Unit 2 New Testament

Canon of Scripture

The collection of books accepted as genuine and authoritative in the Bible.

Deposit of Faith

The body of revealed truth in the Scriptures and Tradition, entrusted to the Church.

Doctrine

A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by the Church.

Herod the Great

The Roman client king of Judea known for his extensive building projects and the Massacre of the Innocents.

High Priest

The chief religious leader in Judaism, responsible for the Temple and its sacrifices.

Indentured Servants

Individuals who worked for a specific period in exchange for passage to a new land or other benefits.

Infallibility

The doctrine that in specific circumstances, the Church is incapable of error in its teachings.

Magisterium

The Church's authority to teach and interpret the truths of faith.

Oral Tradition

The transmission of the message of the Gospel through preaching and teaching before it was written down.

Patriarchal

Relating to a social system in which men hold primary power.

Pontius Pilate

The Roman governor who presided over the trial of Jesus and ordered his crucifixion.

Sacred Tradition

The living transmission of the message of the Gospel in the Church.

Synoptic Gospels

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which present a similar view of Jesus' life and ministry.

Tenant Farmers

Farmers who work land owned by another and pay rent in cash or crops.

Zealots

A political movement in First-Century Judaism that sought to overthrow Roman rule.

Criteria for acceptance into the Biblical Canon

The standards used to determine which books were considered authoritative and included in the Bible.

First-Century Jewish Life

The social, cultural, and religious practices of Jewish people during the time of Jesus.

Gospel According to Mark

The second book of the New Testament, emphasizing the actions of Jesus.

Intended Audience

The specific group of people for whom a text or message is primarily written.

Date of Composition

The time period when a particular text was written.

Emphasis

The particular focus or highlight in a text or teaching.

Portrayal of Jesus

The way Jesus is depicted or characterized in a particular Gospel.

Thematic Elements

The underlying themes or messages present in a text.

Gospel According to Matthew

The first book of the New Testament, focusing on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Gospel According to Luke

The third book of the New Testament, highlighting Jesus' compassion and concern for the marginalized.

Gospel According to John

The fourth book of the New Testament, emphasizing the divinity of Jesus and his relationship with the Father.

Sectarian Groups of First-Century Judaism

Different religious groups within Judaism during the time of Jesus, including Essenes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Zealots.

Stages of Development of NT Literature

The process through which the New Testament texts were written, compiled, and recognized as scripture.

Literary/Form Criticism

A method of biblical interpretation that classifies biblical units (like parables or legal codes) into literary patterns and seeks to understand their original oral forms and the historical context that shaped their development before being written down.

Ideological Criticism

A method of biblical interpretation that examines the "big picture" ideas, assumptions, and worldviews that shape both the biblical texts and their interpretations. It critiques how these underlying systems of thought influence how passages are understood and used, especially by examining power dynamics, social conditions, and potential biases in how scripture is read. The goal is to reveal who benefits or is oppressed by certain interpretations and to uncover the ideology of the text itself, its authors, or its readers.

Socio-Historical Criticism

A method biblical interpretation that analyzes biblical texts by examining their relationship with the social, economic, cultural, political, and religious contexts in which they were written and received. The goal is to understand the "world behind the text" to gain insight into the author's intentions, the original meaning of the text, and how social realities influenced its creation and preservation.