Scripture Unit 1 Test Flashcards
Fundamentalist
Someone who believes in traditional forms of a religion, or believes that what is written in a holy book, such as the Christian Bible, is completely true.
a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion.
- taking it literally
Contextualist
- Contextualism takes the context into account.
- draw out true meaning
- Contextualization is the process of assigning meaning as a means of interpreting the environment within which a text or action is executed.
- Interpretation of the Bible that takes into account the various contexts for understanding including the senses of Scripture, literary forms, historical situations, cultural backgrounds, unity of whole of Scriptures, Tradition, and the analogy of faith.
Exegesis
- Critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture.
- People who draw the true meaning of a passage to understand what the author is writing
- Think about how it applies to our daily lives
- To think whether or not the test is true or false
Inerrant
Without error or fault. Biblical inerrancy is the belief that the Bible “is without error or fault in all its teaching”.
Incapable of being wrong in its religious message
Euangelion
- A reward for bringing of good news
- Good news = gospel
Synoptic
- Forming a general summary
- Means to “see together”
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called “Synoptic Gospels” because they can be “seen together.” What that actually means is that these gospels contain many of the same stories, and that those stories are sometimes even presented in the same sequence within each of the three different synoptic gospels.
Quelle
- A material which represents an unidentified written collection of sayings from Jesus
- German word for source
Parable
- Short story with a moral lesson
- Lessons with comparisons between good and bad, desired vs. undesired behavior
- Told by Jesus in the Gospels
Simile
- A comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”
Abba
- Jesus saw God as the father so Abba (papa or daddy) referred to God as this
- Term for father in the Aramaic language
- Seen as inappropriate by the Jews
Patriarch
- A patriarch is a male leader.
- Refer to a social system where men control a disproportionately large share of social, economic, political and religious power, and inheritance usually passes down the male line.
- Any of those biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob (founding fathers)
Covenant
An agreement between God and his people, in which God makes promises to his people and, usually, requires certain conduct from them.
Explain Old Testament
The Old Testament focuses primarily on the history of Israel and God’s law.
- Largest book
Explain New Testament (New Covenant)
- documents how the world is saved through what Jesus did for his people.
- first book are the gospels
- Main Focus: the life, teachings, and works of Jesus Christ.
- 27 books: the 4 Gospels, the Historical Book(acts of the apostles, continuation of Luke and spreads the good news), the Letters(epistles), and the Book of Vision(revelation or apocalypse).
What did Christians believe about Jesus and see in the New Testament?
- Christians believe that Jesus was divine and that his propitiatory death and resurrection bring salvation to all humankind.
- Christians see in the New Testament the fulfillment of the promise of the Old Testament.
- Interprets the new covenant, represented in the life and death of Jesus, between God and the followers of Christ, the promised Messiah.
Why were both testaments divided?
- The Old Testament focuses primarily on the history of Israel and God’s law, whereas Jesus is the main focus of the New Testament.
- Because the end of history took place in the middle of history, dividing all of human time into two basic eras.
- The structure of the Bible reflects this reality. - The Old Testament is the book about the first era (BC). The New Testament is the book about the second era (CE).
Population and land area of the world Jesus lived in
- Canaan (Israel in Jesus time, Palestine our time) <– considered promised land
- 500,000 to 600,000 people
- Jerusalem was home to many people and had major feasts
Entertainment of people
Children played hopscotch and with many different toys. Older children played board games like checkers.
Employment and jobs available (what did Jesus do)
- People cared for the land and animals commonly. Abraham and Sarah did this.
- Some people became skilled workers or artisans (worked on crafts at home) ← children were taught these skills as these people were highly respected
- This job became professional, into builders, stonecutters, carpenters (Joseph was one), etc.
- Fisherman was well respected and have trust in God.
- Jesus: grew up helping his father, Joseph, with carpentry
- Crafts like baking were done on a daily basis and some were made into businesses
- Tradesmen were recognizable through symbols like sticking wood chips behind ears, for carpentry, etc. On Sabbath day, they were left home.
- Unskilled workers were poor and did difficult jobs like mining, etc.
How did people live? How were the homes like?
- smallest rooms for the poor with one larger multipurpose room and a smaller room for animals.
-In hill regions, houses were built in caves
-Animals at night were kept inside
-Little privacy in homes as several generations lived in one house
-Kitchens didn’t exist and cooking was done outside
-The furniture was a chest for storage and a basket
-People slept on cotton mattresses with wood or stones as pillows
-Two meals a day with bread being the common meal
-Dinners had vegetables, stew (barely = poor)(wheat = rich), fruit, eggs
How were people treated in His time?
