The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture Deacon Ott Exam Review Sheet

What are the four categories of writings in the New Testament? Be able to recognize a description for each.

-Gospels: life, works, message, death, Resurrection of Jesus-Closest we have to His biography-Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, -Acts of the Apostles: (written by Luke) Tells the story of the early Christians/Church under leadership of Peter -Letters- 13 Pauline epistles (letters) Probably 7 actually written by Paul Purpose: to support and further educate early Christians Hebrews-author unknown; an extended sermon to a group of Christians in danger of falling away from belief in Jesus 7 other Catholic (universal) epistles attributed to James, Peter, John, Jude -Revelation-encourages late 1st century Christians to endure persecutions in hope of 2nd coming of Jesus A book of prophecy about the end times and the final judgment which is not necessarily meant to unfold literally

Explain the six criteria the Catechism gives for interpreting Scripture.

-It should be read within the tradition and teaching of the Church. -Give attention to both the human authors' intent and that of God. -Consider the time when and culture where it was written. -Read and interpret in light of the Holy Spirit (who wrote it). -Read each part with an awareness of the whole Bible. -Be attentive to the unity that exists in all Church teaching (analogy of faith).

Describe the four ways we can find evidence for God's existence covered in the notes. Make sure you are especially able to argue the First Cause Theory and Complexity/Order of the Universe Theory.

-Look at the blessings, good things, miracles in your life-are they all just a coincidence? -Universal belief throughout history:Is it a coincidence that so many people in different places at different times have expressed belief in a higher being?-"Proofs" through reason -First Cause Theory-we live in a world of cause and effect; science can't explain what created the original "dust" or what set it in motion; there must logically be a "first cause"; religion: that first cause is God -Complexity/Order of the Universe Theory-there is so much order/design/harmony in our bodies, our natural world, the universe; science: it's all a coincidence, started with dust; religion: there must be a higher being behind it all -What is our source for morality? Why do we care?-What motivates us to search for meaning in life and to know why things are as they are?

What are the four major sections of the Old Testament? Be able to recognize a description for each, as well as some of the key books in each section.

-Pentateuch/Torah-"the Law"-1st 5 books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy-primary Jewish Scriptures-tell the heart of Israel's story -Historical books-tell the historical story of Israel, from the conquest of the Promised Land to shortly before Jesus-includes Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, 1-2 Maccabees -Wisdom books-stories, sayings, and songs that provide insight, inspiration, and advice for Israel-includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom, Sirach -Prophetic books-warn Israel of the consequences of turning from God; often foretell coming of Messiah-3 major prophets (longer)-Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel (and sometimes Daniel)-13 minor prophets-includes writing (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos) and non-writing (Nathan, Elijah, Elisha) prophets

Who wrote the Torah, and when?

-a combination of 4 different sources, written between 10th and 6th centuries BCE (Before Common Era)

How can we explain the errors and contradictions that are found in the Bible? Make three points to explain why they are there.

-the Bible was written by people with limited knowledge; they often used God to explain things they couldn't understand -the Bible seems to contain errors and contradictions -the primary concern of the Bible is NOT historical truth, but religious truth (the deeper meaning beneath the words; put there by God)

Who were some of the key people of the Old Testament, and what did they do? (You should have a general sense of the order of the key people in terms of when they lived.)

Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, King David, Solomon, Isaiah

How many books are in the New Testament?

27

What are the deuterocanonical books? Who considers them to be inspired, and who does not?

7 books that took longer to become part of canon-not accepted by many Protestant denominations or modern-day Jews

Who wrote the Pauline epistles?

7 written by Paul, the rest written by others

Why does God seem so angry in the Hebrew Scriptures? (Give at least two reasons.)

Ancient Israelites modeled their image of God after a triumphant, outraged warrior/ruler/elder (matching the customs of the time) Used God to explain every victory and hardship

Who were Israel's enemies in the Old Testament, and what effect did those relationships have on Israel at various times? (You should have a general sense of the order of the enemies in terms of when they were in power.)

Assyria, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans

How do the Old and New Testaments relate to each other? Make at least three points.

Both Testaments must be read in light of each other The Old Testament helps us understand the life, mission, and teachings of Jesus, who was Himself a Jew Jesus-the fulfillment of the Old Testament

We have a ________-shaped hole that cannot be filled by anything else.

God

What is the Septuagint?

Greek translation of OT that dates to 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, when many Jews only spoke Greek

What is a more sensitive term for the Old Testament?

Hebrew Scriptures

Name the three original biblical languages.

Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic

Which of the four Gospels are probably actually written by apostles?

John?

Briefly explain the process of how the Bible progressed from the events themselves to its final written form.

Life stage (experienced), oral tradition (stories shared verbally), written stage, canon (Scriptures determined by religious leaders)

Briefly describe how the Gospels developed through their various stages.

Life stage (experiences of Jesus and His disciples), oral stage (disciples spread the word), written stage (evangelists record Gospels)

Who wrote Acts of the Apostles?

Luke

Which was the first Gospel written, and when was it likely written?

