Course 1, Chapter 2: Teaching of Religion. — Scripture and Tradition

1. Why did God write his law?

God wrote his law to prevent men from forget ting or altering it. He himself gave the law to Moses written on tables of stone — he commanded him to write also his ordinances — the prophets afterwards and all the inspired writers wrote their prophecies, their instructions and the history of the Jewish people. All these books combined are called the Old Testament.

2. What does the word Testament signify?

The word Testament signifies alliance or covenant. The Old Testament is the alliance or covenant which God made with the ancient or Jewish people through the ministry of Moses. It is a contract which contains, on the one part, the commands and promises of God; and on the other, the engagements of the Jewish people to keep his commands.

3. How are the books of the Old Testament divided?

The books of the Old Testament may be divided into four parts: 1 st. The books of Moses, which are five in number; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They are called the Pentateuch, or the Law, because they contain the covenant. 2d. The historical books, which contain either the history of (he people of God in general, — such as the book of Joshua, that of Judges, the four books of Kings, the two books called Paralipomenon, the book of Esdras, that of Nehemias and the two books of Machabees; or the history of certain saints or other tilttxtrious person noes, such as the histories of Job, Ruth, Tobias. Judith and Esther.

4. Continue.

3d. The Old Testament contains books of instruction, which teach us how to live well; such aro

the Psalms of David, one hundred and fifty in number, the Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Canticle of Canticles, the book of Wisdom, and Ecclesiasticus. 4th. Prophetical books, namely, the books of the four great prophets, Isaias, Jeremias, Ezekiel and Daniel; to which may be added David and the twelve minor prophets, who are so called because they wrote less than the first four

5. What is the New Testament?

It is the alliance or covenant which God has made with the new or Christian people, through the ministry of Jesus Christ himself. This alliance is more perfect than the ancient.

6. Of what is the New Testament composed?

The New Testament is composed: 1st, of the historical books, which are the four Gospels — of St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke and St. John — and of the Acts of the Apostles written by St. Luke. 2d. The books of instruction, which are the letters written by the apostles to their disciples, or to the churches which they had founded. They are fourteen of St. Paul, one of St. James, two of St. Peter, three of St. John and one of St. Jude. 3d. The prophetic book, which is the Apocalypse of St. John.

7. What are the books of the Old and New Testa ment combined, called?

The books of the Old and New Testament combined, are called the Bible, that is " The Book " by excellence.

8. What do you understand by the inspiration, the authenticity and genuineness of the sacred books?

A book is inspired, when God himself has revealed the things which it contains and which the author could not have naturally known, or when God directs the author in the selection of things already known to him, and preserves him from error whilst writing them; it is authentic, when it has been really written by the author to whom it is attributed; it is

42 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

genuine, when it has come down to us, such as the author wrote it, without any essential alteration.

9. How do we know that the books of the Old and New Testament are inspired, authentic and genuine.?

We know that the books of the Old and New Testament are inspired, authentic and genuine by the testimony of Jews and Christians, by the testimony of the martyrs, and finally, by the teaching of the Catholic church whose infallibility is proved by incontestable miracles.

10. Are all the truths of religion found in the sacred Scriptures?

Not all the truths of religion are found in the sacred Scriptures — many of them have been handed down by tradition.

11. What is tradition?

Tradition signifies testimony or truth handed down. We here understand by tradition the word of God, not written in the sacred books, but handed down from father to son.

.Q. How many traditions are there?

A. There are two traditions, the Jewish and the Christian tradition.

12. What is the Jewish tradition?

The Jewish tradition is the word of God, not written in the Old Testament, but handed down among the Jews, either orally, or in writing.

13. What is Christian tradition?

Christian tradition is the word of God, not written in the New Testament, but which the apostles received from the mouth of Jesus Christ, which they trans mitted orally to their disciples, and which has comedown to us by the teachings or writings of the fathers or pastors of the church.

(J. Which are the two great sources of the truths of religion?

A . The two great sources of the truths of religion are the Scriptures and Tradition. We are bound to believe

the truths handed down to us by the universal tradition of the church, as well as those contained in the Scrip tures, since they are equally the word of God.