“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
These words are heard in church or in a sermon broadcast. You’ve read them in the Bible. But what do they actually mean in application? What does it mean to be “holy?” What’s “atonement?” Knowing these biblical words can help you see the beauty and understand the gospel in a clearer way. And, this glossary will give a shared, common base reference.
- Abide: (John 15:5) To stay connected to Jesus through elements like prayer and Bible reading. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”
- Accepted: (Romans 14:1-13; 15:7) Admitted or approved. If we are in Jesus, we are accepted as part of God’s family. Because God accepts us in Jesus, we are to accept each other and not judge each other.
- Angels: (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) A spiritual messenger from God. Hebrews 1:14 calls angels “ministering spirits.” Ministering means caring for, protecting, and serving.
- Anoint: (1 Samuel 16:12; 2 Samuel 2:4) To place oil upon someone’s head as a sign of being chosen or set apart for a particular task. David was anointed to be king over house of Judah. Jesus is called the Messiah or Christ which can be translated as “Anointed One.” Jesus is anointed because God set him apart for a particular task – to save the world. (See Messiah.)
- Apocalypse (Revelation): (Revelation 17:14) From the Greek, apokalupto, “to uncover, reveal.” Commonly used to mean “the end of all things,” the revealing (or revelation) of Jesus Christ as the Lord of lords and King of Kings.
- Ark of the Covenant: (Numbers 7:89) Originally placed in the Old Testament tabernacle (and later in the temple), the ark was a gold-covered wooden box over which God’s presence stayed. It held the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s rod which grew blossoms.
- Armor of God: (Ephesians 6:10-17) Spiritual armor listed in Ephesians that believers can “put on” to take a stand against Satan: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the readiness for the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God. (See Spiritual Warfare.)
- Ascension: (Acts 1:1-11) To ascend means “to go up.” The ascension refers to the event 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection when he went back to heaven by rising up into a cloud until his disciples could not see him anymore.
- Atonement: (Exodus 30:10; 32:30; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 2:17) In the Old Testament, atonement was a series of acts designed to make amends with God when people sinned (Exodus). When Jesus died on the cross, he made atonement once for everyone, so that we can now come to God feely through him (Romans; Hebrews). Through Jesus’ atonement, we are made “at one” with God. (See Day of Atonement.)
- Baptism: (Matthew 3:13-17; 28:19) The Christian practice of immersing a person in water. Jesus was baptized at the start of his ministry. At the end of his ministry, Jesus said that baptism is a part of making disciples. Churches today practice baptism differently, but most agree that it is a way for people to publicly show their commitment to God, and that baptism unifies Christians as member of the same body of Christ as Savior.
- Bible: Greek, biblos, “book.” It is the name given to the God-inspired collection of 66 books written through many people over thousands of years. The Bible is divided into two parts: Old Testament (from the creation of the world to about 400 B.C.) and the New Testament (Jesus and the Christians in the first century A.D.). Yet all the stories in the Bible ultimately tell one story: the story of God’s love for us and what He has done for us through Jesus. (See Word of God.)
- Blaspheme: (Exodus 22:28; Luke 12:8-10) To speak evil about God, to say something untrue about God, or to treat God’s name with disrespect. Also, to give Satan credit for something the Holy Spirit does.
- Bless: (Psalm 115:12-14; Luke 6:28) (1) God’s giving of good gifts to us. (2) To ask God to do good for someone or to favor someone. We bless our enemies and ask God to do good things for them because God has blessed us.
- Body of Christ: (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Matthew 26:26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24) (1) Used figuratively to refer to God’s family, the church. God’s family functions like a human body, with Jesus as the head directing the body’s actions. The body of Christ is all people who believe in Jesus as Savior. (2) Used during Communion to refer to the bread / host. (See Church, Communion.)
- Born Again: (John 3:1-8) All humans are born; but in John 3 Jesus said, “You must be born again,” meaning a spiritual birth – “born of the spirit.” (See Regenerate.)
- Christian: (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 110; Acts 11:26) A person who believes and trust in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior, who is the Anointed One God promised to save the world and crush Satan. The name Christian was first used by unbelievers in Antioch in Syria.
- Church: (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) Greek, ekklesia, literally meaning “the called-out ones.” The church is people who have been called out, following Jesus together and doing what he asks. (See Body of Christ.)
