P
Palestine
Palestine (Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a geographic region in Western Asia usually considered to include Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and in some definitions, parts of western Jordan.
The name was used by ancient Greek writers, and it was later used for the Roman province Syria Palaestina and the Byzantine Palaestina Prima. The region comprises most of the territory claimed for the biblical regions known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land or Promised Land, and represents the southern portion of wider regional designations such as Canaan, Syria, ash-Sham, and the Levant.
Palestine (Greek: Παλαιστίνη, Palaistinē; Hebrew: פלשתינה Palestina) is a geographic region in Western Asia usually considered to include Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and in some definitions, parts of western Jordan.
The name was used by ancient Greek writers, and it was later used for the Roman province Syria Palaestina and the Byzantine Palaestina Prima. The region comprises most of the territory claimed for the biblical regions known as the Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ־ישראל Eretz-Yisra'el), the Holy Land or Promised Land, and represents the southern portion of wider regional designations such as Canaan, Syria, ash-Sham, and the Levant.
Parable
See separate section: Biblical Genres
See separate section: Biblical Genres
Passover
Passover is a Jewish religious festival which remembers and commemorates the Israelites exodus (departure) from slavery in Egypt. In Hebrew the festival is called pesah. Pesah means ‘passing over’ and it reminds us that the angel of death ‘passed over’ the houses of the Israelites during the 10th plague when the first-born children were killed. In the time of Jesus Passover was one of the three festivals which Jewish men were obliged to attend. Passover was celebrated at the Temple in Jerusalemwhere the Priests would sacrifice a lamb and give the meat back to the family to roast and eat.
According to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus’ last supper was a Passover meal.
Passover is a Jewish religious festival which remembers and commemorates the Israelites exodus (departure) from slavery in Egypt. In Hebrew the festival is called pesah. Pesah means ‘passing over’ and it reminds us that the angel of death ‘passed over’ the houses of the Israelites during the 10th plague when the first-born children were killed. In the time of Jesus Passover was one of the three festivals which Jewish men were obliged to attend. Passover was celebrated at the Temple in Jerusalemwhere the Priests would sacrifice a lamb and give the meat back to the family to roast and eat.
According to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus’ last supper was a Passover meal.
Penance
A type of punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing, eg sackcloth and ashes. Penance may also indicate an alternate name for the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. The word penance derives from Old French and Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven (in English see contrition).
A type of punishment inflicted on oneself as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing, eg sackcloth and ashes. Penance may also indicate an alternate name for the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. The word penance derives from Old French and Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, the desire to be forgiven (in English see contrition).
Pentecost
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 'fifty'. It is the word used by Luke (who wrote in Greek) to describe the event during which the Holy Spirit came. (see Acts 2:1-4) The festival Luke 'renames' is the Jewish festival of Shavuot - it occurs 50 days after Passover. (see Shavuot and Pharisee)
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 'fifty'. It is the word used by Luke (who wrote in Greek) to describe the event during which the Holy Spirit came. (see Acts 2:1-4) The festival Luke 'renames' is the Jewish festival of Shavuot - it occurs 50 days after Passover. (see Shavuot and Pharisee)
Persians
The Persians were Indo-European nomadic pastoralists originating from southern Russia and migrating to middle eastern lands roughly 2000 BCE. Several Persian tribes settled in the land of Parsuash from where the term Persia derives. The Persians were instrumental in ending the Jewish Babylonian exile in 539 BCE.
The Persians were Indo-European nomadic pastoralists originating from southern Russia and migrating to middle eastern lands roughly 2000 BCE. Several Persian tribes settled in the land of Parsuash from where the term Persia derives. The Persians were instrumental in ending the Jewish Babylonian exile in 539 BCE.
Pharisees
The Pharisees (a word which means ‘separate ones’) were responsible for the local synagogues.
Pharisees believed that the Israelites were a kingdom of priests and that they should observe purity regulations at all times. They often washed frequently to cleanse themselves from direct or indirect contact with unclean people and things.
Pharisees were interpreters of the law and while most Pharisees took into consideration the circumstances of the situation, some stressed strict observance of the law and neglected the spirit behind it. Pharisees believed in angels and spirits and that after death each person would be judged and rewarded or punished accordingly.
In some gospels the Pharisees appear to be rigid and unfeeling, in others they seem to be open to the teaching of Jesus. This probably reflects the reality of the day as well as each author’s perception of the Pharisees.
We should not think they every Pharisee hated Jesus or was out to get him! Jesus probably learned a great deal from the Pharisees of his day.
The Pharisees (a word which means ‘separate ones’) were responsible for the local synagogues.
Pharisees believed that the Israelites were a kingdom of priests and that they should observe purity regulations at all times. They often washed frequently to cleanse themselves from direct or indirect contact with unclean people and things.
Pharisees were interpreters of the law and while most Pharisees took into consideration the circumstances of the situation, some stressed strict observance of the law and neglected the spirit behind it. Pharisees believed in angels and spirits and that after death each person would be judged and rewarded or punished accordingly.
