New Testament glossary

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

NEW TESTAMENT STUDY

Students of New Testament studies are often puzzled by terms and abbreviations found in books they study. Here are some of the more common ones.

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Apoc Abbreviation for Apocalypse ie Book of Revelation or less likely apocalyptic literature.

Apocalyptic A specific type of literature found in Jewish and Christian writings. Lurid, pictorial imagery.

Apocrypha A term used to denote books not regarded as authoritative scripture

Apologetics A reasoned argument to show the value of a concept or philosophy.

Apostle Literally - a messenger - First followers of Jesus who spread Christianity were known as this.

Aramaic The language or dialect spoken by Jesus in Israel.

Augustine of Hippo 354-430AD North African Bishop. Prolific writer.

Canon A list of books. eg Canon of Old Testament - those books found in the Old Testament

Clement of Alexandria Head of Catechetical School in Alexandria. Philosopher. Died 215 AD.

Clement of Rome Early Church Father a leading presbyter in Rome around the end of the 1st century AD.

Codex A bound book, favoured by Christians for their scriptures. Many were made of vellum.

Diaspora Refers usually to those Jews who lived as groups outside Israel.

Didache Greek word for teaching material. Early Christian writing of 2nd century.

Disciple Follower or learner. Often used of Jesus' close followers.

DSS Dead Sea Scrolls found in the region of Wadi Qumran 1947.

Ecclesiasticus A book found in the Old Testament apocrypha. Also known as "Sirach"

Epistle A letter - may refer to the letters of Paul or other writers in the New Testament.

Eschatology Teachings about what would happen at the end of time

Essenes Jewish sect - followers probably found at Qumran.

Eusebius c 260-340 AD First writer of a Church history from the time of the Apostles to his own day.

Evangelist Popular use in theology - meaning the writer of a Gospel. Hence "Four Evangelists".

ex eventu Written as a prediction, where the author has a knowledge of the consequences.

Exegesis A detailed examination of a passage of scripture. A commentary.

Existentialism A philosophy of Kierkegaard - became popular as a means of interpreting the New Testament.

Exorcist One who casts out demons

f or ff f means and the verse or page following. ff means a number of verses or pages following.

Gentile A term used by Jews for someone who was not a Jew

Gospel of Thomas A 4th or 5th century "gospel" containing sayings of Jesus but no narrative. Gnostic work.

Gnostics A heretical Christian sect who based belief in Christianity around a secret knowledge.

Hasidim Pious ones. Jewish sect in Maccabean period. Pharisees & Essenes grew out of these.

Hellenistic Greek influence.

Herodians Political party designating those who were supporters of Herod's regime.

ibid In the same book, chapter or passage.

Ignatius A Bishop of Antioch in Syria 110-117AD. A writer of letters to churches.

ipissima verba The precise words spoken.

Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons until around 200AD. Wrote books against Gnostics.

Jamnia Council of Jews held at the end of the first century AD. Decided Canon of Old Testament.

Jerome Educated in Rome. Became a Christian - early monk. Translated Bible into Latin 405AD

Josephus Jewish Roman historian who lived at the end of the first century AD

Justin Martyr A philosopher who became a Christian, defender of Christianity against Jews - Martyr AD165.

kerygma Word - taken from the Greek - used to denote the preaching. Often used of early church.

Koine Greek Common Greek. The form of Greek in which the New Testament is written.

L Material found only in Luke's Gospel

Logia A saying - from the Greek "logos" a word.

Logos theology Popular among Greeks - developed form of wisdom literature. Also present in John's Gospel.

LXX Used to denote the Septuagint. The official translation of the Old Testament into Greek

M Material found only in Matthew's Gospel

Maccabees Books in O.T. apocrypha. Maccabean revolt in Judaism 167BC.

Marcion A Christian heretic ca 144AD. He rejected the Old Testament and its God but accepted Jesus.

Masoretic Text The standard text of the Hebrew Old Testament. It is very carefully transcribed.

Midrash Biblical texts (Old Testament usually) retold to provide help for believers.

Mishnah Written codification of Jewish oral law, completed around 200AD

MSS Term used for a manuscript or document of any description

Oral tradition The period of time between the events in the life of Jesus and the writing of the first Gospel

Origen Famous Christian scholar. Head of Catechetical School in Alexandria. Died 254 AD

Papias c 60-130 AD Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor. His writings are lost but quoted by Eusebius.