- Communion: (Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27) The ceremony established by Jesus in which he offered bread and wine as symbols of his body and his blood in order to remember his sacrifice on the cross for us. Some churches do this weekly or monthly. Also called the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Table, and Eucharist.
- Condemn: (Revelation 12:10; John 3:17-18; Romans 8:1) To declare bad, unfit, marked for destruction (like condemned houses). In the Bible, Satan is called the accuser or the one who condemns. God sent Jesus to take away our condemnation. The Holy Spirit brings conviction instead of condemnation. (See Conviction.)
- Confession: (1 John 1:9; Romans 10;9-10) (1) Agreeing with God about our sin in order to ask for His forgiveness. (2) Confess can also mean “to say publicly” ot “to declare,” like a confession of faith.
- Conversion: (Acts 15:3) Greek, epistrepho, “to turn back or around.” When we turn around, change our minds about who Jesus is, and believe that God raised him from the dead, we are saved – or converted. (See Saved.)
- Conviction: (John 16;7-8) (1) Unlike the legal term in which a person is found guilty of a crime, conviction in the bible is the work of the Holy Spirit to convince people of their sin and of God’s mercy and power to forgive them. (2) It can also mean a person’s deeply held belief – core value.
- Covenant: (1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 8:13) A binding agreement. In the Old Testament, God’s covenant with people was based on people keeping God’s laws. Humans failed again and again. But when Jesus came, he made a new covenant based on his sacrifice on the cross. This new covenant includes forgiveness, the removal of sin, and promised entrance for us into God’s presence.
- Crucifixion: (Matthew 16:21) An execution technique used by the Roman Empire which involved nailing a person to a wooden cross to cause a torturous death from blood loss and slow suffocation. When Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem, it looked like a tragic ending; but Jesus knew that it. was God’s will because he would be raised from the dead, victorious over death!
- Day of Atonement: (Leviticus 16) Hebrew, Yom Kippur. In Bible time, this was the day each year when the high priest entered the tabernacle (and later the temple) with blood from an animal to ask God’s forgiveness for the Israelites’ sins. Jesus’ blood shed on the cross now atones for us. Today, Yom Kippur, is celebrated by Jews as a solemn day of prayer and fasting. (See Atonement.)
- Disciple: (Matthew 10:2-4) (1) A person who learns from and follows a teacher or leader. As followers of Jesus, Christians are all called to be disciples of Jesus.(2) The twelve disciples (apostles) were twelve men chosen by Jesus to be his closest disciples). More than just “head learning,” the twelve disciples lived with Jesus, watching and learning from his life to become like him.
- Elect: (Ephesians 1:4-7; 1 Peter 1:1-3) We vote to elect officials to office; but in the Bible, elect means to be chosen by God as his own. God chose (elected) his people from before time began.
- Epiphany: (Matthew 2:1-12) Greek, epiphania, “shining forth, appearing manifestation.” Usually refers to the time when the young child Jesus was shown to the Magi (wise men) who came from the East to worship him in Bethlehem. Epiphany celebration is the twelfth day of Christmas.
- Evangelize: From the Greek, euangelion, “good news.” An act of telling others the good news (the gospel) that God invites us to come to him through faith in Jesus, be forgiven of our sin and join his unstoppable kingdom! (See Gospel.)
- Exegesis, Eisegesis: Exegesis (“to lead out”) is when someone explains or draws out the meaning of a Bible passage. Good exegesis helps us understand God’s Word as we try to determine what the biblical text is saying. Eisegesis (“to lead into”), on the other hand, is when someone read into a Bible passage ideas or beliefs he or she already has formed.
- Faith: (Hebrews 11:1, 6; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 12:9) Trust in, hope on, reliance upon, someone or something. Faith is necessary for us to come to God. It is also a gift from God and a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit to help other Christians. (See Spiritual Gifts.)
- Fasting: (Luke 4:1-2) To stop or limit eating for a set period of time in order to focus on God and seek His will. Jesus fasted to prepare for his earthly ministry. Christians today may fast from food – or even fast from non-food this like social media or TV – and they often spend special time praying and worshiping God.
- Fear: (1 Peter 2:17; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 29:25) (1) To fear God means to honor or be in awe of Him. (2) Timidity or fearing others does not come from God. God tells us, “…do not fear, for I am with you”. (3) The “fear-of-man” is being afraid of what others think of us which entraps us.
