Year: 2014

Bible Term: Behemoth

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 30, 2014

References to an animal called a behemoth is only found in the book of Job. It’s precise identity is debated. Suggestions include a mythical sea creature, a hippopotamus, or a dinosaur.

Regardless of what it was, it is safe to understand that a behemoth was a large powerful animal, to be both feared and admired.

Key verse about Behemoth: Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox (Job 40:15, NIV).

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.

Tags behemoth

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Baptize

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 30, 2014

To baptize is to wash or clean (perhaps by immersing or dipping into water) as a symbolic gesture signifying a repentance or commitment.

First, John the Baptist baptized people who repented of their sins, that is those who had remorse over their wrong actions (Mark 1:4-5).

Interestingly, Jesus (who was sinless – without fault) insisted that John baptize him prior to starting his ministry on earth (Matthew 3:13-17).

Later, Jesus had his disciples baptize his followers (John 4:2).

While John baptized with water, Jesus’ baptism was with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and Matthew 3:11).

Key verse about Baptize: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11, NIV).

Tags baptize

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Awesome

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

Awesome means inspiring, displaying awe, or worthy of awe. In a strict, literal sense, only God is truly awesome, that is only God is worthy of our awe.

However, awesome is now more frequently used as a slang term meaning remarkable, excellent, or outstanding. As a result, the impact of awesome has been lessened and can now be applied to virtually anything, from a great movie to a delicious pizza to a chic ensemble — as well as to God.

Key verse about Awesome: Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11, NIV).

Tags awesome

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Atonement

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

In a generic sense, atonement is the act of making amends or reparation for a wrong or injury; it is to reconcile.

When considering God, atonement then becomes the action by which we are made right with him for the wrong things we have done.

Jesus provided that atonement for us when he was executed for our crimes (that is, when he died for our sins).

Prior to Jesus, in the Old Testament, the priests offered periodic sacrifices as a temporary atonement for the sins of the people.

Key verse about Atonement: For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy (Exodus 29:37, NIV)

Tags atone, Jesus

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Ascension

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

In the Bible, the Ascension occurred after Jesus rose from the dead and left the earth by rising up to heaven. In this, he literally ascended from the earth up into the sky, as recorded in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11.

Key verse about Ascension: Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”(John 20:17, NIV).

Tags ascend

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Armor of God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

The Bible says to “put on the full armor of God.”

Though this might seem like a call for military action, it’s merely a memory aid to help people remember key items needed to prevail in spiritual conflict, namely: truth, righteousness, sharing the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God (the only offensive tool of the group).

Paul, in Ephesians 6:11-17, paints a word picture using the soldier of the day (with which readers would have been most familiar) connecting his essential gear with these key spiritual elements.

To recall Paul’s list, readers needed only to envision a soldier in uniform, associating each spiritual element with its physical counterpart:

Belt: truth
Breastplate: righteousness (that is, right living)
Shoes: a readiness to share the gospel of peace
Shield: faith
Helmet: salvation
Sword: the word of God (depending on interpretation, this can be the written word or the spoken word of God)

It’s not about a physical fight (which many have missed throughout the ages) but instead a spiritual conflict for which followers of Jesus must be prepared to engage in using truth, righteousness, sharing the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

Key verse about Armor of God: Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Ephesians 6:13, NIV).

Tags God

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Apostolic

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

Apostolic means “of or relating to the apostles” (that is, followers of Jesus). This can apply to the twelve apostles (disciples), to their teaching and practices, or the spiritual authority that has emerged from them.

Key verse about Apostolic: to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs” (Acts 1:25, NIV).

Tags apostle

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Apostle

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

An apostle is one who is sent by another as an envoy. As such, apostles of Jesus are those that he sends to represent him in the world. As such, Jesus himself could even be considered an apostle of his Father in Heaven (Hebrews 3:1).

More commonly, Apostle refers to followers of Jesus.

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 Apostle: The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught (Mark 6:30, NIV).

Tags apostle

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Apostasy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

Apostasy is to abandon, denounce, reject, or fall away from one’s faith.

Various translations of the Bible uses others words, which also mean apostasy, such as faithfulness, waywardness, rebellion, and turning away.

A person who commits apostasy is called an apostate.

Key verse about apostasy: “Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed]: (2 Thessalonians 2:3, AMP).

Tags apostasy

Bible Terms

Bible Term: Apocrypha

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date January 28, 2014

The word Apocrypha is not found in the Bible but is used to describe several Old Testament books that aren’t included in all versions of the Bible, such as the Protestant and Hebrew Bibles.

However, these books are all found in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and the Common English Bible (CEB), among others. The Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures, which was widely used in Jesus’s day, also contains these books of the Apocrypha.

In addition (except for 3 and 4 Maccabees) the Wycliffe Bible (WYC) and the original Authorized King James Version (KJV) include these books of the Apocrypha. However, they were removed from the KJV almost two centuries after it was first published.

Roman Catholic Cannon: The Roman Catholic Bible (see the New American Bible, as well as the New Jerusalem Bible, Douay-Rheims, and Good News Translation) includes the following books of the Apocrypha:

Eastern Orthodox Cannon: Additionally, the Eastern Orthodox Bible includes all the above books, as well as the following:

3 Maccabees
4 Maccabees
1 Esdras
Prayer of Manasseh
Psalm 151
Letter of Jeremiah (sometimes included in Baruch, chapter 6)
(The Prayer of Azariah, usually included in Daniel, as part of chapter 3.)
(Susanna, usually included in Daniel, chapter 13)
(Bel and the Dragon, usually included in Daniel, chapter 14)

Ethiopic Cannon: There are also five additional books, which are part of the Ethiopian Bible, but which go beyond the Apocrypha. They are 2 Esdras, Enoch, Jubilees, 1 Clements, and Shepherd of Hermas.

Discover more about the Apocrypha.

Tags Apocrypha