- Men were the heads of the family and women had fewer rights ← Jesus wanted to change this
- Girls and boys married at 12 or 14 ← short life expectancy that’s why
- Jewish Priests were selected due to respectability (meaning something different than today’s ← wealth). Common people hated them because of the treatment of those less wealthy than them
- Tax collecters collected 40% of family earnings. People didn’t like the tax collectors keeping some of the money
- The sick weren’t helped as people stayed away from them. Sickness was seen as a punishment by God. Lepers placed in colonies away from society
- Girls were less desirable and were excluded and looked down upon
How did Jesus deal with outsiders?
- Jesus treated with respect and his actions and words were based on a person’s behavior, not a person’s status
- Made the rejected people the centre of his message
- Talked to women and showed compassion to the sick
Who were the synoptic gospels? Who wasn’t and why?
- Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke (similar gospels)
- John’s gospel stands out as it has different stories not found in the other gospels: The story plot is different as well, not starting with the baptism of Jesus, and following different events that are not discussed in the other gospels
- But each gospel differed from one another because of the time of writing, audience, and purpose
- Gives a unique image of Jesus
What are the gospels?
- The primary source of information about Jesus
- Considered editors of the Gospels: included stories about Jesus in community worship, words of Jesus applied in life
- Gospels use each other’s work but add additional pieces
- The Gospels provided a comprehensive portrayal of Jesus’ life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection, presenting a cohesive narrative that affirmed the significance of Jesus within the Christian faith.
Explain Matthew Gospel
- The Teaching Messiah
- Audience: Jewish people
- Focus: Introduces the infancy by presenting Jospeh’s family tree. Uses Joseph to trace Jesus’s roots back to Abraham (father of Judaism). Focuses on the Virgin Mary story by giving birth to Jesus.
- Prove: Jesus is the New Moses as his family tree suggests is a descendant of Moses
- Themes: Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus was accepted by the Gentiles but rejected by Jews (Jesus’s people), 3 wise men see Jesus first meaning that Jews will reject him
- PURPOSE: to show that Jesus was and is indeed the King, Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. Jesus’ life was a fulfillment of the promise made by God to Israel
- Written in Syria, 70-80 CE
Explain Luke Gospel
- The Compassionate Messiah
- Audience: Gentiles (non-Jewish people who didn’t know the true meaning of Jesus or attach themselves to God)
- Discusses Jesus’s birth in more detail than Matthew. Pregnancy is seen from Mary’s p.o.v. Tells of the origins, birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
- Traces back to Adam (Jesus Ancestor) to show he was first son of God.
- Purpose: Written for poor and insignificant people in society ← includes the shepherds
Includes that the poor will be the first to recognize and respond to Jesus. Luke’s Gospel is a call to everyone around the world, whatever our social or moral status, to abandon our futile methods of self-salvation and leave all to follow Christ, the great Friend of sinners - Motivation: Luke’s motivation for the Gentile mission was the desire to bring Christ to people believed to be without him.
- Writes softly
- Written in 75 CE Greece
- Portrayed Jesus as a real human being
Explain Mark’s Gospel
- The Suffering Messiah
- Earliest of Gospel writers
- Companion of St. Paul
- 65-70 AD Roman Empire
- Audience: persecuted Romans <– wrote about Jesus suffering so Romans can relate to him
- Jesus perceived as mysterious, difficult to find true identity
- Mark needed to make an account on His life as there was rapid spread of Christanity
- Message: Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God, whose death and resurrection paid the penalty for our sins and achieved victory over Satan, sin, and death
- Focus: the actions of Jesus, that he was a servant, that he performed miracles, and that he was crucified and resurrected.
- The Gospel offers hope to persecuted Christians in Rome and reminds them of the promises of God to his people.
Explain John’s Gospel
- The Divine Messiah
- Written by members of a community founded by disciples
- 90-100 CE, Turkey
- Audience: everyone, writing both to call unbelievers to faith in Jesus and to provide confidence for those believers who are struggling in their faith
- To show Jesus is in control of everything
- Perceived as noble, majestic, divine Jesus
- Purpose: people might come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God’s saving act for humanity.
- Written was to evangelize both Gentiles and Jews. The second reason was to strengthen the faith of Christians in his local community and Christians everywhere.
What are the 3 religious truths?
- A savior was born (divine and becomes human)
- God has a plan for our liberation (it has been foretold)
- These stories tell us how Jesus was understood by his earliest followers
- Sums up nativity story
Explain the Nativity Story
- A story that tells the conception and birth of Jesus Christ.