Mark-65-70 CE

When was the official canon of the Bible (both Testaments) set by?

OT-100 AD NT-367 AD

When was most of the Old Testament written (in what time range)? What about the New Testament?

OT-1000 and 100 BC; NT-50 and 100 AD (maybe 130)

How long did it take before the stories were written down?

Old Testament-centuries; New Testament-decades

How did the Gospel stories remain intact and accurate as they were repeated orally? (Give two ways.)

Told stories of teachings, miracles, events of impact Main points stayed intact (hopefully) like a good joke does over many tellings Stories, prayers also practiced/recited in early Christian worship

What does "Sola Scriptura" mean?

Protestant's belief that God reveals truth through Scripture alone

According to the Catholic Church, what are the two general sources for divine revelation?

Scripture (the Bible) especially the Gospels, and Tradition

In regards to the previous question, why does the Catholic Church teach the way it does?

Scripture actually comes from tradition and Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide us to understand truths that the people of His time were not yet ready for

Which method of biblical interpretation is used by most Catholic biblical scholars? Explain why by identifying the five problems with the alternative method.

contextual-problems with literal: contradicts history, science, our experiences, other biblical passages, and God doesn't always seem to be loving in the Bible

Where can we find true, lasting happiness?

in God, not in the things of the world

How is the Bible divided, and what is each part called (just the two major parts)?

into two testaments (old and new) each of which describes a covenant between God and humans

What historical elements regarding the human authors can help us fully understand the Bible?

many stories were likely written centuries after the events they describe-and the copies we have today may be centuries newer than the original copies. God inspires biblical writers to deliver God's message in their words-to fully understand the Bible, we need to study the culture and conditions and use of language at the historical time of the human authors

Over the years, did God change? Explain.

no, but the Israelite's image/understanding of God did (becoming more loving/fatherly and less angry/violent)

Can there be conflict between religious truth and scientific truth? Do they always have to agree?

no, there can be no conflict between religious truth and scientific and historic truth

Are the books contained in our Bible the only writings that refer to Jesus (from a faith perspective) of that time period?

no-gnostic gospels-rejected because they minimized the suffering and death of Jesus

What is the primary concern of the Bible, historical or religious truth?

religious

What is an atheist?

someone who claims there is no God

What stories do the Bible tell? (Part of this is addressed in question 1 above.)

tells the story of our salvation, a story which continues to be lived out today

What is the magisterium, and what is its role in the Church?

the bishops and the Pope, who are the official teaching authority of the Church and are charged with interpreting and preserving the truths revealed in Scripture and Tradition-not known as the College of Cardinals

What is the canon of the Bible?

the collection of books inspired by God

What is biblical exegesis?

the critical interpretation and explanation of a biblical text

What is salvation history?

the events in history in which God reveals His presence and saving actions; an unfolding story of God's love

What is natural revelation?

the process by which God makes Himself known to human reason through the created world (universe)

What are the two main ways we can know God?

through the natural light of human reason and through divine revelation

Describe some basic needs of humans.

to be loved and accepted for who we are, and to love others and make a difference in their lives

What is the Vulgate?

translation of Scripture into Latin by St. Jerome, which later became the official translation of the Roman Catholic Church

Give examples of how we can know God through His creations. Include both physical/material examples and immaterial/conceptual examples.

truth, beauty, moral goodness, freedom, conscience, humans

What is the difference between a writing prophet and a non-writing prophet? Name 3 of each.

writing-wrote down their own prophecies and personal histories, writings are in the Bible writing (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos) and non-writing (Nathan, Elijah, Elisha) prophets

Why would someone who is not Paul claim to be Paul? Give two reasons.

a) sought special authority (people would read them if they thought they were from Paul) b) wanted to honor him

What does Jesus say about the Law and the prophets?

"I have not come to abolish the Law or the prophets, but to fulfill them" (Mt 5:17)

Describe the contributions Dei Verbum made to modern biblical scholarship?

1965 from Vatican II-recognized how literary devices, knowledge of cultures impact meaning of Scripture; cautioned that all texts must be read in light of the whole of salvation history; notes that our understanding of revelation may change/evolve/mature over time

How many books are in the Catholic Old Testament?

46

What were some of the main events and stories of the Old Testament? (You should have a general sense of the order of the main events chronologically.)

God creates lovingly, and the creation is good Humans are created in God's image and likeness Sin leads to painful consequences (Adam/Eve, Cain/Abel, Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel) God makes a covenant with Abraham (promises descendants as countless as the stars) His grandson, Jacob fathers 12 sons, whose descendants become the 12 Tribes of Israel Moses leads the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, inaugurates the Passover feast, then makes a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai, where he receives the 10 Commandments Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land King David unifies Israel and makes Jerusalem the capital His son, Solomon, has the Temple built The kingdom divides into Israel (north) and Judah (south) Prophets call both kingdoms to return to God and predict that God will send a Messiah in the line of David (Isaiah is the most notable of these) Assyria exiles the northern kingdom in 721 BC The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem (including the Temple) and exile Judah in 587 BC (Much of OT put together then) The Persians conquer the Babylonians and many Jews return home, where they rebuild the Temple (others remain "dispersed") The Greeks conquer the Persians in 330 BC and persecute the Jews The Romans conquer the Greeks, capture Jerusalem in 63 BC, and allow the Jews some say in ruling themselves-setting the stage for the stories of Jesus

What is divine revelation?

