Sumney 1-18 Key Terms

Rev 21:27-22:11

"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." "No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." John and the Angel, Epilogue: Invitation and Warning

Genesis 1-11

"The Primeval History" (symbolic accounts about things that happened long before we have any historical records) and the two creation accounts

Lex Talionis

"eye for eye and tooth for tooth"

The Way

(1) "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6). (2) "The way" God has called us to is challenging. It is not just a hobby, but a total way of life. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14). 3. "The Way" became a title for followers of Jesus—the name of their belief before the term "Christian" was used. "And asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem" (Acts 9:2; see Acts 11:26 for the first reference to Christians).

The Elder

(1) Self-designation of the writer of 2 and 3 John. (2) It refers to a leadership position within the early church.

Gospel

(1) a word that means "good news." (20 books that tell of jesus. in the new testament, these are narratives of jesus's life. some extracanonical gospels focus only in the sayings of jesus (for example, the gospel of thomas). (3) the message about what jesus accomplishes for the relationship between god and humanity and for relations about fellow human beings

Evangelists

(1) author of a gospel (ex. matthew or mark). (2) someone who preaches the gospel

Joseph

(1) in Genesis, Joseph is one of the 12 sons of Jacob who are the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel. (2) In the New Testament, he is the husband of Mary

Israel

(1) name given to Jacob which becomes the designation for his descendants. (2) the name taken by the northern kingdom (capital in Samaria) when the Israelites split into 2 nations following the reign of Solomon

Judah

(1) one of the twelve sons of Jacob who are the traditional ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. (2) the name of the southern kingdom whose capital was in Jerusalem, when the Israelites divided into 2 nations. (3) the region around Jerusalem, known as Judea in New Testament times

Elders

(1) self-designation of the writer of 2 and 3 john. (2) it refers to a leadership position within the early church

David

(Old Testament) the 2nd king of the Israelites

Moses

(Old Testament) the Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites from Egypt across the Red sea on a journey known as the Exodus

2 Macc 6-7

(martyrdom) curative exit rite involving human sacrifice occurs. The lives of Eleazar, the mother and her seven sons are surrendered for the sake of the nation. There is a preponderance of cultic vocabulary that points in the direction of sacrifice.

wisdom/hokma

-A secular approach, not divine, but it is still believed that God controls it -The method of learning about Yahweh through observation of his world

Food offered to idols

1 Cor 8

Deborah

1100 B. C. judge and prophet of the old testament; started a war against the Canaanites. Only female judge

Paul's disputed letters

2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians

Rachel

2nd and favored wife of Jacob. She was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin

Elijah

9th century Israelite prophet who performed many miracles and called the people to worship only God. HE opposed the reign of Ahab and his dynasty because if their unfaithfulness to God. He was also the head of the school of prophets

Old Testament

A Christian designation for the Hebrew Bible

proselyte

A Gentile who converts fully to Judaism

Qoheleth

A Hebrew word for Ecclesiastes, meaning "preacher" or "one who convokes an assembly."

Jesus

A Jew from Galilee in northern Israel who sought to reform Jewish beliefs and practices. He was executed as a revolutionary by the Romans. He is the basis of the world's largest religion.

Vaticinium ex eventu

A Latin phrase that means "prophecy after the fact." Apocalyptic writers used their knowledge of history to describe past kingdoms and rulers through the use of symbolism. What was history for the actual author was future for the person to whom the apocalypse was attributed.

Synopsis/Gospel Parallels

A book that places side by side in columns the parallel passages found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, so that readers can readily observe how these accounts are similar and how they are different.

Gymnasium

A central educational institution of classical Greece. Alexander the Great and his successors used it to spread Greek culture throughout the Ancient Near East.

anthology

A collection of various writings, such as songs, stories, or poems

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using like or as

Hallel psalms

A hymn that begins or ends with the imperative "hallelujah" and builds into a climax of praise. The Psalter contains two sections of hallel hymns. The first is Pss 113-118 (Egyptian Hallels) and the second is Pss 145-150 (The Great Hallel's).

Phoebe

A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae, she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans. Paul refers to her both as a "servant" or "deacon" (Greek diakonos) and as a helper or patron of many (Greek prostatis).

Ex eventu prophecy

A prophecy written after the event that fulfills it has already happened. Many pseudepigraphic works employ this technique so that they seem reliable when they predict what is truly still in the future.

Josiah

A reforming king of Judah who returned the people to the worship of God. During his reign the Book of the Law was found in the Temple, where it might have been hidden during Manasseh's persecutions.

Redaction Criticism

A scholarly approach to the study of Scripture that attempts to see how each of the Gospel writers edited, or redacted, materials for that Gospel's audience.

Essenes

A semimonastic interpretation of Judaism. They began as a protest against the way the Maccabeans were running the temple. Their eschatology fueled their expectation that God would intervene to put them in charge of the temple. They were probably the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Parable

A simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

conclusion

A summary based on evidence or facts

Messianic Secret

A theme in the Gospel of Mark that portrays the disciples and others as recognizing Jesus' identity as the Messiah. However, Jesus directed them not to tell anyone else.

Formal Correspondence

A type of translation in which the translator tries to stay as close to a word-for-word translation as possible.

