2.1: Understanding Sacred Scripture

Question 1

Divine Inspiration

Answer 1

Divine assistance the Holy Spirit gave the authors of the Books of the Bible so the authors could write in human words the message of salvation God wanted to communicate

Question 2

Biblical Inerrancy

Answer 2

The doctrine that the books of the scriptures are free from error regarding the truth God wishes to reveal through Scripture for the sake of our salvation

Question 3

Oral Tradition

Answer 3

The handing on of the message of God’s saving plan through words and deeds

Question 4

Written Tradition

Answer 4

The synthesis in written form of the message of salvation that has been passed down in the oral tradition, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

Question 5

Canon

Answer 5

Collection of Books of the Bible that the church recognizes as the inspired word of God

Question 6

Apostolic Origin

Answer 6

Book of the Bible was based on the preaching and teaching of the Apostles and their closest companions

Question 7

Community Acceptance

Answer 7

Book of the Bible was accepted and received by all major Christian communities in the Mediterranean world

Question 8

Use in Early Worship

Answer 8

Book of the Bible was used in mass

Question 9

Consistency

Answer 9

Book of the Bible’s message was consistent with other Christian and Jewish writings

Question 10

Latin Vulgate

Answer 10

St. Jerome’s translation of the Bible into Latin

Question 11

Who is the ultimate author of Sacred Scripture?

Answer 11

God himself

Question 12

Were the human authors of the Bible only human word processors who wrote down the words the Holy Spirit dictated them?

Answer 12

No, the authors kept full use of their human knowledge and creativity

Question 13

Of what is it a sign that, in the Scriptures, God uses human language, words, and symbols as vehicles of his saving grace?

Answer 13

God’s tremendous respect for us

Question 14

What must we study in order to understand what the biblical authors intended to communicate in the Bible? Why must we study these things?

Answer 14

The conditions of their time, and the modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating then current because culture and time affect the Bible’s words

Question 15

What are three basic forms of communication? What must human beings have before they can write or speak about anything?

Answer 15

Nonverbal actions, the spoken word, and the written word. Humans must have an experience

Question 16

Why did the people in both Old and New Testament times develop written tradition?

Answer 16

Because they wanted to preserve God’s message of salvation for later generations

Question 17

How long were many biblical books written after the events they describe happened?

Answer 17

Years, even centuries later

Question 18

Most of the books of the Bible do not appear in what order?

Answer 18

In the order they were written

Question 19

Regarding the Bible, what should we pay attention to?

Answer 19

The overarching truth and cohesive picture of our compassionate God woven through the words of the Sacred Scripture

Question 20

What do the Sacred Scriptures lay?

Answer 20

The foundation for the beliefs, practices, and customs of the Catholic faith

Question 21

What were the original languages of the Bible?

Answer 21

Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek

Question 22

Even though there is a diversity of biblical translations, what stays the same?

Answer 22

The truths of Divine Relation

Question 23

Which translation of the Old Testament was used for many centuries in the Early Church?

Answer 23

Greek, known as the Septuagint

Question 24

What are the two purposes of Bible translation?

Answer 24

To stay as faithful as possible to the original for accuracy, and to use contemporary words and phrases for easier understanding

Question 25

What are the four Catholic biblical translations widely used in modern English today?

Answer 25

New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Bible