This celebrated book is a narrative regarding an ancient patriarch who lived in Arabia. As a test case, designed to prove that God is "worthy to be praised" (Psa. 18:3) irrespective of the blessing...

Joel, a prophet of the southern kingdom of Judah, labors to warn the Hebrew people of the coming "day of the Lord," a time of judgment upon a rebellious people. The punishment is described under a ...

The first three Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) are called SYNOPTICS (see), because they view the life of Christ from roughly the same vantagepoint. John's account is different. His recor...

John's first epistle is an defense against the "gnostic" doctrine that alleged that Jesus Christ was not a real, flesh-and-blood human being. This sect claimed a special "knowledge" received direct...

John's second epistle is a word of commendation for a certain "elect lady" and her children. Further, it provides strong warnings regarding those who go beyond the teaching of Christ, and cautions ...

This book is an appeal to a godly Christian whose name was Gaius, to the end that this brother might assist certain workers who were laboring on behalf of the Lord. Additionally, it conveys a stron...

A Jewish historian who lived around A.D. 37-103. He was initially a resistor against the Roman invasion of Judaea (A.D. 70), but he surrendered eventually. He went to Rome where he was commissioned...

Jude, a brother of James, and half-brother of Jesus (1:1; Mt. 13:55), is the author of this general epistle. As he was in the process of beginning a letter relative to the "common salvation," he wa...

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 is the title of a sovereign who exercises regal authority over a certain territory. The term is used in the following senses in Scripture. (a) Jehovah God is king over the entire earth (1 Sam....

The word "kingdom" (basileia) is a noun that generally refers to a territory over which a king rules. Three senses are prominent in the theology of the N.T.  • Jesus uses the term to denote the rei...

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 imagery of a "lamb" is taken from the O.T. to convey certain thoughts about Christ. John the Baptizer introduced Jesus as the "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). The P...

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...

The text of the Bible consists of three languages. (a) The O.T. was composed principally in Hebrew. This Semitic tongue was well adapted to emotional, poetic, and religious expression. It was ideal...

Certain religionists, especially those who subscribe to the dogma of DISPENSATIONALISM (see), maintain that the "signs" of Matthew 24:1-34 indicate that the return of Christ is very near; they cons...

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...