Unit 1 (context of Gospels + Messiah) - Key Words

Question 1

Hellenism

Answer 1

Ancient Greek culture

Question 2

Judea

Answer 2

Region of southern Palestine (included Jerusalem) - was under Roman occupation

Question 3

Sanhedrin

Answer 3

The Jewish council - lead by the high priest

Question 4

Sabbath

Answer 4

Holy day in Judaism - no work is allowed

Question 5

Occupation

Answer 5

State of a region being occupied by military force - In the Roman Occupation, the Jews were tolerated and allowed to worship their God but only if they cooperated with Roman rule and didn’t cause trouble.

Question 6

Gentiles

Answer 6

Anyone in the NT who isn’t a Jew

Question 7

Gnosticism

Answer 7

Gnostics believed man could be enlightened by a divine spark of knowledge brought by a heavenly revealer (Hellenistic thought)

Question 8

Dualism

Answer 8

Contrasting of two opposing ideas
Eg. light vs dark, above vs below (Hellenistic thought)

Question 9

Pharisees

Answer 9

• strict on the law
• largest religious party
• ensured people kept law and tradition

Question 10

Sadducees

Answer 10

• very powerful
• rich landowners
• controlled the temple
• unpopular
• compromised with Romans

Question 11

Essenes

Answer 11

• ‘Pious ones’
• monastic group
• saw themselves as the true people of God
• lived a strict religious life

Question 12

Zealots

Answer 12

• revolutionaries/freedom fighters
• despised Pharisees and Sadducees - felt they accepted Roman rule
• lead unsuccessful uprisings
• hated Romans and Roman rule

Question 13

Prophecy

Answer 13

texts which seem to make predictions about events In the future

Question 14

Messiah

Answer 14

• ‘anointed one’ in Hebrew
• /the chosen one

Question 15

Suffering servant / messiah

Answer 15

• isaiah (53)
• ‘by his wounds we are healed’
• idea someone (likely Jesus) will suffer to bring salvation