interpretive approach that preferred historical to  allegorical interpretation

Hermeneutics of perception

Interpretive approach that prizes careful listening to the text

Historical-critical method

Interpretive approach whose primary concern is the assessment of the historicity of events recorded in Scripture often with negative results

Scriptura sui interpres

Reformation dictum that Scripture is its own best interpreter

Divi filius

Divine son, title for Roman emperors such as Augustus

Gallio Inscription

Ancient artifact mentioning the name of the governor of Achaia by that name

Graffiti

Informal sketch or scribbling

Maximalist-minimalist debate

Controversy as to whether the Bible is an accurate source of historical-cultural background information

Ossuary

Ancient bone box containing the remains of deceased

Second Temple Period

Period between the rebuilding of the temple subsequent to the return from the exile and the destruction of the temple in ad 70

Terminus as quem

Latest possible date

Covenant

An agreement between two parties presented either as the will of intentions of a superior to an inferior or an agreement between equals

Exodus event

Historical details concerning God’s deliverance of the Hebrews out of Egypt his guidance of them through the wilderness and eventual bringing them into the promised land.

Law

In the Bible an expression of God’s will and moral standard for human conduct delivered as instructional material.

Messiah

God’s promised anointed divine representative who would deliver his people and rule as king in earth’s final state.

New Covenant

In Old Testament Prophesy God’s future bestowal of blessing upon his redeemed people in the promised land.

Old Testament canon

That body of writings accepted as reflecting divine inspiration and authority

Royal grant treaty

Privileges or benefits granted by a king to a vassal or servant for faithful and loyal service

Suzerainty treaty

An agreement whereby the enacting party imposes covenant stipulation upon a vassal

Bultmannian

In conformity with the teachings of Rudolf Bultmann, a noted twentieth-century German theologian

Canonical Edition of the New Testament

The notion that the individuals responsible for the compilation of the books of the new testament in a particular order shaped this document in a particular way

Eschatological

End times

Farwell discourse

Final period of Jesus instruction of his followers per John 13-17 or more narrowly conceived John 13:31-16:33

Nomina sacra

Contracted words for deity in early Greek New Testament manuscripts

Par Excellence

The most perfect example

Parousia

Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

Rapture

Meeting between believers alive at the time of Christs return and their risen Lord per I Thes 4:13-18

Regula fidei

Latin “rule of faith” i.e. the apostles teachings as a standard for orthodox doctrine

Salvation-historical

Events along the lines of God’s unfolding plan of redemption

Theodicy

Vindication of God’s righteous character and purpose

Account

Presentation of history that includes theological interpretation

Antagonist

The person opposing the protagonist

Characterization

The depiction of major and minor figures in the narrative

External elements of narratives

Features outside the narrative such as author narrator and reader

Highlighting

The literary technique of drawing attention to a particular detail in the story

Internal elements of narrative

Features of the narrative itself including setting, plot episodes or scenes

Irony

A dramatic turn of events often involving reversal of expectations

Narrative

A literary genre that builds its sentences and paragraphs around discourse, episodes, or scenes

Plot

The arrangement of events in the story

Protagonist

The main character of a story

A narrative providing historical information

Satire

An attempt to demonstrate through ridicule or rebuke the vice or folly of that which appears to be improper or ill-conceived

Setting

Information as to the place time and circumstances of a given event