Satan

A word that means opposer. In the book of Job this figure in the heavenly court serves as the prosecuting attorney in heaven. By the time of the New Testament, that term has become the name of the ruler of the demonic realm.

Mosaic Covenant

Agreement between God and the Israelites that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. God agreed to make the Israelites God's special people and the people agreed to make God their only god and to obey God's other laws.

Codex Sinaiticus

Alexandrian codex New Testament and most of the Old Testament.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Gentiles

All non-Jews

Feast of Purim

Also called the "Feast of Lots," it celebrates the victory of the Jews over the Persian "prime minister," Haman, in the fifth century BC. "Lots" refers to the lots Haman randomly drew to determine the day on which he would slaughter the Jews.

Sanhedrin

An assembly of Jewish religious leaders—chief priests, rabbis, scribes, and elders—who functioned as the supreme council and tribunal during the time of Christ.

slaughtered lamb

An image of Christ that appears in Revelation. A lamb represents both a helpless victim and a sacrificial gift. It signifies that the martyrdom of Jesus was not the last word. The resurrection has shown the power of God to be greater than the forces that killed Jesus.

Exodus 3:12-14

And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be a sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

Messiah

Anointed one. various people throughout the hebrew bible were anointed, a way of appointing someone to perform specific tasks. the early church narrowed the definition of messiah so that it designates only jesus, the one who fulfills all proper expectation for the person god would send. to do this, they must radically redefine the tasks of the messiah

Lam 3:14-34

Because of the Lord's great love...great is your fathfulness. steadfast love never ceases

docetism

Belief that Jesus did not have a physical body, but was only a spiritual presence in the world.

Jerome

Biblical scholar who translated the Bible into Latin (324-420). His translation, called the Vulgate

Apocrypha

Books found in the Septuagint, but not in the Hebrew Bible. deuterocanical

Wisdom Literature

Books that reflect the literary forms and outlook of the Wisdom tradition. They rely more on observation and interpretation of the world than on direct revelation from God.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Good Samaritan

Central character in a parable of Jesus. He helps a person who has been beaten and robbed. He is an example of the way Luke emphasizes outcasts because his ethnic identity made him objectionable as the story's hero to those in Jesus' audience.

The Fall

Christian name for the story in Genesis of the 1st human sin.

Son of God

Claim made for Jesus in many New Testament writings. It asserts that Jesus has an extraordinarily intimate relationship with God.

John the Baptist

Cousin of Jesus who baptizes Jesus as Jesus begins his ministry. John acts as the one who prepares for the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels. Some scholars think that Jesus was a follower of John before Jesus began his independent ministry.

Joshua 24

Covenant Renewed at Shechem / Death of Joshua

2 Samuel 11

David and Bathsheba

1 Samuel 16

David anointed in Bethlehem to be next king

2 Samuel 7

Davidic Covenant

Hasmonean Dynasty

Descendants of the Maccabees who ruled in Judea after the ousting of the last of the Syrians in 141 BC until the establishment of Roman authority in 63 BC.

Synoptic Gospels

Designation for Matthew, Mark, and Luke, given because they are alike in so many ways. The Synoptic Problem is the question of how these Gospels are related to one another. Most interpreters think they have some literary relationship.

Barnabas

Early member of the Jerusalem church who becomes a missionary of the Antioch church. From there he recruits Paul to be a missionary with him and they travel together in southeastern Asia Minor (Turkey) establishing churches that are made up primarily of Gentiles.

Amenemope

Egyptian author of a wisdom document that was apparently modified for use in Proverbs 22:17-24:22

Apokalypsis

English transliteration of a Greek term meaning "a revelation an unveiling of what is hidden" Paul uses term to describe the divine source of his unique teaching

Herod Archelaus

Ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, so misruled his territory that he was recalled to Rome. His evil reputation caused Joseph and Mary to avoid Judea and settle in Nazareth.

Exile Prophets

Ezekiel and Daniel

Flavius Josephus

First century Jewish writer who was a general in the revolt of 66-70. after his capture he becomes the historian for the Roman general (who would soon be emperor Vespasian. His writings give us important information about 1st century Judaism and the war in which the Jerusalem temple was destroyed

Saul

First king of Israel who was eventually rejected by God for disobedience and taking the prerogative of a priest by offering a sacrifice.

Philo

First-century Jewish writer and philosopher. Known for his platonic and allegorical interpretations of the biblical texts, his many writings give important information about some Jewish thought in this period.

Seleucus

General of Alexander the Great. Upon Alexander's death, he became ruler of the area that included Persia, Babylonia, Syria, and part of southern Asia Minor.

God-fearers

Gentiles who embraced Jewish theology, worship, and morality, but who did not convert fully to Judaism, viewing such matters as circumcision and purity laws as being for ethnic Jews only.

Julius Wellhausen

German biblical scholar (1844-1918). His hypothesis about multiple sources used to write the Pentateuch, called the Documentary Hypothesis, had a great impact of the understanding of the Hebrew Bible.

Hermann Gunkel

German scholar who pioneered form criticism in biblical studies. He sought to identify genres of psalms and to determine their life settings in Israelite societies. He moved scholars away from speculating on who wrote individual psalms by focusing on how the psalms functioned in Israelite culture.

