Greek and New Testament Definitions

Greek Definitions

• Agape: Brotherly, sacrificial, unconditional love.
• Anthropos: Refers to man or human.
• Aggelos: A messenger or angel.
• Ego: Denotes "I," "me," or "my."
• Theos: Means God, specifically referring to the Trinity.
• Iesous: Jesus, meaning ‘Jehovah is salvation’.
• Kerugma: Good news.
• Koinonia: Fellowship, communion, community.
• Cosmos: Refers to the world.
• Logos: Word, Scriptures and Jesus, expresses what God is like.
• Nomos: Ten Commandments, Law and Writings of Moses, all make up the Old Testament.
• Pneuma: Means the Holy Spirit.
• Sabbaton: Refers to the Sabbath.
• Charis: Means grace.
• Christos: Refers to Christ

New Testament Terms Definitions

• Pax Romana: Latin for "the Roman Peace", began in the 1st century BC, helped Christianity spread in the Mediterranean.
• Pentecost: Jewish Feast of First Fruits, held 50 days after Passover, the Spirit poured out on believers in Jerusalem, beginning the church.
• Tongues: Refers to languages.
• The Way: Refers to the early Christian movement and its followers.
• Antioch: A large city in the Roman Empire, a hub for trade and culture and an important town for Christianity.
• Gallio Inscription: Discovered at Delphi, references Junius Gallio, used as a timeline indicator for Paul's 2nd missionary trip.
• Herod Agrippa I: Last Jewish King of Judea, killed James.
• Herod Agrippa II: Son of Herod Agrippa I, played a role in the First Jewish-Roman War, listened to Paul's defense.
• Justification: God declares a person righteous, through faith in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.
• Sanctification: God progressively makes the believer holy, a process following justification.
• Substitutionary Atonement Theory: Sin, punishable by death, requires a perfect sacrifice, Jesus is the perfect lamb.
• Moral Influence Theory: Jesus' sacrifice demonstrates His love.
• Ransom Theory: God trades His Son for sinners, Jesus overpowers Satan.
• Gnosticism: Blend of Christian, Jewish, and Greek ideas, heresy, salvation through special knowledge.
• Bishop: A leader in the early church.

Short Answer Questions

• Two ways Hellenization affected the early Christian church: Greek culture spread, affecting language, communication, and philosophy.
• Examples of "outsiders" welcomed: Cornelius the Centurion, the Ethiopian eunuch, and Lydia.
• Paul spent eighteen months in Corinth during his second missionary journey.
• According to Paul, faith is hope and belief for the unseen.
• Faith, hope, and love are more important than spiritual gifts.

Essay-Length Answer Questions

• Prominent philosophies in the early Christian world included Platonism and Stoicism.
  • Platonism includes true forms, one good, and virtue as knowledge.
  • Stoicism emphasizes fate, self-control, wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
• The Jerusalem Council debated whether Gentiles needed circumcision for salvation, the final decision was not to require it.
• Paul's view of salvation: It is a process, accepting Christ starts a lifelong transformation, verses include Romans 3:20, Romans 4:5, and Romans 5:1.
• Intra-church conflicts in early Christian churches included factions, immorality, spiritual gifts, Paul urged love, gentleness, patience, and inclusion.
• In 1 Timothy 2:12, Paul said “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet", could be due to false teachings and disproportionate influence.