- Both Luke and Matthew write about the Nativity Story
Luke <– more detailed
- Angel Gaberial goes to virgin Mary who is engaged to Joseph and tells her that she is pregnant from the Holy Spirit and in favor of God and that she is to call him Jesus
-Mary is confused but accepts this
-Joseph takes her as his wife either way
-Elizabeth is too old to have a baby ← Mary’s cousin, but she has a baby, John
-Zecariah is mute for entire preganancy
-There is a massive census by King Herod to find the strong man and every family has to go to their birthplace
-Jesus was born in Bethlehem
-Shephards also appear
-We do not hear about Jesus until he is about 30 years old
- Temple scene to purify Mary
Matthew ← Joseph P.O.V.
-Joseph was afraid to engage Mary
-But an angel came to his dream and told him not to be afraid
-So Joseph takes her hand
-Magi: 3 wise men give gifts to Jesus
-Joseph is warned something bad will happen so they move the Egypt
Similarities and Differences between Luke and Matthew
SIMILARITIES
-Matthew and Luke write about Jesus’ birth and early life
-Both agree Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit
-He is the son of David and the son of God
-Mention Mary was engaged to Joseph
-They return to Nazareth
-Merged to make the understanding of Christmas
-Stress that Jesus’ true identity is only known through God’s revelation (identity is shown by an angel)
-Once revealed the identity of who Jesus is, it must be shared quickly as it shouldn’t be a secret
DIFFERENCES
-Matthew records the magi, who are not in Luke, but Luke includes the shepherds, who are absent from Matthew.
-Matthew also doesn’t mention that Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth before being in Bethlehem.
-Luke has no record of the slaughter of the children in Bethlehem or of the flight to Egypt
Similarities and Difference between Jewish and Christian view of the Messiah
SIMILARITIES
- Both Jews and Christians believe in a Messiah and that God was King and creator of everything but Jews believed Jesus was not their Messiah
DIFFERENCES
JEWS
-Jews believe that God’s kingdom is not yet fully realized because evil and pain are still in this world.
-Jews are still waiting for the Messiah to come
-Jews believe the Kingdom of God would establish Isreal as the King of all nations
-They believed the Kingdom would begin with a military takeover and forcing Romans to leave ← the Messiah was expected to be a military leader and warrior (Gospels always first thought this)
-Jesus didn’t teach this and rejected political power so Jews dont see him as the Messiah
-Jesus understood the kingdom as not a place but a new relationship
-Jesus saw God as a father using “Abba” but Jews didn’t agree with this as they called God as Yahweh
CHRISTIANS
- Believe the Messiah has come
-Many Christians believe that the Messiah was sent by God to save humanity. The terms Messiah and Christ both mean ‘anointed one. ‘ Throughout the New Testament, there is evidence of Jesus as the chosen one through his resurrection from the dead and the miracles he performed.
-Jesus saw the Kingdom of God as a rule of God’s love for other hearts of people and a new social order based on people’s unconditional love for one another
-This kingdom was fully revealed for the Christians but it will be fully recognized to everyone when all of us choose to live compassionate and forgiving lives
What are the 4 themes of Parables?
Descriptions of the King
Kingdom Responses
Relationships with Neighbours
The fulfillment of the kingdom
What is the Kingdom of God?
- Not a place, but a relationship
-The rule of God’s love other hearts of people and a new social order based on people’s unconditional love of one another - Established through Jesus
- Present of Christains
- Will be fully recognized on earth only if people choose to live compassionate, forgiving lives
What is the theme Descriptions of the King?
Focus on God’s nature, qualities, attitudes toward people
What is the theme Kingdom Responses?
Emphasize how we should act if we hope to enter the kingdom
What is the theme of Relationships with Neighbours?
Address people’s relationships with one another and the outside world
What is the theme of The fulfillment of the kingdom?
Refer to the future coming of God’s kingdom in its eternity
What are the parables we studied and their themes?
- The Good Samaritan ← relationships with neighbours
- The Great Feast ← the fulfillment of the kingdom
- Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector ← Kingdom of responses
Which groups in society were outcasts in Jesus’ time? How were they viewed? How were they treated?
Outcasts: Gentiles, Samaritans people with sickness, lepers, people who didn’t believe in the main religion, tax collectors, people that had diseases, and people that were thought to be unclean.