Papyri Refers to papyrus finds of post apostolic era. Oxyrhyncus, Nag Hammadi.etc.

Parousia Christian technical term for the return of Christ to the earth - second advent.

Passion Account of the suffering and death of Jesus.

Pentateuch First five books of the Old Testament

Pericope A unit of tradition in a Gospel. It can be a story, a parable, a miracle etc.

Pharisee Jewish religious teacher (not a priest) at the time of Jesus. Worked throughout Israel.

Philo Early Jewish interpreter of scripture. Live at the same times as Jesus, in Alexandria. AD2-50.

Pirke Aboth Ethical and religious sayings of Jewish teachers from 3rd century AD.

Pseudepigrapha Writings with a false attribution of authorship. Esp Jewish religious works 200BC-200AD.

Q The name given to a possible sayings source used exclusively by Matthew and Luke.

Qumran Geographical location. Site of the community who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Sadducee Priestly aristocracy centred on Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

Sanhedrin Highest Jewish Council at the time of Jesus. 71 members. High Priest was in charge.

Sirach A book found in the Old Testament apocrypha. Also known as Ecclesiasticus

sitz im leben German - usually untranslated. "The life situation or situation within the life of �" eg early church.

Synopsis A comparison of documents by placing together parallel material.

Synoptic Gospels Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Talmud Codification of Jewish oral law in its final form. Grew out of Mishnah. Date from 300AD.

Tatian Writer of middle 2nd century. Wrote a "Diatessaron" - four gospels woven into one narrative.

Tertullian Christian apologist, one of first to use Latin. Wrote against Marcion. Died around 223AD.

Thaumaturge Greek term for a wonder worker or miracle worker - non Christian

Torah Books of Law in the Old Testament.

Typology Of people or events. Each is shown to be of a similar type to its predecessor.

Vulgate Jerome's translation of the Bible into Latin in 4th century AD.

Zealots Those who treasured the Law. Jewish extremists who used force against their opponents.

Apoc	Abbreviation for Apocalypse ie Book of Revelation or less likely apocalyptic literature.
Apocalyptic	A specific type of literature found in Jewish and Christian writings. Lurid, pictorial imagery.
Apocrypha	A term used to denote books not regarded as authoritative scripture
Apologetics	A reasoned argument to show the value of a concept or philosophy.
Apostle	Literally - a messenger - First followers of Jesus who spread Christianity were known as this.
Aramaic	The language or dialect spoken by Jesus in Israel.
Augustine of Hippo	354-430AD North African Bishop. Prolific writer.
Canon	A list of books. eg Canon of Old Testament - those books found in the Old Testament
Clement of Alexandria	Head of Catechetical School in Alexandria. Philosopher. Died 215 AD.
Clement of Rome	Early Church Father a leading presbyter in Rome around the end of the 1st century AD.
Codex	A bound book, favoured by Christians for their scriptures. Many were made of vellum.
Diaspora	Refers usually to those Jews who lived as groups outside Israel.
Didache	Greek word for teaching material. Early Christian writing of 2nd century.
Disciple	Follower or learner. Often used of Jesus' close followers.
DSS	Dead Sea Scrolls found in the region of Wadi Qumran 1947.
Ecclesiasticus	A book found in the Old Testament apocrypha. Also known as "Sirach"
Epistle	A letter - may refer to the letters of Paul or other writers in the New Testament.
Eschatology	Teachings about what would happen at the end of time
Essenes	Jewish sect - followers probably found at Qumran.
Eusebius	c 260-340 AD First writer of a Church history from the time of the Apostles to his own day.
Evangelist	Popular use in theology - meaning the writer of a Gospel. Hence "Four Evangelists".
ex eventu	Written as a prediction, where the author has a knowledge of the consequences.
Exegesis	A detailed examination of a passage of scripture. A commentary.
Existentialism	A philosophy of Kierkegaard - became popular as a means of interpreting the New Testament.
Exorcist	One who casts out demons
f or ff	f means and the verse or page following. ff means a number of verses or pages following.
Gentile	A term used by Jews for someone who was not a Jew
Gospel of Thomas	A 4th or 5th century "gospel" containing sayings of Jesus but no narrative. Gnostic work.
Gnostics	A heretical Christian sect who based belief in Christianity around a secret knowledge.
Hasidim	Pious ones. Jewish sect in Maccabean period. Pharisees & Essenes grew out of these.
Hellenistic	Greek influence.
Herodians	Political party designating those who were supporters of Herod's regime.
ibid	In the same book, chapter or passage.
Ignatius	A Bishop of Antioch in Syria 110-117AD. A writer of letters to churches.
ipissima verba	The precise words spoken.
Irenaeus	Bishop of Lyons until around 200AD. Wrote books against Gnostics.
Jamnia	Council of Jews held at the end of the first century AD. Decided Canon of Old Testament.
Jerome	Educated in Rome. Became a Christian - early monk. Translated Bible into Latin 405AD
Josephus	Jewish Roman historian who lived at the end of the first century AD
Justin Martyr	A philosopher who became a Christian, defender of Christianity against Jews - Martyr AD165.
kerygma	Word - taken from the Greek - used to denote the preaching. Often used of early church.
Koine Greek	Common Greek. The form of Greek in which the New Testament is written.
L	Material found only in Luke's Gospel
Logia	A saying - from the Greek "logos" a word.
Logos theology	Popular among Greeks - developed form of wisdom literature. Also present in John's Gospel.
LXX	Used to denote the Septuagint. The official translation of the Old Testament into Greek
M	Material found only in Matthew's Gospel
Maccabees	Books in O.T. apocrypha. Maccabean revolt in Judaism 167BC.
Marcion	A Christian heretic ca 144AD. He rejected the Old Testament and its God but accepted Jesus.
Masoretic Text	The standard text of the Hebrew Old Testament. It is very carefully transcribed.
Midrash	Biblical texts (Old Testament usually) retold to provide help for believers.
Mishnah	Written codification of Jewish oral law, completed around 200AD
MSS	Term used for a manuscript or document of any description
Oral tradition	The period of time between the events in the life of Jesus and the writing of the first Gospel
Origen	Famous Christian scholar. Head of Catechetical School in Alexandria. Died 254 AD
Papias	c 60-130 AD Bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor. His writings are lost but quoted by Eusebius.
Papyri	Refers to papyrus finds of post apostolic era. Oxyrhyncus, Nag Hammadi.etc.
Parousia	Christian technical term for the return of Christ to the earth - second advent.
Passion	Account of the suffering and death of Jesus.
Pentateuch	First five books of the Old Testament
Pericope	A unit of tradition in a Gospel. It can be a story, a parable, a miracle etc.
Pharisee	Jewish religious teacher (not a priest) at the time of Jesus. Worked throughout Israel.
Philo	Early Jewish interpreter of scripture. Live at the same times as Jesus, in Alexandria. AD2-50.
Pirke Aboth	Ethical and religious sayings of Jewish teachers from 3rd century AD.
Pseudepigrapha	Writings with a false attribution of authorship. Esp Jewish religious works 200BC-200AD.
Q	The name given to a possible sayings source used exclusively by Matthew and Luke.
Qumran	Geographical location. Site of the community who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Sadducee	Priestly aristocracy centred on Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.
Sanhedrin	Highest Jewish Council at the time of Jesus. 71 members. High Priest was in charge.
Sirach	A book found in the Old Testament apocrypha. Also known as Ecclesiasticus
sitz im leben	German - usually untranslated. "The life situation or situation within the life of �" eg early church.
Synopsis	A comparison of documents by placing together parallel material.
Synoptic Gospels	Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Talmud	Codification of Jewish oral law in its final form. Grew out of Mishnah. Date from 300AD.
Tatian	Writer of middle 2nd century. Wrote a "Diatessaron" - four gospels woven into one narrative.
Tertullian	Christian apologist, one of first to use Latin. Wrote against Marcion. Died around 223AD.
Thaumaturge	Greek term for a wonder worker or miracle worker - non Christian
Torah	Books of Law in the Old Testament.
Typology	Of people or events. Each is shown to be of a similar type to its predecessor.
Vulgate	Jerome's translation of the Bible into Latin in 4th century AD.
Zealots	Those who treasured the Law. Jewish extremists who used force against their opponents.