Topic 2 - Christianity

Question 1

Gospel(s)

Answer 1

The stories and life teachings of Jesus Christ, usually referring to the first four books of the Christian Scriptures.

Question 2

Messiah

Answer 2

Translation of a Hebrew word meaning ‘Anointed one’. It’s Greek equivalent in the New Testament is ‘Christ’.

Question 3

Missionaries

Answer 3

Those sent out to spread the gospel.

Question 4

Salvation

Answer 4

In general, the belief that humans require deliverance. In Christianity, the process or state where one is redeemed by Jesus Christ from the power of sin, evil and death.

Question 5

Torah

Answer 5

The Pentateuch or first five books of the Jewish bible. Elsewhere it can refer to the whole body of the traditional Jewish teachings including Oral law.

Question 6

Exodus

Answer 6

Greek work for ‘exit’, and used to describe the escape of the children of Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Question 7

Jewish

Answer 7

The name given to the people of Israel after their exile in Babylon.

Question 8

Judea

Answer 8

Part of a mountainous area (now divided between Israel and Palestine) that the Jewish people believe has been promised to them by God.

Question 9

Prophets

Answer 9

Inspired teachers, revealers or interpreters

Question 10

Roman Empire

Answer 10

Two thousand years ago, Rome controlled all the land surrounding the Mediterranean, including Judea.

Question 11

Sects

Answer 11

Groups of people with a common interest.

Question 12

Baptism

Answer 12

A religious act of purification by water, from the Greek word ‘baptizo’, meaning ‘immense’.

Question 13

Bar Mitzvah

Answer 13

Coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys.

Question 14

Gentiles

Answer 14

General term for non-Jewish people.

Question 15

Myths

Answer 15

Spiritual or religious ideas expressed in human terms.

Question 16

Passover

Answer 16

The Jewish festival that celebrates the Passover from Egypt.

Question 17

Shabbat (Sabbath)

Answer 17

The Jewish day of rest and religious observance. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday nightfall.

Question 18

Articles of Religion

Answer 18

The thirty-nine articles ‘agreed upon by the Archbishops, bishops, and the whole clergy of the provinces of Canterbury and York, London 1562’. They form the basis of the Anglican doctrine.

Question 19

Bishop

Answer 19

The title given to the leader in some Christian churches. In orthodox churches, the title is Patriarch.

Question 20

Creed

Answer 20

A formal, but concise statement of beliefs.

Question 21

Eucharist

Answer 21

A sacred meal of bread and wine commonly celebrated in some form by Christian as their central act of worship.

Question 22

Evangelical

Answer 22

Pertaining to the gospel and its teachings. It is used to describe those Christian bodies that emphasise the teachings and authority of the bible.

Question 23

Filioque Clause

Answer 23

Literally, ‘from the Son’. This clause was added to the Niceness Creed and caused great debate about the divinity of the ‘Father’ in comparison to the ‘Son’.

Question 24

Ikon (icon)

Answer 24

A representation of Christ, the Virgin Mary, or a saint, especially one painted in oil on a wooden panel in a traditional Byzantine style.

Question 25

Iconostasis

Answer 25

Greek word for ‘icon stand’. A sanctuary screen, covered with icons with separates itself from the rest of the church.

Question 26

Monastic

Answer 26

Describing an institutionalised form of religious life, either alone or in a community, in which individuals take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Question 27

Liturgy

Answer 27

The official or set forms of worship, as apposed to private devotions.

Question 28

Pope

Answer 28

The bishop to Rome, considered to be the successor of the apostle Peter - the head of the Catholic Church.

Question 29

Protestant

Answer 29

A general term for those breaking away at the reformation.

Question 30

Purgatory

Answer 30

The intermediate stage between death and heaven according to Catholic theology.

Question 31

Reformation

Answer 31

The early sixteenth century movement that began as an effort to purify the life and teachings of the Catholic Church, eventually leading to the establishment of separate Christian Churches.

Question 32

Rite

Answer 32

A formal or ceremonial act or procedure that is prescribed or customary in a religious context.

Question 33

Sacraments

Answer 33

Sacred or holy actions that can bring about changes; a visible sign of an invisible action of God.

Question 34

Theology

Answer 34

The study of God and religious doctrine.

Question 35

Deacon

Answer 35

From the Greek word ‘diakonos’ which is often translated as ‘servant’. The office of deacon originated in the selection of seven men to assist with the pastoral and administrative needs of the early church.

Question 36

Revelation

Answer 36

From the Latin word ‘revelare’ meaning ‘to take away the veil’. In this context, it means the disclosure of something that would not have been revealed without the will of God.

Question 37

Apocrypha

Answer 37

From the Greek word meaning ‘hidden away’. These are texts of uncertain authenticity, or writings where the authorship is questioned.

Question 38

Canon

Answer 38

Those books considered to be authoritative as scriptures by a particular religious tradition.

Question 39

Deuterocanonical

Answer 39

The term has been used since the sixteenth century in the Catholic Churches and Eastern Christianity to describe certain books and passages of the Christian Old Testament that are not part of the Hebrew bible.

Question 40

Synoptic

Answer 40

Literally means ‘seen together’.

Question 41

Ethics

Answer 41

The system of explicit, philosophical and/or religious reflections on moral beliefs and practices to clarify what is right and wrong.

Question 42

Devotion(s)

Answer 42

In singular, is the ready will to serve God. In plural, refers to religious observances and forms of prayer or worship.

Question 43

Meditation

Answer 43

In the Christian tradition, is understood as a spiritual practice that serves as preparation for ‘pure prayer’ or ‘prayer of the heart’.

Question 44

Prayer

Answer 44

The act, action or practice of praying to entities beyond the world, as in petition, thanksgiving, adoration or confession.

Question 45

Saints

Answer 45

Persons whose exceptional holiness of life is formally recognised by the Church and who are entitled to veneration.

Question 46

Worship

Answer 46

Refers, in general, to celebrations or gatherings of the faithful for prayer and sacraments.

Question 47

Bible

Answer 47

The bible comprises Jewish scriptures or Torah and the Christian scriptures.