Ecclesiastes, Theology of Debate surrounds the interpretation of Ecclesiastes. Some early Jewish interpreters even suspected the canonicity of the book. It sometimes gives apparently contradictory advice. The book’s author, who goes by the name “Qohelet” (translated in modern versions as “the Preacher” or “the Teacher”), can, on the one hand, say that he “hated life” […]

Elect, Election The term “elect” means essentially “to choose.” It involves discriminatory evaluation of individuals, means, ends, or objects with a view to selecting one above the others, although not necessarily passing negative judgment on those others. It also involves the will, in that a determination is made, a preference expressed that one seeks to […]

Ephesians, Theology of Pauline authorship of Ephesians does not appear to have been doubted in the early church. It is listed among Paul’s letters in the early manuscripts and cited as such by early Christian authors such as Irenaeus (Against Heresies 5.2.3), Clement of Alexandria (Stromateis 4.65), and Tertullian (Against Marcion 5.11.17; 5.17.1). It is included among Paul’s […]

Education in Bible Times Education is essential to the survival of any social group, since a community secures its continued existence and development only through the transmission of its accumulated knowledge, derived power, and ideological aims to the next generation. Education may be simply (and narrowly) defined as the process of teaching and learning, the […]

Elder In both the Old and New Testaments, the term “elder” indicates one of advanced age (Heb. zaqen [eqz]; Gk. presbyteros [presbuvtero”]) who had a office of leadership within the people of God. The Old Testament. We are not informed about the origin of this office, which was also known outside Israel ( Gen 50:7 ; Num 22:7 ). It probably developed from […]

Endurance [N] Continuing Christian commitment in the face of difficulty. Born in a context of hostility, persecution, and the death of their Lord and his disciples, the endurance of Christians in the face of persecution and temptation underlies most the New Testament. Pictorial athletic imagery was used to summon Christians to faithfulness as they prepared themselves […]

Death of Christ The Place in the Gospels. In the records of Jesus that the Gospels give us, it is clear that a place of supreme significance is given to the death — and the resurrection of Christ. The story of the events of Jesus’ last few days, culminating in the crucifixion, is given a […]

Death, Mortality Death is the absence or withdrawal of breath and the life force that makes movement, metabolism, and interrelation with others possible. The Old Testament. The Nature of Death. Life and death are totally under Yahweh’s sovereignty. God is the source of all life ( Psalm 36:9 ). There are no organisms anywhere who have not […]

Day of the Lord, God, Christ, the Expression, often in the context of future events, which refers to the time when God will intervene decisively for judgment and/or salvation. Variously formulated as the “day of the Lord” ( Amos 5:18 ), the “day of our Lord Jesus Christ” ( 1 Col 1:8 ; cf. 2 Col 1:14 ), the “day of […]

DEITY OF CHRIST. The clearest and fullest expression of the deity of Christ is found in the Nicene Creed which was originally presented at the Council of Nicaea, a.d. 325. In the Eng. Book of Common Prayer the tr. appears as follows: “…one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very […]