Deftly bridging the gap between the technical and the spiritual for over 16 years
Glossary
Apocrypha = A group of literature written from about 200 B.C. to 100 A.D. that is sometimes included as scripture in bibles. The Hebrews and the Protestants agree that these books are not canonical. However, the Catholic Church still includes them in their canon and use them for determining doctrine.
Aramaic = A spoken variant of Hebrew and the language of the Northern Kingdom Jews since the time of the return from Babylonian Captivity. It was spoken along with Greek during the time of Jesus.
canon = A group of scriptural books that are commonly held to have authority and authenticity as works of inspiration of the Holy Ghost. A book is considered “canonical” that is in the “canon,” and “non-canonical” if not.
Ketubim (Kethuvim in Hebrew transliteration) = The Hebrew word for the scriptures of the Hebrew Old Testament that are called “the Writings” and contain what we now consider the books of poetry and wisdom.
Nebiim (Neviim in Hebrew transliteration) = The Hebrew word for the scriptures of the Hebrew Old Testament that are called “the Prophets” and contain the writings of many of the OT prophets. It does not directly correspond book for book with the present day Bible’s prophets. Note that the modern Bible has all of the books that are in the Hebrew version, but they simply are not in the same order.
Pentateuch = A Hebrew word for the first five books of the modern-day Bible. This is also known as “the Law” and the Torah.
Septuagint = A Greek translation of the Bible originally made about 200 A.D. Initially praised by the Jews in Jerusalem, it was eventually rejected in favor of a standardized and canonized Hebrew Bible made about 100 A.D.
Tanak = The Hebrew word for their Bible. While it does not have the same order of books, it does have the same content as the modern-day Old Testament.
Targums = Aramaic paraphrases of the Hebrew scriptures. They were used to teach the scriptures in synagogues where the congregation had fallen away from using Hebrew.
Torah = The Hebrew word for the first five books of the modern-day Bible. These are also known as “the Law” and the Pentateuch.
Transubstantiation = A doctrine of the Catholic Church that teaches that the bread and wine of Communion actually becomes the body and blood of Jesus.
Vulgate = A Latin translation of the Old and New Testament made around 400 A.D. by Jerome. The word comes from the Latin word “vulgar” which — at the time — meant “common.”