God makes Himself known or reveals Himself to us throughout human history

Briefly explain the concept of divine inspiration of the Bible.

God puts in the message in the Bible, not necessarily the words

What is grace?

God's life and love poured out to us-God is constantly giving grace (Himself) by His nature

What does God reveal through the Bible?

He reveals not only truth, but His very Self, most especially through Jesus

Briefly describe how the Gospels were put into writing.

How? By compiling and organizing free-floating stories, words, teachings of Jesus, and adding some of their own experiences and interpretations Evangelists were more like editors than writers of fully original material Why did they finally write it down? Passage of time; need to pass on Few original witnesses left To instruct: to respond to the needs of a particular audience in a particular location at a particular time

The fullest and most complete revelation of who God is comes through _______.

Jesus

We have often said throughout the course that the Bible is our story. Choose any story/teaching from the Bible, Old or New Testament. Summarize the story/teaching in a sentence or two, and then relate the story/teaching to your life today. What is God saying to you personally through this biblical passage?

Jesus Walking on Water-Peter's lack of faith-have more faith and be trusting

Why were the Gospel stories not written down right away?

Jesus' disciples believed the end of the world was coming

Who was the writer of each of the four Gospels? Where did each author get his/their information on Jesus?

Mark: "The Human Jesus" Who? John Mark-an associate of Peter, companion of Paul (1 Ptr, 2 Tim, Acts), possible eyewitness in the upper room and Garden of Gethsemane Luke: "The Compassionate Savior"Who? Luke, an educated gentile doctor, companion of Paul (Acts, 3 of Paul's letters)May be only non-Jewish NT writer Used the Gospel of Mark as a written source-was aware of and had access to many sources about the stories of Jesus Conducted his own thorough investigation Matthew: "The Messiah of the Jews" Who? Someone in the "Matthew tradition" Relied on Matthew's stories about Jesus John: "Jesus, the Divine Son of God" Who? A school founded by the "Beloved Disciple" (who was not necessarily John), sharing and deepening his understanding of Jesus

Identify the Christian Gospels.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Name the synoptic Gospels. What does "synoptic" mean? Why are they so similar?

Matthew, Mark, Luke: the synoptic Gospels synoptic=similar, seen together (but not identical!) Why so similar? Because Luke and Matthew likely used Mark as a source

Explain Scripture's place and importance in the life of the Church. Be familiar with all points made in the notes in this section.

The Church venerates Scripture just as she venerates the body of the Lord (Divine Revelation) The Church encourages frequent reading of the Scriptures for all its members and use in personal prayer Lectio divina: "holy/divine reading;" a meditative, prayerful approach to Scripture "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ" (St. Jerome) Scripture is an integral part of Catholic prayer life, forming part of every Mass, every other sacramental celebration, and the official daily prayer of the Church, the Liturgy of the Hours Scripture study and prayer groups using Scripture are a common part of parish life Scripture is the living Word of God; God continues to speak to us through it and can change our lives through it-if we let Him! Scripture helps us to get to know God better and reminds us how much we are loved! It is God's love letter to us!

Which book or books of the Bible would you argue is/are the most important from a Christian perspective? Defend your answer.

The Gospels because they are the central place in Scripture, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, they contain a record of Jesus' life and teachings, they lead us to accept Jesus in faith and apply His teachings to our lives

Describe four criteria early religious leaders used to set the canon.

apostolic origin, universal use and acceptance by the people, use in liturgical celebrations, consistency with other Christian and Jewish writings

Describe some of the things one might take into account when trying to do biblical exegesis.

different literary forms in the Bible, not all are meant to be taken literally; process of editing, translating, and copying involve a human element-error; continuing to discover "new" ancient texts; different senses of Scripture (literal, spiritual, allegorical, moral, anagogical)

We are created in the ______ and _________ of _____.

image and likeness of God

How does the Catholic Church differ from many Protestants regarding the sources for divine revelation?

it does not follow Sola Scriptura, it includes the interpretation of Scripture and the lived experience of the Church (tradition)

According to the Catholic Church, is the Bible historically and scientifically accurate in every detail?

it is not necessarily historically and scientifically accurate in every detail, but it's still true on a deeper level

Does someone who interprets the Bible contextually ever interpret it literally? If so, how often?

often/usually

From the perspective of the Catholic Church, what does the notion of "biblical inerrancy" mean?

the Bible is without error in communicating what God wants us to know for salvation

Give two definitions/descriptions for the Bible.

the story of God's relationship with people, told through a particular people (people of Israel), God's love letter to us

What is Tradition?

the teachings of the Church passed on and developed from generation to generation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit