test 1 Flashcards
BCE
“Before Common Era,” equivalent to BC (Before Christ).
CE
“Common Era,” equivalent to AD (Anno Domini).
Augustus
The first Roman emperor (27 BCE–14 CE), ruling during Jesus’ birth.
Tiberius
Roman emperor (14–37 CE) during Jesus’ public ministry.
Claudius
Roman emperor (41–54 CE) who expelled Jews from Rome.
Nero
Roman emperor (54–68 CE) known for persecuting Christians.
Herod the Great
King of Judea (37–4 BCE), known for extensive building projects and cruelty.
Herod Antipas
Tetrarch of Galilee (4 BCE–39 CE), involved in Jesus’ trial.
Tetrarch
A ruler of a quarter-region of a kingdom.
Pontius Pilate
Roman governor (prefect) who authorized Jesus’ crucifixion.
Herod Agrippa I
Grandson of Herod the Great, persecuted early Christians.
Pagans
People who practiced polytheistic religions outside Judaism and Christianity.
Mystery Religions
Secretive religious cults in the Greco-Roman world.
Gnosticism
A belief system emphasizing secret knowledge for salvation.
Patron-Client Relationship
A social system of mutual obligation in Roman society.
Patron
A wealthy, influential person who provided benefits to clients.
Client
A dependent individual who received benefits from a patron.
Honor and Shame
Social values determining status in ancient Mediterranean societies.
Pax Romana
“Roman Peace,” a period of stability across the empire (27 BCE–180 CE).
Second Temple Period
Jewish history from 515 BCE–70 CE, when the Second Temple stood.
Persian Period
539–332 BCE, when Jews returned from exile under Persian rule.
Hellenistic Period
332–167 BCE, when Greek influence spread under Alexander the Great.
Alexander the Great
Conqueror who spread Greek culture across the ancient world.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
Seleucid ruler who persecuted Jews and desecrated the Temple.
Hasmonean Period
167–63 BCE, when Jewish leaders (Maccabees) ruled Judea.
Maccabees
Jewish rebels who led a revolt against Seleucid rule.
Roman Period
63 BCE–70 CE, when Rome controlled Judea.
Torah
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
Historical Jesus
The scholarly reconstruction of Jesus’ life and teachings.
High Christology
Understanding Jesus as divine and preexistent.
Gospel
“Good news”; narratives about Jesus’ life and teachings.
Fulfillment Citation
A reference in the Gospels showing Jesus fulfilling prophecy.
Parable
A short story teaching a moral or spiritual lesson.
Allegory
A symbolic narrative where characters/events represent deeper meanings.
Miracle Story
A Gospel account of Jesus performing a supernatural act.
Semeia/Signs
Miraculous deeds in John’s Gospel revealing Jesus’ divine nature.
Pronouncement Story
A short narrative leading to a key saying of Jesus.
Passion Narrative
The account of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion.
Synoptic Puzzle/Problem
The question of the relationship between Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Synoptic Gospels
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share similarities.
Q Source
A hypothetical source containing Jesus’ sayings used in Matthew and Luke.
Two-Source Hypothesis
The theory that Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q as sources.
Diatessaron
A second-century harmony of the four Gospels into one narrative.
Sermon on the Mount
Jesus’ ethical teachings found in Matthew 5–7.
Transfiguration
The event where Jesus’ divine glory was revealed.
Beatitudes
Blessings Jesus pronounced in the Sermon on the Mount.
Intercalation
A literary technique inserting one story into another.
Messianic Secret
Jesus’ tendency to conceal his identity as the Messiah.
Inclusio
A literary device where a passage begins and ends with similar elements.
Magnificat
Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1.
Theophilus
The recipient of Luke and Acts, possibly a patron or general reader.
Parousia
The second coming of Christ.
Logos
“Word”; John’s term for Jesus as divine and preexistent.
Incarnation
The belief that Jesus is God in human form.
Paraclete
The Holy Spirit as an advocate or helper.
Scripto Continua
Writing without spaces or punctuation.
Nomina Sacra
Abbreviations of sacred names in manuscripts.
Dissimulatio
A strategy of concealing true thoughts or intentions.
Septuagint (LXX)
Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.
Apocalypticism
A worldview expecting divine intervention to defeat evil.
Apostle
A messenger sent to spread the Gospel.
Epistle
A letter, many written by Paul.
Canon
The official list of biblical books.
Exegesis
Critical interpretation of biblical texts.
