A Jewish man who converted before Paul and then became
an "outstanding apostle" associated with the church of Rome (Rom 16:7); he
seems to have been married to another apostle of Rome named Junia,
and the two apparently were imprisoned with Paul for a time.
Apollos
An Egyptian Jew and native of Alexandria, he was
converted by Prisca and Aquila, who then took him to their home in
Corinth where he preached for some time. Apollos was known for his eloquence
and forceful rhetoric (Acts 18:24–28)
Aretas IV
King of Damascus who had Paul arrested for inciting
to riot; according to Luke, Paul escaped his imprisonment by being let down
over the city wall in a basket
Octavian Augustus
The first Emperor of Rome, from 27 B.C.E.
to 14 C.E.; he brought peace after decades of civil war;
Jesus was born during his reign.
Balaam
A prophet of Ba'al (Num 22–24) who was asked to curse
the Israelites, but was only able to bless them because YHWH the Lord gave
him the words of prophecy. The Apocalypse uses this name to characterize
some of the "false" prophets who oppose the message of John the Seer, instead
teaching Jesus' followers to "eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication"
(Rev 2:14).
Balak
King of Moab who conspired with the elders of Midian
to oppose the Israelites (Num 22–24) and chase them out of their land; he
brought Balaam to curse the people of Israel and so allow the Moabites
and Midianites to vanquish them in battle.
Barabbas
Name meaning "son of the father;" in the passion
narrative, an outlaw by this name is said to have been freed instead of Jesus;
other sources give the name as "Jesus Bar Abbas."
Barnabas
An emissary (apostolos) from the church in
Jerusalem to Antioch (Acts 11:22–26), he then retrieved Paul from Tarsus and
spent some time with him at Antioch. Later, he and Paul were sent from
the church in Antioch as missionaries to Cyprus, Perga, Antioch in Pisidia,
Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (Acts 13–14). He also was one of the Antiochene
emissaries to the Council of Jerusalem.
Claudius
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 41–54;
in the late 40's, he issued an edict expelling Jewish leaders from Rome because
of riots in the name of one "Chrestus." This edict was rescinded when
Nero took the purple.
Constantine the Great
Flavius Valerius Constantinus (b. 274? 288?) was Emperor of Rome from
C.E. 306–337; in 313 he issued an edict that legalized
Christianity in the Roman Empire; later, in 325, he made Christianity the
official religion of the Empire and outlawed other forms of religion.
Epaenetus
The first Asian convert to the Jesus movement (Rom
16:5)
Euodia
A woman who was one of the leaders of the church
at Philippi (Phil 4:2–3)
Flavius Domitian
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 81–96;
another major persecution of Christians broke out under him; the book of Revelation
was written during his reign.
Gaius Caligula
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 37–41;
he was a lunatic who tried to set up a statue of himself (to be worshiped
as a god) in the Temple in Jerusalem but he was assassinated before this order
could be carried out.
Gamaliel
II
Leader of rabbinic Judaism after its founder, Jochanem
ben Zacchai, he organized the reform of the synagogue service ca.C.E.
91 which brought about the inclusion of the curse on the followers of "the
Nazarene" and caused the definitive break between Christians and Jews.
Herod Agrippa
A successor to Herod the Great, he is noted in the
NT for hearing Paul preach after his detention by Porcius Festus (Acts 25:13–26:32);
Luke portrays Paul's message as so convincing that King Agrippa is nearly
converted (Acts 26:28).
Herod Antipas
A successor to Herod the Great, he is noted in the
NT for his incestuous marriage to the divorced wife of his living brother,
and for the beheading of John the Baptist.
Herod the Great
Appointed by Rome as King of the Jews, he ruled Palestine
from 37–4 B.C.E.; he was a megalomaniac hated by nearly
all of his subjects, and is famous for ordering the murder of one child in
each family so people would mourn his death.
Hillel
Famous Jewish teacher of the first century B.C.E.,
his sayings are collected in the Mishnah (where he is given the
title of "Rabbi"). His school of thought
was known for being relatively liberal in its interpretations of the Torah.
Ignatius of Antioch
Born ca.C.E. 50 and martyred ca.C.E.107, Ignatius
was the third Bishop of the church of Antioch in Syria (if one includes Simon
Peter). Like his friend, Polycarp, Ignatius is
reported to have been a disciple of John and to have
received the gospel from his lips. Ignatius
wrote seven letters to various churches while he was on his way to Rome,
in chains, to be executed in the amphitheater. The letters evidence a strong
emphasis on church unity around the local bishop; his theology sometimes
is characterized as promoting a "monarchical episcopate." Ignatius also appealed
to Christians to be faithful in the face of persecution, and to welcome the
martyr's crown as the seal of true faith in Christ.
James I
One of Jesus' first disciples and first head of the
church in Jerusalem after the resurrection.
James II
Known in the NT as `brother of the Lord,' he was
NOT one of Jesus' original disciples; he took over as leader of the church
in Jerusalem after the death of James I (= "James of Jerusalem")
Jesus of Nazareth
Born ca. 4 B.C.E., he was a wandering
preacher and healer in first century C.E. Palestine executed
by the Romans for subversion (ca.C.E. 30). His followers
claimed that God raised him from the dead to prove that he was the long-awaited
(Jewish) messiah.
Jezebel
Wife of Ahab (1 Kgs 16:31), King of Israel (Samaria);
she and her husband were devotees of Ba'al rather than YHWH, God of Israel,
and executed many of the prophets of YHWH (1 Kgs 17–18), also threatening
Elijah with the sword. The Apocalypse uses this name to characterize
some of the "false" prophets who oppose the message of John
the Seer by "teaching
and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed
to idols" (Rev 2:20).
Jochanem ben Zacchai
Founder of Rabbinic Judaism in the aftermath of the
first Jewish Revolt against Rome (C.E. 67–73); he was instrumental
in the re-organization of Judaism in Jamnia (Jabneh or Yavneh) after the destruction
of the Second Temple and the expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem.
John the Baptist
A prophet contemporaneous with Jesus, he preached
the imminent coming of the Reign of God. Tradition has it that he and
Jesus were cousins, and that John was born a few months before Jesus (i.e.,
ca. 6–5 B.C.E.). Jesus became one of his followers
(at least for a time), submitting to baptism by John in the Jordan River,
probably about C.E. 27. Herod
Antipas had him imprisoned
and then beheaded ca. C.E. 28.
John bar Zebedee
One of the original disciples of Jesus, he later
became a leader of the Jerusalem church; the fourth Gospel (completed ca.
C.E. 90) takes its name from him.
John of Ephesus (a.k.a. "John the Seer")
The Seer of the Book of Revelation; he was a prophet
and visionary who had led the churches of Asia until he was exiled on the
island of Patmos "for the sake of the Name" of God and the gospel about Jesus
Messiah.
Judas Iscariot
One of Jesus' original disciples, he may have been
a member of the Zealot party; the Gospels report that Judas is the one who
betrayed Jesus to the Jewish authorities and helped them plan Jesus' arrest.
Julia
A Roman convert who apparently led a house church
with four other Christians from Rome.
Junia
A Jewish woman who converted before Paul and then
became an "outstanding apostle" associated with the church of Rome (Rom 16:7);
she seems to have been married to another apostle of Rome named Andronicus,
and the two apparently were imprisoned with Paul for a time.
The Lamb
In the Apocalypse, the Seer's favorite word for Jesus—humble,
pure, meek, slaughtered by God's Adversary. Revelation reveals the "Lion"
side of the Lamb as well, coming in justice and Divine judgment, but without
relinquishing the suffering side of the Lamb which links the Lamb with the
followers of Jesus Messiah.
Lazarus
A poor man, in the Gospel of Luke, who lived as a
beggar outside a rich man's estate. Alternately, in the fourth Gospel, this
is the name of the brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany who died and then
was raised by Jesus three days after being in the tomb.
Luke
Name given to the author of the third Gospel and
the Book of Acts (dated ca. C.E. 85, possibly from Ephesus); traditionally
thought to be a gentile convert who was a physician and companion of Paul on
one of his missionary journeys.
Mark
Name given to the author of the earliest Gospel (dated ca. C.E. 70);
the Pastoral Letters refer to a Mark as a companion of Paul,
but Mark was not one of Jesus' disciples.
Martha & Mary of Bethany
According to John, siisters of Lazarus. Mary sat
at the feet of Jesus, learning the gospel directly from him; she also anointed
Jesus to proclaim him to be the messiah.
Mary of Magdala
A woman from whom Jesus is said to have cast out
seven demons, she became one of Jesus' intimate disciples; she is reported
to have been a witness to the crucifixion, and all four gospels claim that
she was (alone, according to John) the first witness to the resurrection who
brought the message to Simon Peter and some of the other disciples (who did
not believe her); medieval people called her "apostola apostolorum,"
apostle to the apostles.
Mary of Nazareth
Depicted by Mark as an unbeliever, but in John's gospel as a leader of the church and a "beloved disciple," she was the mother
of Jesus.
Mary of Rome
A Jewish Christian leader of the church in Rome (Rom
16:6).
Matthew
A tax collector who gave up his profession and became
a disciple of Jesus; the first gospel (written ca. C.E. 80, probably in Syria)
takes its name from him.
Nero
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 54–68;
a major persecution of Christians took place under him; Peter and Paul were
killed during his reign.
Nerva
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 96–98.
