Brown, Chapter 4

Question 0

Apocalypse

Answer 0

A type of sacred literature characterized by symbolic imagery pointing to the expectation that the powers of evil will be destroyed and the righteous raised to a new life in justice. It is also an alternate name for the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse of St. John).

Question 1

Analogy of Faith

Answer 1

Because God is Truth, there is an absolute unity and coherence of truths contained in the various books of the Bible. These can never be contradictory, but rather illustrate and shed light on one another and the complete plan of Revelation.

Question 2

Bible

Answer 2

Sacred Scripture. The books which contain the truth of God’s Revelation and were composed by human authors inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible contains both the forty-six books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament.

Question 3

Canon

Answer 3

Greek and Latin for “rule.” A statute promulgated to assist in practicing the Faith or governing the Church fairly and consistently. In another sense, canon refers to the Church’s complete list of inspired books of the Bible.

Question 4

Deuterocanonical

Answer 4

Those parts of the Old Testament that were removed from the Jewish or Hebrew canon of Scripture, but which appear in the Septuagint (the Greek translation) used by the early Christians.

Question 5

Deuteronomistic

Answer 5

One of the supposed original sources of the Pentateuch, particularly the Book of Deuteronomy, written around the seventh century BC.

Question 6

Elohist

Answer 6

One of the supposed original sources of the Pentateuch, reflecting the perspective of Jews in the northern kingdom of Israel around the eighth or ninth century BC.

Question 7

Epistle

Answer 7

A letter addressed to a particular person or people. Much of the New Testament consists of epistles written to individuals, to congregations, or to the Church as a whole.