Christian Scriptures Exam Review

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Christian Scriptures lecture notes, including biblical divisions, historical events, theological terms, and critical methodologies.

Canon

A collection of texts

Scripture

Text(s) functioning as normative in the context of faith and religion

Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (HB/OT)

Consists of three parts: 1) Torah, 2) prophets, 3) writings

Torah/Pentateuch

The first 5 books of the Bible, from Genesis to Duetoronomy.

Former prophets

A division of the Prophets containing Joshua through 2 kings, excluding Ruth.

Latter prophets

A division of the Prophets containing Isaiah through Malachi.

Writings

A miscellaneous category of biblical texts including Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Psalms, and 1-2 Chronicals.

Deuterocanonical Books

Books left out of some Hebrew/old testament cannons

New Testament (NT)

Consists of two parts: 1) Gospels 2) Epistles

Gospels

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; Acts is not a gospel but is often attached to them.

Epistles

Traditional letters including Pauline Epistles (Romans, Galatians, Philipians) and General/Catholic Epistles (1-2 peter, 1-3 John, Jude).

Manuscript

Copies of Copies of biblical texts

Autograph

The theoretical, earliest written version of a biblical text

Oral Transmission

Refers to the process of transmitting stories, poetry, laws, information, etc. orally

Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS)

The oldest Hebrew manuscripts in existence today by a whole lot

Genesis

A Greek word meaning "begining"

Primeval History

The section of Genesis covering Creation, the flood, and Babel

Ancestral Narratives

The section of Genesis concerning Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and Joseph

Genealogy

A list/record of descendants; usually only includes names of males, especially firstborn sons

Adam and Eve

The first man and women created by God

Cain and Abel

Brothers in a narrative where God prefers Abel's offering and Cain murders his brother.

Noah

The man at the center of the Flood narrative, surviving by building a divinely-inspired ark

Noahic Covenant

An unconditional covenant between creator and creation to never destroy creation again

Etiology

A narration concerning the origin of some aspect of reality

Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah

The foundational couple chosen by God to start a great nation

Abrahamic Covenant

An unconditional covenant between God and an ancestor of the israelites promising descendants, blessings, and acclaim.

Theophany

A tangible manifestation of divine presence, such as fire, clouds, or thunder.

Isaac and Rebekah

Rebekah, a kind relative, agreed to travel to canon and marry isaac.

Jacob/Israel, Leah, and Rachel

Jacob (later israel) marries sisters Leah and Rachel.

Joseph

The favorite son of Jacob who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous brothers.

Moses

Biblical figure who kills a slave-driver and flees to Midians.

Call Narrative

A conditional covenant in which obedience to God's words will result in God making Israel a "priestly kingdom and holy people"

Mt. Sinai/Horeb

The most important locale of Israel's wilderness travels

Mosaic Covenant

A conditional Covenant between God and the Israelites established at Mt. Sinai, where if Israel "Obeys God's voice" they will be a "priestly kingdom and a holy people."

Decalogue/the Ten Commandments

Ten fundamental instructions (torah) for maintaining a positive relationship with God

Leviticus

The third book of the pentateuch

Numbers

Tells the story of the Israelites 40 year journey from mount sinai to the promised land

Source Criticism

Analysis used to determine precursors (usually written) that were used in the creation/Compilation of a given text

Documentary Hypothesis (JEDP)

An early source-critical hypothesis suggesting that the pentatauch derives from four written sources.

Priest

An ordained leader in Worship, law, rituals, and festival days

Ark of the Covenant

A Sacred gold covered wooden chest built by the Israelites to store the ten Commandments

Deuteronomy

The finale of the Pentateuch

Former Prophets/Deuteronomistic History (DtrH)

Reflects the themes of the final book in the Torah/Pentateuch

Joshua (Book)

Tells how God fulfills his promise to bring the Israelites into Canaan, the promised land after Moses dies.

Joshua (Character)

The individual chosen by God to succeed Moses as the leader of the Israelites.

Theories of Israelite Occupation

Includes Military invasion, peaceful infiltration, and peasant revolt.

Judges (Term)

Regional, military, and political leaders

Judges (Book)

Describes a time where Israel had no king and repeatedly fell into a cycle of disobeying God.

The Judges Cycle

A repeating pattern of Apostasy, oppression, outcry, and Deliverance.

Narrative Criticism

Analysis of plot development/patterns, characterizations, points of view, and other literary elements of story

Redaction Criticism

Analysis of the editorial layers of a given text, discerning the historical development of a text itself over time

1-2 Samuel

Tells the story of Israels transition from Judges to kings

Samuel (Character)

Hannan's child, who "grew up in the presence of YHWH" and served as a priest, prophet, and judge in Israel.

