After Jacob had his famous encounter with the “messenger” of Jehovah (Gen. 32:29; cf. Hos. 12:4-5), his name was changed to “Israel,” suggesting, “he who strove with God.” Later, the name is applie...

The Greek word krino means to render a verdict (Lk. 7:43; Acts 15:9). Prepositions may be attached as prefixes to provide some direction to the term. For example, diakrino suggests the idea of dist...

Kindness (chrestos) may be defined as that which is characterized by honesty, friendliness, goodness, generosity, compassion, etc. The term is used in the N.T. in two main senses. (a) Kindness desc...

This historical book covers a period of about 126 years — from the death of David, Israel’s great king, to the death of Jehoshaphat, one of Judah’s rulers. It embraces the reign of Solomon, the tr...

Knowledge refers to a body of factual data that is received and understood by a rational human being. The acquisition of spiritual knowledge is fundamental to Christianity. The prophets foretold th...

The book of Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah. It actually is a funeral song designed to commemorate the destruction of Jerusalem by the invading Babylonians (586 B.C.). The song is ...

Prior to the incident at Babel (Gen. 11:1ff), the people of the earth spoke one language. Because of ancient man’s ambition to “make a name” for himself, and due to his resistance to dispersing and...

Law is a mandate that is designed to regulate procedure; it proceeds from a superior, who possesses authority to rule, to a subordinate. Law is viewed from several angles in the Scriptures. (a) The...

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 th...

The act of “laying on of hands” served several functions in the N.T. (a) Some parents brought their children that Jesus might lay his hands upon them (Mt. 19:13). This involved no magical ritual; r...

“Liberalism” (in the classical sense of the word) is a rather flexible term for an ideological disposition that developed in the 1800’s, and reached an intense level in America during the days prec...

Life may be viewed under two categories — physical life and spiritual life. (a) All biological organisms are characterized by physical “life.” A living creature has independent movement, processes...

Logos is the term used in the Gospel of John to describe the preincarnate Christ. “In the beginning was the Word [logos] and the Word [logos] became flesh” (Jn. 1:1, 14). Though the term logos was...

The Greek expression for “lord” is kurios. One must look at the context to observe the sense conveyed in a particular setting. “Lord” may be used as a mere title of respect, or it can suggest one w...

Mentioned only in 1 Corinthians 11:20. See COMMUNION.

The most common Greek word representing this idea is apollumi. The term can suggest the idea of an object that is estranged from its owner. A shepherd loses his sheep, a woman loses a coin, a Fathe...

The Greeks had several words that reflected various concepts of “love.” Forms of three of these are found in the N.T. (a) The noun storge had a variety of uses in the ancient world, but it most com...

Roman numeral; seventy. Common abbreviation for the Greek Version of the O.T. (third century B.C.). See SEPTUAGINT.

Malachi is the last prophet of the O.T. record. In the final era of O.T. history (mid to late fifth century B.C.), the people of God fell into a state of spiritual lethargy. They were insensitive, ...

Mary was a Hebrew maiden who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus Christ. Her miraculous conception was prophesied in the O.T. (Isa. 7:14). Mary was certainly worthy of honor as a godly Jewish woma...