SAMARITANS
- The Samaritans in the Bible were considered unclean by the Jews because of their different religious beliefs and practice
GENTILES
- The Gentiles were the people who knew the least about the true God. They were the least reached. The Samaritans knew something of the Law but were not accepted as genuine worshippers of the God of Israel. Many of the Jewish people of the time viewed the Gentiles with disdain, labeling them as unclean and sinful people.
TAX COLLECTORS
- They were Jews who worked for the Romans, so this made them traitors. People resented paying taxes to the foreigners who ruled over them. Tax collectors were not paid an actual wage by the Romans, they were expected to take extra money and keep some for themselves.
JESUS REACTION
- Jesus cared deeply about the poor and the downtrodden, demonstrating his compassion in tangible ways: giving sight to the blind, touching the leper, healing the sick. But he also preached the good news of God’s love and salvation. Being on Jesus’ side means doing it all.
What are the 3 stages of Gospel formation in order?
Oral, Written and Edited
Explain the Oral Stage
- Info was passed by mouth all around the Roman Empire
- Oral traditions included different types of stories about Jesus
- During Jesus lifetime, primary way of communication was oral
- Jesus communicated his teachings and parables through words and this was passed down orally
- This oral tradition of passing down information preserved the stories and saying of Jesus.
- The oral speech laid the foundation for the recording of the Gospels
- The apostles and eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry played a crucial role in the oral tradition. They were the primary sources of the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings. Their firsthand experiences and encounters with Jesus formed the basis of the oral tradition, as they shared their testimonies and experiences with others, contributing to the preservation of the Gospel message.
- Oral tradition: It reflected the vibrant and interactive nature of the early Christian faith, as the stories and teachings of Jesus were communicated in diverse cultural and linguistic contexts, resonating with different audiences.
Explain the written stage
- The transition to a written form became necessary to ensure the preservation and dissemination of the Gospel message. This transition marked the beginning of the next stage in the formation of the Gospels, as the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings were documented in written texts, leading to the composition of the Gospels as we know them today.
- Original witnesses began to die off
- the recording of the Gospel narratives in written form, allowing for greater accessibility and longevity of the Gospel message as early Christain communities expanded
- The writing of the Gospels involved the contributions of individuals who sought to compile and document the oral traditions and eyewitness testimonies of Jesus’ ministry. The authors of the Gospels, traditionally attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, drew upon various sources, including the oral traditions, written collections of Jesus’ sayings and deeds, and their own experiences within the Christian community
- Each Gospel was written with a specific purpose and audience in mind. The authors tailored their accounts to address the needs, concerns, and theological perspectives of the communities for which they were intended
Explain the edited stage
- Compilation of Gospel manuscripts
- As the early Christian community continued to grow and spread, the need for standardized and authoritative collections of the Gospels became increasingly important.
- The compilation process also involved efforts to harmonize and synthesize the diverse Gospel traditions. While each Gospel presented a unique perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus, there was a desire to create a cohesive and unified narrative that reflected the core beliefs and doctrines of the Christian faith.
- The Cannon creates authorized books to keep Jesus teachings clear and not false
- Gospels, Paul’s Letters, Acts, Jude, John and Revelation
How did Jesus use parables to reveal the Kingdom of God to people?
- Parables were used as a common teaching to connect Jesus’ points and ideas with everyday experiences so that his teachings were clear, powerful, and easy to remember.
- provide a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like.
- They compare something people don’t know (the kingdom of God) with something that they know (everyday experiences)
- Parables include a problem and resolutions that overturn expectations to have the listeners see things in a new way.
- It is about God and his unexpected way of how he takes care of things
- Jesus tells of how the mustard seed is small, but when it grows, it becomes exponentially larger than its small nature. In the same way, the Kingdom of Heaven will start out small here on earth, but it too will grow far bigger than its small starting size.
- The declaration of the kingdom of God often came through the parables of Jesus that illustrated what it was and how it worked.
Why is it important to understand the time and place that Jesus was living in?
-Gives a better understanding of his stories and life because nowadays we wouldn’t understand why he was crucified
-It makes us understand the importance of Jesus’ birthplace, Bethlehem, and the time period to know why Jesus was considered the Messiah because he showed compassion to all those insignificant
-It’s important for us to realize that, like Jesus, we are all important to God
-Like Jesus, we must take action to serve God
-Learning about his life allows us to see the ways he served God and how we can do that too in our lives
-Jesus did things that most people wouldn’t have thought he would do, this changed stereotypes around insignificant people and allows us to be a part of the Kingdom of God
Do the Catholics interpret the Bible contextually or literally?
- Contextually
- Looking for a deeper message in the words rather than taking in what it literally says
