Source criticism

determines which source/sources the gospel/ other new testament writers used to compose their works

Historical criticism

attempts to discover what evangelists really want to say with historical context; determines probability of gospels being traced to Jesus

Form criticism

helps you read gospels intelligently (reading for the messages)

focuses on evangelists as editors (how and why they arranged their sources the way they did

Textual criticism

compares minor changes & mistakes the copyists made down through the centuries to make translations accurate

Salvation history

the story of Gods saving activity in human history

Sacred tradition

the living transmission of the message of the gospel in the church

Dogma

a central truth of revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe

Magisterium

the official teaching authority of the church that resides in the pope (the successor of Peter) & the bishops in communion with him

Incarnation

a core catholic teaching that the son of god took on human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ

Gospel

literally "good news." refers to 1) good news preached by Jesus 2) the good news of salvation won for us in the person of jesus Christ & proclaimed by the church 3) 4 written records of good news- the gospels of Matthew mark Luke and John

Christ

 title for Jesus, means "anointed one," translates to Hebrew to "Messiah"

title for Jesus, translates to Greek as "Kurious," rendering the Hebrew word for god. To say Jesus is the lord is to say he is god.

Kerygma

the core teaching about Jesus Christ as savior & lord

Evangelist

a person who proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. 4 evangelists = Matthew mark luke John

Canon

the official list of the inspired books of the bible. Catholics list 46 old testament and 27 new testament books

Catechesis

the process of religious instruction & formation in the major elements of the Catholic faith

Synoptic Gospels

the gospels of Matthew Mark and Luke, which, because of their similarities, can be “seen together” in parallel columns and mutually compared

German for “source,” a common source of sayings of Jesus used by from Egypt.  Involves ritual slaughter of paschal lamb and eating of a seder meal in the holy city of Jerusalem to commemorate the Exodus.

Pharisees

“separated one,” (135-63 BC), separated themselves from the ordinary religious practices, strict observance of the law, laymen from the middle class, had great influence over the people, believed in resurrection of the body and divine judgement of the soul.  

Essenes

apocalyptic group, believe God would usher in his kingdom through a dramatic, even catastrophic event, looked for signs, lived strict pure lives.  Their writings were the Dead Sea Scrolls.  

Sadducees

priest and aristocrats, cared for temple practices and worship, centered activities in Jerusalem.  Theologically conservative, accepted only the Torah as inspired scripture, refused to accept the oral traditions/legal rulings of the scribes, influential Pharisee sect who attempted to apply the Torah to everyday life.  They stressed human free will and responsibility over trusting divine providence.  Did not believe in resurrection of the dead, immortality of the soul, or angels.  

Samaria, Judea and Galilee 

all figured prominently in Jesus’ earthly mission.  Galilee was in the north and was the center of Jesus’ ministry. It was rich, fertile with prosperous shepherds and farmers and fishermen. Samaria was directly south of Galilee.  Like the Sadducees, the Samaritans accepted only the Law of Moses and only the first 5 books of the Bible.  Though Jesus did not allow his apostles to preach to the Samaritans, he was loving toward them.  Judea in the south of Palestine was the home of many Jewish leaders.  In the heart of Judea was Jerusalem, the political, economic and religious center of Judaism.  (see pages 57-58) 

Samaritans

people of Samaria. Jews looked on Samaritan worship as false.  Galilean Jews, (like Jesus) avoided Samaria, but when the earliest Christians began their missionary work, they turned first to the Samaritans.     

Synagogue

comes from the Greek word “assembly.”  The synagogue served three main purposes: 1.) house of prayer where Scriptures were read and Yahweh was worshiped 2.) place of discussion for legal documents  and 3.) local school.  Typically built when 10 or more men could be assembled. 

Sanhedrin

the 71-member supreme legislative and judicial body of the Jewish people. Many of its members were Sadducees. Jesus appeared before them before he was crucified.  

Nazareth

town where Jesus grew up.  A small town in Galilee.  

Bethlehem 

Gentiles

Abba

an Aramaic term meaning “daddy.” Jesus uses the word to teach that God is the loving Father

Chi-Rho

the first 2 letters of the Greek work for Christos, a symbol for Jesus Christ

God’s messengers; angels are created beings that possess free will and intelligence but who are pure spirits, without bodies

Ancient scrolls containing the oldest known manuscripts of the books of the old testament in Hebrew. They were unearthed near qumran on the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1953

Parable

a typical teaching device Jesus used. It is a vivid picture story drawn from ordinary life that conveys religious truth, usually related to some aspect of God’s Kingdom. It teases the listener to think and make a choice about accepting the Good News of God’s reign

Miracle

a powerful sign of God’s Kingdom worked by Jesus. The 4 types- Physical Healings, Nature miracles, Exorcisms, Raising from the Dead

Disciple

a follower of Jesus, a “learner”

“supreme happiness”  8 beatitudes, preached by Jesus in the sermon on the mount, respond to our natural desire for happiness.  Blessed are...

Eschatological

Having to do with the end times or “last things,” (death, resurrection, judgement, heaven, hell, purgatory, everlasting life, etc..) 

Deuteropauline

secondary pauline writings, penned by disciples, secretaries or admirers of Paul.  These letters (2 Thesselonians, Ephesians, Collossians, 1 &2 Timothy, and Titus) have different vocabulary, style, theological themes, content and historical context than the letters indisputably written by St. Paul.

Pseudonymous

a work written under a name that is not the name of the person doing the actual writing.  It was a common and accepted practice for disciples and admirers and great teachers to write works under their names to extend their legacies.  

Gnosticism

a generic term for a variety of pre-and early-Christian heresies that taught that salvation rests on secret knowledge.

Asceticism

a way of living, often out of religious motivation, that is marked by self-denial, self-discipline and austerity. 

Didache

the “teaching,” part of oral tradition, further catechetical instruction for those who accepted Jesus.

Passover 

most important Jewish feast, celebrates Chosen People’s liberation 

Temple 

For Jews, the one and only was in Jerusalem.  There they offered sacrifices to God.  Holy place, where Jews believed God dwelled (spiritually) 

Palestine 

the “Holy Land” “Promised Land” “Land of Israel” “Land of Judah” or simply the “Land” (see 55-56)

Aramaic

A Semitic language, closely related to Hebrew, originally spoken by tribes. Jesus spoke it. It became the official language of Assyria and later of the Persian Empire. Likely that Gospel verses containing Aramaic works or passages that are easily translated to Aramaic are traceable to Jesus. 

Messiah

Jesus. God’s “anointed one,” the promised one born into the lineage of King David who would fulfill all the divine promises make to the Chosen People. Many contemporaries of Jesus thought that the Messiah would be a political ruler. THe Father anointed Jesus with the Spirit to inaugurate God’s Kingdom as a reign of peace, love, and service.

John the Baptist

baptized Jesus in around AD 28. A kinsman of Jesus, yet Jesus and not John is the Messiah because it is Jesus who has divine origins. John is the one to “prepare the way” for Jesus

Golden Rule 

the summary of the Law of the Gospel, “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” Matthew (7:12) 

Theophilus

Luke (who wrote Acts of the Apostles) dedicates his Gospel to Theophilus, a Greek name for “ lover of God”

Holy Spirit 

a member of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to the disciples for 40 days and told them of the coming of the Holy Spirit.  

Jerusalem

 plays a key role in Luke’s Gospel.  It is a key symbol of the Christian story. In the city of Jerusalem Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection accomplish the salvation of his followers.  It is in this city that Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles and sends them out into the world to proclaim Jesus as Lord.