Religion Unit 1
Unit 1: Discipleship
● What is Discipleship? The term "disciple" comes from a Greek word for "student".
Discipleship is about learning and growing, with Jesus as the ultimate teacher, and
involves actively living out His teachings. It is a continuous response to God’s invitation
to be selfless and to choose love over fear.
● The Bible and Scripture:
○ The Bible is God's written Word, a collection of sacred writings that provide a
guide for faith.
○ Catholics believe God inspired the human writers of the Bible to convey the Truth
He wanted people to know. The Bible is considered "living and active".
○ In addition to Sacred Scripture, the Catholic faith is also built on Sacred
Tradition, which includes beliefs and teachings passed down from Jesus through
His Apostles.
○ The Catholic Bible has 73 books, which is different from the Protestant Bible,
which has 66.
The Old and New Testaments
● The Old Testament: This section is foundational to understanding the New Testament.
It contains history, prophecies, and laws that foreshadow the fulfillment of God’s plan in
Jesus. The first five books, known as the Pentateuch, describe creation, the history of
early humanity, and the laws given to Moses.
● The New Testament: This section builds on the Old Testament, focusing on Jesus as the
central figure. It contains accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, early Church history, and
guidelines for discipleship. The first four books are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John, which share the "Good News" of Jesus.
The Four Senses of Scripture
The four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—provide a
comprehensive way to understand the Bible.
● Literal Sense: This is the basic, intended meaning of the text, considering its historical
and cultural context. It helps answer "who, what, where, and when" questions.
● Allegorical Sense: This looks for deeper spiritual or theological meanings. It reveals
what the text teaches us about God’s Truth.
● Moral Sense: This provides guidance on how to act justly and live a life that aligns with
God's will. For example, the Ten Commandments provide explicit guidelines for living a
holy life.
● Anagogical Sense: This helps orient our lives toward eternal life in God's heavenly
kingdom. It reminds us of our ultimate destination with God.
Creation and Human Dignity
Unit 1: Discipleship
● What is Discipleship? The term "disciple" comes from a Greek word for "student".
Discipleship is about learning and growing, with Jesus as the ultimate teacher, and
involves actively living out His teachings. It is a continuous response to God’s invitation
to be selfless and to choose love over fear.
● The Bible and Scripture:
○ The Bible is God's written Word, a collection of sacred writings that provide a
guide for faith.
○ Catholics believe God inspired the human writers of the Bible to convey the Truth
He wanted people to know. The Bible is considered "living and active".
○ In addition to Sacred Scripture, the Catholic faith is also built on Sacred
Tradition, which includes beliefs and teachings passed down from Jesus through
His Apostles.
○ The Catholic Bible has 73 books, which is different from the Protestant Bible,
which has 66.
The Old and New Testaments
● The Old Testament: This section is foundational to understanding the New Testament.
It contains history, prophecies, and laws that foreshadow the fulfillment of God’s plan in
Jesus. The first five books, known as the Pentateuch, describe creation, the history of
early humanity, and the laws given to Moses.
● The New Testament: This section builds on the Old Testament, focusing on Jesus as the
central figure. It contains accounts of Jesus' life and teachings, early Church history, and
guidelines for discipleship. The first four books are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John, which share the "Good News" of Jesus.
The Four Senses of Scripture
The four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—provide a
comprehensive way to understand the Bible.
● Literal Sense: This is the basic, intended meaning of the text, considering its historical
and cultural context. It helps answer "who, what, where, and when" questions.
● Allegorical Sense: This looks for deeper spiritual or theological meanings. It reveals
what the text teaches us about God’s Truth.
● Moral Sense: This provides guidance on how to act justly and live a life that aligns with
God's will. For example, the Ten Commandments provide explicit guidelines for living a
holy life.
● Anagogical Sense: This helps orient our lives toward eternal life in God's heavenly
kingdom. It reminds us of our ultimate destination with God.
Creation and Human Dignity
