Unit 4: Epistles and Apocalypses

Jerusalem Council

the assembly of Jewish Christians in Jerusalem that met to debate the question of how Gentiles come to receive salvation. Accounts of the event are found in Acts 2 and Galatians 2:1-10. Probably took place around 46-49 CE.

amanuensis (bonus reading section)

a secretary who aided in the production of texts in the Greco-Roman world. They did not merely take dictation but sometimes drafted, edited, or composed texts.

apocalypse

type of literature influenced by the prophetic tradition, characterized by elaborate visions/dreams, symbols, numerology, angels, cosmic upheavals, emphasis on the end time—including final judgment, resurrection, and eternal salvation. Term comes from Greek, apokalypsis, meaning "revelation." Purports to reveal the future or the heavenly realm to interpret the readers' circumstances. Examples: Daniel and Revelation, Matt 24-25, parallels in Mk 13/Luke 21.

Asia Minor

the region in the ancient world that encompassed the Roman provinces of Asia, Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Cilicia, and where many early churches developed in the first centuries of the Christian movement. Most of this region lies in modern day Turkiye.

Babylon

capital city of the ancient empire that conquered Israel and took it into exile. Becomes used as an image in Revelation to represent worldly evil and immoral commerce

Benediction

a brief word of blessing and thanksgiving to God

Catholic Epistles

a canonical collection that came together in the late third century and included James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude. The modern category "general letters" is based on the Catholic epistles, though the general letters also includes the book of Hebrews

Christology

theological reflection that explores the significance and identity of Jesus of Nazareth

Circumcision

the procedure of removing the foreskin from male genitals. Circumcision was a sign of God's covenant with Abraham (Gen 17), became a major Jewish identity marker, and was a subject of early debate when it came to Gentile conversion to Christianity (esp. Galatians, Romans)

composite document

a document constructed by bringing together multiple smaller texts or fragments of texts and editing them into a unified whole. 2 Corinthians is largely believed to be one of these texts

Diaspora

a Greek term meaning "dispersion, scattering," commonly applied to Jewish people living outside of Palestine. Reference to the term occurs in the addresses of James and 1 Peter, as they address Jewish Christian audiences in multiple locations

diatribe

an ancient literary technique that involved voicing a theoretical opponent's position before stating one's own opinion

Gentiles

the term for non-Jewish peoples. Gentiles were sometimes referred to as "the nations"

Gnosticism (bonus reading section)

a movement in antiquity that took root among a variety of religious adherents, including some early Christians. Gnosticism focused on a saving knowledge (Greek, gnosis) that was given only to an elite few. This special knowledge espoused a dualism that considered the physical or material realm to be evil, whereas good could only be found in the spiritual realm

Hellenism/Hellenistic

Greek culture and ideas; a descriptor for things that were influenced by them

Homily

A term for a sermon

Household codes (bonus reading section)

Instructions addressing relationships within a Greco-Roman household, like between husbands and wives, slaves and masters, parents and children. Biblical examples appear in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Peter, and are reflected in 1 Timothy and Titus.

Apostle

one closely associated with Jesus, particularly as a witness to his resurrection, who has been sent (Greek, apostello, "to send") to continue Jesus's work

Pharisee

a sect of Judean Jews that probably emerged in the second century BCE who strove to embody the virtuous life the Mosaic law prescribed so that they would be rewarded for their faithfulness with bodily resurrection in the afterlife. They were skilled interpreters of Scripture and revered the oral traditions. Paul was a Pharisee before becoming a Christian apostle

Justification

also brought into English as "rectification," this is a term Paul uses to speak about how a person is brought into a covenant relationship with God where none exists otherwise. It can be understood to talk about being made just, being made righteous, or possibly being granted righteousness. While Paul spoke about justification by faith, James seems to correct a misunderstanding of this idea and affirm the role of just actions in a saving faith

Eschatology, eschatological

having to do with "last things," and "the end time," this term is often used to describe the reasons for specific ethical advice from Paul and others in the New Testament, based on their expectation that they were living in the last generation before Christ's return. See also parousia

Messiah

a Hebrew term meaning "anointed one," which is most often used in the Old Testament for kings. It comes associated with an ideal, future Davidic king. The term translates into Greek as christos and becomes the dominant title used for Jesus

Occasional

the term used to describe how Paul's epistles and the Catholic epistles can be understood to respond to specific situations, including problems in local congregations or among dispersed early Christian believers

Palestine

the name for the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the area east of the Jordan river. The name is still used today for part of the region

Parousia

the Greek word for the "presence" or "arrival" of an individual that the New Testament writings apply to Jesus's expected return

Paraenesis

a style of rhetoric in which familiar, traditional moral instructions are grouped together in order to encourage audiences to continue living in a particular way

Pastoral Letters

the collection of NT writings with 1-2 Timothy and Titus. The letters are part of the traditional Pauline corpus, though their Pauline authorship is disputed. They are called pastoral because they offer instruction and advice to Timothy and Titus for effective pastoral leadership in each of their churches

Persecution

mistreatment or punishment of a group of people because of their beliefs. While some interpreters have read early Christian writers' references to "suffering" as evidence of serious persecutions, most historical evidence points to localized and sporadic persecution rather than major programs of government-led suppression

Prophecy

speech on behalf of a deity. Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible/OT can involve speech about the future acts of God but more often is preaching about God's will for the present. Prophecy often uses shocking language to get the attention of a crowd

Pseudonymous/ pseudonymity

written under a false name /the practice of doing so. It was common in the Greco-Roman world, especially in philosophical traditions in which a disciple would write in the name of the philosophical founder