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1 Corinthians 15:30–32
[Bible Verses]A passage in which Paul argues that if there is no resurrection, his life of facing death every day is in vain. "I die daily" is widely quoted as an expression of self-denial, while the meaning of his statement that he "fought with beasts at Ephesus" is disputed.
Beatitudes
[Bible]The Beatitudes are the eight blessings that Jesus Christ proclaimed at the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. They are recorded in Matthew 5:3-10, and similar sayings appear in Luke 6:20-23.
Breastplate (High Priest)
[Bible]The breastplate was a square ornamental piece of fabric that the high priest of Old Testament Israel wore on his chest over the ephod. It held twelve gemstones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes and contained the Urim and Thummim.
Beautiful Gate
[Bible]The Beautiful Gate was one of the gates of the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Acts 3, it was the place where Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth.
Sermon on the Mount
[Bible]The Sermon on the Mount is the collection of Jesus' teachings recorded in Matthew 5–7, delivered on a mountain to His disciples and the multitudes. It contains the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, and the Golden Rule.
Breastplate of Judgment
[Bible]The breastplate of judgment was a square ornament worn on the chest, over the ephod, by the high priest of Old Testament Israel. It held twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the twelve tribes, and the Urim and Thummim were placed in it.
Breastplate
[Bible]A breastplate is a piece of armor that protects the chest in battle. In the New Testament, the term renders the Greek *thōrax*; representative uses include "the breastplate of righteousness" in Ephesians and "the breastplate of faith and love" in 1 Thessalonians.
Matthew 5:3
[Bible Verses]Matthew 5:3 is the first of the Beatitudes, which open the Sermon on the Mount. It declares that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor in spirit. Interpreters differ over what "poverty of spirit" means and how it relates to "the poor" in Luke's Gospel.
Luke 6:20
[Bible Verses]Luke 6:20 is the first beatitude of the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke. In it, Jesus tells his disciples that the poor are blessed and that the kingdom of God is theirs. The verse is frequently interpreted and discussed in comparison with the Beatitudes in Matthew, which speak of "the poor in spirit."
Meekness
[Bible]In the Bible, meekness is a disposition and attitude of not asserting one's own power, entrusting oneself to God, and treating others gently. It appears as the third of the Beatitudes and as one of the fruit of the Spirit.
Urim and Thummim
[Bible]The Urim and Thummim were objects in the Old Testament that the high priest carried in the breastplate of judgment and used when seeking God's will. Scripture does not describe their appearance or explain how they were used.
Kinsman-Redeemer
[Bible]The kinsman-redeemer (Hebrew goel) is an Old Testament institution in which a close relative paid the price to recover land or freedom that a family member had lost through poverty or similar circumstances. Boaz in the Book of Ruth is the best-known example.
Darius
[People]Darius is the name of several kings of the Persian period mentioned in the Bible. The best known are Darius king of Persia, who permitted the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and Darius the Mede, who had Daniel cast into the lions' den.
Hilkiah
[People]Hilkiah is the name of several people in the Old Testament. The best known is the high priest who found the Book of the Law in the temple during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. The priest of Anathoth who was the father of the prophet Jeremiah bore the same name.
John 3:16
[Bible Verses]John 3:16 declares that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should have everlasting life. Widely regarded as a summary of the gospel, it is the best-known verse in the Bible. Calvinism and Arminianism interpret the scope of "the world" and "whosoever believeth" differently.
Lawyer (New Testament)
[Bible]In the New Testament, especially the Gospel of Luke, a lawyer was an expert who studied and interpreted the Law of Moses. The best-known example is the lawyer who asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life, which prompted the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Isaiah 9:6
[Bible Verses]Isaiah 9:6 is the prophecy that "unto us a child is born," whose name "shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." It is one of the best-known Christmas texts. Interpretations differ, both between Christianity and Judaism and between mainstream denominations and certain other groups, over whom these titles refer to and what they mean.
Abihail
[People]Abihail is a personal name in the Old Testament borne by several individuals, both men and women. The best known are the father of Esther, the daughter of Eliab (David's elder brother), and the father of the Levite Zuriel.
Colossians 3:23
[Bible Verses]Colossians 3:23 is an exhortation that reads, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." It is one of the best-known verses connecting one's occupation and everyday work with faith. Because it was originally addressed to servants (slaves), however, questions have been raised about the scope of its application.
Broom Tree
[Bible]The broom tree (Hebrew *rotem*) is a leguminous shrub that grows in arid regions such as the Sinai wilderness and the Negev. In the Bible it is best known as the place where Elijah, fleeing from Jezebel, asked to die and was then given food by an angel.