nted twice.
Interlinear Bible - an edition in which each line of the original biblical text (OT Hebrew or NT Greek) is followed by a line containing a literal English equivalent directly underneath each Hebrew or Greek word; since the word order of the ancient languages is very different from any modern languages, the English equivalents seem very strange, chopped up, and out of order; thus a smooth English translation is usually also provided in the margins.
Some Contrasting Pairs:
Genre - the literary "form" or "category" of a text (not just biblical, but any literature); larger genres in the NT include Gospels, Letters, Acts, Apocalypses, Novels, Biographies, etc.; smaller genres within the Gospels include parables, sayings, controversy dialogues, healing miracles, exorcisms, nature miracles, etc.
Pericope (not "periScope"; pronounced "peh-RIH-cuh-pee") - an individual "passage" within the Gospels, with a distinct beginning and ending, so that it forms an independent literary "unit"; similar pericopes are often found in different places and different orders in the Gospels; pericopes can include various genres (parables, miracle stories, evangelists' summaries, etc.)
Parable - a metaphorical story featuring common images and vivid comparisons, but usually with a twist; many (but not all) of Jesus' parables are about the Reign of God. Caution: "parables" are only stories told BY Jesus, but not all stories about Jesus; the Gospels' descriptions about Jesus' actions are better called "passages," "paragraphs," "stories," or "pericopes."
Exegesis - careful investigation of the original meaning of a text in its historical and literary contexts; the word comes from a Greek verb meaning "to lead out of" (Greek "ex" = "out"; "ago" = "to lead/go/draw"); the process basically involves asking analytical questions about various aspects of the texts and their contexts; the opposite process is called Eisegesis, which means "reading [your own opinions] into" the text (not a good idea in biblical studies!)
Criticisms - various methods of doing biblical exegesis, each having a specific goal and a specific set of questions; biblical "criticism" does not mean "criticizing" the text (i.e. what you don't like or don't agree with), but asking "critical" questions (based on "criteria" that are as clear, careful, and objective as possible).
Primary Literature - writings or sources from ancient times, such as the biblical texts themselves
Secondary Literature - anything written by modern scholars, often interpreting the ancient texts
Manuscripts - ancient (or modern) texts "written by hand"; often copies of copies of copies, with significant differences
Print Editions - printed copies; made after the invention of moveable-type printing by Johannes Gutenberg, ca. 1453
Ancient Versions - translations into other ancient languages, such as Latin, Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, etc.
Modern Translations - translations into English, Spanish, German, and other modern languages
Papyrus - an Egyptian plant; a paper-like writing material made from it; cheaper, but not as durable; see esp. P52 and P75
Parchment (Vellum) - animal skins prepared for writing; much more durable, but also much more expensive; see Vaticanus
Scroll (Roll) - long sheets written on one side only, then rolled-up (could be made of papyrus or vellum)
Codex - written on both sides, then bound in book form (could also be made of papyrus or vellum)
Majuscule - early manuscripts written in ALLCAPITALLETTERSUSUALLYWITHOUTPUNCTUATIONORSPACES
Minuscule - later manuscripts written with small letters, with punctuation and spaces between words
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