Woman was fashioned from flesh and bone taken from the side of man (Gen. 2:21-24). Male and female qualities were designed by God (Mt. 19:4); these characteristics are not accidental developments o...

The term “works” is a perfectly noble word; yet, in the minds of some, there is a distorted view of this biblical term. Especially has the Protestant world reacted negatively to Catholicism’s "work...

References to “worship” are common in both the O.T. and the N.T. The Hebrew term shachah (about 100 times) refers to “bowing” before an object of religious devotion. Similarly, proskuneo (59 times)...

The prophet Zephaniah was the great, great-grandson of King Hezekiah (1:1). His prophetic ministry was conducted in the days of Judah’s good king, Josiah (ca. 639-09 B.C.). 

Josiah came to the thr...

This word comes directly from the Greek blasphemeo, which is believed to derive from blapto (to injure) and pheme (speech), hence injurious speech.

Scripture speaks of those who blaspheme God (Ro...

The word “agnostic” does not appear in the English Bible. The term derives, however, from Greek roots suggesting the idea “not known.”

When Paul visited Athens, he noted that the pagans there had...

The English Bible uses the word “abomination” to reflect about a dozen terms in the original languages of both Testaments. The prevailing idea behind the words is a divine revulsion at transgressio...

The English word “obey” translates both Hebrew and Greek words that express parallel ideas: listening and being attentive to someone who possesses authority. Thus, the words suggest an active respo...

The Old Testament, the revered Hebrew Bible, is a divine collection of thirty-nine books. These books, inspired by God (Mt. 22:31-32; 2 Tim. 3:15-17), were produced over a period of about 1,000 yea...

This word derives from the Greek — pan (“all”) and theos (“God”). Traditionally, the term reflects a religious theory that suggests the entire Universe is endowed with the nature of God. 

God is ...

A careful consideration of the various texts in the Old Testament that mention the “angel of the LORD” (KJV) or the “angel of Jehovah” (ASV) reveals that this being was not of the ordinary angel cl...

The word “accursed” (KJV) translates the Greek anathema four times in the New Testament. It carries the weighty idea of being “devoted to destruction,” a term that should be approached with caution...

Apostasy is an English term based on the Greek apotasia. Originally, it meant to desert one’s post; it was used for political revolt.

In the Old Testament, the word implies a turning away from Go...

In the Old Testament, anointing with oil was used ceremonially to set apart special roles, especially those of prophets (1 Kgs. 19:16), priests (Ex. 28:41), and kings (1 Sam. 9:16).

The most comm...

The doctrine of “annihilation” is the idea that eventually, after a sufficient period of punishment, the souls of the wicked will go out of existence. This dogma is without biblical support. 

The ...

Blood is a prominent theme in the Bible.

Because blood is the life stream of a person (Lev. 17:11), it becomes the biblical representation of life. Because of sin, man has forfeited the right to ...

The term “brother” is from the Greek adelphos. It technically signifies “from the same womb.” The word is used in different senses in the New Testament. 
• It is employed literally to identify sibl...

The term “sovereign” denotes the right that God has to rule the Universe. Note that the word “reign” is contained within “sovereign.”

Jehovah has this “right” because he is the Creator, and theref...

The practice of baptism “for the dead” is mentioned once in the New Testament. “If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?” (1 Cor. 15:29). Though the passage is somewh...

This is the name of a figure of speech whereby things are described in human terms. The word derives from the Greek anthropos (man) and morphe (form), hence man-form. 

Because God is “spirit” (Jn....