St Paul

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Anti-Semitic

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A hatred or hostility toward Jew: also anti-Judaic, which has the nuance of a disparaging of Jewish religion

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Apocalyptic

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A view of history as tending toward a definite (divinely appointed) goal. Usually in two stages: a present age of oppression, followed by a future age of triumph. Also, the literature associated with this outlook

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Apocryphal

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Literature that was not included in the standard collection of Scripture in Judaism or Christianity

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Apostle

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From the Greek term meaning “sent out with a commission,” the term used by early Christian leaders for their role as representatives of the risen Christ

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Acts of the Apostles (also Acts)

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The second volume of the Gospel of Luke which devotes a considerable attention to Paul and remains an indispensable source for his life, if not his thought

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Agape (Greek)

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Usually translated simply as “love.” The term has the precise nuance of a disposition that seeks the good of the other.

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Authenticity

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In this context, whether writing is actually written by the author to whom it is ascribed, as in “the authentic Pauline letters,” meaning “the ones Paul himself wrote.”

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Baptism

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The Christian ritual of initiation, carried out by means (probably) of immersion in water

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Canon

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From the Greek term meaning “measure,” the standard collection of texts regarded as scriptural and the official writings of a community, whether Jewish or Christian

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Christ/Christology

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From the Greek term Christos means “anointed one,” and translates the Hebrew Messiah: Paul uses the term both technically and virtually, as the second name of Jesus. Christology is the study of the identity, nature, and function of Jesus as Christ

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Circumcision

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The Jewish ritual of initiation traditionally derived from Abraham and signifying membership in the people Israel. For adult converts, circumcision would signify acceptance of the obligation to live according to the commandments of the law (Torah)

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Commendation

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One of the several kinds of letters used by Paul, as by other early Christians, with the same sense as the present day “letter of recommendation”: see Philemon and Romans 16, as well as Paul’s disclaimers in 2 Corinthians

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Cross/Crucifixion

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The distinctively Roman means of execution by impalement that Jesus of Nazareth suffered. For Paul, “the cross” can be used as shorthand for the entire pattern of Jesus’ existence

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Delegates

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The role played by Paul’s associates Timothy and Titus: in effect, they were Paul’s “apostles,” who represented him in his churches

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Diaspora

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Any place Jews lived that was not the land of Palestine. Thus, born in the Roman province of Cilicia, Paul was a Diaspora Jew.”