Theological Term of the Week

epistle
A New Testament letter from an apostle to a congregation or individual. Of the New Testament books, all but Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and Revelation are epistles.

• From the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul’s greeting and closing blessing:

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me, 

To the churches of Galatia: 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:1-5 ESV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. (Galatians 6:18 ESV)

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Theological Term of the Week

Pentateuch
The first five books of the Old Testament, i.e., Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; also known as the Torah, the Law, or the Books of Moses.

• From scripture, the theme of the Pentateuch:1 

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV)

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Theological Term of the Week

theophany
An instance of “divine self-revelation in which God manifests himself to humans”;1 a visible appearance of God.

• An example of a theophany in scripture: 

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1-6 ESV)

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