Nicolaitans
The Apocalypse uses this name to characterize some
of the "false" prophets who oppose the message of John the Seer; otherwise,
it is unknown.
Onesimus
A slave converted by Paul during his imprisonment
in Ephesus; Paul wrote to his master, Philemon, to plead for Onesimus'
freedom.
Paul of Tarsus
Also known as Saul, a Pharisaic Jew who persecuted
Christians; he had a vision of the risen Christ and became a fervent missionary
and preacher of the gospe. While he preached to both Jews and non-Jews, he
called himself "apostle to the gentiles." Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and
taken to Rome in chains, where he was executed ca.C.E.
62.
Philemon
An aristocratic, slave-holding Christian from Asia
Minor (perhaps near Colossae?) who hosted a house church; the only surviving
"personal" letter of Paul was addressed to him.
Phoebe of Cenchreae
A wealthy Christian woman who was president of the
church near Corinth and who, according to Romans, gave monetary support to
many Christian missionaries, including Paul.
Polycarp of Smyrna
Bishop of the church in Smyrna (modern-day Izmir, Turkey), he lived from
ca. C.E. 70–155. Eusebius claims he was a pupil of the Apostle
John. His letters to the church at Philippi discourage
materialism and offer advice concerning how to
handle financial dishonesty of church members. Polycarp
rejected
the gnostic teachings of Marcion and maintained a futuristic eschatology
consonant with that in the Book of Revelation, including "chiliasm" or focus
on the millenial reign of Christ on earth after the Second Coming.
Pompey
The Roman General who subdued Palestine in 63 B.C.E.,
beginning the period of Roman rule there.
Pontius Pilate
Appointed by Rome to be procurator of Judea from
C.E. 26–36; the gospels record that, under him, Jesus was
tried and convicted of subversion.
Prisca
Also known as Priscilla, she was an evangelist and
missionary with whom Paul worked at Corinth; she and her husband, Aquila,
were "leather workers" like Paul, and made their primary home in Rome.
Shammai
Famous Jewish teacher of the first century B.C.E.,
his sayings are collected in the Mishnah (where he is given the
title of "Rabbi"). His school of thought was known for being relatively conservative
in its interpretations of the Torah.
Simon Peter
Formerly a fisherman, he became one of Jesus' first
disciples; he is famous for denying any association with Jesus during his
passion, but later being rehabilitated and becoming a leader of the Christian
movement; Galatians refers to him as a "pillar" of the Jerusalem church; medieval
Christians believed he was the first pope.
Stephen
A follower of Jesus who came from Greek-speaking,
diaspora Judaism, he is remembered in the book of Acts (chpt. 7) as the first
Christian martyr. He was stoned to death (ca.C.E.
33) for preaching that the Jerusalem Temple was no longer necessary now that
the Messiah Jesus had come.
Syntyche
A woman who was one of the leaders of the church
at Philippi (Phil 4:2–3)
Thecla
A wealthy Roman woman converted by Paul of Tarsus,
she renounced her engagement, cut her hair short, and became a charismatic
preacher and wandering missionary like Paul; she is known by the early Church
as a female apostle and miracle-worker.
Thomas "the Twin"
One of Jesus' early disciples, the fourth gospel says he doubted the veracity
of the other disciples' reports of Jesus' resurrection and post-resurrection
appearances. Two extra-canonical gospels are named after him.
Tiberius Caesar
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 14–37;
Jesus was killed during his reign.
Timothy
A Jewish convert who was one of Paul's missionary
companions
Titus
A Gentile convert who was one of Paul's missionary
companions
Flavius Titus
Emperor of Rome C.E. 79–81; he
succeeded his father, Vespasian, as General of the Roman forces in Palestine
and concluded the war with the Jews (begun in 67), first by sacking Jerusalem
in 70 and then by taking the fortress Masada in C.E. 73.
Trajan
Emperor of Rome from C.E. 98–117
after a successful military career and service as consul (91), he was known
for his public works, state loans to landowners, and welfare for poor Italian
children. A revolt of diaspora Jews occured during the final years (114–117)
of his reign.
Tryphaena
A Christian woman who, with her sister, Tryphosa,
was a minister to the Roman church (Rom 16:12).
Tryphosa
A Christian woman who, with her sister, Tryphaena,
was a minister to the Roman church (Rom 16:12).
Vespasian
General of the Roman forces combatting the Jewish
insurgents in Palestine (C.E. 67–69), he was acclaimed Emperor
at the death of Vitellius in C.E. 69. Vespasian's
son, Titus succeeded him as General, and then as Emperor at Vespasian's death
in 79.
Zaccheus
A short, rich man who climbed a tree to see Jesus;
Jesus called him, he was immediately converted, and repaid fourfold all those
he had cheated.
02 April 2007
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