Sources of Wisdom and Authority Flashcards
What is the Bible
The Bible is the holy book of Christians, it is a library of 73 books that were written by 40 different authors over a 1500 year period
What do Christians believe about the Bible
Christians believe the Bible is divinely inspired and reveals God to his creation
How many books are in the Old Testament
39 books mainly written in Hebrew.
How many books are in the New Testament
27 books mainly written in Greek.
Old Testament
These are the ancient Hebrew Scriptures, and are about the Jewish people before the birth of Christ.
It is the story of a covenant people of Israel, the people to whom God revealed his plan of salvation history through the Abrahamic covenant, the Mosaic covenant with the Ten Commandments, and through the sending of the prophets.
New Testament
These are stories and letters about the life of Christ and the early Christian community
The New Testament is the living witness of a resurrected people and the new and everlasting covenant.
What type of books are found in the Old Testament
. History
. Prophets
. Writings
What type of books are found in the New Testament
. 4 Gospels
. The Act of the Apostles
. 21 letters
What is the Catholic interpretation of the Bible
Inspired Word of God
Catholics believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, written down by human writers
The Bible is God’s message in human words and as such is influenced by the human writer’s personal beliefs and interests.
What is the Evangelical Protestant interpretation of the Bible
It is the word of God and must always be taken literally, therefore it is called a literalist Christian view.
There are no mistakes and everything in the Bible is true; it is inerrant (containing no errors) and absolute.
If the Bible seems to contradict itself, there must be a reason for this.
If the Bible seems to contradict science, scientists must be wrong.
What is the Liberal Protestant interpretation of the Bible
The Bible was written by humans; inspired like any other writers. This is sometimes called the liberal view.
The Bible contains spiritual truths and not literal truths.
The Bible helps people become closer to God by sharing human experience.
What are the divergent understandings of the authority of the Bible within Christianity
Catholics accept the teachings of Science (such as the Big Bang and evolution) because they are not literalists.
The Catechism teaches that God is the author of the Bible. In Church, after readings, the phrase ‘The Word of the Lord’ is used.
Faith in Christ and the Church is most important. Faith in the Bible comes second.
The clergy (Priests and Bishops) use the magisterium to help interpret scripture
for the people.
What is Magisterium
‘Magisterium’ signifies authority to teach the truth of salvation.
This authority rests with the Pope and his bishops, and comes from the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent at Pentecost to guide the Church.
The Pope and the magisterium are servants of the faith that has been handed down by apostolic succession from St Peter to the Pope today- this is the Sacred Tradition.
Ordinary Magisterium
These are the everyday teachings of the Church, found in the sayings and writings of bishops and Popes, e.g. in letters and homilies. It is infallible and has complete authority for Catholics
Extraordinary Magisterium
This is the infallible teaching of the Church on a special matter, it can be either :
. Conciliar
. Pontifical
Conciliar Magisterium
Through an ecumenical council. This is when the Pope calls together all the bishops of the Church to settle a matter of dispute or to explore new questions facing the Church. There have only ever been 21 of these.
Pontifical Magisterium
Through the ex cathedra declarations of the Pope.
Under certain very particular and rare conditions the Pope can declare some teachings of the Church to be infallible:
Pope Pius IX, 1854, defined the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
Pope Pius XII, 1950, defined the Assumption of Mary
What is a dogma
A doctrine defined as infallible by the extraordinary magisterium is called a dogma
The Magisterium as a source of wisdom and authority
“The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church, that is, to the Pope and to the bishops in communion with him.”(CCC100)
The statement refers to the Apostolic Tradition, i.e. the oral teachings of the apostles that were never written down. It has been handed down to today’s Church through Apostolic Succession: centuries of repetition to form traditions within the Catholic Church. Therefore, the Magisterium has supreme authority
What is the role of the Magisterium
interpret the Bible and the Apostolic Tradition for the life of Catholics in the modern world
to help Catholics respond to new situations e.g. advancements in technology and medicine like genetic engineering and IVF treatments.
Nature, history, and importance of the Second Vatican Council
Opened in October 1962 by Pope John XXIII and closed in November 1965 BY Pope Paul VI.
The Council (bishops etc) were invited by the Pope to discuss matters of faith and Church discipline
Pope John XXIII wanted to “open the windows of the Church to the Holy Spirit”
He wanted to bring the Church up to date.
What were the four key documents of the Second Vatican Council
Lumen Gentium - Nature of the Church
Gaudium et Spes - Church in the modern world
Sacrosantum Concilium - Worship and the Mass
Dei Verbum - The Word of God
Nature of the Church - Lumen Gentium
Each Christian was called to serve Christ -this meant that everyone should participate in the sacraments, attend Mass and confession.
This document suggested that non- Christians and even atheists would possibly be saved.
Church in the modern world - Gaudium et Spes
During the council (in the 1960s) there was a lot of change happening in the world at the time
The document expressed concern over morals and values with all this change and advocated following Christ as a way to achieve human dignity. The document claimed that peace and justice are necessary for all
Worship and the Mass - Sacrosanctum Concilium
The subject of this document was liturgy and worship. The mass now was to be in the vernacular (language of the people),
More active lay participation in reading parts of the Bible and in leading the bidding prayers.
More responses were said by the people, and not just the clergy
Word of God - Dei Verbum
Focused on the relationship between tradition and the Bible. It considered the Word of God and how God’s word is revealed to Catholics.
It is important to understand that the Word of God is not a book but a person, God is revealed through Jesus.