Sirach 38

Give doctors the honor they deserve, for the Lord gave them their work to do.[a] 2 Their skill came from the Most High, and kings reward them for it. 3 Their knowledge gives them a position of importance, and powerful people hold them in high regard. 4 The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a sensible person will not hesitate to use them. 5 Didn't a tree once make bitter water fit to drink, so that the Lord's power[b] might be known? 6 He gave medical knowledge to human beings, so that we would praise him for the miracles he performs.

Logos/ The Word

God reveals himself to us through the words and actions of Jesus; Jesus is known as the Word.

David as composer/musician

God sent the Prophet Samuel to Bethlehem and guided him to David, a humble shepherd and talented musician. He brought the young man to Saul's court, where his harp was so soothing that Saul called for David whenever he was vexed by an "evil spirit" sent by God (I Samuel 9:16)

christos

Greek word for "anointed one" and "Messiah"

Ekklesia

Greek word for Church (congregation)

Christos

Greek word for Messiah

Romans 16

Guidelines for Christian fellowship

Post-Exilic Prophets

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi Assure the people that God would deal with the restored community according to the same principles of the Covenant

Philippians 2:5-11

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Marcion

He argued that the Hebrew Bible came from a different god than the God seen in Jesus. He accepted as Scripture only ten letters of Paul and an edited version of Luke; he accepted none of the Hebrew Bible.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Seleucid Dynasty

Hellenistic Dynasty that had control over Persian Empire; Mauryan kingdom made from this, biggest dynasty, largest of the kingdoms that succeeded Alexander the Great

12 minor prophets

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

2 Kings 17: 1-20

Hoshea Last King of Israel / Israel Exiled / Samaria Resettled

Psalms

Hymns or songs of prayer to God that express praise, thanksgiving, or lament.

Prologue to Sirach

In Egypt, it was translated into Greek by the author's unnamed grandson, who added a prologue. This prologue is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text is the subject of intense scrutiny. The book itself is the largest wisdom book from antiquity to have survived.[3]

Hellenistic letter style

In Hellenistic-style letters, the opening was usually followed by a prayer. Paul follows this format, usually stating the main theme of the letter

3 major prophets

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel

1 Samuel 8

Israel rejects God's leadership and asks for a human king

Leah

Jacob's first wife who he was tricked into marrying.

Saul of Tarsus

Jewish name of the persecutor of the church who has an experience of the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and becomes to apostle Paul

1 Macc 1-2

Jewish people look towards Rome for allies.

Hellenistic Jews

Jewish people who were unable to understand Hebrew. Most Diaspora Jews understood Greek, the dominant language of the Mediterranean world.

Nicodemus

Jewish teacher who came to see Jesus in the Gospel of John (John 3)

Second Temple of Jerusalem

Jews in their worship of God in the time period beginning with the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple at their return from Babylonian exile (c. 530) and ending with the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 CE

Pre-exile prophets

Jonah, Amos, Hosea, focused on messages of warning

maccabean revolt

Judean revolt that began in 167 BCE against the decrees outlawing the practice of Judaism in Judea by Antiochus IV.

Solomon

King of Israel after David. He is known for being wise and for building the first temple to God in Jerusalem.

Peter

Leader among the disciples of Jesus who becomes known as the apostle to the Jews

Judas Maccabeus

Led a Jewish family in revolting against the Greek Empire, resulting in the Jews taking back control of The Temple for some time.

Holiness Code

Leviticus 17-26, the section that defines the ways the people of Israel are to live so that they are holy

Romans 8

Living by the Spirit

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who conquers southern Greece and then all the territory east to the border of India, reaching as far north as the Black Sea and as far south as North Africa. This created the largest empire the world had seen. in all territories he instituted the policy of Hellenization to form a common culture based on greek culture

Rev 1:1-20

Main Point: unveiling of Christ, shows Jesus as exalted son of Man and Lord of the Church. You see Christ in the midst of the lampstands (in the heavenly courts) Historical Context: Arrogant paganism on one side religious zealousness on the other and Christians are being persecuted Key NT Beliefs: future return of Christ and Judgement

Four-source theory of Synoptic Gospel composition

Mark wrote the first Gospel. Luke and Matthew both used Mark and Q as sources of information about Jesus. In addition, Matthew used material from M, and Luke used material from L.

The Synoptics

Matthew, Mark, and Luke; literally means "seeing with the same eye"

Daniel 7-12

More visions of the four great empires and the end times.

Ecclesiastes

Name of a book of the Hebrew Bible. It is an example of the wisdom tradition in Israelite culture. This book questions whether life is meaningful.

City of Seven Hills

Nickname for the city of Rome in the first century. Revelation alludes to this name in one of its images as a sign to readers that it is talking about the empire.

Noncanonical gospels

Noncanonical writings are early Christian documents that are not found in the New Testament.

Alexandria, Egypt

One of the cities founded by and named for Alexander the Great; site of ancient Mediterranean's greatest library; center of literary studies

Pharisees

One of the leading interpretations of Judaism in the first century CE. They were known as the expert interpreters of the Law.

Philemon

Owner of Onesimus and primary addressee of one of Paul's letters.

Luke 10:25-37

Parable of the Good Samaritan; tribalism is inadequate.