In some gospels the Pharisees appear to be rigid and unfeeling, in others they seem to be open to the teaching of Jesus. This probably reflects the reality of the day as well as each author’s perception of the Pharisees.
We should not think they every Pharisee hated Jesus or was out to get him! Jesus probably learned a great deal from the Pharisees of his day.
Pig
The domestic pig (also swine) is a domesticated animal that can trace its ancestry to the wild boar. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as long ago as 13,000 BC. Although Gentiles in the time of Jesus farmed pigs and ate pork, the Torah bans any contact with pigs which are considered unclean. (Leviticus 11:1-8) A Jew who came into contact with a pig would have to undergo ritual purification before they could have contact with others.
The domestic pig (also swine) is a domesticated animal that can trace its ancestry to the wild boar. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as long ago as 13,000 BC. Although Gentiles in the time of Jesus farmed pigs and ate pork, the Torah bans any contact with pigs which are considered unclean. (Leviticus 11:1-8) A Jew who came into contact with a pig would have to undergo ritual purification before they could have contact with others.
Priest
Priests were among a very select and esteemed group of people in Israelite community. Not everyone could become a priest. Only those from the family of Aaron, (the brother or Moses and Miriam) who was part of the tribe of Levi (one of the tribes who came out of Egypt in the Exodus) could become priests.
The priest’s duties were valued by the people. Their role was set apart from the everyday – it involved daily and festive worship of God. Priests did what ‘ordinary people’ could not do: they offered the daily sacrifices of animals in the Temple and blessed the people in a ceremony known as the raising of the hands.
During the time of Solomon’s and Herod’s Temples priests were clustered together into 24 groups of between 7-9 priests. Each Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday night) they changed duty. During festivals, all 24 would be present at the Temple.
As they were responsible for offering prayers and sacrifices to God in the Temple, priests were bound by strict purity laws. (Lev 21)
Priests were among a very select and esteemed group of people in Israelite community. Not everyone could become a priest. Only those from the family of Aaron, (the brother or Moses and Miriam) who was part of the tribe of Levi (one of the tribes who came out of Egypt in the Exodus) could become priests.
The priest’s duties were valued by the people. Their role was set apart from the everyday – it involved daily and festive worship of God. Priests did what ‘ordinary people’ could not do: they offered the daily sacrifices of animals in the Temple and blessed the people in a ceremony known as the raising of the hands.
During the time of Solomon’s and Herod’s Temples priests were clustered together into 24 groups of between 7-9 priests. Each Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday night) they changed duty. During festivals, all 24 would be present at the Temple.
As they were responsible for offering prayers and sacrifices to God in the Temple, priests were bound by strict purity laws. (Lev 21)
- They could not have any physical blemish (be blind or lame) or break other rules (such as eating unclean food). Also, they could not come into contact with any dead people, except for members of their immediate family.
- Observation of these purity regulations showed great devotion to God and to the work being undertaken – it kept the ‘holy men’ clean for their holy work.
P
P is the Priestly writer (or writers) who wrote much of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible). Scholars think P wrote in the 6thCentury BCE while some of the Israelites were exiled in Babylon. It was a time of sadness, worry and grief. P’s writing is very ordered and structured, he writes about the rules for the Temple and the rules for life. P calls God, Elohim. We think P wrote the account of creation in Genesis 1. (see also Babylonia)
P is the Priestly writer (or writers) who wrote much of the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible). Scholars think P wrote in the 6thCentury BCE while some of the Israelites were exiled in Babylon. It was a time of sadness, worry and grief. P’s writing is very ordered and structured, he writes about the rules for the Temple and the rules for life. P calls God, Elohim. We think P wrote the account of creation in Genesis 1. (see also Babylonia)
Prophet
The word prophet is a Greek word which means ‘one who speaks on behalf of God’. Prophets did not predict the future, instead they ‘passed on’ God’s words or message, generally calling people to live differently. Many prophets were not successful in that the people they spoke to often ignored their messages.
The First Testament contains 18 books of prophetic writing, beginning with Isaiah and ending with Malachi.
The word prophet is a Greek word which means ‘one who speaks on behalf of God’. Prophets did not predict the future, instead they ‘passed on’ God’s words or message, generally calling people to live differently. Many prophets were not successful in that the people they spoke to often ignored their messages.
The First Testament contains 18 books of prophetic writing, beginning with Isaiah and ending with Malachi.
Psalm
A song, a song of praise. In the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) the title of the book of Psalms is derived from the Greek translation, ψαλμοί, psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music". The book is an anthology of individual psalms, with 150 in the Jewish and Western Christian tradition and more in the Eastern Christian churches.[3][4] Many are linked to the name of David, but his authorship is not always accepted by modern scholars.
A song, a song of praise. In the Hebrew scriptures (the Old Testament) the title of the book of Psalms is derived from the Greek translation, ψαλμοί, psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music" and, by extension, "the words accompanying the music". The book is an anthology of individual psalms, with 150 in the Jewish and Western Christian tradition and more in the Eastern Christian churches.[3][4] Many are linked to the name of David, but his authorship is not always accepted by modern scholars.