Final Exam Ch 12-17 Flashcards
The Gospel of Thomas
A non-canonical saying Gospel (in Coptic), found in Nag Hammadi in 1945. A Gnostic Gospel
Saying Gospels
Gospels with Jesus’ teachings and nothing else
Ex. Gospel of Thomas (Most significant), Gospel of Philip
Sayings (Logia), the collection of sayings of Jesus (= Q)
The formula, “Jesus says …
Apostle
Generally, one who is commissioned to perform a task, from a Greek word meaning “sent”; in early Christianity, the term was used to designate special emissaries of the faith who were understood to be representatives of Christ.
Historiography (general history)
The literary reconstruction of historical events, the writing of history, and the study and analysis of historical narrative.
Gentile
Jewish Designation for non-jew
Greco-Roman Biography
A literary genre consisting of a narrative of an individual’s life, often within a chronological framework, employing numerous subgenres (such as sayings, speeches, anecdotes, and conflict stories) so as to reflect important aspects of his or her character, principally for purposes of instruction, exhortation, or propaganda.
Pagan
Any of the polytheistic religions of the Greco-Roman world, an umbrella term for ancient Mediterranean religions other than Judaism, Christianity, or Islam
Pentecost
A Jewish agricultural festival, celebrated fifty days after the feast of the Passover, from the Greek word for fifty (pentakosia).
Sanhedrin
A council of Jewish leaders headed by the high priest, which played an advisory role in matters of religious and civil policy.
Theophilus
The person to whom “Luke” addressed both of his volumes, the Gospel and the book of Acts. Scholars debate whether Theophilus was a real person— possibly a highly placed Roman administrator—or whether the name was instead symbolic. It literally means either “beloved of God” or “lover of God.” If symbolic, it would refer to the Christian individuals or communities who were the author’s intended audience.
God Fearer
A Gentile sympathizer to Judaism that existed in the Greco-Roman world in the Hellenistic period. They observed certain Jewish rituals and traditions without becoming full converts to Judaism.
Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
A conference of the Christian Apostles in Jerusalem about 50 CE that decreed that Gentile Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law of the Jews (the Apostolic Decree). The council demonstrated the willingness of apostolic leaders to make compromises on certain secondary issues in order to maintain peace and unity in the church.