Elizabeth and Zechariah

Parents of John the Baptist

Second missionary journey

Paul's missionary journey northwest from Antioch, across the landmass that today is Turkey. He went north into Macedonia and then south to Athens and Corinth. From there he took the sea route back to Jerusalem and then to Antioch

Thanksgiving section

Paul's modification of the Hellenistic health wish, expressing thanksgiving for spiritual attributes of his addressees. He might summarize the content of his prayer for them. Some thanksgiving sections conclude by mentioning the second coming of Christ. The thanksgiving section often gives an idea of the major themes Paul will pursue in his letter as a whole.

Baal

Popular Canaanite god who ranked high in their pantheon. He was also the storm god.

Tabernacle

Portable worship structure described in Exodus that served as the temple for God while the Israelites were in the wilderness.

Halleluia

Praise God

Lord's Prayer

Prayer Jesus teaches his disciples. In Matthew it appears in the Sermon on the Mount; a shorter version appears in Luke

Davidic Covenant

Promise that the line of rulers from one family would last foreve, 2 Samuel 7

imprecatory psalm

Psalms that ask God to harm others and put curses on one's enemies

1 Kings 12:1-19

Rehboam's Folly / Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel. Jeroboam fled from Solomon

Domitian

Roman emperor from 81 to 96 C.E.; some think he instigated the persecution of the church that broke out soon after his reign

Emperor Nero

Roman emperor, 37-68. he accused the church of setting the fire that damaged much of the city of Rome in 64. This may be the first time that the Roman government officially identified members of the church, as a group that was something other than simply a sect within Judaism

Pontius Pilate

Roman persecutor of Palestine who condemns Jesus to death

Paul's genuine letters

Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon

Herod the Great

Ruler of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and the Decapolis from 37 to 4 BCE. In Matthew's Gospel he is still in power at the birth of Jesus. He was a ruthless and domineering ruler, but he also carried out a number of public works projects, including the enormous expansion of the temple in Jerusalem.

1 Samuel 9

Saul is chosen as king

Parousia

Second coming of Christ at the end of things as the world knows them.

LXX

Septuagint

Ptolemaic dynasty

Series of Greek rulers of ancient Egypt that began after Alexander the Great conquered Egypt

Rehoboam

Solomon's son and heir. His pride caused all but two of the twelve tribes to rebel against him.

Benedictus

Song/poem Zechariah recites when he gets his voice back at the naming of John the Baptist

Sophia/Wisdom

Sophia is Greek for wisdom. In the Hebrew scripture, Sophia is feminine and is the consort to God. God speaks wisdom into being, and she is before creation. Wisdom is present in creation and is the intermediary responsible for creation since God speaks creation into being through Wisdom. Thus, Wisdom is the architect of creation in Hebrew. The prologue to the Gospel of John equates Jesus, the Logos of God to Wisdom in that the Logos was present before creation and through him all things were created.

Eschatology

Study of the end times, when it will be and what is to happen at that time. Often this area of study also includes discussion of the state of the dead in the present.

Elisha

Successor of Elijah. At Elijah's death he becomes the leader of the "school of the prophets" and continues Elijah's ministry of opposing Israelite monarchs who worship multiple gods.

Angelic revealers

Supernatural beings who interpret dreams and visions for the main character in an apocalypse. They also frequently take the main character up to heaven to reveal heavenly realities.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Syrian king who outlawed Judaism in Judea and defiled the temple in 167 BCE. His actions led to the Maccabean Revolt. He added the title Epiphanes to his name.

Mission Theology

Teachings that address specific areas of concern for the particular groups to whom Paul wrote letters. His mission theology responded to concrete situations that people faced-formulations of theology given in response to specific needs.

Community of the Beloved Disciple

The Christian community for whom the Fourth Gospel was written- a group for which the Beloved Disciple for some time provided primary leadership

Preexistence

The Christian doctrine that Christ existed (in the form of God) before he became the man Jesus who lived and died on earth.

Philip and the Ethiopian officer

The Ethiopian was on his way home from Jerusalem. His chosen reading to pass the hours away was from the prophet Isaiah and he must have wondered about the servant lamb Isaiah was referring to. When Philip ran up beside the chariot the eunuch was reading Isaiah 53:7-8 and he was confused by what he was reading. Philip went on to explain the good news of Jesus Christ. His words aren't recorded but he probably explained the whole context of Isaiah and connected the suffering and sacrificial lamb in Isaiah dying on behalf of the people in order to rescue them to the suffering and sacrificial death of Jesus who died on behalf of the people to rescue them. See John 1:29-31 and Hebrews 9:24-28. Part of the good news that Philip shared must have included discussion about being baptised into King Jesus to become members of the forgiven people of God. It was the Ethiopian eunuch who requested to be baptised. See Acts 2:22-39 and Romans 6:3-10.

Ethiopian officer/eunuch

The Ethiopian was probably a proselyte (a Gentile who has converted to Judaism) but would not have been allowed full privileges at the temple because he was a eunuch (Deuteronomy 23:1). It is interesting that he chose to read from Isaiah. As a eunuch he must have been drawn to Isaiah's writing because Isaiah talks about God's acceptance of those, including eunuchs, who worship him (Isaiah 56:3-5). A eunuch is a castrated man who is employed to serve/guard a woman's living area

Beloved Disciple

The Fourth Gospel refers in several places to the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Church Father St. Irenaeus attributed the Gospel of John to the Beloved Disciple. Church tradition identified this John as one of the Apostles.

Christ

The Greek term for "Messiah." It means "the anointed one."

