IMPORTANT VOCABULARY FOR FRESHMAN THEOLOGY
Definitions compiled from various sources, primarily
- Bible Dictionary in The New American Bible
- Glossary in Thomas Zanzig's Understanding Catholic Christianity
Key words in the study of Hebrew Scripture in purple.
Abba A uniquely intimate name for God used by Jesus. Best translated into English as "daddy," "papa," or "dada." Expresses the belief that God cares for people like a loving father.
Acts of the Apostles The book in the New Testament that immediately follows the four gospels. It is an extension of Luke's Gospel, depicting the early Christian community and the spread of Christian faith through the travels and teachings of St. Paul and others. The author of the gospel of Luke wrote Acts about the year 80 A.D. so that he could tell of some outstanding events and happenings in the early days of the Christian community.
Advent The season in which we prepare for Christmas. It calls for serious and prayerful preparation for Christ who is to come. We also use this time to prepare for the coming of God's Kingdom and make our lives more Christian today.
Ark of the Covenant Wooden chest, overlaid with gold, fashioned by Moses, which contained the two tablets of the law. It was the symbol of the covenant and God's presence among his people.
Ascension The event in which Jesus, following his Resurrection and appearances, disappeared from he physical world and passed totally into the presence of God.
Baal This Hebrew word is translated as master, lord. It designates the chief god of the Canaanites and the Phoenicians. His cult was preserved by the hevbrews in Palestine, despte the efforts of the prophets. The word Baal also designates small, local gods.
Bishops The church leaders whose role and authority are based on that of the Apostles in the early Church. Literally means "overseer." In today's Church, bishops are the leaders of dioceses.
Cardinal Virtues
Four moral virtues are called cardinal (from a word meaning "hinge") because all other moral virtues hindge, or depend, on them.
- fortitude an habitual disposition to take whatever pains may be involved in in doing what we ought to do for the sake of living a good life.
- justice concerned with the good of others, not only for our friends but for everyone. Living in a good society contributes greatly to the individual pursuit of his own happiness. For this to occur all individuals need to deal fairly with others and act for the good of the whole society.
- temperance consists in habitually resisting the temptation to overindulge in pleasures or the temptation to seek more than is good for us of any limited good.
- prudence the habit of making the right choices, choices which brings goodness into the individual1s life and the lives of others.
Christ This word, derived from the Greek, signfies "anointed" and translates the hebrew word for Messiah. The Hebrew king was anointed with holy oil; so was the high priest. In the bible, it is the title given to the one who, in the future, will come to restore Israel.
Christian (1) This word was used for the first time at Corinth, Greece, about 35 A.D. as the term for the disciples of Jesus Christ. Up to that time, followers of Jesus were generally known as Nazoreans (2) Any person who believes Jesus is Lord, puts their faith in Him and tries to live their life according to his teachings. (see Acts 11,26).
Christian faith The particular form of religious faith understood as the human response of believers to the unconditional love of God as revealed in Jesus. That response, an intellectual assent to the truth of Jesus1 message, is also a response of the heart and ultimately of the total person.
Christian morality The principles and processes by which Christians make decisions concerning right and wrong behavior. Best understood within the context of Jesus1 teaching about God1s love and the human response to that love.
Christian Scriptures The entire Bible, comprising both the Jewish Scriptures and the Crhistian Testament.
Christian spirituality The unique ways in which Christians live out their faith relationships with God. Implies a commitment on the part of the believer to live according to the message and values of Jesus.
Christian Testament The collection of sacred writings of Christians, includes the Gospels; Acts of the Apostles, various Epistles, or letters; and the Book of Revelation. Commonly referred to as the new Testament.
Church The gathering of those people who profess faith in the Risen Jesus and his message and who, through the power of the Spirit, live their lives in loving service to all people.
Three modern images of the Church
- Body of Christ Paul is telling us that we are the hands and feet, the heart, mind and soul of Christ in the world. We are Christ now living in history.
