Key Terms in Biblical Studies

Key Terms & Definitions

• Cannon/Canonical: An authoritative collection of books (e.g., the Bible).
• Canonization: The process of selecting books for inclusion in the canon.
• Septuagint: The best Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), featuring rearranged order and added books (used by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox).
• Evangelion: An early form of the word "Gospel," meaning good news.
• Literary Genre: A category of literature (e.g., gospel).
• Kerygma: The oral message (preaching) of faith.
• NT Manuscripts: Copies of the New Testament. We don't have the originals; comparing manuscripts helps determine the closest version. Shorter manuscripts are more likely to be closer to the original.
• Vulgate: The most well-known Latin translation of the Bible.
• Incarnation: The Christian doctrine that God's son took human form as Jesus Christ (100% divine, 100% human).
• Messiah (Hebrew): The anointed one (primarily by God).
• Christos (Greek): The anointed one (primarily by God).
• Christology: The study of Jesus Christ (derived from theology, the study of God).

Key Dates & Events

• 4 BCE – 30 CE: Lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth (the Messiah).
• 50 – 64 CE: Paul's ministry as an apostle; he wrote letters (Paul's early life: prosecution, Apostle then Letters)
• 66–70 CE: Roman-Jewish War; destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem (in 70 CE, Matthew and Mark and Luke -Acts).
• 70 CE: The setting for Mark's Gospel, using the destruction of Jerusalem to solidify the reality of God (apocalyptic context).
• 85 CE: "Cursed vs. Heretics" era; split between Judaism and Christianity (excommunication). Matthew, Luke-Acts appear.
• 90s CE: Worldwide persecution of the Church (Emperor Domitian). Gospel of John and Revelation written.

Additional Notes

• Important Manuscripts: Determining the most accurate NT version involves comparing various copies (manuscripts). Shorter manuscripts are often more likely to represent the original text.