Christian Theology Basics

Christianity Basics

• The Holy Trinity consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all of whom are God but separate entities: the Father creates, the Son saves, and the Holy Spirit works in us.

Jesus Christ

• Jesus has a divine and human side, being 100% divine and 100% human.
• He is also known as Jesus from below (humanity) and above (divinity).

Faith and Tradition

• Faith is believing in something without overwhelming evidence.
• Sacred Tradition is an element of the Magisterium, including oral or non-written transmissions, sacraments, holidays, prayers, and Church traditions passed down from Jesus and the apostles.
• Sacred Scripture is the written part of the Magisterium, including all texts written by the apostles in the Bible, passing on wisdom from Jesus and the apostles.

Apostles and Salvation History

• An apostle is an early follower of Jesus appointed to help develop and lead Christianity.
• Salvation History refers to the history of how people were saved by God, including Jesus saving us, Moses getting saved from Egypt, and other instances of God's salvation throughout history.

Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism: form (getting dunked in water by a priest); matter (washes away original sins).
• Eucharist: form (eating bread and drinking wine); matter (represents Jesus' blood and body).
• Confirmation: form (anointed with oil); matter (seals the person with the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and knowledge).

Parables and Gospel

• A parable is a comparison of two things used to convey wisdom and spiritual and moral messages.
• The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ coming to save us from our sins and defeat evil.

Covenant and Original Holiness

• A covenant is a promise between God and man to fulfill something in the future (e.g., the old and new covenants).
• Original Holiness refers to the state humans existed in before original sin, which Adam and Eve possessed until the first sin.
• Original Sin refers to Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit, bringing sin and cursing future generations.

Other Key Concepts

• The Promise or Protoevangelium is God's promise to never abandon His people.
• Moses was a prophet who led Israel out of persecution in Egypt and into the holy land.
• The Ten Commandments are the original rules given by God to Israel to live by, including "Thou shalt not kill, steal, or covet thy neighbor's belongings."
• The authors of the Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, with John focusing on Jesus' divinity.