- Fellowship: (Acts 2:42-47; Ephesians 4:1-3) Greek, koinonia, “sharing, joining together, or community.” God’s family (the church) loves in fellowship in the unity of the Holy Spirit. (See Church.)
- Flesh: (Galatians 5:13-24; Romans 8:3) (1) Literally, the human body. (2) Figuratively, our sinful nature. The works of the flesh are wrong actions and desires that oppose the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament law was powerless to save because it was “weakened” by the flesh.” In our own efforts, we cannot please God; so God sent His Son Jesus to set us free by “condemning sin in the flesh. (See Law.)
- Forgive: (Luke 23:34; Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32; Romans 12:19) To release or let go of seeking revenge against those who have hurt us. Jesus forgave his torturers. God commands us to forgive because He has forgiven us. He will take care of justice.
- Fruit of the Spirit: (Galatians 5:22-23, 25) The nine (9) character qualities listed in Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience (forbearance or longsuffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are produced (like growing fruit) by “keeping in step with” the Holy Spirit.
- Glory: (Psalm 29:3; Romans 8:17; Revelation 19:1) Hebrew, chabod, “presence, riches, honor, splendor, light, power.” God is the “God of glory.” Having trusted in Jesus, we will be glorified when we are in heaven with him. To “give the glory to God” means to give God the credit for all the good things in our lives.
- Good Friday: The Friday before Easter (Resurrection Sunday), on which Christians commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross. It is “good” because the most astonishing good in history was accomplished on that day: Jesus paid the price for our sins.
- Gospel: (1) Greek, euangelion, “good news.” The word gospel comes from the Old English god (good) and spell (news). It’s the good news that God invites us to come to Him through faith in Jesus, be forgiven of our sin, and become part of His kingdom family. (2) The New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four (4) gospels, named after their authors, are biographies of Jesus’ life.
- Grace: (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:14-17; Romans 4:16; Romans 3:23-24) God’s unearned (or unmerited) great kindness, mercy, love, favor. Through faith in Jesus, He Some people use the acronym “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense” because through the death and resurrection of Jesus God gives us more than we could imagine.
- Great Commission: (Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus’ charge to his followers before he ascended into heaven: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
- Greatest Commandment: (Matthew 22:36-40) To love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and the second part of the command is to our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said that all of God’s Word could be summed up in this twin command. (See Love.)
- Greek: (Acts 6:1; 9:29) (1) The culture and government which preceded and influenced Roman and Jewish culture in Israel during Jesus’ life on earth. Jews who had adopted Greek ways were call Hellenistic Jews. (2) The language in which the New Testament is written.
- Guilt: (Romans 3:19-20; James 2:10; 1 John 1:9) Realizing we have sinned and taking responsibility for our actions and attitudes. Every person is under guilt or “held accountable” for his or her actions and attitudes. The solution to guilt is confession and forgiveness in accepting Jesus as savior.
- Heaven: (Isaiah 66:1; Mark 12:25; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 7:25; Revelations 21:1-5; Genesis 1:14-17)b (1) God’s home, His throne; where angels live; where Jesus is interceding for those who trust him as savior; and where God’s family will live forever with “no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” (2) The sky and outer space.
- Hebrew: (Philippians 3:5) (1) The people group who became the nation of Israel or the Jewish nation. (2) The language in which most of the Old Testament was written.
- Hell: (Matthew 10:28; Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:48) The place where God will send those who reject His grace in this life, for the next life. Jesus described hell as a place which burns with fire.
- Heresy: (2 Peter 2:1) Any belief that is at odds with accepted doctrine of biblical truth. Greek, haireo, “to choose” implying that the person has taken a “pick-and-choose” approach to truths he or she wants to believe.
- Holiness: (Isaiah 57:15; Hebrews 10:10; 1 Peter 1:14-16) The quality of being whole, complete, perfect. As an attribute of God, holiness makes Him completely different from us. However, when we trust in Jesus, God makes us holy. As we keep in step with His Holy Spirit, we live our lives holy. (See Sanctify.)
- Holy Spirit: (John 14:16; 16:13) The third Person of the Trinity who lives in Christians, working powerfully in and through them. The Bible calls Him our Advocate and the Spirit of truth. “Holy Ghost,” found in older Bible translations, is another term for Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often depicted with dove images based on Matthew 3:16. (See Trinity.)