Septuagint

The Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures

Vulgate

The Latin translation of the whole Bible completed by Jerome in about 405 C.E.

1 Corinthians 11:17-29

The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The Resurrection is a historical fact and is crucial to Christianity.

Cornelius

The Roman centurion, who in Acts 10-11 becomes the first Gentile convert to the church.

Herod Antipas

The Son of Herod the Great and ruler of Galilee. He had St. John the Baptist imprisoned and put to death for speaking out against his illicit relationship with the wife of his half-brother, Philip. Pontius Pilate, seeking to avoid controversy with the Jews, sent Jesus to Herod Antipas for judgment. After mocking Christ, however, Herod sent him back to Pilate, who condemned Jesus to death.

Song of Songs

The Song of Solomon is also called "The Song of Songs," suggesting that it is the greatest of all songs. The first title implies that King Solomon composed the collection of love poems, but Solomon's name was probably added at a later date by the song's editors, perhaps because of references within the text to the wise and prolific king. This attribution to Solomon led to the book's inclusion in the Hebrew Bible and later, Christian versions of the Old Testament. Early Hebrew and Christian scholars long maintained that the love story is an allegory of God's love for humankind, or of the intensity of divine love within the human heart. However, it is undeniable that the song celebrates not only human love but also the sensuous and mystical quality of erotic desire.

Theology of Retribution

The belief that God rewards those who live virtuous lives with health, wealth, many children and long lives, and, conversely, that God punishes those who live foolishly and wickedly by giving them sickness, poverty, few children and short lives.

Wisdom of Ben Sira (Sirach)

The book contains numerous well-crafted maxims, grouped by affinity, and dealing with a variety of subjects such as the individual, the family, and the community in their relations with one another and with God. It treats of friendship, education, poverty and wealth, laws, religious worship, and many other matters that reflect the religious and social customs of the time. Written in Hebrew in the early years of the second century B.C., the book was finished by ca. 175. The text was translated into Greek by the author's grandson after 117 B.C. He also wrote a foreword which contains valuable information about the book, its author, and himself as translator. Until the close of the nineteenth century the Wisdom of Ben Sira was known to Christians in translations, of which the Greek rendering was the most important. From it the Latin version was made. Between 1896 and 1900, again in 1931, and several times since 1956, incomplete manuscripts were discovered, so that more than two thirds of the book in Hebrew is available; these Hebrew texts agree substantially with the Greek. One such text, from Masada, is pre-Christian in date. The New American Bible provides a critical translation based on the evidence of all the ancient texts. Though not included in the Jewish Bible after the first century A.D., nor, therefore, accepted by Protestants, the Wisdom of Ben Sira has been recognized by the Catholic Church as inspired and canonical. The Foreword, though not properly part of the book, is always included with it because of its antiquity and importance. The contents of the Wisdom of Ben Sira are of a discursive nature, not easily divided into separate parts. Chapters 1-43 deal largely with moral instruction; 44:1-50:24 contain a eulogy of the heroes of Israel. There are two appendixes in which the author expresses his gratitude to God (51:1-12), and invites the unschooled to acquire true wisdom (51:13-30).

classical prophecy

The designation for the kind of prophecy that begins in the eighth century BCE. The prophets of this era communicate with a wider circle of people, including average Israelites, and more of their messages were put into writing. These prophets are known for their message of the necessity of social justice and the worship of only God.

Matthias

The disciple chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve

Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

The endless cycle of nature

2 Kings 24:8-25:12

The fall of Judah to Babylon 586 B.C.

Hasmoneans

The family name of the Maccabean leaders

Closing greetings and admonitions

The final portion of a Pauline letter in which he gives final greetings and admonitions to his readers. He often names specific individuals in the church he addresses, sends greetings from his co-workers and provides a closing benediction. Sometimes he calls attention to his signature.

Antioch

The first community that included both Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus was established in this city.

Augustus Caeser

The first emperor of the the Roman Empire; his rule began a 200- year period of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Roman.

First Missionary Journey

The first journey of Paul, which took him initially to the island of Cyprus, north to the region of Pamphylia and then into the southern part of Galatia. Barnabas accompanied him.

Canonical Gospels

The four gospels that are included in the bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

The Twelve

The inner circle of followers that the Gospels have Jesus gather around him. there are twelve so they can represent the eschatologically reconstituted people of Israel, who represent the people of god

Samuel

The last of the Judges, and the man chosen by God to anoint Saul and David kings for Israel.

letter body

The main part of the letter, providing the central message the writer intended to convey to the addressee. Paul expresses his mission theology and accompanying exhortations in the letter body.

Dead Sea Scrolls

The manuscripts, earliest evidence for the form of the text of the Hebrew Bible.

Shema'

The most basic confession within Judaism. It is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one"

Theophilus

The name given to the audience of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles; it means "lover of God" or "God fearer."

Candace

The name of a line of queens who ruled Ethiopia.

Matthew 25:31-46

The parable of the sheep and the goats

Passion Narrative

The part of the Gospel that recounts Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trial, suffering, death, and burial

Garden of Eden

The place God created for Adam and Eve. This is a metaphor for the "perfect place with God."

pseudonymity

The practice of writing under a fictitious name, evident in a large number of pagan, Jewish, and Christian writings from antiquity.

theodicy

The problem of the presence of evil and basic unfairness that exist in a world made by an all-good God. It is sometimes expressed by a person asking why bad things happen to good people.

