Mid Term Vocab

Question 1

Gnosticism

Answer 1

A religious movement which claimed adherents gained salvation through secret knowledge of their true heavenly origin.

Question 2

Canon

Answer 2

Those books viewed by the church as authoritative and so fit to be included in the Bible

Question 3

Pericope

Answer 3

A short, self-contained Gospel episode such as a miracle story, a parable or a pronouncement story

Question 4

Sitz im Leben

Answer 4

A German phrase meaning “setting in life”, referring to the original cultural and historical contexts in which an episode or narrative arose

Question 5

Evaluative point of view

Answer 5

The values, beliefs and worldview which the reader is expected to adopt in order to judge the events and characters of a narrative

Question 6

Implied Reader

Answer 6

An imaginary person who responds appropriately to the strategy of a narrative text

Question 7

Plot

Answer 7

The progress of a narrative; the sequence of events which move the story from introduction, to conflict, to climax, to conclusion

Question 8

Story time

Answer 8

The actual passage of time in the narrative world of a text

Question 9

Narrative time

Answer 9

The manner in which story time is portrayed, in terms of order, speed, and duration.

Question 10

Round Characters

Answer 10

Complex and often unpredictable narrative characters with multiple traits

Question 11

Flat Characters

Answer 11

Simple, One-dimensional, and predictable characters in a narrative

Question 12

Static Characters

Answer 12

Characters in a narrative who remain the same throughout the story

Question 13

Dynamic Characters

Answer 13

Characters who develop and change in the course of a narrative

Question 14

Chiasm

Answer 14

Inverse parallelism, a concentric pattern in which a series of things repeats itself in reverse order

Question 15

Inclusio

Answer 15

A “bookend” structure in which a similar statement or episode begins and ends a narrative sequence

Question 16

Intercalation

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Hellenization

Answer 17

The spread of Greek culture and language

Question 18

Diaspora

Answer 18

“Dispersión”; a reference to Jews living outside Israel

Question 19

Herod the Great

Answer 19

The Idumean ruler who gained the throne of Isreal after the Roman conquest of Palestine

Question 20

Caesar Augustus (Octavian)

Answer 20

The first true emperor of Rome; Ruler of the Roman Empire at Jesus’ birth.

Question 21

Pontius Pilate

Answer 21

The Roman prefect or governor of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26-36, during the time of Jesus’ ministry

Question 22

Herod Antipas

Answer 22

The son of Herod the Great and tetrarch of Galilee and Perea between 4BC and AD 39 during the period of Jesus’ ministry

Question 23

Pax Romana

Answer 23

A Latin term meaning “Roman Peace” and referring to the period of relative peace and stability established by Caesar Augustus

Question 24

Caiaphas

Answer 24

Jewish high priest from AD 18-36, and so the high priest during Jesus’ public ministry

Question 25

Scribes

Answer 25

Experts in the law of Moses

Question 26

Sadducees

Answer 26

A religious and political party in the first-century Judaism made up of mostly of the priestly leadership and aristocracy

Question 27

Pharisees

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Mishnah

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Talmud

Answer 29

The complete body of Jewish oral traditions, (including the Mishnah, the Tosefta, and the Gemara.)

Question 30

Targums

Answer 30

Aramaic paraphrasing and expansions on Scripture

Question 31

Hillel

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Shammai

Answer 32

The house (or school) which was the first major academy of Jewish sages. It was more strict than Hillel

Question 33

Honor and shame

Answer 33

Critical values in the first century Mediterranean culture, honor and shame relate to gaining or losing status and esteem from others in the community

Question 34

Patronage

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Confession of Peter

Answer 35

A key transitional passage in the Synoptics, as peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus starts speaking about his upcoming death

Question 36

Olivet Discourse

Answer 36

Jesus’ message to the disciples given on the Mount of Olives concerning the destruction of the temple and the end of the age.

Question 37

Theophilus

Answer 37

The addressee in both Luke and acts. He was probably the patron who sponsored their writings.

Question 38

Gospel for the outcast

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Logos

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Paraclete

Answer 40

A description Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit in his farewell discourse in Johns Gospel meaning advocate, counselor or comforter

Question 41

Theophany

Answer 41

The appearance in visible form of God or a god to a human being

Question 42

Ontological Equality

Answer 42

A phrase meaning “equality of essence or being”. While equal to God the father in being, Jesus lived in functional subordination to him

Question 43

Nazareth Sermon

Answer 43

Galilean ministry with Jesus given in the town where he was raised

Question 44

Zacchaeus Episode

Answer 44

This represents the climax to Luke’s travel narrative as a chief tax collector responds to Jesus’ message of Gods love for the lost