- Hypocrite: (Matthew 6:2-16) Greek, hupokritos, “a play-actor, a poser, a liar.” A hypocrite is a person who says one thing but does another, who does not practice what he preaches, says. Hypocrites may love to be noticed and applauded by others.
- Inerrant, Inspired: (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21) Inerrant means without errors. When the Bible is said to be inerrant, this means that the original documents were without errors. They were inspired or “God breathed” and written by people who were “carried-along by the Holy Spirit.”
- Intercession: (1 Samuel 7:5; 1 Kings 13:6; Hebrews 7:25; 1 Timothy 2:5) To intervene on another person’s behalf. We all stand guilty before God because of our sin. Jesus intercedes on our behalf. He took upon himself the punishment we deserve for our sin. Jesus – the mediator between God and humankind – makes it possible for us to stand justified before God. (See Justification.)
- Judges, Judging: (Judges 2:16; Genesis 18:25; Matthew 7:1-4; James 4:11-12) (1) In the Old Testament book of Judges, God appointed judges – like Samson, Gideon, and Deborah – to be leaders and deliverers in Israel. (2) God is the ultimate Judge of all and the only one qualified to judge humans. (3) The Bible speaks against slandering and judging others.
- Justification: (Romans 3:20; 5:18; Philippians 3:9) God’s action of declaring believers righteous (holy and blameless) in His sight. When we believe in Jesus as savior, God declares us righteous because Jesus, who is perfectly righteous, paid the price that covers our sin. We are no longer condemned. (See Righteousness.)
- Kingdom of God: (Mark 1:15; Matthew 6:10) God’s gracious, kingly rule where His will is perfectly done. Also called the “kingdom of heaven.” Jesus announced the coming of God’s kingdom and instructed his followers to pray for the kingdom to come. This is often called the “already but not yet” aspect of the kingdom. Kingdom promises are already part of believers’ experiences, but the full revealing of God’s kingdom on earth is yet to come.
- Law: (Psalm 119:1; John 1:17) (1) God’ instructions – a teaching, commandment. (2) Detailed instructions God gave to Israel through Moses about how to live as a holy community. (3) The first five (5) books of the Old Testament (Torah).
- Legalism: (Matthew 23) (1) Reliance on keeping the letter of the law instead of the spirit of the law. (2) The practice of adding human rules or standards to the gospel as a basis for acceptance in Christ. (3) Judging another’s spiritual fitness based on human religious rules and rituals.
- Love: (John 3:16; 15:12-13; 1 John 4:19; 1 Corinthians 13) Unselfish devotion to God and others. Jesus laying down his life for us was the greatest expression of love. We are called to love others because God first loved us. The apostle Paul describes what love looks like in the “Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. (See Greatest Commandment.)
- Messiah (Christ): (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 16:16; Luke 4:14-19; Isaiah 9:6; 53:1-12; Luke 24:24-27) Hebrew, Mashiach, “Anointed One.” Christ is from the Greek, christos, also meaning “anointed.” So, whenever you see the name Christ, it is the same as Messiah. The Messiah was promised by God long before Jesus came to Earth. (See Anoint.)
- Millennium: (Revelations 20:1-6) The thousand-year (1,000) reign of Jesus as described in Revelations. Christians have different views on whether the millennium is a literal or symbolic thousand years, and whether it will occur in the future is happening now. We hold a belief in a literal 1,000-year reign of Jesus on earth.
- Ministry: (1 Corinthians 12:5) Activities believers do that serve both the church and unbelievers – all for God’s glory. Jesus is our best example of a minister, selflessly giving himself for others. Examples of ministries include teaching, preaching, caregiving, administration and many more.
- Miracle: (Psalm 105:27) An occurrence of God’s power doing something extraordinary which cannot be explained by natural means. The laws of nature are bypassed to accomplish God’s desire. The Bible is filled with miracles, reminding us that God can do anything, except sin.
- Palm Sunday: (Matthew 21:1-11) The Sunday before Easter (Resurrection Sunday) commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem just before his death. The crowd laid palm branches on the road that Jesus traveled.