Prophet

A figure who interprets and/or communicates the will of a deity

Saul

The first king of Israel who, upon disobeying God, devolves to seeking David's life and consulting the dead.

United Monarchy

The first period of the kingdom of Israel in which all twelve tribes are united under a single king.

David

The shepherd boy who became the greatest king of Israel.

Davidic Covenant

An unconditional covenant between God and a particular Israelite king, promising the security of his dynasty.

Bathsheba

The woman who, despite past abuses, raises her voice to establish her son Solomon as a king she can trust.

Solomon

The wise Israelite king during whose reign the first Jerusalem temple was built.

The Temple

The first temple built by Solomon which reinforced Jerusalem as the center of YHWH worship.

Divided Monarchy

The second period of the monarchy post-schism.

Kingdom of Israel

The seceded northern tribes (Northern Kingdom) with Samaria as the capital.

Ahab and Jezebel

The northern king and his wife who worshiped Baal and oppressed his people.

Elijah and Elisha

Old Testament Prophets in the northern kingdom of Israel; Elijah was the prophet of fire/judgement and Elisha was the prophet of miracles.

Fall of Israel (722 BCE)

The Assyrian Invasion of Israel, the capture of Samaria, and the deportation of Israelites.

Kingdom of Judah

The Southern kingdom consisting of non-seceded southern tribes.

Manasseh

The Southern king considered so evil that Samuel-kings blames him for the exile.

Josiah

The Southern king during whose reign the "book of the law" was found and authenticated by Huldah, leading to religious reforms.

Book of the Law

An early version of Deuteronomy found in the temple during the reign of Josiah.

Fall of Judah/Jerusalem and Temple (587 BCE)

The Babylonian destruction of the city and Solomon's Temple.

The Babylonian Exile

The historical catalyst for the writing and canonization processes of the Torah, the prophets, and many psalms.

Postcolonial Studies

An approach to analysis that gives attention to negotiations between Imperial realifies and indigenous identities.

Colonial Mimicry

The practice of claiming and reframing imperial forms/propoganda as an expression of Idealogical resistance.

Trauma Studies

Focuses on how texts portray, are shaped by, and originate from traumatic circumstances.

Prophecy

The subject matter of divine words omens/signs, or symbols that commentate on present circumstances and near-future consequences.

Latter Prophets/Prophetic Literature

Anthologies of oracles recorded, organized and preserved in the biblical canon.

Oracle

Short poetic Speeches (spoken or written) communicating divine words.

Retributive Justice

The principle that YHWH's response to Israel corresponds with their conduct.

Isaiah (Prophet)

Warned the kingdom of Judah to repent from sins and prophesying punishment by foreign nations.

Isaiah (Book)

Contains warnings of Judgement against Israel's rebellion alongside profound promises of Salvation.

Zion Theology

The conceptualization of Jerusalem as the indestructible center of the universe and hope of the nations.

Jeremiah (Book)

A mix of traditional oracles and laments derived from witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.

Ezekiel (Prophet)

Exiled in Babylon and tasked with warning the Israelites about Jerusalem's destruction due to Idolatry.

Ezekiel (Book)

A collection of visions and symbolic actions.

The Book of the Twelve

The twelve "minor prophets" theorized to have been compiled/transmitted on one Scroll.

The Writings

A collection of sacred texts divided into the old testament & new testament inspired by God.

Diaspora

The scattering of a people beyond their homeland, especially regarding Israelite/Jewish peoples.

Cyrus

The Persian liberator of those exiled in Babylon and the only non-Isralite/Jewish "messiah" in the HB/OT.

Ezra-Nehemiah

Texts regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem and religious reforms.

Ezra (Character)

A priest and scribe "skilled in laws of Moses" who oversaw religious laws.

Nehemiah (Character)

The governing leader in post exilic Yehud responsible for overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.

Chronicles

A retelling of Israel's history.

The Psalms

A collection containing five books of psalms.

Form Criticism

An approach to biblical analysis focusing on categorizing formal patterns and text structure.

Genre

A formal category regarding literary style and structure.

Resilience Studies

An interdisciplinary approach that considers how texts derive from and encourage resilience.

Parallelism

The structure of parallel words, lines, and sections used as the basis of virtually all Hebrew poetry.

Ruth (Character)

The Moabite woman who navigated Israelite customs and became the great grandmother of David.

Esther (Character)

The Yehudite queen of Persia who used her influence to divert the genocide of her people.