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Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome develops the theme of God's gospel plan of justification for sinful man on the ground Christ's atoning death. The book demonstrates that redemption could not be effected by means of the law of Moses; rather, it is achieved through "the faith" system. While ...
The New Testament is a collection of twenty-seven documents with the following characteristics: • They are classified as "scripture," a term suggesting a divine writing (1 Tim. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:16). • Eight known writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude — produced these boo...
The Greek term pascha has been mistranslated as "Easter" in the King James Version of the Bible (Acts 12:4). The term is consistently rendered "passover" elsewhere in the New Testament (see Mt. 26:2). The word "Easter" derives from an old Anglo-Saxon term related to the goddess of spring. It was ...
Pentecost was an annual Jewish festival that came fifty days (the word signifies "fiftieth") after the Passover celebration (Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12). It was also known as the feast of weeks (Exodus 34:22), the feast of harvest (Exodus 23:16), or the feast of firstfruits (Num. 28:...
This word is an anglicized form of the Greek apologeia, literally meaning "a verbal defense." It is found eight times in the New Testament, and a verb form occurs some ten times. For example, Luke uses this word to describe Paul's defense of the Christian system before various rulers (Acts 22:1; ...
The Greek term, found in various forms about forty-five times in the N.T., means "the possession of a lot," or portion. Some ideas associated with the word are these: (a) It can suggest a possession by right of birth (Gal. 4:30; Heb. 1:4; cf. Jn. 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27, 29). (b) The inheritance is b...
This word derives from a Latin term meaning "unmarried." In the divine scheme of things, the ideal is for human beings to marry (Gen. 2:18; 1 Tim. 5:14). Sometimes, however, it is not advisable to marry. One such time would be during severe persecution (1 Cor. 7:26, 35, 40). Even then, however, m...
Death is a term that, in one sense or another, suggests the idea of separation. Physical death is that state of the body which is separated from the "spirit" or "soul" (Gen. 25:8; 35:18; Jas. 2:26). Death is a mystery that demands an explanation. Atheism is unable to provide one. If nature has th...
This word signifies "change in substance," and it reflects the Roman Catholic doctrine that in the communion service, when the priest pronounces the words, "this is my body" and "this is my blood," the communion elements (bread and fruit of the vine) turn into the "real presence" of Christ. The d...
On the night before his death, during the Passover celebration, Jesus instituted the communion supper for his disciples (Mt. 26:26ff; Mk. 14:22ff; Lk. 22:19ff; cf. 1 Cor. 11:23ff). The Lord's Supper consisted of two elements: bread and fruit of the vine. The term "breaking bread" was a commonly u...
Two Greek words express the idea of immortality -- athanasia (no death), and aphtharsia (no corruption). In the absolute sense, only God possesses immortality, i.e., an underived and unending existence (1 Tim. 6:16). Concerning those who are created in God's image (human beings exclusively), we p...
A significant portion of the Old Testament record embodies the law of Moses. Some basic facts relative to that system must be understood. (a) It was given by God, and ordained by angels; it came through Moses as a mediator (Gal. 3:19). (b) It was given at Sinai (cir. 1500 B.C.), and was terminate...