Category: Bible Terms

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

Bible Term: Sacrifice

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 4, 2014

A sacrifice is giving up something to God, often the killing of an animal.

In the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were repeatedly made to cleanse or purify men of their sins, that is, the things they did wrong.

In the New Testament, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice, dying once for the sins, or wrong doing, of all people.

The sacrifice of Jesus is covered in all four Gospels: Matthew 27:32-55, Mark 15, Luke 22:63 through 23:55, and John 19. After Jesus died and was buried, he rose from the dead, proving his mastery over death and verifying that through him we can live anew with him in heaven.

The book of Hebrews (chapters 7 through 10, especially Hebrews 10:1-18) connects the Old Testament sacrifices with the sacrifice of Jesus.

Key verse about Sacrifice: Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it (Genesis 8:20, 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.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Sacred

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 4, 2014

Sacred is an attribute of a place or thing that is holy.

It can also refer to the condition of items that have been set apart or consecrated for use in the worship of God.

Key verse about Sacred: On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do (Exodus 12:16, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Sabbath

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The literal meaning of Sabbath is to rest from work. Typically we think of that rest occurring on a weekly basis.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, that rest occurred on the seventh day (which equates to Saturday on the modern calendar). This was exemplified in the creation account (Genesis 2:2) when God rested on the seventh day. Later, it was reiterated to Moses (Exodus 16:23 and Exodus 20:11).

For most Christians, the Sabbath day of rest is on the first day of the week, or Sunday.

This change of day is seen implicitly through Jesus, who is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5), when he rose from the dead (Luke 24:6) and later when he appeared to his followers (Luke 24), both on the first day of the week.

Pentecost (Acts 2:1), when the Holy Spirit was given, also occurred on the first day of the week.

In the Old Testament, there are also Sabbaths prescribed at various times for different lengths, although the typical usage refers to one day each week.

Key verse about Sabbath: He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning’” (Exodus 16:23, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Righteous

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

In its simplest form, righteous is“right living” or “living rightly.”

Today’s society encourages us to decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. Therefore, each person has his or her own definition of what it is to be righteous. This view is not biblically supported.

The Bible‘s view of righteous is more defined. In a literal sense, no one is truly and completely righteous. Jesus is the exception, as he was the personification of righteousness (1 John 2:1). When we follow Jesus, we, however, are viewed by God as being righteous (1 Corinthians 1:30).

The Amplified Bible explains righteousness as “upright and in right standing with God.”

Compare to holy.

Key verse about Righteous: The Lord then said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation (Genesis 7:1, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Resurrection

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Resurrection is a dead person returning to life. This can be a physical resurrection, as is the case with Jesus, as well as the result of miracles.

There is also a resurrection for all of Jesus’s followers, where we will rise from the dead to spend eternity with him.

Key verse about Resurrection: They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27:53, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Repent

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Bible uses the word repent to refer to an attitude of sorrow or remorse that causes a person to turn away from a life that displeases God towards a new, God-honoring life.

The Amplified Bible explains the word repent to mean when people “change their minds for the better and heartily amend their ways, with abhorrence of their past sins” or “feel sorry for having sinned.”

Repentance is the act of repenting.

Key verse about Repent: “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Rejoice

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

To rejoice is to be joyful or to be delighted.

The term is often used in the Bible. It generally focuses on God and his character or goodness towards us.

Key verse about Rejoice: All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace (2 Kings 11:20, NIV)

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Bible Term: Redeem

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

To redeem is simply to buy back or recover ownership. To better understand this, if your car is impounded for unpaid tickets, you can get it back, or redeem it, by paying the fine. In this sense, Jesus redeems us from our imperfect state for God.

As such, Jesus acts as our redeemer, that is, one who redeems.

Redemption is the act of redeeming someone (see reconciliation).

Key verse about Redeem: “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment (Exodus 6:6, NIV).

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Bible Term: Reconciliation

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Reconciliation is simply the act of restoring a strained relationship, such as being reconciled to God the Father through Jesus.

If you and a friend aren’t talking to each other, your relationship is strained. To repair your friendship, a reconciliation is needed. This may occur through a third-party or at the initiation of you or your friend.

In the spiritual realm, we have a strained relationship with God; we have been separated from him as a result of our bad behavior. He desires to have our relationship repaired. This has been done by Jesus and if we accept his efforts, we are reconciled to God, the Father.

This is what the Bible means when it talks about reconciliation.

Key verse about Reconciliation: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Recompense

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

As a verb, recompense means to award compensation, make a return, or to reimburse.

As a noun, recompense is a payment or reward for a service or behavior.

Key verse about Recompense: See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him (Isaiah 40:10, NIV)

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