- People of God "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
- Temple of the Holy Spirit The Spirit of God was poured out, and continues to dwell, not in a building call a church but among a people called the church.
circumcision Removal of the prepuce of the penis. It is a very ancient ethical practice which the Hebrews converted into a religious rite. Later, the prophets stressed the fact that this bodily mark has no value unless it is accompanied by an "internal circumcision" signifying moral purity.
Conversion The way in which a person comes to a commitment to God. In Catholic Christianity, the gradual, lifelong process in which the person of faith turns to God as the center of his or her life.
Covenant A special relationship experienced between God and people. In Jewish history, covenant was begun with Abraham and develops throughout their history. The Sinai covenant was formally entered into during an encounter between Yahweh and Moses on Mount Sinai. Christians believe that a New Covenant between God and people was established through the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Creed A profession or statement of faith. The source of the word is Latin word meaning "I believe."
Culture The total pattern of thought, speech, behavior, and social values athat has been passed down from one generation to another within a givin society. In a more restricted sense, the means by which such things are passed on--for example, the arts, music, literature, social customs, and traditions of a society.
Cultural values in America today (Zanzig)
- consumerism As a negative cultural value, the conviction that happiness can be achieved through the acquisition and consumption of material things.
- immediate gratification The negative cultural value that leads people to avoid any suffering and to seek the instant satisfaction of their need and desires right away.
- extreme individualism The cultural value that, in its negative form, promotes the rights of the individual while denying the needs of the community. Replaces service to others by an excessive desire to satisfy one's own needs.
- sexual permissiveness The negative cultural value that regards sexual relations between people as a casual activity that be routinely engaged in without concerns for commitment and personal responsibility.
- popularity The cultural value that says if we can win everyone else1s approval, the big ache in us will be healed.
- technological fix The belief in progress, with an almost religious faith that this will take care of our every need; this can always solve our problems This will solve our environmental problems, our health problems, even loneliness problems.
darkness Absence of light. In the bible God, who is etenral truth, is considered the true light and the source of all light; therefore darkness becomes a symbol of estrangement fromGod. Jesus said that those who followed him would not walk in darkness, i.e. he would show them clearly the truth.
Day of Atonement A sacred Jewish feast in which faithful Jews repent of their sins. Also known as Yom Kipppur.
doctrine This is official Church teaching. The word is often used to designate the entire body of church teaching as in Catholic. The term comes from the Latin docere, which means teaching or instruction. These are derived from scripture, from the faith life of the church communities, from traditional beliefs and moral practices. They are defined and proclaimed, authentically and authoritatively, by the the Magisterium of the church. These center on truths revealed to and cherished by the followers of Jesus Christ.
Dogma Doctrines taught under the fullest solemnity and authority of the church. An official doctrine of the Church that is considered so essential to the Catholic faith that any rejection of it would imply rejection of the faith as a whole.
effective criticism (also called "critical consciousness") This is a description from Zanzig, chapter one "In effective criticism we take somethine we have learned-whether from parents, teachers, pastors or others-and turn it over in our mind and question it. In the process we may find our previous understanding needs to be updated."
Epistle Literally means "a letter," a collection of which makes up part of the New Testament These are communication from St. Paul and others to the early Christian communities. They contain theology as well as instruction on prayer, morality and Christian life.
faith is a matter of the head (belief) and the heart (trust).
"First Principle and Foundation" of Ignatius Loyola We are created to praise, reverence and serve God, Our Lord, and by this means to save our soul. The other things on the face of the earth are created for us, and they are to aid us attain the purpose for which we are created. Hence, we must make use of them in so far as they help in the attainment of our end, and we must put them aside in as far as they prove a hindrance to our end. Therefore we must make ourselves indifferent to all created things, as far as we are allowed free choice and are not under any prohibition. Consequently, as far as we are concerned, we should not prefer health to sickness, riches to poverty, honor to dishonor, a long life to a short one. The same holds true for other things. Our one desire and choice should be what is more conducive to the end for which we are created.
free will The human capacity, given by God, to make choices about values, behavior, and so on. Also refers tot he belief of Christians that God never interferes with the freedom of the individual to make such choices.
gentile A term used to indicate all non-Jewish people. Actually, goyim, translated as ____, really means nations or people.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit The characteristics of Christian life that are made possible through the influence of the Holy Spirit--namely, wisdom, understanding, right judgment, knowledge, courage, love and reverence.
