Category: Bible Terms

Definitions to key words found in the Bible and words that relate to faith and Bible reading.

Bible Term: Legalistic

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The words legalistic and legalism are not found in most translations of the Bible (Philippians 3:6 is a notable exception), however the concept of legalism and legalist practices are found throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament.

Essentially, legalism is to strictly follow a set code of behavior (that is, laws or rules) at the expense of something more important, such as loving God or treating others right.

In the Bible, the Jews, especially the leaders, were criticized for their legalistic behavior. This was all the more prevalent in the New Testament, where Jesus was particularly harsh on the Jewish leaders (the Pharisees and the Sadducees).

For some examples, see Mark 7:8-13, Luke 11:42, and Matthew 23:16-28.

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: Leaven

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Leaven is a food ingredient that causes dough to rise via fermentation. Yeast is a common leavening ingredient.

Use of the word leaven is found mostly in the Books of Moses in the Old Testament, whereas yeast is used throughout the Bible.

See the entry for yeast for more information about the symbolic meaning of leaven and yeast, us well as unleavened.

Key verse about Leaven: Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord (Amos 4:5, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law of Moses

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Law of Moses is more correctly the Law of God, which God revealed to Moses. Although this law came from God, it’s sometimes attributed to Moses as he was the one who documented it and communicated it to the Israelites.

The Law of Moses is recorded in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, forming the basis of belief for the Jewish people.

Jesus, however, came to fulfill this law (Matthew 5:17).

Key verse about Law of Moses: as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings (Joshua 8:31, NIV).

Also see the books of Moses.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law of God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Law of God is a set of rules, commands, and instructions which God revealed to Moses. God gave the law, whereas Moses was the one who documented it and communicated it to the Israelites. As such, the Law of God is sometimes referred to as the Law of Moses.

The Law of God is recorded in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, forming the basis of belief for the Jewish people.

Jesus, however, came to fulfill this law (Matthew 5:17).

Key verse about Law of God: They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read, Nehemiah 8:8, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

In the Bible, Law is used narrowly to refer to the Ten Commandments and more broadly to represent the entire body of commands and instructions given to Moses by God for the Israelites to follow.

Some people (such as the Hebrews in the Old Testament) follow the Law with a legalistic fervor, with their relationship to God becoming a list of dos and don’ts. This wasn’t what God intended or wanted from them.

Jesus said he came, not to replace the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). This signaled an change of perspective away from the letter of the law to the intent behind it.

Also, see Law of Moses / Law of God.

Key verse about Law: This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand (Exodus 13:9, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Kingdom of God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The phrase “the Kingdom of God” is synonymous with “the Kingdom of Heaven.” Some writers in the Bible simply prefer one over the other; it is not meant to designate two different concepts.

These two phrases could perhaps be best understood by considering that Jesus desires to bring heaven’s rule to earth. Under his rule, there are benefits and responsibilities to his subjects, the church.

Jesus explains about the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven through parables:

The parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
The parable of Scattering Seed (Mark 4:26-27)
The parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:31-32, Luke 13:18-19)
The parable of Yeast (Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20-21)
The parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44)
The parable of the Pearl (Matthew 13:45)
The parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-48)
The parable of Settling Accounts (Matthew 18:23-35)
The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16)
The parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:2-14)
The parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)

Key verse about Kingdom of God: After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God, Luke 8:1, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Justice

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The concept of justice deals with what is fair, right, equitable, and moral.

When someone is wronged, they demand justice, be it in the form of an apology, remuneration, or punishment. However, when we do something wrong, we prefer mercy instead of justice.

The word justice occurs several hundred times in the Bible, mostly in the Old Testament. Although it also appears in the New Testament, the focus there is more on God‘s mercy and grace and not so much on God’s justice.

Total justice precludes the option for mercy, whereas complete mercy rules out justice.

Paradoxically, God is a just god, but is merciful to those who follow him.

Key verse about Justice: Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 16:20, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Judgment

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

Biblical judgment is generally the spiritual parallel to being legally judged in a court of law against a preset standard.

In the Old Testament, judgment often refers to God‘s righteous punishment of those who continually turn their backs on him or harm his people. In many cases, the judgment was to the entire nation of Israel, although sometimes it was to individuals, groups, or other nations.

In other cases, judgment (the act of judging) refers to one person judging another.

The New Testament has much to say about this type of judgment, generally critical in nature (Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37, 1 Corinthians 4:3, 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, 1 Corinthians 6:2-5, and James 4:11-12.

Ultimately, in the end times, the entire earth will be judged (2 Peter 3:7 and Revelation 6:10).

Key verse about Judgment: Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it” (Deuteronomy 1:17, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Judge

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

The men and women who are called Judges in the Bible were not Judges as we understand them today.

They were more akin to informal military leaders who were called and empowered by God to rescue his people from the oppression of surrounding nations. After their military success, the Judges often implemented or inspired spiritual reform.

Historically, the Judges served the nation of Israel in the early part of it’s history, before they were led by kings.

A reoccurring pattern is that the Israelites are oppressed, they call out to God for deliverance, he raises up a Judge to save them, they then turn to God for a time, but later fall away. The cycle repeats.

The actions of some of the Judges are noteworthy and significant. Other Judges are scarcely mentioned, some only garnering the briefest of citations. The lives, work, and heroic acts of these Judges are recorded in the book of Judges.

Key verse about Judge: They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves (Exodus 18:26, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Judaism

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 1, 2014

Judaism was the religion of Israel during biblical times.

Key verse about Judaism: This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism (Acts 6:5, NIV)

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