New Testament Theology - Introductory Glossaries

Fr. Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Introduction

There is no single definition of "Biblical Theology" that all scholars would agree upon; nor should "New Testament Theology" be treated as an undifferentiated whole. On the contrary, despite some obvious commonalities and significant overlaps, there is a wide variety of different biblical theologies (plural).

Deuteronomistic Theology is very different from Biblical Apocalyptic, and the theology of the Books of Kings contrasts sharply with that of the Prophet Jeremiah. The same is also true within the New Testament: there are significant differences between Pauline and Johannine theologies, the theology of the Letter to the Hebrews differs from that of the Book of Revelation, and so forth. The best method of doing biblical theology, therefore, is to investigate the distinctive theological outlook of each biblical author or book (or group of closely related books) separately.

Another possible approach is to look at the biblical foundations of various sub-fields of theology. Due to legitimate developments of theology in the Jewish and Christian religions over the centuries, not all theological terms and doctrines are already explicitly found in the scriptures themselves. All later theological concepts, however, must be based upon biblical foundations. For example, although the word "Trinity" is never used in the New Testament, the Christian doctrines of the divinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are clearly found in the scriptures.

The following webpages are based on glossaries written by my students in a recent course on "New Testament Theology", along with a few additional glossaries of my own. More will be added as time and opportunity permits. Please e-mail fjust--at--jesuits.org (replacing --at--with @) with any corrections or suggestions.

• Discipleship & Mission (disciple, follower, apostle, the twelve, evangelist, mission, the Way, Christian, convert, repent, imitate, believe, living/being/walking in Christ, etc.)

• Christology (titles of Jesus: Messiah/Christ, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Son of Mary, King of the Jews, Prophet, Rabbi/Teacher, Savior, Servant, Emmanuel, Logos/Word, Lamb of God, Holy One of God, I AM, High Priest, Advocate/Paraclete, Alpha & Omega, etc.)

• Ecclesiology (Church, Synagogue, Temple/Sanctuary, People of God, Community/Communion, Body of Christ, Saints, Brothers & Sisters, Servants/Slaves, etc.)

• Pneumatology (Spirit, Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Paraclete/Advocate/Comforter/Counselor, Pentecost, Evil/Unclean spirits, inspired/inspiration, spiritual gifts, fruits of the spirit, charism, prophet/prophecy, etc.)

• Trinitarian Theology (God, Divine/Divinity, YHWH, Lord, other names and images of God, Theism, Polytheism, Henotheism, Monotheism, Father/Son/Spirit, Nature, Substance, Person, Unity, Trinity, etc.)

• Eschatology (End Times, Parousia, Maranatha, Judgment, Salvation, Death, Day of the Lord, Apocalypse/Revelation, Resurrection, Heaven, Hell/Hades/Gehenna/Sheol, Kingdom of God, Rapture, Purgatory, etc.)

• Liturgical & Eucharistic Theology (Liturgy, Eucharist, Last Supper, Lord's Supper, Lord's Day, Communion, Worship, Feast, Service, Breaking of the Bread, Remembrance, etc.)

• Sacramental Theology (Sacrament, Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Reconciliation/Penance, Anointing, Rites/Ritual, etc.)

• Soteriology (Savior, Salvation, Sin, Grace, Atonement, Redemption, Justification, Righteousness, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Expiation, etc.)

• Theological Anthropology (Human Being, Life/Living/Alive, Death/Dying, Faith/Trust, Freedom,/Slavery, Free Will, God's Will, Birth, Body, Soul, Spirit, Flesh, etc.)

• Creedal Statements & Hymns (Creed, Believe, Profess, Psalm, Hymn, Song, Praise, ancient Musical Instruments, etc.)

