Introduction to Sacred Scriptures

Question 1

Describe the origin of the word biblos/biblia.

Answer 1

Greek: biblion (a book), ta biblia (the books), biblos (a written book/papyrus scroll)
Latin: biblia

Question 2

Describe the origins of the word sacra Scriptura.

Answer 2

Latin: sacra (sacred, holy, of the Lord), Scriptura (a writing)

Question 3

What are the writers of the Old Testament called?

Answer 3

Prophets

Question 4

What are the writers of the New Testament called?

Answer 4

Apostles (apostol=the sent)

Question 5

How many books are in the OT?

Answer 5

46

Question 6

How many books are in the NT?

Answer 6

27

Question 7

What langauge was the OT written in?

Answer 7

Hebrew

Question 8

What language was the NT written in?

Answer 8

Greek

Question 9

What was the OT about?

Answer 9

The history of the Jews

Question 10

What was the NT about?

Answer 10

The life of Jesus and after His Resurrection

Question 11

How are Eve and Mary correlated?

Answer 11

Eve- deceived God and cursed the following generations of humanity with her disobedience
Mary- obeyed God and brought to us Salvation/life

Question 12

What does the consistency of the translations of the Bible prove?

Answer 12

That the message of the Bible is accurate

Question 13

What was the difference between the covenants of the OT and NT?

Answer 13

Old Covenant- between God and the Jews

New Covenant- between God and the entire human race

Question 14

When was the Old Testament translated into Greek?

Answer 14

3rd-2nd century B.C.

Question 15

What is the Septuagint (LXX)?

Answer 15

The Greek Old Testament

Question 16

Why is it called Septuagint (LXX)?

Answer 16

Church leaders wanted a faithfully translated God’s word from Hebrew to Greek, so they gathered 70 translators and had them individually translate it; they all came up with he same translation; this was a mark of God

Question 17

What were the languages of the NT?

Answer 17

• Koine (common) Greek
• Hebrew
• Aramaic

Question 18

When was the OT and NT translated into Latin, and who did these translations?

Answer 18

4th century A.D.; St.Jerome

Question 19

What is the Vulgate?

Answer 19

The Sacred Scriptures in Latin

Question 20

Why was Koine (common) Greek used in the NT?

Answer 20

This was used because the writers of the NT were ordinary men (fishermen for the most part), so they used common Greek to reflect this

Question 21

Why was Hebrew used in the NT?

Answer 21

It was used because it was the langauge of the writers of the NT’s ancestors

Question 22

Why was Aramaic used in the NT?

Answer 22

It was the common language of the Jews who were captured in Babylon and allowed to return; the ancient nation spent 72 years in Babylon until Cyrus the Great (the Persian emperor) allowed them to return; their langauge was mixed with the Babylonian language.
It was also the langauge spoken ordinarily by Our Lord Christ and His Apostles

Question 23

Name the first definition.

Answer 23

Sacred Scriptures contain the written word of God. (Refer to CCC 105 and Hebrews 1:1-2)

Question 24

Name the second definition.

Answer 24

Sacred Scriptures contain salvific truth. (Refer to CCC 107)

Question 25

Name the third definition.

Answer 25

God wrote through the unique experiences and circumstances of His chosen human authors. (Refer to CCC 106)

Question 26

What is the first step of the formation of the Bible?

Answer 26

Individuals experiencing God in a unique way, treasuring and preaching it.

Question 27

What is the second step of the formation of the Bible?

Answer 27

Individuals finding the need, courage, motivation, and materials to write.

Question 28

What is the third step of the formation of the Bible?

Answer 28

Writings copied, spread, preached, and preserved.

Question 29

What is the fourth/last step of the formation of the Bible?

Answer 29

Church Fathers deliberating and finalizing which writings are inspired by God (Canonical books).

Question 30

What were the three councils that defined the canon of Sacred Scriptures.

Answer 30

Council of Hippo, AD 393 Council of Carthage, AD 397 Council of Rome, AD 419

Question 31

When did the Council of Trent occur?

Answer 31

1545

Question 32

Why did the Council of Trent occur?

Answer 32

It was a response to Martin Luther's new canon. He believed that there were seven books in the Old Testament that did not contain salvific truth.

Question 33

What were the seven books that Luther believed should not be part of the Canon?

Answer 33

Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sorach, and Baruch

Question 34

What did the Council of Trent respond with?

Answer 34

The deuterocanonical books; it contained teaching opposing sola fide (e.g., 2 Maccabees 12: 41-46); it contains books considered to be UNINSPIRED, NON-CANONICAL, AND APOCRYPHAL by Marin Luther and the Protestant population

Question 35

What are the four broad categories of the Canon of Sacred Scriptures?

Answer 35

``` OT and NT: Law History Wisdom Prophecy ```

Question 36

What are the Books of Law for the OT?

Answer 36

``` The Pentateuch; Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy ```

Question 37

What are the Books of History for the OT?

Answer 37

Joshua to Esther

Question 38

What are the Books of Wisdom for the OT?

Answer 38

Job to Sirach

Question 39

What are the Books of Prophecy for the OT?

Answer 39

Isaiah to 2 Maccabees

Question 40

What are the Books of Law for the NT?

Answer 40

``` The Four Gospels; Matthew Mark Luke John ```

Question 41

What are the Books of History for the NT?

Answer 41

The Acts of the Apostles

Question 42

What are the Books of Wisdom for the NT?

Answer 42

The Epistles; | Romans to Jude

Question 43

What are the Books of Prophecy for the NT?

Answer 43

The Revelation (of St. John)

Question 44

Why did the writers of the NT write in Greek if they spoke Aramaic?

Answer 44

- Only a small population of the Roman Empire spoke Aramaic; most spoke Greek. - Since many people spoke Greek as opposed to Aramaic, writing in Greek would allow the writers to reach a broader audience by word of mouth even if there were not many copies of the NT made; it was therefore an easier way of getting people interested in the faith and joining the Church

Question 45

What does CANONICAL mean?

Answer 45

Part of the Canon Inspired by the Holy Spirit Contains the sacred words of God Contains salvific truth