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J Edgar Hoover
Jacob
Jacob's Ladder
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James Henry Leigh Hunt
Jane Austen
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Jason and the Argonauts, and Medea
JD Salinger
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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John Cassian
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John F Kennedy
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John the Baptist
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A-Z: General definitions: John

Definition

Also known as 'John the evangelist' or the 'beloved disciple'. The son of Zebedee, brother of James & one of the three closest disciples to Christ. Traditionally, John is thought to have written the Fourth Gospel, the three Epistles of John (1, 2, & 3 John) and the Book of Revelation. When Jesus was dying he asked John to care for his mother Mary.

1. Term meaning learner or follower. 2. Used in the New Testament in particularly of the twelve apostles of Jesus. 3. Now applied more generally to all Christians.

1. James, the 'brother of Jesus'. 2. James, son of Zebedee, the first apostle to be killed. 3. James son of Alphaeus, also an apostle.

Title (eventually used as name) given to Jesus, refering to an anointed person set apart for a special task such as a king.

Gospel - Literally 'good news' - used of the message preached by Jesus recorded in the New Testament. 1. The central message of the Christian faith 2. Title given to the four New Testament books which describe the life of Jesus Christ

A letter, often created to be published as a literary text. Much of the New Testament takes the form of letters, written to various early churches about Christian teaching and behaviour.

The name given to the man believed by Christians to be the Son of God. Also given the title Christ, meaning 'anointed one' or Messiah. His life is recorded most fully in the Four Gospels.

The mother of Jesus. The Gospels state that Mary's pregnancy was brought about by the Holy Spirit and not through a human relationship; she is therefore known as the 'Virgin'.

This is an example of apocalyptic literature, full of colourful imagery and symbolism. It contains seven letters to churches in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) who are commended for their zeal or criticised for lack of it. The overall message is that kingdom of God will triumph in the battle against evil and the book ends with a beautiful description of the Heavenly Jerusalem as the symbol of God's presence among humankind in a new heaven and earth.

Big ideas: Judgement; Dreams, visions and prophecy; Serpent, devil, Satan, beast; Apocalypse, Revelation, the End Times, the Second Coming