Sources of wisdom and authority

• Bible

  Christianity's sacred collection of texts that present beliefs about God and God's purposes for humanity and the rest of the created world
• Bible

  • The earliest writings date from the early first millennium BCE and are based on oral traditions that are centuries older
  • The latest writings belong to the second century CE
• Parts of the Bible

  • Old Testament
  • New Testament
• Parts of the Old Testament

  • The first five books (Torah/Law)
  • Historical writings
  • Prophetic books
  • Wisdom literature
• Parts of the New Testament

  • Gospels
  • Acts of the Apostles
  • Epistles
  • Book of Revelation
• Testament

  Covenant agreement
• Canon of the Bible

  Books believed by the leaders of the early Christian Church to be inspired by God and therefore authoritative
• Old Testament

  Covenant that God made with Israel on Mt Sinai through Moses
• New Testament

  Covenant made by God with humanity through the death of Jesus
• The books of the Bible contain beliefs about God and God's purposes for humanity and the rest of the created world
• The Canon of the Bible refers to the books believed by the leaders of the early Christian Church to be inspired by God and therefore authoritative
• The Old Testament refers to the covenant that God made with Israel on Mt Sinai through Moses
• The New Testament refers to the covenant made by God with humanity through the death of Jesus
• The four main parts of the Old Testament are: the first five books (Torah/Law), historical writings, prophetic books, and wisdom literature
• The four main parts of the New Testament are: Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Epistles, and the Book of Revelation
• Beliefs contained in the books of the Bible

  • Beliefs about God
  • Beliefs about God's purposes for humanity
  • Beliefs about the rest of the created world
• Special revelation


  The way in which God makes himself known in specific ways/times. The Bible and religious experiences are two forms of special revelation.
• General revelation

  The way in which God makes himself known to people through nature, reason and conscience, for instance. The knowledge of God that may be obtained in this way is available to all people at all times.
• Magisterium

  The teaching authority of the Catholic Church, consisting of the Pope and bishops.
• Once the Bible gained its fixed form, it could neither be added to nor taken away from
• Apostolic Tradition

  Tradition passed on in oral form (and eventually written down) by the Apostles.
• The Apostolic Tradition is always in agreement with what is contained in the Bible, though it may contain truths not found in the Bible.
• Tradition

  A living form of the truth in that it is added to by new insights, e.g. ethical teachings on bio-medical issues.
• The passing on and interpretation of the Bible and Tradition are overseen by the Magisterium.
• The Magisterium receives the authority from God to give an interpretation of both the Bible and Tradition that is authentic, and its teachings must be obeyed.
• Let us not change The Ward
• It is by the standard of Scripture that the believer judges all other teaching.
• You are a chasen race, a