Year: 2014

Bible Term: Epistle

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

Any one of the letters that have been recorded in the New Testament of the Bible. These letters were written by church leaders and sent to various people or churches.

Most of the books in the New Testament are, in fact, these letters or epistles; the Apostle Paul is credited with writing many of them.

The epistles include:

Key verse about epistle: “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2 Thessalonians 2:15, NKJV).

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Easter

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

Easter is when Jesus rose from the dead. (It has nothing to do with bunnies, eggs, or candy.) Compare to Christmas.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Drink Offering

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

A drink offering was a libation of wine poured over the alter or used with meat offerings as part of Jewish worship rituals. Instructions for its use occur over forty-five times in the Jewish law, with nineteen other references in the Old Testament.

During a time of war, there is a curious story of King David. He mentions he is thirsty for water from a specific well. Three of his mighty warriors break through enemy lines, draw water from that well, and return to David with it.

Instead of drinking it with gratitude, however, David pours it out on the ground as an offering to God. (1 Chronicles 11:17-19 and 2 Samuel 23:13-17). Apparently, he felt the risk the men took was so great that he was not worthy to taste the water, offering it to God instead.

Since Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament worship practices, it’s not surprising there are only two mentions of drink offerings in the New Testament.

Both were made by Paul, referring to him willingly pouring out his life as a drink-offering to God. (Philippians 2:17 and 2 Timothy 4:6).

Key verse about Drink Offering: With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering (Exodus 29:40, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Doctrine

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

Doctrine is a set of beliefs.

Christian doctrine would be those beliefs that are consistent with the teaching of Jesus and his disciples.

Incorrect doctrine (which could be a matter of interpretation) is called heresy; it is a false teaching.

Key verse about Doctrine: Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:16, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Disobedience

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

Disobedience is the opposite of obedience.

In a spiritual sense, disobedience is not doing what God commands. Disobedience doesn’t cause us to lose our salvation but does cause God sorrow.

We can find out what God wants us to do by studying the Bible and through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, there are many instances where the nations of Israel and Judah were disobedient to God. Eventually they were punished for this, but it was only for a time, after which there was a restoration.

Key verse about Disobedience: And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete (2 Corinthians 10:6, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Disciple

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

In general terms, a disciple is someone who follows another. John the Baptist had disciples (John 1:35), the Jewish religious leaders had disciples (Luke 5:33), and Jesus had disciples (Matthew 10:1).

Also, the Pharisees affirmed that they were Moses’ disciples, albeit centuries after Moses’ death (John 9:28).

Sometimes Disciple, as a proper noun, refers to one of Jesus’ original twelve followers, whereas other times it refers to any follower of Jesus (John 8:31).

Often the terms disciple and apostle are used interchangeably, although some would say that a Disciple is one of the original twelve followers, whereas an Apostle is a more generic term that applies to all followers of Jesus.

Key verse about Disciple: Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Diadem

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

A diadem is a crown worn by a king or royalty. It can also signify holiness.

Diadem only occurs a couple of times in the Bible, all in the Old Testament. Usually it’s in reference to the first priest, Aaron, on whose head it was place by Moses. Interestingly, the diadem was attached to his turban. In this instance, it is called a sacred diadem.

Isaiah refers to a royal diadem or crown of splendor as a visual image of how much God values his people.

Key verse about Diadem: You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God (Isaiah 62:3, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Demon

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

In the Bible a demon is a malevolent spirit, fallen angel, or unclean or evil spirit that follows and obeys Satan (the devil).

Key verse about Demon: When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way (Matthew 8:28, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Curse

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

In modern usage, curse is generally considered synonymous with swear.

In the Bible curse takes on different meanings, such as to invoke misfortune, to afflict, to make an oath, and to insult, as well as to swear. Here are some ways curse is used in the Bible:

Curses, or ill-will, can be given to people (Canaan in Genesis 9:25), the disobedient (Jeremiah 11:3), a house (Job 5:3), animals (the serpent in Genesis 3:14), plants (the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14), and earth (Isaiah 24:6); the ground (Genesis 3:17); and the land (Hebrews 6:8).

Curse is the opposite of bless, Luke 6:28 and Romans 12:14.

The curse can also mean “to swear at”(Goliath cursed David), 1 Samuel 17:43.

When Peter denied knowing Jesus he swore and called down curses on himself, Matthew 26:74 and Mark 14:71.

A curse is sometimes the self-imposed penalty for failing to keep a promise or oath, Nehemiah 10:29 or Numbers 5:21.

Key verse about Curse: May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed” (Genesis 27:29, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Covetousness

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 31, 2014

Covetousness is a longing or compelling desire for possessions, especially those of others. The root word is covet, which the Ten Commandments says to avoid.

Today, we commonly call covetousness, materialism.

Key verse about covetousness: And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15, NKJV).

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