Category: Bible Terms

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

Bible Term: Persecuted

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

To be persecuted it to be harassed, tormented, or oppressed for one’s beliefs, faith, or conviction.

In some cultures, persecution can result in ostracism, torture, and death.

An interesting variation of usage occurs in the conversion of Saul (aka Paul), where God asks “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4)

Key verse about Persecuted: “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me (Matthew 24:9, 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: Pentecost

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The word Pentecost is from the Greek word meaning fiftieth. It’s the fiftieth day after Jesus‘ death, when the Holy Spirit can to earth, as Jesus had promised (John 14:26) to comfort his followers and be their counselor (Acts 2).

Although the word Pentecost is only used in the New Testament, there was also a feast on that same day in the Old Testament. It was called “the feast of the harvest” or “the day of first fruits”(Exodus 23:16 and Numbers 28:26).

Key verse about Pentecost: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place (Acts 2 :1, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Passover

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Passover is the main historical annual festival of the Jews. It commemorates God‘s passing over the houses of the Israelites, when the first born of each Egyptian family was killed (Exodus 12:13).

Passover is sometimes called the “feast of unleavened bread” because during its celebration no leavened bread was eaten or even kept in the house.

See leaven.

Key verse about Passover: then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped (Exodus 12:27, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Parable

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

A parable is a story that takes common, easily understandable situations to explain a spiritual truth or convey an important lesson.

A simple definition that I was taught as a child is that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Key verse about Parable: Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable (Ezekiel 17:2, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Our Father

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Jesus‘ disciples saw that prayer was important to him – and had powerful results. They asked him to teach them out to pray.

The prayer Jesus taught them is commonly called the “Our Father” prayer after its opening line. It’s also called The Lord’s Prayer, but a more accurate label would be the disciple’s prayer since it was a prayer for the disciples to pray, not Jesus.

Some people recite the prayer as it is recorded in the Bible, whereas others use it as a template for prayer or illustrative example. The prayer is simple and succinct; it is:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen]

The Lord’s Prayer is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13; an alternate version is in Luke 11:2-4.

Key verse about Our Father: This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” Matthew 6:9 NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Ordain and Ordination

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

To ordain means to bestow on someone a priestly authority or to authorize as a priest or rabbi. It is granted by one of a higher authority.

Ordination is the act or ceremony in which one is ordained.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Aaron was ordained as the first priest. This was conferred on him by Moses, as instructed by God, in an elaborate ceremony lasting seven days.

Key verse about ordination: “Since this is the ram for the ordination of Aaron and his sons, take the fat of the ram, including the fat of the broad tail, the fat around the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat around them, along with the right thigh” (Exodus 29:22, NLT).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Omniscient

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Omni, means “all,” while scient, although not a common word, means “knowing, skillful, aware, knowledgeable.” Therefore, omniscient means total knowledge or knowing everything. God is omniscient.

The noun form of omniscient is omniscience.

In addition to being omniscient, God is also omnipresent and omnipotent.

Key verse that describes God’s omniscient character: Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything (1 John 3:20, NLT).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Omnipresent

Omni, means “all,” so omnipresent effectively means, “all present or existing everywhere.” Being omnipresent is a characteristic of God, which is to say that God is simultaneously present everywhere.

The noun form of omnipresent is omnipresence.

In addition to being omnipresent, God is also omniscient and omnipotent.

Key verse that describes God’s omnipresent character: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me (Psalm 139:7-10, NLT).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Omnipotent

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Omni, means “all,” while potent means “possessing strength, powerful, and having great control or authority.” Therefore, omnipotent means to have unlimited, universal power and authority. God is omnipotent.

A synonym for omnipotent is almighty; the noun form of omnipotent is omnipotence.

In addition to being omnipotent, God is also omnipresent and omniscient.

Key verse about omnipotent: “And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Revelation 19:6, NKJV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Old Testament

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Bible is a book of books, 66 books* altogether, written over a period of hundreds of years by many different authors. These 66 books are divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament contains 39 books** and addresses the formation, existence, and demise of the nation of Israel, the time frame prior to the life of Jesus. The Old Testament books are categorized as follows:

The books of Moses (the first five books of the Bible)
Historical books (focusing on the nation of Israel)
Wisdom literature (books of poetry, good advice, and wise sayings)
The Prophets (the life and messages of some of God‘s key spokesmen)

For a good summary of the Old Testament, see Acts 7:2-46; Acts 13:17-23 is even more concise. Also, see the overview of books in the Old Testament.

Here is a list of the books in the Old Testament:

* The Roman Catholic Church includes additional books in their Old Testament. See Apocrypha for more information.

**The Hebrew Bible includes the same writings of the 39 Old Testament books but combine some books together, resulting in 24 books.

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