"M"

The regular letter indicates the revealed - everything that we see in creation and understand in the simplest way. This letter מ is closed on all sides, except for a small opening on the bottom. It also has, on the left side, a little piece pointing upward towards the heavens. This piece, together with the open part at the bottom, indicate the combination of heaven and earth which allows us to understand the physical aspects of the creation.

Resurrection Narratives

The scriptural accounts of Jesus' bodily rising from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion and burial

Ritual Purity

The state of readiness to enter the presence of God

Exodus

The story of the Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt. This story becomes the foundational story for their understanding of themselves and God

Deuteronomistic History

The telling of the story of the life of the nations of the Israelites from the perspective of the paradigm set out in Deuteronomy (that is, faithfulness brings blessing to the nation and unfaithfulness will bring defeat and disaster). Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings

Proverbs 31:10-31

The wife of noble character

Documentary Hypothesis

Theory that holds that the books of the Pentateuch (or Hexateuch) were composed from sources written earlier (J- jahwist, E- elohist, D- deuteronomist, and P- priestly author of leviticus)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

There is a time for everything

Babylonian Empire

They replace the Assyrian Empire as the dominant power in the region.

Three Stages of Gospel Formation

They were formed in 3 stages: life and teachings of Jesus, oral tradition, and written tradition. They present four different portraits that appeal to different audiences.

Proverbs 22:17-24:22

Thirty Sayings of the Wise: How to Relate to Other People

2 Kings 22:13-30

This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. 17 Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all the idols their hands have made,[a] my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched.' 18 Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard:

"L"

This letter is the tallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Since it stands taller than all the other letters, it represents royalty. In fact, it represents the King of all kings, the Almighty. It also represents the לֵב (lev) heart, as it is located in the center of the Hebrew alphabet. The name of the letter - לָמֶד (lamed) - refers to לִימוּדִים (limudim) studies, or learning, which is the thing that most elevates people. Thanks to learning, a person's spiritual level rises and soars and they understand the meaning of creation. The name of the letter לָמֶד (lamed) comes from its shape - מַלְמַד הַבָּקָר (malmad habakar) cattle prod or a shepherd's staff. Malmad habakar was a tool used in Biblical times. It was a piece of wood that was shaped like the letter lamed. The shepherd or farmer used it to direct his animals, as if he was מְלַמֵד (melamed) teaching the animals the correct way to go.9

Elohim

This name for God is the plural of the Hebrew word El (god).

Qumran

Thought to be a settlement of the Essenes at the north end of the Dead Sea. where dead sea scrolls were found

Second Coming

Time when Christ returns to earth, bringing God's judgement, the resurrection of the dead, and the end of the world as it is now known.

Theophany

Visionary experience of the presence of God

Rebekah

Wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau. Her favoritism toward Jacob helped him attain the blessing of Isaac that was supposed to go to the firstborn son, Esau.

Martyrdom

Witness to the saving message of Christ through the sacrifice of one's life.

Huldah

Woman prophet who confirmed that the book found in the temple during Josiah's reform was God's word (2 Kgs 22:3-20)

Job 38:1-42:6

Yahweh Speeches God speaks from the Whirlwind/Tempest

Jacob

Younger son of Isaac who is the ancestor of Jews in Genesis. Even though he is an underhanded and unlikeable character, he is the one God chooses to work through in the Genesis narrative.

Judges

a book in the Deuteronomistic Histories. It is named "judges," that is, the 12 people who one different occasions led the Israelites against their neighbors after they had been subdued, the books says, because of their unfaithfulness to god

TaNaK/Tanakh

a common name for the Hebrew Bible within the Jewish community. It is an acronym based on the three parts of those texts: the Torah (T), the Nebi'im (N), or Prophets; and the Ketubim (K), or Writings

cognitive dissonance

a distressed mental state that occurs when a person's beliefs about the self or the world are significantly different from the way they actually experience the world or from other ideas about the world that they continue to hold

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Covenant

a formal and binding agreement 2 or more parties.

apocalypse

a genre of literature (apocalypse) and a way of understanding the world. the genre has a heavenly being bring a message about god's actions to enact justice. both the literature and the worldview envision this action happening soon. the fullest example of the genre in the new testament is the book of revelation

Canon

a group of authoritative writings

Pentecost

a harvest festival within Judaism that also celebrates the giving of the Law to Moses. This pilgrimage feast comes 50 days after the Passover. In Acts, it is on this feast day that the church comes into existence

Apodictic Law

a law that is set out in the form of a command or prohibition, such as "You shall..." or "You shall not..."

Beatitudes

a list of aphorisms in the sermon on the mount in which sets out the attitudes his followers should adopt. these attitudes of the "blessed" are countercultural or contrary to any expectation of the wat things are in the world

Synonymous Parallelism

a literary technique used in Hebrew poetry that repeats in immediately successive lines the same idea using different language or imagery

Antithetic Parallelism

a literary technique used in Hebrew poetry that sets opposite ideas or statements in immediately successive lines

proverb (mashal)

a literary term that designates a brief wise saying; for example, "pride goes before a fall"

Codex

a manuscript in the form of a modern book.

