Search the encyclopedia
1000 articles found for “an angel”
Romans 12:1-2
[Bible Verses]An exhortation stating that presenting one's body as "a living sacrifice, holy" is "spiritual worship" (KJV: "reasonable service"), and urging believers not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds. The passage opens the practical section of Romans and is a key text linking worship with the Christian life.
Philippians 4:6–7
[Bible Verses]An exhortation not to be anxious about anything but to pray with thanksgiving, with the promise that the peace of God will guard the heart and mind. The passage is widely cherished as a source of comfort and is frequently cited in discussions of how faith relates to anxiety and mental health.
Ecclesiastes 12:1
[Bible Verses]An exhortation to remember one's Creator in the days of youth, before the evil days come. It is one of the final exhortations of Ecclesiastes and one of the verses most widely used as a motto for youth ministry.
1 Peter 2:13–17
[Bible Verses]An exhortation in First Peter urging Christians to submit to rulers and human institutions "for the Lord's sake" and not to use their freedom as a cover for evil. Together with Romans 13, it is frequently cited in discussions of the Christian's stance toward state authority.
Colossians 3:17
[Bible Verses]An exhortation from Paul to the church at Colossae to do everything in word and deed in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him. The verse is frequently cited as extending faith to the whole of everyday life.
The Ten Lepers
[Bible]An account in which Jesus heals ten lepers on his way to Jerusalem, but only one of them, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. It appears only in Luke 17:11-19.
Apostle
[Church Offices]An apostle, meaning "one who is sent," is one of those whom Jesus Christ personally appointed to proclaim the gospel and lay the foundation of the early church.
Aaron's Rod That Budded
[Bible]An event recorded in Numbers 17 in which, of the rods belonging to the leaders of the twelve tribes, only Aaron's rod sprouted, blossomed, and bore fruit overnight. It is recorded as a sign confirming that God had chosen the house of Aaron for the priesthood.
Land Flowing with Milk and Honey
[Bible]An Old Testament idiom describing the abundance of the land of Canaan, which God promised to give to Israel. It first appears in Exodus 3:8 and recurs throughout the Pentateuch and the Prophets.
Alabaster Box
[Bible]An alabaster box is a small stone vessel for holding perfumed ointment. It is best known from the Gospel accounts of a woman who poured costly ointment from an alabaster box on Jesus.
Amen Song
[Worship & Rites]An Amen song is a short sung setting of the word "Amen," used in worship after a prayer or the benediction as the congregation's response. In Korean Protestant churches it is usually sung by the choir or the congregation immediately after the benediction.
Light of the World
[Bible]An expression Jesus used of himself (John 8:12) and of his disciples (Matthew 5:14). It denotes one who reveals God's truth and salvation to a world in darkness.
The Stone the Builders Rejected
[Bible]An expression from Psalm 118:22 declaring that a stone rejected by people has become the head of the corner. The New Testament applies the verse to the rejection and exaltation of Jesus Christ.
Altar
[Bible]An altar is a structure built of earth, stone, or similar materials for offering sacrifices to God and for worship. The altars of the patriarchs lead to the altar of burnt offering in the tabernacle and the temple, and the New Testament reads the altar in connection with the sacrifice of Christ.
Indulgence
[History]An indulgence was a certificate issued by the medieval Western Church that purported to remit the punishment due for sins already forgiven. Abuses in the sale of indulgences in the sixteenth century prompted Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses and the Reformation.
Ordination Offering
[Organization & Polity]An ordination offering is an offering made by a person receiving a church office, such as elder, kwonsa (a female lay office), or ordained deacon, on the occasion of the ordination service. The practice is widespread in Korean Protestant churches. Some regard it as an expression of gratitude, while others criticize it as a way of buying church office with money.
Apologist
[Doctrine & Theology]An apologist is a person who argues that the Christian faith is true and reasonable and who responds to criticisms and misunderstandings of it. The term is used especially for the second-century early church writers who wrote in defense of the faith.
Antipope
[History]An antipope is a person who claims to be pope, or who has been set up as pope with the backing of a particular faction, in opposition to the Roman pontiff whom the Catholic Church recognizes as legitimate.
Icon
[Doctrine & Theology]An icon is a sacred image of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints, or biblical events, painted on a wooden panel or similar surface and used chiefly by the Orthodox Church in worship and devotional life. Depending on the tradition, icons are regarded either as proper objects of veneration or as carrying a risk of idolatry.
Honorary Elder
[Christian Life]An honorary elder is a person who bears the title of elder without currently serving on the session. The term refers either to a retired elder who is honored after reaching the mandatory retirement age or to a person granted the title alone in recognition of service.