Faith and Revelation - Chapter 3 Flashcards

Key Concepts in Faith and Revelation

• Allegorical Sense

  • Spiritual interpretation exposing future events and figures through historical people and events.

• Allegory

  • Extended metaphor using symbolic storytelling to convey moral or real-life situations.

• Anagogical Sense

  • Spiritual interpretation pointing to heavenly realities, highlighting scriptural events as foreshadowing eternal truths.

• Apostle

  • Title meaning "one sent forth," referring to the twelve individuals chosen directly by Jesus.

• Apostolic Fathers

  • Early Church leaders who were direct disciples of the Apostles, playing crucial roles in the development of Christian doctrine.

• Apostolic Succession

  • Unbroken lineage of bishops and popes, ensuring direct connection to the twelve Apostles, vital for Church governance.

• Apostolic Tradition

  • Continuation of teachings and faith by passing down the Apostles' doctrine through generations.

• Bishop

  • Title meaning "overseer"; a consecrated successor to the Apostles responsible for the pastoral care of a diocese.

• Catechism of the Catholic Church

  • Comprehensive summary of Catholic teachings aimed at educating the faithful.

• Council of Jerusalem

  • Significant assembly where the Holy Spirit guided the decision that Gentile converts were not required to follow Jewish law, such as circumcision.

• Deposit of Faith

  • The body of revealed truth, consisting of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, forming the foundation of Catholic belief.

• Ecumenical Council

  • Gathering of Church leaders from around the world convened to define key doctrines and beliefs.

• Eschatology

  • The theological study focused on the final events in history and the ultimate destiny of humanity.

• Fable

  • Story that illustrates moral lessons using non-human characters, emphasizing themes rather than factual accuracy.

• Fathers of the Church

  • Influential Christian writers from the early centuries whose lives exemplified Christ’s teachings.

• Hyperbole

  • Exaggerative literary device used to emphasize a point, classified under improper literal senses.

• Inerrancy

  • The belief that Scripture is free from error, consistently conveying truth.

• Infallibility

  • The doctrine declaring that the Pope is incapable of error when proclaiming teachings ex cathedra on faith and morals.

• Inspiration

  • The divine assistance the Holy Spirit provided to biblical authors, ensuring the reliability and faithfulness of their writings.

• Literalistic

  • A reading style ignoring literary forms, symbolism, or figurative language, leading to potential misunderstandings of texts.

• Literal Sense

  • Interpretation of Scripture based on the meanings of words in their historical and literary context, recognizing their ordinary meanings.

• Literary Analysis

  • Detailed examination of literary texts focusing on genre, style, and structural elements.

• Literary Forms

  • Diverse styles of writing (historical, apocalyptic, wisdom) employed to communicate specific messages.

• Metaphor

  • Direct comparison between terms without using “like” or “as,” enriching language by creating associations.

• Moral Sense

  • Spiritual interpretations highlighting Biblical figures as moral models for Christians, aligning with the tropological sense.

• Orthodoxy

  • Adherence to correct theological beliefs and sound doctrines within the Christian faith.

• Parable

  • Short narrative employed to illustrate spiritual or moral truths, often utilizing everyday situations.

• Sensus Fidelum

  • The collective inerrancy of the faithful when they reach a consensus in matters of faith and morals.

• Simile

  • A comparison using “like” or “as” to illustrate similarities between different elements.

• Spiritual Sense

  • Understanding Scripture beyond the literal meaning, recognizing that people, events, and things point to deeper spiritual truths.

• Tradition

  • The process of handing down teachings and practices through generations, crucial for the continuity of faith.

• Veracity

  • The quality of reliability in effectively communicating truth, especially relevant regarding Scriptural teachings.