Study all vocabulary words, but pay attention to page 310 in your books. Know the 5 books of the Bile (from the Pentateuch), and the different sections within each testament (historical books, etc.) Know the definition of each section. For example, the Gospels are part of the New Testament and they are stories about Jesus' life and teachings. Study all highlighted material and written notes. Good luck!

Since I wrote "Friday" on yesterday's blog, it's only fair to keep it on Friday. The test for Chapter 2 will not be Thursday.

Homework: Comment to yesterday's post. Get started on your Tradition Crest (due Thursday).

Today's class, although a bit repetitive, focused on how the Bible writers wrote in expressions and words of their era. Using symbolism and storytelling techniques such as figurative language, the Bible is not meant to be taken literally, like a science book. 

Check out the video below. First you will see an image, followed by bible quotes that reflect it. There are many bible verses, so it would make sense to pause the video to read them. See how the symbolism takes effect, yet it doesn't tarnish the TRUTH in the Bible!

Comment on your favorite one. You will see a few of these on Friday's test! Be able to interpret them.

These past few days we have been learning how the Old and New Testaments came to be. We learned that both the Old and New Testaments had similar ways of developing:

Religious experience--->oral stories passed on ---> inspired writing---> Scripture studied in the synagogues/ church.

Remember that although humans physically wrote the Bible, God is the true author. God used humans as instruments to get his message of truth to the world. God knows that we comprehend things in a human way, so God communicates in ways we can understand.

We also learned that the Bible has 73 books and that each Testament is divided into sections (you can find these on page 310). The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, while the New Testament was written in Greek! Saint Jerome translated both Testaments into Latin, which was the common language of the Church during the 5th century. It wasn't until the 1300's that the Bible was translated into English.


HW- Study your notes and Look up this verse and be prepared to interpret it and discuss it tomorrow:
2 Peter 1:20-21.

We have been discussing Scripture and Tradition a lot over the last few days. We learned that both need to exist and be in practice in order for us to fully uncover God's truth and revelation. Remember that Scripture "is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism of the Catholic Church). Tradition "comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit."

Remember that the first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.

Documents from the Church tell us that Tradition began when "the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit." 

These Apostles and other disciples who were under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit applied the message of salvation to writing.

Check out the two videos below. Notice the pieces from Scripture which discuss Tradition. You may need this for your assignment, so it's wise to pause along the way after viewing it the first time in full.

Download your assignment below. You can print it out and fill it in, or complete it on the computer. This is due Tuesday. I also attached a PDF in case you don't have Word or in case it comes out distorted.