- Parable: (Luke 10:25-37; Luke 15:11-32; Matthew 13:45-46) Greek, paraballo, “to throw down beside” – to lay two items beside each other for easy comparison. Jesus told these comparison stories laying familiar ideas (farming, finding treasure) alongside truths about God’s kingdom. Examples of parables include: the good Samaritan; the prodigal son; and the pearl of great price.
- Passover: (Exodus 12:1-20; 1 Corinthians 5:7) The annual celebration of Israel’s release from slavery in Egypt, when the angel of death “passed over” (spared) the home of anyone where the blood of a sacrificed lamb was painted over the doorway. This foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrifice of himself as our “Passover Lamb,” which saves our lives.
- Pentecost: (Acts 2) Greek, pentekoste, “fiftieth.” The annual celebration God established for Israel that came fifty days after Passover. On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had promised, came in power to his disciples.
- Pray: (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; John 17; Matthew 6:9-13; Romans 8:26) To talk with God. People in every religion pray, but for those in God’s family, we can converse with God through faith in Jesus. Jesus prayed for his followers, John 17, and taught them how to pray, the Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6. The Holy Spirit helps us pray when we don’t have the words.
- Preservation of Scripture: (Psalm 100:5; Isaiah 40:8) The teaching that the Bible has been preserved by God so that its meaning and intent is kept clear, regardless of the number of times the manuscripts have been copied or the languages into which it is translated.
- Priests: (Exodus 28:41; Hebrews 7:20-28) God appointed the descendants of Aaron (Moses’ brother) to serve as priests at the tabernacle and later at the temple, presenting sacrifices. Yearly, the high priest made atonement for the sins of the Israelites. Jesus is called our great Hight Priest because he offered his own self as the final sacrifice to make atonement for all people.
- Prophesy, Prophet: (Acts 11:28; 21:9-14) To prophesy means to proclaim God’s messages. In Old Testament times, God chose prophets (like Elijah, Isaiah, and Daniel) to give messages of warning and encouragement to Israel and other nation. In the New Testament times, prophets were respected.
- Ransom: (Mark 10:45; 1 Timothy 2:3-6) To pay the price for freeing a person held captive. Jesus paid the ransom or price for our sins, so that we could be set free from sin and have a right relationship with God. (See Redemption.)
- Reconcile: (Romans 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19) To restore relationship between or among estranged parties. Jesus reconciled us to God the Father through his death and resurrection. (See Intercession.)
- Redemption: (Deuteronomy 7:8; Psalm 49:7-11; Isaiah 59:20; Galatians 3:13-14; Revelation 14:3) To stay connected to Jesus through elements like prayer and Bible reading, knowing we have forgiveness of sins. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.”
- Regenerate: (Colossians 2:13; 1 Peter 3:18) To make alive or create anew; to be born again. This word describes the process of salvation. (See Born Again.)
- Repent: (Jeremiah 18:8; Matthew 4:17; 2 Peter 3:9) Greek, metanoein, “to turn, change one’s mind, or repent.” God has always called people to repent of sinful ways.
- Resurrection: (John 11:25; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15) Bringing someone dead back to life. When Jesus was crucified, God resurrected him on the third day, proving that Jesus is who he said he is. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can have assurance that we will someday be resurrected into eternal life with him.
- Righteousness: (Romans 1:17; 3:20-25) To be in right relationship with God through faith in Jesus. Righteousness comes not through obeying God’s commandments or by doing good, but through our being “in Christ,” saved, and as part of his family.
- Sacrifice: (Leviticus 23; Hosea 6:6; Hebrews 7:27; 9:11-24, 26; Romans 12:1) To give up something. In the Old testament, God’s people sacrificed animals in order to pay for their sins. God sent His Son Jesus to be the final sacrifice for humanity’s sins. Christians are to give ourselves up for God’s service as living sacrifices.
- Saint: (1) Greek, hagios, “holy one,” translated as saint in some Bible versions to describe those who belong to Christ. (2) In some churches, saint refers to someone declared to be a person in God’s special favor.
- Sanctify: (Leviticus 6:25; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7) (1) To set apart someone or something as holy. (2) To declare someone holy or pure in God’s eyes. We are sanctified (declared holy) through faith in Jesus. We “work-out” our sanctification daily as we grow in faith and become more like Jesus. (See Holiness.)