Gospels The four books of the Christian Testament that recount the life, death, and Resurrection of jesus. Credited to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Gospel1s characteristics
- Mark This Gospel was apparently addressed to Gentile Christians in Rome. It is full of references to the trials and persecution that Jesus1 followers might expect, and it highlights the suffering and death of Jesus. this theme encouraged the Roman Christians by letting them know that they were suffering in union with Christ and would one day be glorified with him. Jesus comes through as very human, full of strong emotions. Reading it is a good introduction to the story of Jesus. This was probably the first Gospel written.
- Matthew Written primarily for a Jewish audience, it emphasized that Jesus was clearly the messiah they had been waiting for, and that Jesus1 whole life was the fulfillment of all the ancient promises made by God to Israel. This Gospel shows Jesus as a great teacher, a "New Moses."
- Luke This Gospel presents a portrait of Jesus as compassionate Savior and Healer. It showed Jesus working many healing miracles. It is addressed primarily to Gentile Christians, many of whom were well-educated and wealthy. The Gospel emphasizes the image of Jesus embracing the poor people and outcasts of society.
- John This Gospel comes out of a Jewish Christian community led by the Evangelist. It offers a distinct picture of Jesus that emphasizes his divine Sonship. This Gospel reflect a deepened understanding of Jesus as divine, perhaps because it was the last Gospel to be written. It is full of symbolic language and reflections on the nature of God. Its beautiful discourses and teaching of Jesus make it a wonderful source of personal and communal prayer.
grace God's free, unmerited, loving gift of his own life and presence to people. Through a loving and open response to this gift persons are transformed and share in God1s life and love. They become more and more like Jesus Christ. This latter "becoming more and more like Jesus Christ" is called metanoia, a vocabulary word from our first quarter.
Groups of people in Palestine during the time of Jesus
- Essenes Were made up of Jews who broke with conventional Judaism, regarding it as corrupt. They believed they were the true Israel, heirs to the new covenant. Doctrinally they believed the human heart was a battleground of two conflicting spirits: goodness (light) and evil (darkness). They preached personal sinfulness and divine forgiveness. They believed 3the end2 was near. In preparation they withdrew into desert communities like Quamrun.
- PhariseesWere made up of well-educated people. They believed the most important thing a Jew could do was to obey Jewish religious laws. They believed that Israel was guided by God and did not need political rulers. They believed in angels, the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment.
- the poor Made up the majority of the Jewish people. Their poverty kept them ignorant and made them outcasts. They knew little about the Torah, the Temple, or religion. In their eyes, the Pharisees were too pious; the Sadducees too political; the Essenes, too removed from life; and the Zealots too militant. The poor had nothing to hope for but that God would someday send a messiah to rescue them.
- Sadducees Were made up, largely, of the wealthy upper class; included many chief priests. They observed the Torah as binding. They accepted Roman occupation and adjusted to it. Doctrinally, they denied angels and the resurrection of the dead.
- ZealotsWere militant Jews, who scorned all the other Jewish groups of the time. They looked for a military Messiah who would catapult Israel into first place among the nations of the world
Hebrew ScripturesThe sacred writings of the Jews, which are also treasured by Christians. Preferred as the name for the collection of books in the bible commonly referred to as the Old Testament.
imposition of hands The customary Jewish way of designating a person for a task and invoking upon him the divine blessing and power to perform it.Jesus used it while healing. By the imposition of hands, the apostles conferred the Holy Spirit, the diaconate and the priesthood.
Incarnation The mystery of Jesus being both God and man. Literally means "in the flesh." The term refers to the belief that God took on flesh in Jesus in order to become more united with people. The union of the divine nature of the Son of God with the human nature in the person of Jesus Christ. The Son of God assumed our flesh, body and soul and dwelled among us like one of us in order to redeem us.
inspiration God's influence upon the human authors as they wrote the Christian Scriptures. Fundamentalist Christians believe that God literally dictated every word of the Bible to human authors. Catholics, however, believe that the Bible is accurate and true in all those things that are necessary for salvation but that people need not believe that every word of the Bible is true.
