Incarnation Flashcards
Incarnation
The Christian belief that God came to Earth in human form (in the flesh) as Jesus.
Key ideas of Incarnation
Jesus was fully human and fully God
God loves humans so much he was willing to share in humanity fully
Jesus experienced the stresses of being human- good,bad,hunger,fear,loss,suffering
The Annunciation (Luke interpretation)
God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to tell Mary that she would give birth to a son named Jesus who would be the son of God.
The Annunciation (Matthew Interpretation)
When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant he planned to divorce her quietly however an Angel visited him in a dream and told him to keep Mary as his wife .
What are the three titles of Jesus?
Son of Man
Son of God
Word of God
Reason for the title of Son of Man
Described himself as this to emphasise his human side
Bible evidence for Son of Man
Mark 8:31 ‘Jesus began to teach that the son of man must undergo great suffering’
Reason for the title of Son of God
Jesus emphasised his divine side by using this title
Bible evidence for Son of God
In Mark 14 when jesus was asked if he was the Son of God he replied ‘ I am’
Reason for the title of Word of God
Humans can get to know God through Jesus. God the father expresses himself through Jesus.
Bible Evidence for Word of God
John 1:1-4 ‘ In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.
What four symbols help us to understand the incarnation?
Icthus
Alpha
Omega
Chi Rho
Similarities in the Annunciation interpretations
Mary was a virgin
An angel announced Jesus’ birth
Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
Differences in Annunciation interpretations
The Angel appears to Mary (in luke) and to Joseph (in Matthew)
For Mary the angle appears in person and for Joseph the angel appears in a dream
Incarnation and Magisterium
When the focus is too much on Jesus’ humanity it may suggest that Jesus wasn’t really God and when the focus is too much on Jesus’ divinity it may suggest that Jesus only appeared to be human.
Which two documents aim tp the create the right balance of understanding the incarnation?
Dei Verbum (second Vatican council)
Verbum Domini (letter from Pope Benedict)
Quote from Verbum Domini (Pope Benedict)
’ The eternal word became small enough to fit into a manger… so that the word could be grasped by us’.
Meaning the Word (Jesus) limited himself to human form so humans could understand God.
St Irenaeus writings
Jesus is the meeting point between heaven and Earth (God and Humans).
People can get to know God through Jesus, because he displays the qualities of God
What was the Icthus symbol used as?
A declaration of faith (used by early Christians)
What are the Alpha and Omega symbols used to show?
As they are the first (Alpha) and Last (Omega) letters of the greek alphabet they show that God is involved in everything from beginning to end.
What were the Chi-Rho symbols used to show?
The first two letters of the Greek word for christ.
Reminder of Jesus’ death and that he was sent by God to save humans
Name 3 statues of Jesus
Christ the redeemer
Sacred Heart
Crucifix
What does Christ the redeemer show?
God’s continuous love for all
Jesus’ love and obedience in death
What does Sacred Heart show?
Flames from the heart symbolise Jesus’ burning love for all
Jesus shows his peace and love
What does the crucifix show?
Through his death Jesus freed us from sin and death
The love of God was poured out in Jesus
Catholic attitudes to religious art
Statues of Jesus help us focus on his qualities, his life and helps us pray
Jesus was fully human
Jesus can be shown as any ethnicity
Contrasting views to religious art
It goes against the commandment- do not worship idols
People may think the statue is being worshipped
We are unable to portray an infinite God
The sermon on the Mount
A talk from Jesus which gives a set of rules and values to apply to life.
‘I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it’ (make it more perfect)
Differences between Moses and Jesus’ teachings
Do not commit adultery - Even Looking lustfully at a person is wrong
Do not commit murder - Do not get angry at someone
An eye for an eye- do not take revenge
The Beatitudes
Jesus blesses certain attitudes and says how people will be rewarded ( Sermon on the Mount)
Examples of the blessed
The poor in Spirit - they will go to heaven
The peacemakers - for they will be called children of God
The merciful- for they will receive mercy
What do the sheep and goats represent?
Sheep (heaven )
Goats (hell)
What did the sheep do?
Fed the hungry
Gave drink to the thirsty
Welcomed strangers
Visisted the sick
Clothed the naked
Visited those in prison
What did the Goat do?
Did not do any of the good things the sheep did
e.g Did Not feed the hungry
What is grace?
God’s love
It gives us strength to do what God wants and brings us closer to God
What is a sacrament?
A moment of grace when God’s love is received fully
Sacrament ( Catholic Church)
“An outward sign of an inward grace”
What are the seven sacraments?
Communion (Eucharist)
Reconciliation
Marriage
Baptism
Ordination
Confirmation
Sacrament of the sick
What do the Sacraments do for God?
Make God present for all time
The sacramental nature of reality
The world, and everything in it, is created by
God, so is a sign of God’s love
• So, Catholics call ‘reality’ sacramental
Imago dei
Humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27
Catholic teachings on abortion in terms of imago dei
So, all life is sacred and should be protected because
it comes from God
• Catholics believe life begins at conception and that the whole person is present from the moment the baby is conceived.
“As soon as I heard your greeting,
the child in my womb leaped for joy”
(Elizabeth in Luke 1:44)
Contrasting views on abortion
It is the womans body
The womans life may be at risk
The child may have serious birth defects
The parent may not be able to look after the child
The woman may be a victim of rape
Teachings that show that Jesus is the incarnate son
Mark 8:31 ‘ Jesus began to teach that the son of man must undergo great suffering’
Timothy 3:16 ‘ Jesus appeared in the flesh… and was taken up in glory’
