Abraham (in Paul’s letters)

A figure from the Old Testament whom God called to be his follower, who in later tradition came to be known as “The Father of the Jews”, as all Jews descended from him.

-In Paul’s letters, Abraham is still referenced as “The Father of us.”

Apocalypse (genre)

Literary genre in which an author, usually pseudonymous (written under a false name), reports symbolic dreams or visions given or interpreted through an angelic mediator, which reveal the heavenly mysteries that make sense of earthly realities.

Apocalyptic freeloading

2 Thessalonians: People who believed that Jesus is coming so soon that they no longer need to work or do anything because their lives on earth will be over soon.

Apocalypticism

A worldview held by many ancient Jews and Christians that maintained that the present age is controlled by forces of evil, but that these will be destroyed at the end of time when God intervenes in history to bring in his kingdom, an event thought to be imminent.

Baptism

A Christian initiation ritual that originally involved the emersion of a person into water to demonstrate (or accomplish) a union with Christ in his death (~Romans 6).

Bishop

The translation of a Greek word that literally means “overseer”, referring to a leader of one of the early Christian churches.

Cephas

One of the main leaders of the earliest Christian church in Jerusalem. The name means “rock” and is an Aramaic translation of the Greek word petros. According to John 1:42, Cephas was an alternative name for the apostle Peter.

Conversion

Literally means a “turning around,” used of people who radically change their religious views/beliefs

Cornelius

A Roman centurion (commander of the century of the Roman Army) who is considered by Christians to be the first Gentile to convert to the faith (Acts of the Apostles).

Cynic Philosophy

To live life “according to nature” with none of the niceties of life. Cynics were Greco-Roman philosophers commonly portrayed as street preachers and called “dogs” by their opponents.

Deacon

In Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches, a deacon is an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of a priest.

Deutero-Pauline Epistles

The letters of Ephesians, Colossians, and 2 Thessalonians, which have a “secondary” (Deutero) standing in the Pauline corpus because scholars debate whether they were written by Paul.

Diatribe

A Greek rhetorical term, referring to a kind of writing in which an author advances his argument by laying out objections and then providing responses to them.

Domitian

Roman emperor and persecutor of the Church. The son of Vespasian and the younger brother/successor of the Emperor Titus. (Emperor from 81-96 AD)

Galatia

The region in central Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) in which Paul established some churches, to whom he directs his letter to the Galatians. 

Gamaliel

A famous rabbi of first-century C.E. Judaism.

Heresy

Any worldview or set of beliefs deemed by those in power to be deviant, from a Greek word meaning “choice” (because heretics haven chosen to deviate from he truth).

Judicial model

One of the two principle ways that Paul understood or conceptualized the relationship between Christ’s death and salvation.

-According to this model, salvation is comparable to a legal decision, in which God, who is both lawmaker and judge, treats humans as “not guilty” for sinning against his laws (even though they are guilty) because Jesus’ death has been accepted as a payment. (Participationsist Model is second principle way)

Junia

The woman mentioned in Rom 16:7 and called there “prominent among the apostles”.

Justification by faith

The doctrine found in Paul’s letters (See “Judicial Model), that a person is “made right”, or justified, with God by trusting in the effects of Christ’s death, rather than by doing the works prescribed by the Jewish Law.

Manumission

The technical term for setting a slave free, usually by paying the owner.

Matthias

The apostle chosen by the remaining 11 apostles to replace Judas following his suicide. 

Meat offered to idols

Meat that had been sacrificed to pagan deities and offered, then, for sale for consumption. The Corinthians debated among themselves whether Christians were allowed to eat this meat.

Nero

The Roman Emperor from 54-68 C.E., possibly the target of some of the polemic of the book of Revelation and ruler when many of Paul’s letters, and possible his death are to be dated.

Paidagogos

A Greek word sometimes translated as “custodian”, which refers to a slave in charge of the children of a household, who was expected to watch over their care and keep them in line.

Parousia

A Greek word meaning “presence” or “coming,” used as a technical term to refer to the Second Coming of Jesus in judgment at the end of time.

Participationsist Model

One of two principle ways that Paul understood or conceptualized the relationship between Christ’s death and salvation. This model understood sin to be a cosmic force that enslaved people; salvation (liberation from bondage) came by participating in Christ’s death through baptism. 

Pastoral epistles

New Testament letters that Paul allegedly wrote to two pastors Timothy (1 and 2 Timothy) and Titus, concerning their pastoral duties.

Pentecost

A Jewish agricultural festival, celebrated fifty days after the feast of the Passover, from the Greek word for fifty.