Lent The forty day preparation for the celebration of Easter. It is a time of penance in order to get us ready to recall the Passion of Jesus, his death, and his Resurrection.
liturgical year The annual cycle of religious feasts and seasons that forms the context of the Church1s worship.
judges The great warriors who led the people of Israel against their enemies, as the Israelites began to conquer the land of Canaan after the Sinai Covenant.
Kingdom of God (1)The kingdom will be established by the Messiah,over Israel first, and then over all the nations of the earth. "Kingdom" signifies a state of things in which God is recognized as King to whon everything must be submitted. The Kingdom is proclaimed by John the Baptizer, inaugurated by Jesus, continued int he church, and will be definitely accomplished in the glory of Christ's return. The members of the Kingdom are children of God and even in this life enjoy that eternal life which will be completely expanded in the furture world. (2) A term used by Jesus to describe the rule, or reign, of God over the hearts of people and also a new social order based on unconditional love of God and others.
Law A statement of the responsibility of the Israelites in their covenant with Yahweh. Given to Moses by Yahweh on Mount Sinai. The cornerstone of the Law is the Ten Commandments.
Magisterium Consists of the Pope, believed by Catholics to be the successor to St. Peter, and the Catholic bishops of the world, the successors to the Apostles; they are responsible for discerning what is essential to the faith; they have the job of brining together and interpreting the experiences and reflections of the church1s members into the essential Tradition of the Church. The etymology of the word=2to teach.2
metanoia A radical change of mind and heart away from the worldview of the culture and toward the worldview of Jesus. Real Christians attempt to become more and more like Jesus. They try to take on his mind and his heart. What is this is radical change of mind and heart away from the worldview of the culture and toward the worldview of Jesus?
morality Has to do with the way we live our life. These principles help us define right and wrong behavior. Everyone has this, even if they do not realize it or call it by another name. Christian morality, the ideal that Jesus presents, is summed up in the word love. Love--freely given and for the good of others--is the core of the morality of Jesus.
nazirite This term stems from the Hebrew word nazir meaming "set apart as sacred, dedicated vowed." The nazirite vow could be either for a limited period or for life. Those bound by this vow had to abstain from all the products of the grapevine, from cutting or shaving their hair, and from contact with a corpse. They were regarded as men of God like the prophets. Examples of life long nazirites were Samson, Samuel, ;and the John the Baptizer.
Nicene Creed A communal prayer that expresses the major beliefs of the community of faith. Creed is based on a word
meaning "to believe." The Nicene Creed, which is commonly recited in the Catholic Mass, was first developed in the year A.D. 325 during a Church council held in the city of Nicea.
parable A short story based on a familiar experience used to teach a spiritual lesson. It resembles the fable and the allegory. These were brief, easily remembered stories often employed by Jesus as a teaching method. They teach lessons by describing great truths in terms common human events. Many times parables end with surprising twists intended to catch the listener1s attention. This was one of Jesus favorite ways of teaching.
Passover The holiest and most celebrated jewish feast, memorializing the miraculous liberation of the Israelites from Egypt during the Exodus. Lasted a week in the time of Jesus and included the ritual sacrifice fo lambs in the Temple. this feast played a central role in the evnets surrounding the Last Suppr and the Crufixion of Jesus.
