Chapter 2 - Incarnation

• Define Incarnation

  God taking on the human condition in Jesus
• What does the incarnation show Christians about God?

  Was prepared to experience being human - shows that God loves the human race

  God also knows what it is like to be human - can empathise with human race which helps Christian's to value God's love
• Differences in Luke and Matthew's accounts on the annunciation?

  Luke:

  - Focuses on Mary's role in the incarnation

  - Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive and give birth to a son named Jesus

  - Jesus will be conceived

  - Mary was given a choice - reflects free will

  Matthew's:

  - Focuses on Joseph part in the incarnation

  - Joseph planned to break up with Mary
• Give 3 teachings about the nature of the Word of God in John + Give a quote for each

  Teaching: The Word of God is eternal

  Quote: 'In the beginning was the Word'

  Teaching: The Word of God is God

  Quote: 'the Word was God'

  Teaching: The Word of God is also distinct from God

  Quote: 'the Word was with God
• What is a great quote for John 1:14?


  "And the word became flesh and lived among us... full of grace and truth"
• Give 3 teaching that come from this quote in John 1:14?

  - This verse confirms that Jesus is the Word (or son) of God

  - The word 'grace' means free gift. Jesus is God's free gift to the human race

  - The Word came to earth to guide people to become closer with God
• What do Christians believe about the nature of Jesus?

  He is fully divine and fully human
• Jesus as fully human

  - Lived a normal childhood

  - Experienced a whole range of emotions
• What are the two meanings of 'Son of Man'?

  1. General Title for a human being

  2. Given the power + authority of that position by God
• Jesus as son of God

  - "Are you the Messiah?" "Jesus said, I am" - Mark 8:31
• Ichthus

  Greek word meaning fish

  Greek acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour"

  - In Christianity's early days, Christians could be persecuted for their faith, so the Ichthus became a symbol of faith and they could quickly draw it to show their faith
• Alpha and Omega

  beginning/end of Greek alphabet

  - Shows that God + Jesus are involved in everything from beginning to end
• Chi-Rho

  A symbol for Christ consisting of the first two letters of Christ in Greek

  Reminds Christians that Jesus was sent by God to save humanity through death

  Many Christians wear the Chi-Rho instead of the crucifix
• Give 4 reasons against religious art

  1) It isn't possible to portray God accurately as God power cannot be finite or limited by a painting or statute

  2) Art can mislead people about what God is like

  3) Praying in front of a image or stature may make people think that the statue IS the god

  4) It is against the second commandment - 'you shall not make for yourself an idol
• Why is religious art acceptable in Christianity?

  Due to God coming to earth as a form (Jesus) so this means that it is acceptable for Christians to depict God in art
• Give 3 reasons that the Catholic church gives as a reason for using art

  - It can inspire people to join the religion/re-ignite a spark of religion

  - It can help people to learn aspects of Jesus life

  - It can give people a focal point when praying
• Give 3 things that the 'sacred heart' shows

  - Flames coming from the heart - shows the burning love Jesus has for people

  - A hole in his heart represents when the soldiers stabbed Jesus in the side

  - One of Jesus hand are pointing towards the heart, trying to emphasise the love he has
• What are the Beatitudes?

  "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  
  

  Blessed are they who mourn,

  for they shall be comforted.

  
  

  Blessed are the meek,

  for they shall inherit the earth.

  
  

  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

  for they shall be satisfied.

  
  

  Blessed are the merciful,

  for they shall obtain mercy.

  
  

  Blessed are the pure of heart,

  for they shall see God.

  
  

  Blessed are the peacemakers,

  for they shall be called children of God.

  
  

  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
• What do the Beatitudes teach us?

  teach us how to live in order to enter God's Kingdom
• What is the parable of the sheep and the goat?

  A story in the bible in which Jesus tells us that when they serve and are kind to other people - they are also serving and being kind to God which will eventually get a Christian into heaven
• What was St Irenaeus' teachings about Jesus?

  In Order:

  - God is invisible - beyond imagination + sight

  - But Christians can get to understand what God is like through Jesus

  - Because Jesus is the Son of God, he displays qualities of God

  - So by examining the life + actions of Jesus, Christians can get a better understanding of God's nature
• What do 'Dei Verbum' and 'Verbum Domini' try to do in terms of how that present Jesus' nature?

  Try to balance out the understanding between Jesus as fully human and Jesus as fully God
• Give a quote about incarnation in Dei Verbum and give a bit of extra detail

  "Jesus Christ.. was sent as a man to men"

  - The son of God became a human to live among other humans
• What is grace and what does it do?

  - A free gift of God's love to all people

  - Gives believers strength to do what God want

  - Is the love that unites the trinity and gives life to all things
• What does the Catholic Church define a sacrament as?

  An outward sign of inner grace
• What is the sacramental nature of reality?

  It means that the whole of reality can be seen as a sacrament

  In other words:

  - The world and everything in it is a sign of God's love

  - God's presence and love can be seen throughout the world
• Describe of incarnation played an important role in helping Catholics to view the world as sacramental

  - Before the incarnation, God was a loving but distant God

  - Jesus coming to earth was the ultimate gift from God to show his love

  - Since Jesus lived in Earth, God's presence and therefore God's love is present

  - Even though Jesus is no longer here, he is here (and therefore God) in sprit

  - Jesus helped to bring God's love and presence into the world. This makes the world sacramental in nature
• What are the 7 sacraments?

  Baptism

  Reconciliation

  Eucharist (going to mass)

  Confirmation (choose to actively join the Church)

  Matrimony (get married)

  Holy Orders/Ordination (become a priest, bishop etc)

  Anointing of the Sick (person who is very sick is anointed)
• What do the sacraments do to a persons life?

  Sanctify it (make it holy)
• How does baptism bring Christians closer to God?

  The person becomes a child of God
• How does eucharist bring Christians closer to God?

  Receive the life of Christ
• How does reconciliation bring Christians closer to God?

  The persons relationship with God is restored
• How does the anointing of the sick bring Christians closer to God?

  - Give strength to the person

  - Forgives the persons sins
• When do Catholic believe life begins?

  At the moment of conception (is a whole person from that exact moment
• What are two ways that Catholics can help to protect an unborn child?

  1. Support a pro-life organisation that campaigns to reduce the abortion limit

  2. Support an organisation that cares for women who have not decided to abort their child and who may be facing emotional and economic problems
• Why is the Catholic Church against abortion?

  All life is made in the image of God (imago dei) and as human life begins at the moment of conception. Abortion would be murder as it kills the foetus, furthermore it goes against the commandment 'thou shalt not kill
• What are Two teachings from the Parable of the Sheep and Goats?

  1. By serving and caring for other people, they are serving God -> It shows how Christians should respond to those in need
  2. Teaches us that caring for people in need is extremely important, by showing love and kindness to other we will be judged favourably by God and rewarded