Fundamentalism

a movement that originated in the 19th century in opposition to the use of Enlightenment methods and thought in the areas of theology and biblical studies.

Paul/Saul, Apostle to the Gentiles

a persecutor of the church who has an experience of the risen Christ on the way to Damascus that leads him to become a believer. He becomes the apostle and leading missionary to the Gentiles in the first generation of the church. His letters to his churches account for more in the New Testament than any other author

Prophet

a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.

Epic of Gilgamesh

a story of Utnapishtim building an ark in which he and the animals survive a worldwide flood

Allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

psalter (tehillim)

a term for the collection of psalms in the Hebrew bible otherwise called the Psalms

Historical Speech

a widely used literary technique involving the insertion into a narrative of speeches by main characters in order to provide important details that the author wished to communicate to readers

Rev 7:9-17

all nations in heaven

Koine Greek

also known as Alexandrian dialect, common Attic, Hellenistic or Biblical Greek, was the common supra-regional form of Greek spoken and written during the Hellenistic period, the Roman Empire and the early Byzantine Empire

Papyrus

an ancient writing material (much like paper). The earliest extant copies of New Testament books are written on papyrus

Transfiguration

an episode in the gospels in which jesus is transformed into a glorious (that is, shiny) state

Sacrifice

anything dedicated to or offered to a god

Deuterocanonical

books included in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox canons, also called the Apocrypha

Masoretic Text

copied the text to preserve its integrity. They also added vowels and accents to make the text easier to read and understand.

Son of Man (human being)

could be translated "son of a human." this ambiguous phrase could refer simply to a person or a mortal, but in the Gospels it designates Jesus as one who has an eschatological role. when these writers provide any clues about the phrase's meaning, it refers to the one who comes on the clouds bringing god's judgement. this understanding develops from the use of the expression in daniel 7:13-14

Diaspora Jews

designation for Jews who live outside Palestine. Since the Babylonian exile, more Jews have always lived outside Palestine than lived inside Palestine

"Q"

designation for the written source that contained the preserved sayings of jesus: both matthew and luke used q to supplement the material they found in mark. no copies of this work have survived

Conditional/Caustic Law

determining rightness/wrongness of an act on basis of general principles

Address

direct a speech to; deal with or discuss

Redaction

editing and organization of a religion's scriptures

TIberius Caesar

emperor when Jesus was crucified

Assyrian Empire

empire that arose in the 8th century BCE. Its capital was in Nineveh, near today's Mosul in northern Iraq (250 miles from Baghdad)

Onesimus

enslaved person who was owned by Philemon whom Paul sent back to his master. Paul's letter to Philemon gives instructions about the treatment of Onesimus

immortality

eternal life

Lamentation

expression of regret or sorrow. (Lament Psalms - psalms that mourn a personal or national loss or defeat)

Sermon on the Mount in Matthew

first of the five discourses (speeches) in matthew. matthew composes this discourse mostly from Q material. the material in the sermon on the mount includes: the beatitudes, the lord's prayer (Our Father), and a series of jesus's interpretations of the law

Infalliable

free from error; absolutely dependable

eschalot

garlic or onions. Numbers 11:5

Ptolemy

general of alexander the great. at alexander's death he became ruler of egypt and coele-syria (that is, much of the region once known as canaan up through the bekka valley)

Grace

god's disposition and determination to do good for, be in relationship, and bless

Pastoral nomads

groups of herders who move with their animals from place to place in search of pasture and water

lament: individual, communal

individual: an individual worshipper cries out to Yahweh in time of need. The structure of these psalms includes: an invocation of Yahweh, the complaint, the request for help, an expression of certainty that Yahweh will hear and answer the prayer, and in many cases a vow to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice. Three aspects have been the subject of extensive study: the identity of the "enemies" who are often the reason for the complaint; the meaning of the term poor, which is frequently used to describe the worshipper; and the sudden transition in mood to certainty that the prayer has been heard. Psalms of this type form the largest group in the Psalter. communal: Its setting was some situation of national calamity, when a period of prayer, fasting, and penitence would be observed. In such psalms Yahweh is invoked, the crisis is described, Yahweh's help is sought, and confidence that the prayer has been heard is expressed.

First Jewish Revolt

led by the Zealots who hated the Roman rule and they used violence to overthrow the government and were unsuccessful

Hellinization

making things greek. the successors of alexander the great followed his lead in spreading greek culture and the greek language throughout the ancient mediterranean world

1 Macc 8

military assistance treaty with rome and judeans (foreign problems)

Scribe

most generally a scribe is anyone who copies documents by hand. it usually refers to people employed to do this before the printing press was invented. in biblical texts, scribes are usually religious professionals. because their work involves copying the religious texts, they became experts on what was in them and often in how to interpret them

Codex Vaticanus

most reliable manuscripts for books of the New Testament. However, books at both the beginning and the end of the Bible are missing

Mount Sinai/ Horeb

mountain on the Sinai Peninsula (in today's Egypt) where Moses received the law from God.

