Midterm- New Testament Studies

Hellenization

The spread of Greek culture across conquered territories with the goal of creating one Panhellenic world

Syncretism

Uniting people religiously, finding connections and blending beliefs

Aramaic

A Jewish language widely spoken in Judea and the surrounding regions during the time of Jesus, and used in parts of the Hebrew Bible

Abraham

Foundational patriarch of Judaism, entered a convenient with God to have numerous descendants and the promised land

Moses

Foundational prophet who lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, was spoken to by God through a burning bush, received the ten commandments

Exodus

the Israelites escape from brutal slavery in Egypt under the leadership with Moses and establish a covenant with God at Mount Sinai

Passover

Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites liberation from slavery in Egypt, from the night God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites, sparing their firstborn from a final plague that struck Egypt

David

Second king of the United Kingdom of Israel. Remembered as a heroic warrior and a key ancestor of Jesus Christ. He is revered as a prophet and king, God made a covenant with him promising that his throne would endure forever—a promise that was fulfilled through Jesus.

Elijah

old testament prophet who challenged idolatry, called down fire on Mount Carmel, and ascended to heaven in a whirlwind of fire

Exile

physical banishment or spiritual separation from God

Messiah

meaning “anointed one”, a savior

Diaspora

dispersion of a population from their homeland to separate regions

Maccabean Revolt

a successful Jewish rebellion led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire and against Hellenistic influence on Jewish life

Apocalyptic literature

genre of symbolic, visionary prophetical writing concerning the end of the world

Second Temple

reconstructed Jerusalem Temple after the Babylonian exile, stood until its destruction during the First Jewish-Roman War. It marked a major transition from a localized, sacrificial religion to the Torah-centric, global Judaism practiced today

Herod the Great

rebuilt the second temple in Jerusalem

Herod Antipas

“king herod” in the new testament, mocked Jesus and asked him to perform a miracle before sending him to be crucified

Sanhedrin

Jewish religious and legal counsel, arrested and put Jesus on trial for blasphemy

Pontius Pilate

official who presided over the trial of Jesus and ultimately ordered his crucifixion

Q

possible source that Matthew and Luke drew from in the synoptic hypothesis

Peter

most prominent of Jesus’ apostles, denied him on the night of his arrest, first to confess that Jesus was the messiah

Mary

virgin mother of Jesus

Judas

the disciple who betrayed Jesus

John the apostle

one of jesus’ closest disciples, wrote the Gospel according to John, only not synoptic gospel

John the baptist

forerunner and prophet of Jesus, pioneered the practice of water baptism, 6 month older cousin of Jesus, prepared the public for Jesus’ ministry and baptized him

Messianic secret

recurring idea in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus hushes those with insight into his identity

Six antitheses

section of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew where Jesus contrasts traditional interpretations of the Old Testament law with his own higher moral teachings

Great Reversal

Prominent idea in the Gospel According to Luke about God’s upside-down kingdom where worldly expectations are inverted: the humble and marginalized are exalted, while the proud and self-sufficient are humbled