Tag: Christian Derivatives

EXPRESSION/SAYING

SOURCE/ORIGIN

CURRENT MEANING

“Good Samaritan”

Jesus Christ’s parable (Luke 10:30-37)

Someone who is kind and helpful, especially to strangers

“Avoid it like the plague”

St. Jerome, early 5^th cent.

Spiritual kinship with someone not biologically related

“Doubting Thomas”

Thomas doubting Christ’s resurrection (Jn. 20:24-28)

Someone who doubts valid evidence

“Filthy lucre”

St. Paul (Titus 1:11)

Often applied to all money

“The gospel truth”

The veracity of Jesus Christ’s life and sayings in the four NT Gospels

A synonym for absolute truth

“Harmless as doves”

Jesus Christ (Matt. 10:16)

Someone who does no one any harm

“A Judas”

Betrayal of Jesus by Judas (NT Gospels)

An inside person who betrays a friend or group

“Rob Peter to pay Paul”

Assets of St. Peter’s church in London being used to repair St. Paul’s cathedral, 1540’s

Taking money from one person or group to assist another

“Thorn in the flesh”

St. Paul’s enduring personal ailment (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Any problem that continues to vex someone

“Turn the other cheek”

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:39)

Not getting even with one’s enemy

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”

St. Ambrose, ca. early 390’s

Adopt the manners of the place one visits

“Wolf in sheep’s clothing”

Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:15)

An appealing person can be deceptive

“Brother”

A concept expressed by Jesus Christ (Mark 3:3)

Spiritual kinship with someone not biologically related