us to follow
Cardinal Virtues
hinge 1. Prudence 2. Justice 3. Fortitude 4. Temperance All four must be practiced to live authentically
Allegorical sense
how a passage is interpreted in light of the mystery of Christ and the Church
Anagogical Sense
how the passage is fulfilled in heavenly realities
Moral sense
how we are to live
Hell
many more people go to Hell, so we need to judge our own actions in order to work towards the path to Heaven
Heaven
no way to express the joys and wonders of heaven; it is absolute and complete perfection of joy and love
Invincible Ignorance
not knowing something about the moral life but its not your fault
redemption
objective; Christ bought us all (past, present, future) back no matter how a person thinks; refers to Christ's crucifixion
Particular/Individual Judgment
occurs at the moment of our death when our soul separates from our body and stands before God; three possible outcomes
Garden of Gethsemane
part of Mount of Olives, beginning of Passion; Greatest intensity of Christ's pain; Psychological pain-tears for Hell
Origin of Sin
pride is the root of all sin; choose own thoughts/desires over what God wants for us
Galilee
region (like modern day county) where many cities of Christ's ministry were located; including Nazareth and Capernum; top portion of the Holy Land; many miracles here
Dei Verbum
relationship between Scripture and Tradition
Baptism
restores sanctifying grace; clears condition of original sin but not effects
God the Father
role of creator; attributes of fathers and mothers but called Father because active role in life-giving
Nazareth
small town where Jesus grew up; home town; spent 25+ years here
salvation
subjective; depends on our cooperation; asks if we are in heaven; life-long process
The Magisterium
teaching authority of the Church; servant of Scripture and Tradition; inferior to Scripture and Tradition according to what it is, but equal in what it does
Sacred Tradition
the living memory of the Church; passes down to every generation what they Church is and what she believes; source from God, so unchangeable; required to believe in
the spiritual senses
the meaning intended by God but unknown by the human author; Allegorical, Moral, and Anagogical
the literal sense
the meaning of the words on the page as intended by the human author, and thus intended by God; authors wrote in different genres
The Trinity
the most central and foundational teaching of Christianity; about God in Himself instead of what He did; theologia; Three persons in one God; Mystery of Faith; 1 Divine Nature
Divine Revelation
the self-disclosure of God and His plan for our salvation; Public Revelation; Perfected in Christ; Teachings come from Christ and apostles and end with John's death
Eschatology
the study of the last four things (death, judgment, Heaven, Hell)
Deposit of Faith
the sum total of everything that the Church believes; Scripture and Tradition
Likeness of God
to be holy; sanctifying grace is the life of God within us
Private Revelation
when an individual receives messages/instructions from God or the saints; like sunlight and water that help the tree of Divine Revelation grow; not required to believe in, but they help
