Glossary of Key Terms
Bridegroom: In Jesus' analogy, this term refers to Jesus himself. His presence signifies a time of joy and celebration, making fasting inappropriate.
Fasting: The act of abstaining from food or other things for a period, often for religious or spiritual reasons. In the Old Testament, some fasts were required; in the New Testament, it becomes a voluntary spiritual discipline.
Law of Moses: The divine laws and commandments given to Moses, forming the basis of the Old Covenant and Jewish religious practice.
Law of Christ / New Covenant: The teachings and principles brought by Jesus Christ, establishing a new relationship with God based on grace and faith, rather than legalistic adherence.
New Wine: Represents the fresh, expanding, and transformative teachings and principles of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.
Old Garment: Symbolizes the rigid, pre-existing structure of the Old Covenant or established Jewish traditions and practices.
Old Wineskins: Represents the outdated, inflexible, and unyielding religious systems, traditions, or mindsets of the Old Covenant that cannot contain the dynamic new teachings of Christ.
Unshrunk Cloth: Symbolizes a new, unadapted, and unyielding piece of fabric, representing the new teachings of Christ.
Scribes and Pharisees: Jewish religious leaders and scholars in Jesus' time who were strict interpreters and enforcers of the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. They often opposed Jesus' teachings.
Spiritual Discipline: Practices undertaken to grow spiritually, such as prayer, Bible study, and voluntary fasting, done with the intent to draw closer to God.
Social Gospel: A movement emphasizing Christian ethics in addressing social problems, often criticized for prioritizing social action over evangelism or personal salvation.
Liberation Theology: A theological movement, prominent in Latin America, that interprets Christian faith through the lens of liberation from oppressive economic, political, or social conditions.
Health and Wealth Gospel: A controversial doctrine teaching that God guarantees material prosperity and physical health to those with enough faith.
Denominationalism: The division of Christianity into distinct denominations, often seen as contrary to the biblical ideal of unity.
