Near the end of that historical period known as the Babylonian captivity, the prophet Daniel received a marvelous revelation that involved the unveiling of future events relative to the coming of C...

More than a dozen words are used in the Greek N.T. to represent various aspects of “sin” (e.g., bad, evil, transgression, iniquity, trespass, godless, unrighteous, etc.). The most frequently employ...

The term “slave” (Grk. doulos) is used in the Bible in both a literal and a figurative sense. (a) Literal slaves were common in the ancient world. A person could be purchased as a slave, become a s...

The expression “Son of Man” is found mostly in the Gospel accounts (some 80 times) — especially the Synoptics (see) — and it is the term Christ used more than any other to designate himself. In f...

This small book contains one of the 1,005 songs penned by king Solomon (1 Kgs. 4:32). It extols the passion and bliss of wedded love, and praises the king’s “beloved.” Many scholars have suggested ...

“Suffering” is a term that embraces the various physical and emotional ills to which the human family is heir. Skeptics charge that human suffering is irreconcilable with the idea of an all-powerfu...

The term “synoptic” derives from the Greek word sunoptikos, which means “seeing the whole together.” The word is used to describe the first three Gospel narratives — Matthew, Mark, and Luke — bec...

The role of the Christian teacher is sobering indeed, for those who presume to “teach” will receive a “heavier judgment” (Jas. 3:1). This warning is not designed to discourage teaching (a divine ob...

The original words that are rendered by the English “tempt” are employed in two broad senses in the Scriptures, depending upon the context in which they are found. First, the concept may be that of...

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew (with certain minor portions in Aramaic), while the New Testament was penned in Koine Greek. None of the original documents (called autographs) of...

In the N.T. (cf. Heb. 7:6, 9), this term derives from the Greek, dekatos, meaning “tenth.” (a) In the Patriarchal period of history, it appears to have been the practice that godly men gave a tenth...

Titus was a Gentile co-worker of Paul’s whom the apostle had left on the island of Crete to “set in order” certain matters and to work toward the ordination of elders within the local congregations...

The term “tradition” renders a Greek word that suggests the idea of “instruction that has been handed down.” It takes on two senses in Scripture. (a) “Tradition” may be instruction that is divinely...

“Translation” is the process of bringing the message of the Scriptures from the original languages — Hebrew, Aramaic (O.T.), and Greek (N.T.) — into the various languages and dialects of the nati...

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 term “truth” carries several connotations in the Bible. (a) Truth can convey the idea of loyalty. Those who abide in Jesus’ teaching are “truly” his disciples (Jn. 8:31). (b) True may denote th...

Some religions are based upon philosophical premises that are embraced emotionally, apart from intellectual substance. That is not the case with Christianity. Christianity is grounded in history, a...

The false idea that all men will be saved ultimately is called “universalism.” (a) Universalism is illogical; it suggests that man’s use of his power of choice — for good or evil — is irrelevant....

Two principal Greek words are employed in the N.T. to represent the idea of “fighting” and “war.” Polemeo (18 times) means to “fight” or “make war.” Strateuomai (7 times) is to "carry out a militar...

A number of terms, both in the O.T. and the N.T., suggest the idea of a “path” or “way” of travel. The words come to be employed of a “course of conduct,” whether for good (Ex. 18:20; 32:8; Dt. 31:...