amanuensis. The person who pens a document, who in Paul’s case would most often be taking it by dictation (see, e.g., Rom. 16:22).
Aramaic. The language spoken by Palestinian Jews in the first century, and thus the native tongue of Jesus.
assize. A court trial.
benedictory prayer. A form of prayer that is spoken indirectly to God on behalf of believers in Christ.
catena. A collection, or connected series, of similar items.
CE. Short for the Common Era, the contemporary way of saying AD (Ante Domini, the year of our Lord).
Christology. The doctrine of the person of Christ—who he was and is and the meaning of his life and work.
cruciform. A life patterned after Jesus’s, which led to his crucifixion—that is, a life lived so as to benefit others without considering the cost.
Docetism. An early heresy that asserted Christ’s humanity to be only apparent, not real.
ecclesiology. The doctrine of the church (derived from Greek ekklēsia, meaning “assembly”).
election. The doctrine of God’s choice in the salvation of those who have become believers.
eschatology. The doctrine of the end times (derived from Greek eschatos, meaning “last”).
the fall. The sin of Adam and Eve, which led to the pervasive nature of sin in the entire human race.
imago Dei. Latin for “the image of God,” describing Christ as fully bearing the divine image in his incarnation.
incarnation. The doctrine of Christ becoming human.
inclusio. A (usually) deliberate arrangement of words, sentences, or ideas in an ABBA pattern (e.g., “she said . . . said she”).
intertextuality. The apparently conscious use by a New Testament author of the language from a known Old Testament passage in a new context for Christian believers.
justification. An understanding of salvation from the perspective of being released from the bondage of the law.
the Lord’s table. Paul’s own language for what came to called the Eucharist, the thanksgiving meal, or communion.
Messiah. The Hebrew’s hoped-for, longed-for divine deliverer.
prayer-wish. A written prayer that indirectly expresses prayer to God with the recipients in view and for their sake.
presupposition. A background belief that is assumed rather than argued for, which often serves as the foundation for other beliefs or arguments.
progeny. A specific set of heirs of a given family line.
Psalter. The Old Testament book of Psalms.
redeemer. One who purchases someone else so as to set him or her free, as from slavery.
redemption. The act of purchasing someone so as to set him or her free, as from slavery.
soteriology. The doctrine of salvation (derived from Greek sōtērion, meaning “salvation”).
suzerain. A ruler or sovereign.
triadic. An adjective used in reference to the divine Trinity.