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Ch. 3 The Church Transmits Revelation

Terms in this set (32)

Fathers of the Church
refers to a number of Christian writers from the 1st - 8th centuries whose lives reflected the teachings of Christ and whose teachings were in harmony with the Church. The doctrine they developed faithfully communicates the faith they received from Christ
Hyperbole
a literary device that uses exaggeration to make a point
Inerrancy
making no mistakes or errors. Scripture is inerrant; that is, it always teaches truth, never falsehood
Infallibility
immunity from error and any possibility of error. The Church possesses this character as promised by Christ, as does the pope as defined by the 1st Vatican Council. With regard to the pope, this is the dogma that the pope cannot err when speaking ex cathedra (when formally exercising his office as chief shepherd and teacher of all Catholics) and defining a doctrine concerning faith and morals to be held by the whole Church.
Inspiration
the gift of the Holy Spirit that assisted human authors to write the books of the bible. God is the ultimate author of Scripture, and so it teaches faithfully, without error, the saving truth that God has willed to be communicated to us
Literalistic
a way of reading literature without regard to the particular literary forms being used. This kind of reading thus recognizes no symbolic language or analogy and instead takes every word, phrase, and sentence as literally true
Literal Sense
method of scriptural interpretation based on the meaning of words in the literary and historical context. In proper literal sense, the words are understood in their ordinary meaning
Literary Analysis
reading a story with full care and regard for the literary forms and styles being used. It allows the reader to fully appreciate the text by understanding what the author is really trying to communicate and thereby reaching the deeper meaning that was originally intended
Literary Forms
refers to the various styles of writing that communicates a message through particular creative means. Literary forms used in Scripture include the historical, juridical, prophetic, apocalyptic, wisdom literature, poetry, and epistle
Magisterium
the name given to the universal teaching authority of the pope and the bishops in communion with him, which guides the members of the Church without error in matters of faith and morals through the interpretation of Sacred Scripture and Tradition
Metaphorical Sense
also known as the "improper literal sense", the words of Scripture are understood figuratively and symbolically
Moral Sense
the spiritual interpretation of Scripture that portrays the heroes of Scripture as a pattern for Christians of every age. Also called the tropological sense.
Orthodoxy
Correctness or soundness in theological faith and beliefs
Parable
a story that is told in order to illustrate a moral or spiritual truth. It is often metaphorical
Sacred Tradition (Tradition)
means "handing down". This is part of the "Deposit of Faith". It is the Word of God entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and their successors and communicated by preaching and teaching to every generation of Christians under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who keeps it free from error. It preceded Sacred Scripture.
Human traditions
traditions of men that are man-made acts and rituals that did not originate with Christ and are therefore changeable.
Veracity
reliability in communicating the truth
Allegorical Sense
the spiritual interpretation of Scripture that shows how people and events in history suggest future people and events. For instance, Abraham sacrificing Isaac is like God's sacrifice of his own son Jesus. It is a type of spiritual sense
Allegory
a prolonged metaphor. Related to parables and fables, it uses a storytelling format rich with symbols to make a statement about a real-life situation
Anagogical Sense
the spiritual interpretation of scripture that shows how events in Scripture point to what will be in Heaven. It is a type of spiritual sense
Analogy
a way of understanding by drawing a comparison or likeness and dissimilarity between two things or relationships
Apostle
from the Greek for "one sent forth." Refers to the Twelve chosen by Jesus during the course of his public ministry to be his closest followers, as well as Sts. Matthias, Paul of Tarsus, Barnabas
Apostolic Fathers
those Fathers of the Church who were direct disciples of the Apostles and wrote during the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century
Apostolic Succession
term used to describe the lineage of the Catholic bishops and pope through the ages by which each holds office in a direct link to the Twelve Apostles
Apostolic Tradition
the passing on of the Faith of the Apostles to each generation
Bishop
a consecrated successor to the Apostles, usually charged with the spiritual and administrative care of a given territory or diocese. Derives from the Greek word "episkopos" ("overseer"). He is constituted a pastor of the Church, to be the teacher of doctrine, the priest of sacred worship, and the minister of governance
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
a summary of Catholic teaching. A catechism of the same name was published in 1997
Council of Jerusalem
Recounted in Acts 15, this synod of the Apostles around AD 49 or 50 spoke with the authority of the Holy Spirit in deciding that Gentile converts to Christianity did not have to be circumcised or obey the Law of Moses
Deposit of Faith
the heritage of faith contained in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, handed on in the Church from the time of the apostles, from which the Magisterium draws all that it proposes for belief as being divinely revealed
Ecumenical Council (Council)
from the Greek oikoumene, meaning "the whole world." A formal synod of bishops (sometimes with other ecclesiastics) from the whole inhabited world convened to define doctrine, regulate the Christian life, or apply discipline in the Church. Nicaea was the first in AD 325
Eschatology
means "last." The study of the end of time
Fable
a story, often fanciful, that is not based on fact and is used to illustrate a moral lesson, usually with animals or plans as characters. This is not a literal sense.
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