Nature and Significance of the Church as The Body of Christ
The people who make up the Church community are said to be part of Christ’s body - both the people and the Eucharist is the body.
The people who make up the Church community are said to be part of Christ’s body - both the people and the Eucharist is the body.
All in the Body of Christ are interdependent and none are superior
Nature and Significance of the Church as The People of God
People of God means those that have come to have faith in Jesus and are part of a “chosen people”.
People of God means those that have come to have faith in Jesus and are part of a “chosen people”.
The importance of the Church as the Body of Christ and the People of God for Catholics today
. Christ is still with us
. Church is carrying on the work of Christ today
. Mass is important as we share the Eucharist which means we share in the Body of Christ
The Four Marks of the Church
The four marks of the Church are stated in the Nicene Creed in 325 and again confirmed at the First Council of Constantinople in 381
What are the Four Marks of the Church
. The Church is One
. The Church is Apostolic
. The Church is Holy
. The Church is Catholic
The Church is One
God is a unity, so his Church must be one
The Church :
is based on one Lord, Jesus Christ.
has one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
is inspired by one Spirit.
has one faith
The Church is Apostolic
It was founded by the Apostles.
The bishops are the successors of the apostles who maintain and proclaim the message of Jesus.
The authority of St Peter has been passed down by the Apostolic Succession to the current Pope.
The Church is Holy
God made it, therefore it belongs to God,
Christ gave his life to make himself holy
The Church is the source of the sacraments which bring God’s grace to humanity.
The Church is Catholic
The Jewish religion was for one race (Israel)
Christianity is for the whole world.
Christians are all over the world- it is a universal movement.
Importance of The Church as One for Catholics today
Jesus did not form many different groups but one faith
Importance of The Church is Apostolic for Catholics today
The Church traces itself back to the apostles through the line of bishops and the faith that has been passed down.
Importance of The Church is Holy for Catholics today
The Church is holy, it comes from God. Catholics are guided and formed by the Church. The Church is not a human creation but a divine gift.
Importance of The Church is Catholic for Catholics today
The Church is holy, it comes from God. Catholics are guided and formed by the Church. The Church is not a human creation but a divine gift.
Protestant understanding of the Church as One
The oneness of the Church is seen as something spiritual, based on baptism and a belief in Christ
Protestant understanding of the Church as Apsotolic
In the Protestant Church, ‘Apostolic’ is about being based on the scriptures that came from the apostles.
Orthodox understanding of the Church as One
They recognise the oneness of the Church as based in the faiths as well as Christ, but differ in their approach to doctrine, viewing agreement on things like the Creeds as an essential aspect of ‘oneness’.
Orthodox understanding of the Church as Apostolic
The Orthodox, like the Catholic Church, believes their teachings are based on the teaching of the apostles and the bishops that have come to them through the same Apostolic tradition.
Mary as a Model of Discipleship
. Mary obeyed God’s plan for her, she accepted that it was God’s will.
. Mary showed complete devotion to Jesus. She loved her son and was with him right to the end
. Mary was without sin from the moment of her conception and continued to be sinless throughout her life.
. Even when she did not always understand what was happening, Mary trusted God and was supportive and faithful to Jesus.
Mary as a model of Faith and Charity
She believed the message of the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation.
She believed that Jesus was God’s Son before he performed any miracles
She trusted that God would make sure death was not the end of her Son.
She gave up her own life plan to bear God’s son
Implications of Mary as a Model of the Church today
Most Catholic Churches have statues of Mary/ side chapels known as Lady Chapels
Many titles of honour- e.g. Mother of the Lord, Blessed Virgin Mother, Theotokos (God bearer), Our Lady
Church holds Marian solemnities (feast days such as Mary, Mother of God January 1 and August 15 The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) and encourages Marian devotion e.g. the Rosary
What are Jesus’ Moral Teachings
. Love others
. Forgive
. Be a servant to all
. Work for social justice
. Abide by God’s law
Conscience
Catholics have a duty or obligation to follow their conscience.
In St Paul’s letter to Timothy he said having a clear conscience is
something to aspire to.
The Catholic Church teaches ‘The Primacy of Conscience’, this is the
idea that God’s voice lies in your soul and it is a sin not to listen to it.
Our conscience is developed by our parents and families from we are
young children, it is a voice inside us telling us right from wrong.
Magisterium
The Magisterium is the teaching body of the Church. It can help us
to make an ethical decision because it is made up of the Pope and
Bishops who use their gifts to advise us on how to live our lives.
The Magisterium gives teaching relevant for Catholics in the 21st
century. They are contained in
the Catechism for all Catholics to
access.
The Magisterium is guided by the Holy Spirit so it cannot be
wrong in its teachings.
Natural law
Natural law is the belief that all moral law can be discovered by man, it applies to all humans and can never be changed.
Thomas Aquinas taught that humans should ‘do good and avoid
evil. This is in line with our purpose as humans and is supported
by the Catholic Church.
By following Natural Law we develop 2 types of virtues, cardinal
virtues such as self-control and theological virtues such as faith,
These then further develop who we are as individuals for the
better.
Scripture
Catholics believe Scripture, or the Bible, is the inspired Word of
God and is therefore infallible, it is never wrong. This means we
can find definite answers to our ethical dilemmas.
Scripture contains stories from the life of Jesus; we can use his
life as an example for us to follow
Scripture is unchanging; it remains a constant in our world
which means we can trust its guidance.
