Vocabulary for Lesson 1

Instructions [ Hide ]

Learning is work. There are multiple ways to study. Different study strategies will work differently for each student. Serious students should try all of them several (6-7) times to see how they work when done well. For the best learning, every student will likely need to use more than one strategy and switch between them. Here are some tips relating to studying vocabulary. You can adapt them for memorizing texts.

  1. Use multiple senses: read, speak, and hear the material aloud. Then, write your version with a pencil into your notebook and notice how that feels. Then, read your own definition aloud as you study. (combine with the next two strategies)
  2. Use your brain: condense the definitions into a form that makes sense to you. Identify key words for every definition. Think of synonyms that you would use. (combine with the other strategies)
  3. Use your body: say your definition and act it out with an expressiveness that fits the meaning.
  4. Use your friends and family: Ask someone to quiz you using spaced repetition for a set amount of time, from your notes. (Example: for 10 minutes, all questions get repeated, but the quicker and more accurate your answer, the longer the interval until that question comes back. Questions you get wrong are repeated sooner.)
  5. Use basic technology: Show all definitions and hide all the terms on this page. Try to remember each term before you show it (by clicking the definition) to check your answer. Then, show all terms and hide the definitions on the page. Only show a definition (by clicking the term) after you have made your best effort to remember your own version of it.
  6. Use tools: Make a stack of index cards with terms on one side and your definitions on the other. When reviewing, don't check the opposite side until you've made your best effort to remember. Sort them into three stacks: Easy, Hard, and Failed. Then re-sort the Failed cards and work through the Hard cards until they are all Easy.
  7. Use advanced technology: On the web (Example: SuperNotes with free signup or with subscription.) or on an app (Example: Anki), create a stack of virtual cards and let the software quiz you. It will use spaced repetition automatically.
  8. Use brute force memorization: Copy a term and definition from this page. Then navigate to Catechesis Contents > Memorization Tool and paste it into the box, then follow the instructions on that page. (Caution: this works quickly for memorizing texts, but must be repeated a few times after a break for long-term recall. It is less effective than the other strategies for understanding what you memorize.)
the circumcision party (or Judaizers)
The group of false disciples within the church who believed that obedience to the Law of Moses was necessary, along with faith in Christ, in order to be saved. This group insisted that the Gentiles be circumcised and follow the Mosaic law before being admitted to the church.
Antioch in Syria
The large city in Syria toward the northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea from which Paul launched his first and second missionary journeys. This city became the early center of the Gentile church. The disciples of Jesus were first called Christians here.
Phoenecia
The region along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretching southward from Antioch in Syria to Galilee in the east and nearly to Caesarea in Samaria to the south. The cities of Tyre and Sidon, visited by Jesus, were located there. This region had a history of seafarers, shipbuilders, and carpenters. In the Old Testament, the queen Jezebel brought the gods of this region into Israel. The people of this region were often called Sidonians, after the city of Sidon.
Cyprus
The island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria which was the home of Barnabas and a large Jewish population. This island was visited by Stephen, Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark.
Cyrene
A colonial city of the Greeks in northern Africa, west of Egypt and southwest of the island of Crete.
Christians
The name given to the disciples of Jesus for the first time in Antioch in Syria. This name for the disciples of Jesus highlights their confession of faith that He is "the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Agabus
A prophet in Antioch in Syria who predicted the famine in Judea shortly before Paul's first missionary journey, and the arrest and persecution of Paul in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey.
St. Paul, Apostle
The persecutor of the church who was converted by Christ and became the foremost apostle to the Gentiles. He wrote the largest number of New Testament epistles. The feast day celebrating his conversion is 25 January. His feast day as an apostle is celebrated with the apostle Peter on 29 June.
missionary
A minister who is sent out to other lands to preach the Gospel to people who do not believe in Jesus Christ.