assumption The taking up of a person bodily into heaven
apology A statement supporting or in defense of a belief or doctrine
assumption The taking up of a person bodily into heaven
circumcision Removal of the foreskin as a symbol of covenant with God
cosmos The world or universe as an orderly, harmonious system
covenant A solemn agreement between two or more parties, including God and humans, made binding by an oath
Decalogue The Ten Commandments
eschatology Beliefs or expectations concerning the end time
grace The undeserved favor of God toward humans
incarnation God's taking of human form as Jesus of Nazareth to redeem humankind
intertestamental period The era of postexilic Judaism from the completion of the book of Malachi to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70
monarchy The period in Israelite history from the reign of Saul through the fall of the kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C.
monotheism The belief that there is only one deity
Parousia The divine presence; in the New Testament, the future or second coming of Christ
patriarchs The male heads of ancient Hebrew families and clans, specifically the four generations of Israelite founders recorded in Genesis 12-50 (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his 12 sons)
Pentateuch The first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis-Deuteronomy)
pilgrimage Travel to a holy site, referring especially to festivals celebrated at the Jerusalem temple
polytheism Belief in the existence of more than one god
postexilic Relating to the period or events following Israel's Babylonian exile (after 539 B.C.)
preexilic Relating to the period or events before the exile (before 587 B.C.)
providence God's loving care and protection of the world; a benevolent and purposeful ordering of history
Pseudepigrapha A collection of noncanonical writings "falsely ascribed" to biblical figures to lend them theological authority
redemption Release from legal obligation or bondage; deliverance from desperate circumstances; ransom
retribution Recompense or payment for what one deserves, either for good or evil
sanctification Making something or someone clean or holy to God; consecration
superscription A heading or title added to a psalm or other text
Synoptic Gospels The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, so named because of the similarities of structure, perspective, and contents
theocracy Government under God's direct guidance or by officials regarded as ruling with divine authority
theophany An appearance of God to humans, often recorded with vivid descriptions of natural phenomena or supernatural imagery
transcendent God's unique mode of relationship with the world, "going beyond" the boundaries separating his holiness or otherness and the realm of finite being