- Satan (Devil): (Genesis 3; John 8:44; Hebrews 2:14-15) Hebrew, satan, “adversary, accuser, opponent.” Greek, diabolos, “accuser, slanderer, devil.” Originally an angel, he was sent from God’s presence because of pride. The tempter of Adam and Eve; the father of lies and murderer who held people in bondage to the fear of death until Jesus came.
- Saved: (Joel 2:32; John 10:7-10; Ephesians 2:8-9) Greek, sodezo, “to be delivered, rescued, protected, made whole,” which is often rendered “saved” in the Bible. Salvation is God’s free gift for everyone who will believe in Jesus and receive His forgiveness.
- Savior: (1 Samuel 17:45-47; Zechariah 9:16; Luke 2:11; 2 Timothy 1:9-10) One who saves another (as in a firefighter or lifeguard). In the Old Testament, God is the One who saves. In the New Testament, Jesus is Savior, the one who saves us from sin, eternal death, and hell.
- Second Coming: (Acts 1:11) When Jesus returns to the earth in glory at the end of time. After the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, angels promised that Jesus will “…come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
- Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5-7; 5:3-10) Jesus’ teaching to a crowd from a hillside. The Beatitudes (“blessed sayings”) are the eight (8) blessings that make up the first part of his hillside sermon.
- Sin: (Galatians 5:19-21; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:2) Breaking God’s commandments and rebelling against what God wants for our lives. The consequences of sin are self-destruction, death, and a fractured relationship with God.
- Spiritual Disciplines: Practices Christians do regularly to grow spiritually by replacing harmful habits win our lives with godly habits. Spiritual disciplines include Bible reading, prayer, fasting confession, evangelism, and more.
- Spiritual Gifts: (Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11) Special abilities that are given by the Holy Spirit to members of his church for the purpose of doing the work God wants them to accomplish.
- Spiritual Warfare: (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-16) Spiritual combat against Satan and his forces of evil and against “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” We do not fight this battle with worldly weapons but with spiritual ones. (See Armor of God.)
- Tabernacle: (Exodus 26; 1 Kings 6-8) The portable tent in which God’s presence rested. It was designed by God and built by the people of Israel. It served as the main place of Israel’s worship until King Solomon built the temple Jerusalem.
- Temple: (Matthew 12:6; 26:61) The building in Jerusalem in which God’s glory rested. The “First Temple” built by King Solomon was eventually destroyed by outside invaders. It was rebuilt as the “Second Temple” when the Israelites returned from captivity in a foreign land, Babylon. The temple was destroyed by the Roman Empire about 40 years after Jesus, 70 A.D. Jesus called himself the “greater” temple.
- Temptation: (Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:13-15; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13) A desire or urge to do wrong. Jesus overcame the devil’s temptation by using the Word of God. We are never tempted by God. He offers us ways out of temptation so we can endure it.
- Ten Commandments: (Exodus 20:1-17) Ten (10) specific commands God gave to Moses for the Israelites to follow. These commands protected them and made them different from the other people groups around them. Jesus summed up these ten – and all the Old Testament laws (613) – in two commands: Love God and love others as yourself. (See Greatest Commandment.)
- Tithe: (2 Chronicles 31:5-6; Malachi 3:8-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-13) In the Old Testament, the Israelites gave a tithe (one-tenth, 1/10) of their resources to God. In the New Testament, believers are urged to give generously and “…give what you have decided in hour heart to give.” Tithing, more generally today, can mean giving any predetermined amount (often 10%) of one’s income to a local church or ministry.
- Transformation: (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18) The process of being changed. Being part of God’s family transforms us, making us different from the people, sin nature, we once were. We become more like Jesus.
- Trinity: (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; John 14:26; 15:26; Acts 10:38; Romans 1:4; Galatians 4:6; 1 Peter 1:2) God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully God and fully equal. The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, but many Bible verses (more than these here) refer to all three Person of the Trinity together.
- Word of God: (Hebrews 4:12; John 1:1-14; Isaiah 55:11) (1) The Bible, the written Word of God. (2) Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh (Greek, logos). (3) More generally, the Word of God means God’s revelation, will, and powerful activity in the world.
- Worship: (Exodus 23:25; Matthew 2:11; Revelation 19:10) To express love, reverence, honor to God; to praise, declare the worth of, and describe the virtues of God. The Bible is filled with commands and encouragements to worship God.