New Testament Vocab #1

The Jewish high priest who declared himself king in Jerusalem. He was a Levite, not a descendant of David

The land that had been the northern part of the ancient Israel, on the western shore of the Sea of.

A wickedly ambitious king who took over the government of Palestine with the support of the Romans. He was an Edomite, but he portrayed himself as a Jew returned from exile.

The Jewish high priest who conquered almost all the territory of the ancient Davidic kingdom and "Judaized" the whole country.

A Jewish sect that believed in keeping separate from the Gentiles. They followed the Law of Moses strictly and added many traditional interpretations and regulations of their own.

Gentiles who worshiped the True God and knew the Jewish Scriptures, but were not circumcised and did not keep the whole Law of Moses.

A Jewish sect that believed in accommodating Judaism to modern life. They held most of the positions of power in the priesthood. Did not believe in the resurrection and denied the existence of angels and spirits.

The division of Herod the Great's kingdom among his four sons.

The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the Messiah. The story of the Annunciation is found in Luke.

One who is sent. The Twelve were chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his message throughout the world; they are the foundation upon which the Church is built. The word "" is used to describe the Twelve and St. Paul.

Universal. The Catholic Epistles are the epistles written to the whole Church

Good News. Specifically, a brook that tells the Good News. The four Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

A slave who acted as a private tutor for the master's children. Until the children reached adulthood, the had absolute authority over them. According to St. Paul, the Law of Moses acted as our until the coming of Christ.

A hypothetical collection of Jesus' sayings that many scholars think was used by the Gospel writers. No one knows for certainwhether the document ever existed; all the evidence for it comes from scholarly analysis of the Gospels.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They are called "synoptic" (Greek for "seeing together") because they have a similar point view when contrasted with the Gospel of John.