Chapter 3

Question 1

“Third- and fourth-century heresy formulated by Arius. This heresy denied Jesus’ divinity, claiming that he was not equal to the Father but that instead he was only an exceptional creature, who was raised to the level of “Son of God” because of his heroic fidelity to the Father’s will and his great holiness.

Answer 1

Arianism

Question 2

“Outstanding writers of the early church who had the following characteristics: orthodoxy of doctrine; explicit recognition by the church; holiness; and antiquity (that is, lived in the first few centuries).

Answer 2

Church Fathers

Question 3

“A Latin translation of the Greek homoousios, meaning “one and the same essence.” The three Persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—share the same divine nature.

Answer 3

Consubstantial

Question 4

Of, or pertaining to, God

Answer 4

Divine

Question 5

From the Greek for “to seem” or “to appear.” This particular Gnostic heresy maintained that Jesus Christ was a phantom or angel, merely appearing to be man.

Answer 5

Docetism

Question 6

A Hebrew name for the “all-high God.”

ELOHIM

Answer 6

El Elyon

Question 7

The Hebrew word for “God the Creator.”

Answer 7

Elohim

Question 8

A Hebrew word for God meaning “almighty God.”

Answer 8

El Shaddai

Question 9

From the Greek for “knowledge.” The principal tenet of several related heresies consists in salvation being achieved through secret knowledge.

Answer 9

Gnosticism

Question 10

The obstinate denial or obstinate doubt by a baptized person of some truth that must be believed with divine faith.

Answer 10

Heresy

Question 11

Close and present, accessible, easy to grasp.

Answer 11

Immanent

Question 12

“A Hebrew name for God, meaning “Lord.”

Answer 12

Adonai

Question 13

From the Latin for “to make flesh”; the mystery of the hypostatic union of the divine and human natures in the one divine Person, the Word, Jesus Christ. To bring about man’s salvation, the Son of God was made flesh (cf. Jn 1:14) and became truly man.

Answer 13

Incarnation

Question 14

Making no mistakes or errors.

Answer 14

Inerrant

Question 15

The religion of the Jews

Answer 15

Judaism

Question 16

From the Greek for “single” and “nature.” This heresy claims that there is only one, divine nature in Christ and that any human nature he may have had was incorporated into his divine nature. It was condemned by both the Fourth Ecumenical Council (Chalcedon) in 451 and the Fifth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople II) in 553.

Answer 16

Monophysitism

Question 17

The belief in only one God, the Creator of the universe. A person who believes in one God is a monotheist. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic religions.

Answer 17

Monotheism

Question 18

A divinely revealed truth the very possibility of which cannot be rationally conceived before it is revealed and, after revelation, the inner essence of which cannot be fully understood by the finite mind

Answer 18

Mystery

Question 19

The essence of a being, considered as the principle of activity and defining its particular characteristics.

Answer 19

Nature

Question 20

Formulated by Nestorius in the fourth century, this heresy rightly claimed Christ was both human and divine but wrongly claimed he was neither fully human nor fully divine. This was condemned by the Third Ecumenical Council (Ephesus) in 431.

Answer 20

Nestorianism

Question 21

All-good, an attribute of God.

Answer 21

Omnibenevolent

Question 22

All-powerful, an attribute of God.

Answer 22

Omnipotent

Question 23

Present everywhere, an attribute of God.

Answer 23

Omnipresent

Question 24

All-knowing, an attribute of God

Answer 24

Omniscient

Question 25

A name for the Holy Spirit; from the Greek for “called to one’s aid” in the sense of consoler, advocate, and intercessor.

Answer 25

Paraclete

Question 26

In the philosophical sense, an individual substance of a rational nature, complete in itself, incommunicable, and possessing responsibilities and rights as well as the essential elements of distinctiveness, uniqueness, intelligence, and will.

Answer 26

Person

Question 27

A belief in more than one god. A person who holds such a belief is a polythei

Answer 27

Polytheism

Question 28

A traditional Jewish prayer that declares faith in one God. Jews are obligated to recite it several times a day. It begins, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”

Answer 28

Shema

Question 29

That which is positively immaterial, having no dependence on matter for its existence or activities. God is uncreated pure spirit; angels are created pure spirit; human souls are created spirits. Spirits have the power to know and to love.

Answer 29

Spirit

Question 30

The study of God and Divine Revelation.

Answer 30

Theology

Question 31

Beyond the limits of ordinary experience to the degree of incomprehensibility.

Answer 31

Transcedent

Question 32

The mystery of one God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Answer 32

Trinity