Theme 2 - Section D

Question 1

What is Absolution?

Answer 1

Declaration by a priest that a person’s sins have been forgiven

Absolution is a key concept in the sacramental system of the Catholic Church.

Question 2

Who is Martin Luther?

Answer 2

Founder of the Protestant Reformation in Europe

Luther’s actions and writings sparked significant changes in religious thought and practice.

Question 3

What is Salvation?

Answer 3

Deliverance from God’s judgement of Sin

Salvation is a central theme in Christian theology.

Question 4

Define Justification.

Answer 4

Being made righteous in the sight of God

Justification is a theological term that describes the act of God declaring a sinner righteous.

Question 5

How does the Roman Catholic Church view Justification?

Answer 5

Linked to baptism and penance

The process begins with baptism, which removes original sin, and continues through confession and penance.

Question 6

What is Purgatory?

Answer 6

A state where Christians spend time to complete penance if they die without adequate penance for sins

Purgatory is seen as a temporary state of purification.

Question 7

What was Luther’s view on justification?

Answer 7

Justification was entirely the gift of God; sinners saved by faith alone

Luther emphasized that salvation comes through faith in God’s promise, not through works.

Question 8

What did Luther preach against?

Answer 8

The abuse of indulgences

Luther’s opposition to indulgences was a major factor in the start of the Protestant Reformation.

Question 9

What was the Council of Trent’s position on righteousness?

Answer 9

God does not make people righteous; they become righteous

The Council emphasized the necessity of human cooperation with divine grace.

Question 10

What are the two phases of Justification according to the Council of Trent?

Answer 10

Initial justification through grace; increased by baptism, Eucharist, and penance

This reflects the Catholic understanding of a process involving both faith and works.

Question 11

True or False: Neither faith nor works merit justification according to the Council of Trent.

Answer 11

True

The Council asserted that while grace initiates justification, works are necessary for salvation.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: ‘We are justified by _______.’

Answer 12

[faith]

This quote is from Romans 5:1, highlighting the importance of faith in justification.

Question 13

Fill in the blank: ‘By grace you have been saved through _______.’

Answer 13

[faith]

This quote from Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God.

Question 14

What does Luther say about righteous deeds?

Answer 14

‘We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds.’

This reflects Luther’s belief in the transformative power of faith.

Question 15

What is Canon XIV of the Council of Trent’s stance on justification?

Answer 15

If anyone says that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified, let him be anathema

This statement highlights the Council’s emphasis on faith and the communal aspect of salvation.

Question 16

What is the Protestant criticism of the Council of Trent regarding salvation?

Answer 16

Salvation inevitably produces good works

This view emphasizes that true faith will result in a life characterized by good deeds.

Question 17

What modern view did E.P. Sanders present about Judaism?

Answer 17

Judaism was not simply a salvation by works religion

Sanders introduced the concept of covenantal nomism to explain Jewish beliefs.

Question 18

What is covenantal nomism according to E.P. Sanders?

Answer 18

A pattern where God instigated a covenant of grace with Jews, maintained by obeying God’s commandments

This concept suggests that the covenant status was a gift from God.

Question 19

How did Jews enter and maintain their covenant according to Sanders?

Answer 19

Entered by grace and stayed by works

This implies that grace initiated the relationship, while obedience sustained it.

Question 20

What was Paul’s perspective on justification?

Answer 20

Justification comes through the cross of Jesus and is maintained by responding in gratitude to God’s grace

Paul emphasized that salvation is a gift, not earned by human efforts.

Question 21

How do Christians enter the new covenant according to the text?

Answer 21

By baptism and must thereafter be made righteous by faith

This highlights the importance of faith in the Christian journey after baptism.

Question 22

What criticism is leveled against Sanders’ use of sources?

Answer 22

Uses non-biblical, rabbinic sources to override biblical teaching

Critics argue that this approach can distort the original biblical message.

Question 23

What evidence does Sanders allegedly overlook in his arguments?

Answer 23

Contradictory evidence from rabbinic literature of Paul’s time regarding righteousness by works

This suggests that there were beliefs in righteousness through works during that period.

Question 24

What issue does Sanders fail to address according to critics?

Answer 24

The problem of self-righteousness

Critics argue that Sanders’ framework does not sufficiently address this moral concern.

Question 25

Fill in the blank: “Christ came to provide a new _______ for those who participate in his death and resurrection.”

Answer 25

[Lordship]

This quote highlights the transformative aspect of faith in Christ.

Question 26

Fill in the blank: “Briefly put, covenantal nomism is the view that one’s place in God’s plan is established on the basis of the _______ and that the covenant requires as the proper response of man his obedience to its commandments.”

Answer 26

[covenant]

This definition encapsulates the core idea of covenantal nomism as presented by Sanders.