Pliny the Younger

Roman aristocrat who served as governor of Bythinia-Pontus in the early part of the second century; he was one of the first provincial governors known to have persecuted Christians (along with Nero), during the reign of emperor Trajan. 

Presbyter

From a Greek word that literally means “elder”, used in reference to a leader of the early church (possibly because originally these were some of the older members of the congregation).

Pseudepigrapha

From the Greek word meaning “false writings”, commonly referring to ancient noncanonical Jewish and Christian literary texts, many of which were written pseudonymously. 

Pseudonymity

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

Stephen

First martyr of Christianity and a deacon of the early church at Jerusalem. He was accused of blasphemy, and at his trial, denounced the Jewish authorities and was then stoned to death.

Tarsus

The city of Cilicia from which, according to the books of Acts, the apostle Paul came.

Thecla

A legendary female disciple of Paul whose adventures are narrated in the novel-like work of the second century, The Acts of Thecla.

Undisputed Pauline Epistles

Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon—Letters that scholars overwhelmingly judge to have been written by Paul.

Whore of Babylon

Image used on the book of Revelation to refer to the city of Rome. It was thought to be the enemy of God’s people since it was the city responsible for the overthrow of Judea in the Hebrew Scriptures; the city is called a “whore” because of its ways of dealing with other countries.

666

Number of the beast (antichrist) in Revelation 13. Evidently the number is the numerical value of the letters in the Antichrist’s name. Interpreters think this is a reference to Caesar Nero, whose name, when spelled in Hebrew letters adds up to 666.

   What similarities are there between the apostles in Acts and Jesus in Luke?

The apostles in Acts are similar to Jesus in Luke through their continuation of Jesus’ ministry. During this continuation, the apostles:

• Share the same, united message that Jesus preached.
•  Are given healing powers with Jesus’ authority.
•  Are also opposed by the church.
•   Are given guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• Stephen is stoned to death in the wake of his teachings. (reflects upon Jesus’ death in the wake of his teachings).

What are the major characteristics of Jewish Apocalypticism?

Dualism, pecimisim, vindication and imminence 

a.    The present age is being controlled by forces of evil, evil will be destroyed at the end of times, suffering is necessary, people will ultimately be vindicated, and hope arises from this.

   What important themes of Acts are set forth already in the opening account of 1.1-11?

•  The apostles will serve as witnesses of Jesus and will share these accounts/teachings to the Jews first
•  Then to the Gentiles
• Apostles will continue Jesus’ ministry

What are the major difficulties in studying the life and teachings of Paul? 

 Analogous to the life and teachings of Jesus. Paul actually left us

writings, whereas Jesus did not. The difficulty arises in the fact that there

are plausible reasons for thinking that some of the letters Paul wrote were

not written by him, rather later members of the church. (Refer to

Pseudepigrapha—writing under a false name).

Why is it difficult, for example, to use the book of Acts to reconstruct an accurate picture of Paul? 

The book of Acts focuses on Luke’s understanding of Paul rather that

what Paul himself actually said and did.

    What does it mean to say that Paul’s letters are “occasional,” and how does their occasional nature affect their interpretation?

•  The letters are “actual communications to particular individuals and communities, sent through the ancient equivalent of the mail.”
•  The occasional nature affects interpretation by us having to understand their context in order for them to make sense.

What is the occasion of 1 Thessalonians? 

 Paul is writing to a congregation for which Paul has a genuine affection.

Paul is rekindling a friendship with the congregation, and he includes past

relationship memories as he had recently left the congregation.

How did the church begin? (Thessalonians)

The church begun after Paul arrived to Thessalonica. To not burden the people while him and his Christian companions shared the gospel of God, Paul and his companions worked full-time doing some kind of manual labor relating to leather materials. Once people began gravitating towards Paul, it’s possible that they met together periodically to worship. Some believe they would meet in private homes (house churches). 

What problems arose after Paul left the community? (Thessalonica)

• 2. The Thessalonian Christians there could have been most likely opposed by other organized groups who may have found their religion offensive in light of the duties to the gods “who bring peace and prosperity to the state” that these groups believed in.
• 2.    Their teachings could have been too much to handle for others.

 What does Paul say to resolve the problems? (In Thessalonia)

• 1.    Paul urges the converts to not submit to sexual immorality. (To keep their image pure)
• 2.    Paul urges the converts to love one another and to be good citizens.

What has led to the conflict of Paul with his opponents in Galatia? 