Patriarchs The key persons in history upon whom the religion that we now know as Judaism was founded. Literally means "father." The term is commonly used to identify three very special Hebrew leaders--Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Pentecost The term has two meanings: (1) For the Jews, Pentecost is a great springtime feast celebrating the giving of the Law by Yahweh to Moses on Mount Sinai. (2) For Christians, Pentecoset is a celebration in remembrance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first followers of Jesus. This feast is often called the birthday of the church. The term itself is Greek and means "the 50th day".
personal spirituality The unique way in which a person lives out and expresses his or her relationship with God. Christian spirituality implies a commitment on the part of the believer to live according to the message and values of Jesus.
prayer is the awareness of God and the response of our heart to God in all areas of life. It is paying attention to God.
prophets The name most commonly associated with the special people in the history of the Jews who continually challenged the people in to live in accordance with the covenant of Yahweh. Literally means "one who speaks out."
reflection careful thought or meditation. It is more than just reacting. It includes taking time to turn it over in your mind and question it. It includes trying to see things from different perspectives,including from God's. Asking WWJD can be a good beginning of reflection.
reflective criticism (also "effective criticism") In this we take something we have learned--whether from parents, teachers, pastors, peers or others-- and turn it over in our mind and question it. In the process we may find that ouliprevious understanding needs to be updated.
religion The attempt by communities of people throughout history to express their shared faith through outward signs--including symbols, celebrations, statements of belief, and codes of behavior.
revelation The self-communication or self-disclosure of God, in which Sacred Mystery is made known by God to people. If God is to be known by us, we must rely on God1s self-disclosure; God tells us what we could never discover on our own. Our reasoning abilities take us only so far, and God has to do the rest.
ritual These are concrete, visible actions that have symbolic meaning for a group or community. They are done in a similar way every time they are performed. These actions communicate meaning and have real power to affect us if we put our heart into them.
Sabbath The weekly day of rest and prayer for the Jews based on the creation story in the Book of Genesis. Lasted fromwhat now would be called Friday evening to Saturday evening. The Christian practice of Sunday worship has its origins in the Jewish Sabbath.
Sacraments In the Catholic Church, the key ritual actions in communal worship--for example, Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation. Literally means "sacred." Fr. "William O'Malley, S.J. in The Sacraments: Rites of Conversion calls sacraments "Actions of Christ working visibly among his people."
Samaritans The inhabitants of Samaria were a mixed race, descended from intermarriage of the Israelites and the Assyrian colonists. The enmit between the Jews and the Samaritans was so great that travelers between Galilee and Judea often had to cross the Jordan into Perea for safety.
salvation history The saga of God's loving action throughout the history of Jews and Christians. Refers to the belief that God is revealed in and through the events of history.
Septuagint Translation into Greek of the Hebrew and Aramaic Old Testament made in Egypt by various authors during the period between 250 B.C. and 100 B.C.Its name comes from the fact that legend ascribes the work to a group of seventy-two scholars and it is designated by the Roman numerals LXX. It is by far the most important ancient version of the Old Testament and until recently was our sole witness for the state of the original text of the Hebrew Old Testament before the Christian era. The Septuagint was the version used by the Hebrews in Christ's time, by the Aposstles and the New Testament writers, by the Greek Fathers of the Church; it is still the offical text of the Greek Church.
sin The breaking of the relationship of love between people and with God through selfishness. The act of knowingly and willingly choosing evil. Evil is the opposite of God, who is the source of all goodness and love. So this word indicates a to turn away from God in favor of other things that seem, at the time, more attractive--popularity, thrills, pleasure, safety, convenience, power, money or possessions to boost the ego, even the approval of authority.
son of man An enigmatic title, Jewish apocraphyl tradition uses it to describe a unique religious personage, a messiah with extraordinary spiritual endowments. Jesus use of it seems to derive from Ex 2, where it is a title of humility, and Dn 7, 13f, where it indicates a clearly messianic figure. It expresses for him his twofold destiny, of suffering and of glory. Peter, along with the other disciples, fails (despite his confession) to grasp the association of suffering and death with the office of Messiah. Only after the resurrection, does the Christian community endow it with its messianic meaning.
spirituality means becoming a fully alive, whole human being as we grow in our relationship with God. In Christian terms, spirituality is the way we grow in the life of God, the loving life of the Trinity. It is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ,as God's love for us flows into our actions, our worship and prayer, and our relationships with others. With genuine sprituality, we open our hearts to let God come into the midst of our everyday life and world.
stereotype An unfair characterization or judgment of people or things based on oversimplified and often untrue opinions or information.
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