Introducing the New Testament, 2nd ed. (ch. 6): Matthew

antitheses

six statements of Jesus in Matthew 5:21-48 in which he states his own view over and against that which people "have heard said."

beatitude

any statement of divine blessing (though the term has come to be associated more specifically with the blessings offered by Jesus in Matt. 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23).

Beatitudes

the blessings offered by Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23.

Beelzebul

slightly corrupted version of the Hebrew name for a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2); the term is used as another name for Satan in the New Testament (Matt. 10:25; 12:24).

bind (a law)

to discern God's will by determining that a commandment applies to a situation that it does not explicitly address

centurion

a Roman army officer, typically in charge of one hundred soldiers.

Community Discourse

a speech by Jesus in Matthew 18 dealing with life in the church, forgiveness, and discipline.

doublet

in literature, a pair or duplication of references.

Emmanuel

Hebrew name meaning "God with us"; it was first used in Isaiah 7:14 and later applied to Jesus in Matthew 1:23. Sometimes it is written as "Immanuel."

Eschatological Discourse

a speech by Jesus in Matthew 24-25 dealing with the end times, the second coming, and the final judgment.

fulfillment citation

a form-critical category for a declaration that something has happened in order to fulfill what was prophesied in the Scriptures (e.g., Matt. 2:15).

Great Commission

a traditional name given to concluding words of Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus tells his followers to go and make disciples of all nations and promises to be with them always (Matt. 28:18-20).

Hades

the underworld, or place where the dead dwell; in the New Testament, it sometimes appears to be synonymous with hell.

hermeneutics

philosophical reflection on the process of biblical interpretation, including consideration of what the goal of interpretation should be, of different ways in which biblical passages might be regarded as meaningful, and of the ways in which authority is ascribed to biblical texts.

loose (a law)

to discern God's will by determining that a commandment, while valid, does not apply to a particular situation.

Missionary Discourse

a speech by Jesus in Matthew 10 dealing with mission, persecution, and radical faithfulness.

M material

material found only in Matthew's Gospel, meaning that Matthew did not derive it from Mark's Gospel or from the Q source, but rather from a variety of other, unknown sources.

Palm Sunday

the day one week before Easter when Jesus entered Jerusalem mounted on a donkey, to the acclaim of crowds waving palm branches (see John 12:12-15).

Parables Discourse

a speech by Jesus in Matthew 13 consisting primarily of parables and dealing with mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Pentateuch

the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

Qumran

a site in Palestine near the Dead Sea where it is believed the Essenes had their monastic community; the Dead Sea Scrolls were found here.

Sermon on the Mount

traditional name given to the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5-7; it includes such well-known material as the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and the Golden Rule.

transfiguration

an event narrated in the Synoptic Gospels in which the physical appearance of Jesus is momentarily altered to allow his disciples a glimpse of his heavenly glory (Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36).

triad

a set of three.