Sadducees

one of the leading interpretations of judaism in the first century CE. this group had many priests as members

Genesis 3-4

origin of sin, the fall

Ark of the Covenant

ornate box that symbolizes the presence of god. it contained relics symbolic of particular divine acts (the tablets of the law, Aaron's rod that bloomed, and a pot of manna)

health wish

part of the opening greetings of Greek and Roman letters in which the sender says something about praying to a particular deity on behalf of the addressee

Synagogue

place of worship and study, as well as a community center for jews from the sixth or fifth century BCE forward

Wisdom of Solomon

poetic verses about justice and wisdom

24 elders

powerful figures among the beings that surround the throne of God in the visions of heaven in Revelation 4-5. They represent the combination of the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles.. Thus they represent the whole people of God

transliteration

representation of letters and words in corresponding characters of another language (translate)

Last Supper (Eucharist)

ritual meal in the early church that commemorated and interpreted the death of jesus. the synoptic gospels give an account of jesus instituting this meal and remembrance on the night of his arrest

Cyrus of Persia

ruler of the persian empire (539-530 BCE) who allows the judahites (the remaining israelites) to return to their ancestral land (judah). isaiah calls him god's messiah, anointed one

Herod Phillip

rules from 4 BC to 33 AD in the territory east and northeast of Galilee

dualism

seeing mind and body as two different things that interact

porneia

sexual immorality

Opening Greeting

shabbat shalom: Greeting or departing line (hello or goodbye) used on or during the few days leading up to Shabbat. Literally "peaceful Sabbath."

Lyre

small harp

Magnificat

song/poem mary sings in luke (1:46-55) when elizabeth recognizes something special about her when mary is pregnant with jesus

inerrant

term used of scripture to claim that is without any mistakes of any kind (history, science, geography, and so on). or though it may not have all historical and scientific facts correct still accurate for religious teaching

translation

the art and practice of rendering the Bible into languages other than those in which it was originally written. Both the Old and New Testaments have a long history of translation

Inspiration

the belief that god was involved with the writing and/or is involved with the reading of the bible

Stephen

the church's first martyr (Acts 7). He was also one of the first people appointed as a deacon in the Jerusalem church

New Testament

the collection of 27 writings that the church added to the Hebrew Scriptures to complete their canon

Mary and Joseph

the father and virgin mother of Jesus. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she and her husband would bear the son of God; a carpenter.

protomartyr

the first Christian martyr in a country or among a particular group. (Stephen)

Pentateuch

the first five books of the bible, Torah

hannukah

the jewish feast that celebrates the retaking of the temple by judas maccabee in 164 BCE. it is also known as the feast of dedication because judas rededicated the temple to god after it had been defiled by antiochus iv

Hasidim/Pious Ones

the judeans who joined the maccabean revolt. they rejected the hellinization of judaism that antiochus iv proposed before he outlawed judaism in judea

Levirate Marriage

the marriage of a widow to a near relative of her deceased husband; the first male child of a levirate marriage would be considered the legal son of the widow's first husband

Yahweh

the name of god as it appears in the Hebrew Bible. it is the most important name for god in the Hebrew bible, the name revealed to Moses in the burning bush

Torah

the name used in Judaism (and beyond) for the first 5 books of the bible. these books are also known as the pentateuch

Autograph

the original writing from the hand of the author. none of these exist for biblical books, only copies of copies are extant

Abraham

the originating ancestor of Jews and Arabs in Genesis. moved to Cannan

Sarah

the originating female ancestor of Jews. She was the wife (and half sister) of Abraham and mother of Isaac

"Christians"

the people of the Christian religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus

determinism

the philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will

evangelion

the proclamation or announcement of good news

incorruption

the quality or state of being free from physical decay

recapitulation

the restatement of a main idea; a summary or concise review

Pompey

the roman general who was a member of the first triumvirate (with Julius Caesar and Crassus0 He is the general who took control in jerusalem in 63 BCE. although he left a hasmonean as ruler, judea no longer an independent nation

kosher food

the rules regarding food that Jews observe. These include regulations that prohibit eating certain food

assimilation

the social process of absorbing one cultural group into harmony with another

Infancy (Nativity) Narratives

the story of the birth of jesus; matthew and luke have very different stories about jesus's birth

Etiology

the study of or story of the origin of things

Christology

the study of the nature and work of Christ.

Ten Commandments (Decalogue)

the ten most basic instruction's given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Biblical languages

the texts of the Bible are mostly written in Hebrew & the New Testament and the Apocrypha are written in Greek

Pastoral or DeuteroPauline Letters

the writings in the new testament that claim to be written by Paul, but that most scholars believe were written by someone else after his death. Those most likely to fall into this this category are Ephesians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus. Many scholars also think that Colossians and 2 Thessalonians were written after Paul died. These writings were intended to apply Paul's teaching to a new situation (1 and 2 Timothy and Titus)

gnostics

they claimed that God's real revelation was available only as secret knowledge to a select few

Incarnation

this refers to the act of the pre-existent being or god taking the form of a human. most literally it comes from the latin term that means to "make into flesh." in Christian terminology it refers to the pre-existent christ taking on the human form of jesus

Antichrist

this term does not appear in the book of revelation. in the new testament it only appears in 1 and 2 John, referring to someone who believes the wrong things. after the time of the new testament it comes to refer ti an end-time agent of satan

Textual Criticism

trace the ways theological ideas developed as they note how they influenced copyists to make alterations in the biblical texts.

Dynamic Equivalence

tries to convey the original meaning of the originating text Formal correspondence is the opposite

Gematria/Numerology

use of numbers to represent letters

acrostic

verse in which certain letters such as the first in each line form a word or message