religion test 3 Flashcards
(31 cards)
Why is it worth noting that St. Peter is always listed as the first apostle (SA)
St. Peter was the primary apostle, selected by Jesus to be the head of the church on earth
How did the apostles become apostles
Jesus called them
Why does Jesus select 12 apostles? What is significant about this number (SA)
Jesus says the apostles will sit in judgement over the 12 tribes of Israel
Why have the apostles been held in such high esteem over the centuries
They received their teachings directly from Jesus, so they have unmatched authority & credibility
What office did St. Stephen hold in the early church, and what is the function of this office
Office:Deacon
Function:to help the bishop in seeing to the material needs of the church so the bishop can focus on the spiritual needs
What, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was to be the primary job of the bishop
To proclaim the Word of God to the people
What did the martyrdom of St. Stephen and the death of Jesus have in common
They both asked God to forgive their murderers
How many men served on the Sanhedrin, and why was there this number of members
70 because there were 70 men Moses appointed to hear cases and render judgement while the Israelites were in the desert
__ was St. Paul’s Jewish name
Saul
Why was St. Paul so ferociously persecuting the early church (SA)
He was a pious Jew who believed the law of Moses was a sacred covenant between God and man. Practice of Christianity called all of that into question and threatened it
What do you think is the significance of Jesus’ question to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me” (MC)
It shows how completely Jesus identifies himself with his church. He is head of his Mystical Body, the Church
What was the attitude of the early Christians about their association with the Jewish faith
They saw no contradiction between the 2: they mixed their Christian teachings and ideals into the practice of their Jewish faith and customs
What was the particular Jewish law that proved to be a major obstacle for those early Jewish-Christians
Jewish law forbade Jews to associate with Gentiles, but Christians had seen how Jesus reached out to all people and wanted to continue that aspect of Jesus’ ministry
What advantages did St. Paul have over the other Apostles
He was well educated in the Jewish Law and had a great command of the scriptures (Old Testament)
When were most of St. Paul’s letters probably written (MC)
50-60 AD
As St. Paul worked to explain the Gospel to his listeners, which 4 main themes emerged as key to his teachings (LIST)
- doctrines of the cross
- mystical body of Christ
- power of grace
- value of charity
While the New Testament contains 13 of St. Paul’s letters, which 3 are considered to be the central texts that best reveal his theological thought (LIST)
- letter to the Romans
- 1st letter to the Corinthians
- 2nd letter to the Corinthians
Who made the final decision and definitive statement regarding this issue, and what gave him the authority to do so
St. Peter: speaking with authority as the head of the church, his decision was final
What was the final effect of the council of Jerusalem on the relationship between Christianity and Judaism
It served to further the distance between Christianity and its Jewish foundations
Which of the apostles did not die a martyr’s death
St. John
Why was St. Paul beheaded and not crucified
Crucifixion was reserved for non-citizens of Rome. Since St. Paul was a citizen, he had the right not to be crucified
What symbol is identified with St. Andrew and why
An X shaped cross upon which he was crucified
According to the Acts of the Apostles, who was the 1st of the apostles to be martyred
St. James, the brother of John
Where and how was St. Bartholomew martyred
He was flayed while he was alive in Armenia