• Paul’s teachings are questionable among the Galatians, as they believe the only path to salvation is adherence to the Torah, including a major Galatian argument that only men who are circumcised can be saved. This contradicts with what Paul believes, which is that anyone who believes in Christ can be saved (circumcised or not). Also includes food laws.
•        This conflict questions Paul’s authority and views among Galatians
•        Galatians argue that their message is closer to scripture than Paul’s

     What is the view of the Jewish law that Paul maps out for his converts in Galatia?

Paul's justification:

•   A person is “made right” with God (justified) by trusting in the effects of Christ’s death, not by doing works presented by Jewish Law.
•    Justification is through faith in Christ, not through works of law.
•   If justification comes through law, Christ died for nothing
• Torah itself teaches this
•  Law was given in the first place because it was given to be a disciplinarian before Christ came --> keep people in line temporarily, but not intended to save people.

     Many people take Romans 1.16-17 to be the fundamental theme of this letter. What do these verses indicate about Paul’s “gospel” and its significance?

 The verses indicate that:

• 1.    The gospel is God’s way of salvation
• 2.    Salvation is for those with faith
• 3.    Salvation -> first to Jews, then Gentiles
• 4.    Gospel reveals God’s righteousness.
• 5.    God has not broken promises or rejected Jews
• 6.    Salvation is through faith, not obedience to law

•  The significance of these verses is to authenticate Paul’s gospel message, emphasizing that it’s not something he made up himself.

       In Romans, how does Paul show the equality of Jews and Gentiles before God?

 Explaining that the situation applies to all people, Gentiles and Jews. (All Stand Condemned before God 1:18-3:20).

• 1.    Gentiles have deserted their knowledge of the one, true God to worship idols, making them condemned.
• 2.    Jews, even though they have the Law, they do not practice the Law, making them also condemned.
• 3.    All people, Jews and Gentiles have sinned, and are equally condemned before God.
• 4.    All people are made right with God through faith in the death of Jesus.

What are the major themes that Paul develops in Romans 1-8? 

• 1.    Paul is not ashamed of the gospel
• 2.    Paul’s gospel is God’s powerful means of salvation
• 3.    This salvation comes to those who have faith
• 4.    Salvation comes first to the Jew then the Greek
• 5.    The gospel reveals the righteousness of God
• 6.    The Scriptures proclaim the gospel

• The only way to be in a right standing before God is through the death of Jesus, without the justification of faith, people would be sentenced to death.

    According to romans 1-8, how does God bring about justification, and how does the Jewish law figure into this act of justification?

• Justification is produced through Christ’s death and resurrection. The death is the penalty paid for man’s sin, and the resurrection is God’s satisfaction with the payment of Jesus’ death. Jewish Law plays no role in salvation.

1.    How do the Acts of Paul and Thecla and the Pastoral Epistles represent different interpretations of Paul’s teaching about women, marriage, and sexuality?

• The acts of Paul insisted that men and women maintain their distinctive gender roles
• Thecla renounced marriage and sexual activity
• The Pastoral Epistles (supposedly written by Paul) urged marriage, to keep wives in submission, and to be sexually active within marriage as “those who wanted to enjoy the benefits of salvation were to produce babies”. Paul said women must not teach men because they are inferior, and they must keep their place in the home, under the authority of their husbands. (Theme of women remaining silent very prevalent)

 Why were the early Christians persecuted?

 Christians were a big concern to the upper echelons of the Roman government, and they felt a need to stop this growing wave in any way possible, leading to persecution.

• Roman criminal law was demonstrated by governors being set out by the emperor to keep the peace and to collect taxes and to handle issues under whatever means necessary—meaning they can make the decision of life or death. Therefore, when Christians caused minor irritations, persecutions resulted.

   How does the context of persecution help to explain the message of 1 Peter?

• By creating a reason behind the saying “Honor the Emperor” found in 1 Peter. The message is trying to explain to Christians that they can practice their religion, but must honor their emperor in order to escape the possibility of creating further “disturbances” that can result in persecution

5.    Motivational Function

     In what ways is the Book of Revelation like and unlike other apocalypses?

The Book of Revelation is like other apocalypses by:

•  The inclusion of visions, specifically of the end times
•    Manifests hope among readers

The Book of Revelation is unlike other apocalypses by:

•   John of Patmos being the author of the Book of Revelation. (John of Patmos ONLY wrote Revelation)
•  The audience is targeted to Christians in 7 churches of Asia Minor

The 7 undisputed Pauline letters

o   1^st Thessalonians
o   1^st Corinthians
o   Galatians
o   Romans
o   Philemon
o   Philippians
o   2^nd Corinthians