• Cosmology (World, Earth, Heaven/Sky, Creation, Universe, Sun, Moon, Stars, Firmament, Foundation, Elements, Nature, Time, )

• Moral Theology / Theological Ethics (Ethic/Ethos, Custom, Moral/Mores, Virtue/Vice, Good/Evil, Reverence, Piety/Impiety, Golden Rule, Law, Sin, Commandment, Suffering, Conscience, Pure/Impure, Holy/Unholy, Sacred/Profane, etc.)

• Inter-Religious Relationships (Religion, Jew/Judaism, Hebrew, Israelite, Gentile, Christian, Worship, Service, Proselyte, Priest, Altar, Sacrifice, etc.)

• Political Theology (Poeple, Nation, City, State, Society, Kingdom, Church, Citizen, Alien, Slave, Freedom, Law, Statute, Tax, Honor, Rome, Emperor, Ruler, Authority, Power, etc.)

• Mariology (Mary, Virgin, Mother, Visitation, Magnificat, Immaculate Conception, Dormition, Assumption, Coronation, etc.)
   

Suggestions for additional reading about Biblical Theology:

• Brief Intros/Overviews:
  • K. Stendahl. “Biblical Theology.” IDB: Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (1962) 1.418-32.
  • James Barr. “Biblical Theology.” IDBS: Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Supplementary Volume (1976) 104-11.
  • John Donahue. “The Changing Shape of NT Theology.” Theological Studies 50 (1989) 314-35.
  • Raymond E. Brown and Sandra Schneiders. “Hermeneutics.” In New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Prentice Hall, 1990), 1146-65.
  • Raymond E. Brown, et al. “Aspects of New Testament Thought.” In New Jerome Biblical Commentary (Prentice Hall, 1990), 1354-81.
     
• Catholic Perspectives:
  • Hans Urs von Balthasar. Word and Revelation. Essays in Theology 1. New York: Herder & Herder, 1964.
  • Karl Rahner and Joseph Ratzinger. Revelation and Tradition. Quaestiones disputatae 17. New York: Herder & Herder, 1966.
  • Raymond E. Brown. Biblical Exegesis and Church Doctrine. New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 1985.
  • Avery Dulles. Models of Revelation. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1996.
  • Gerald O'Collins and Daniel Kendall. The Bible for Theology: Ten Principles for the Theological Use of Scripture. New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 1997.
  • Sandra M. Schneiders. The Revelatory Text: Interpreting the New Testament as Sacred Scripture. 2nd edition. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1999.
  • Ronald D. Witherup. Scripture: Dei Verbum. Rediscovering Vatican II. New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 2006.
  • William S. Kurz. Reading the Bible as God's Own Story: A Catholic Approach for Bringing Scripture to Life. Word Among Us, 2007.
  • Joseph A. Fitzmyer. The Interpretation of Scripture: In Defense of the Historical-Critical Method. New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 2008.
  • Frank J. Matera. New Testament Theology: Exploring Diversity and Unity. Westminster/John Knox, 2007.
  • Frank J. Matera. A Concise Theology of the New Testament. Biblical Studies from the CBA, 1. New York/Mahwah: Paulist, 2020.
     
• Some Protestant Perspectives:
  • Leon Morris. New Testament Theology. Zondervan Academic, 1990.
  • George Eldon Ladd. A Theology of the New Testament. 2nd edition. Eerdmans, 1974/1993.
  • Frank S. Thielman. Theology of the New Testament: A Canonical and Synthetic Approach. Zondervan Academic, 2005.
  • Thomas R. Schreiner. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. Baker Academic, 2008.
  • Kevin J. Vanhoozer, et al., eds. Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey. Baker Academic, 2008.
  • James D. G. Dunn. New Testament Theology: An Introduction. Library of Biblical Theology. Abingdon, 2009.
  • G. K. Beale. A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New. Baker Academic, 2011.
  • I. Howard Marshall. New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel. IVP Academic, 2014.
  • Craig L. Blomberg. A New Testament Theology. Baylor University Press, 2018.
  • Eckhard J. Schnabel. New Testament Theology. Baker Academic, 2023.