Mid Term Vocab Flashcards
Gnosticism
A religious movement which claimed adherents gained salvation through secret knowledge of their true heavenly origin.
Canon
Those books viewed by the church as authoritative and so fit to be included in the Bible
Pericope
A short, self-contained Gospel episode such as a miracle story, a parable or a pronouncement story
Sitz im Leben
A German phrase meaning “setting in life”, referring to the original cultural and historical contexts in which an episode or narrative arose
Evaluative point of view
The values, beliefs and worldview which the reader is expected to adopt in order to judge the events and characters of a narrative
Implied Reader
An imaginary person who responds appropriately to the strategy of a narrative text
Plot
The progress of a narrative; the sequence of events which move the story from introduction, to conflict, to climax, to conclusion
Story time
The actual passage of time in the narrative world of a text
Narrative time
The manner in which story time is portrayed, in terms of order, speed, and duration.
Round Characters
Complex and often unpredictable narrative characters with multiple traits
Flat Characters
Simple, One-dimensional, and predictable characters in a narrative
Static Characters
Characters in a narrative who remain the same throughout the story
Dynamic Characters
Characters who develop and change in the course of a narrative
Chiasm
Inverse parallelism, a concentric pattern in which a series of things repeats itself in reverse order
Inclusio
A “bookend” structure in which a similar statement or episode begins and ends a narrative sequence
Intercalation
A “sandwiching” technique, similar to inclusio, where one episode is inserted into the middle of another. The two episodes are generally related to a common theme
Hellenization
The spread of Greek culture and language
Diaspora
“Dispersión”; a reference to Jews living outside Israel
Herod the Great
The Idumean ruler who gained the throne of Isreal after the Roman conquest of Palestine
Caesar Augustus (Octavian)
The first true emperor of Rome; Ruler of the Roman Empire at Jesus’ birth.
Pontius Pilate
The Roman prefect or governor of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26-36, during the time of Jesus’ ministry
Herod Antipas
The son of Herod the Great and tetrarch of Galilee and Perea between 4BC and AD 39 during the period of Jesus’ ministry
Pax Romana
A Latin term meaning “Roman Peace” and referring to the period of relative peace and stability established by Caesar Augustus
Caiaphas
Jewish high priest from AD 18-36, and so the high priest during Jesus’ public ministry
Scribes
Experts in the law of Moses
Sadducees
A religious and political party in the first-century Judaism made up of mostly of the priestly leadership and aristocracy
Pharisees
A religious and political party in first-century Judaism which strictly adhered to purity laws and the law of Moses, both the written law and oral traditions
Mishnah
The earliest of rabbinic writings, put into written form about AD 200, composed of the rulings of rabbis on a wide range of issues related to the application of Torah to everyday life
Talmud
The complete body of Jewish oral traditions, (including the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and the Gemara.)
Targums
Aramaic paraphrasing and expansions on Scripture
Hillel
One of the most important rabbis of the second temple period. The house (or school) of Hillel developed 7 rules of interpretation which shaped the course of rabbinic interpretation after the destruction of Jerusalem. Hillels interpretation of the law are generally less strict than those of Shammai
Shammai
The house (or school) which was the first major academy of Jewish sages. It was more strict than Hillel
Honor and shame
Critical values in the first century Mediterranean culture, honor and shame relate to gaining or losing status and esteem from others in the community
Patronage
A system common in societies with strict social distinctions. A client provides honor, loyalty, and obedience to a more powerful patron or benefactor in return for a favor.
Confession of Peter
A key transitional passage in the Synoptics, as peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus starts speaking about his upcoming death
Olivet Discourse
Jesus’ message to the disciples given on the Mount of Olives concerning the destruction of the temple and the end of the age.
Theophilus
The addressee in both Luke and acts. He was probably the patron who sponsored their writings.
Gospel for the outcast
Another name for Luke’s travel narrative or journey to Jerusalem, which represents the many stories and parables which stress Gods love for the lost
Logos
A Greek title given to Jesus in the prologue of John which has roots in both Judaism and Hellenistic philosophy and stressed Jesus’ identity as the self-revelation of God
Paraclete
A description Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit in his farewell discourse in Johns Gospel meaning advocate, counselor or comforter
Theophany
The appearance in visible form of God or a god to a human being
Ontological Equality
A phrase meaning “equality of essence or being”. While equal to God the father in being, Jesus lived in functional subordination to him
Nazareth Sermon
Galilean ministry with Jesus given in the town where he was raised
Zacchaeus Episode
This represents the climax to Luke’s travel narrative as a chief tax collector responds to Jesus’ message of Gods love for the lost
