1 Corinthians

baptism

a religious rite involving symbolic washing with water; it sometimes signifies repentance, purification, or acceptance into the community of God's people.

Cephas

an Aramaic word meaning "Rock," the Greek form of which is "Peter"; a nickname given by Jesus to Simon, one of his disciples.

Christ crucified

the main focus of Paul's preaching according to 1 Corinthians 1:22-24; 2:1-2; the phrase seems to be shorthand for what theologians call a "theology of the cross" (theologia crucis).

Diolkos

a paved trackway near Corinth in the Roman period by which boats could be moved overland between the Adriatic and Aegean Seas.

Eucharist

from a Greek word meaning "thanksgiving"; the ritual meal observed by Christians in a manner that commemorates Jesus's last supper with his disciples; also called "Lord's Supper" and "Holy Communion."

excommunication

the practice of expelling unrepentant persons from the church, so-called because the excluded person is no longer allowed to commune, to take part in the Lord's Supper.

firstfruits

an agricultural term for crops collected at the beginning of the harvest season; Jesus is called the "firstfruits of the resurrection" because his resurrection is thought to precede and anticipate the general resurrection of all.

idol food

food available for consumption that had been used in a sacrifice to a pagan god or idol; in Roman society, this included most meat sold in the marketplace.

Last Supper

a final Passover meal that Jesus ate with his disciples on the night he was arrested; the context that gave rise to Christian celebrations of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist, Holy Communion).

Lord's Supper

the ritual meal observed by Christians in a manner that commemorates Jesus's last supper with his disciples; also called "Eucharist" and "Holy Communion."

pastoral concern

concern for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of persons for whom one feels responsible.

proconsul

a governor appointed by the Roman senate to administer a province for one year.

speaking in tongues

the phenomenon by which the Spirit enables a person to speak in known languages that the speaker has never learned (e.g., Acts 2:4-8) or in ecstatic languages unintelligible to any who do not possess the gift of interpretation (e.g., 1 Cor. 14:26-28). Also called "glossolalia."

spiritual gifts

manifestations of the Holy Spirit activated by God in the lives of individuals for the common good.