Dictionary Entries: P

• 1 Peter — 1 Peter is a New Testament letter that encourages holy, hopeful endurance for believers suffering as God's pilgrim people.
• 2 Peter — 2 Peter is a New Testament letter that calls believers to grow in holiness and warns against false teachers while affirming Christ
• Courses of the Priests — The courses of the priests were the organized divisions of the Aaronic priesthood that served in rotation at the sanctuary and lat
• Fulfillment of Prophecy — The fulfillment of prophecy is the bringing to pass of what God foretold in Scripture. It includes direct predictions as well as b
• Laws Concerning the Poor — Biblical laws concerning the poor are God-given commands that required Israel to protect, provide for, and deal justly with the ne
• Mount Perazim — A biblical place-name associated with David’s victory over the Philistines, where he said the Lord had broken through his enemies
• Paarai — Paarai was one of David's mighty men, named in the list of elite warriors in 2 Samuel 23:35.
• Padan-Aram — A biblical region in upper Mesopotamia associated with the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, especially the time Jacob spent wi
• Padon — Padon is a biblical proper name for a family group listed among the post-exilic returnees.
• paganism — Paganism is a broad label for religious systems and practices outside biblical covenant faith, especially those shaped by polythei
• Pagiel — Pagiel was an Israelite tribal leader from the tribe of Asher in the wilderness period. He is named in Numbers as the son of Ocran
• Pahath-Moab — Pahath-Moab is a postexilic family or clan named among the Jewish returnees from Babylon, especially in the census and community l
• Pain — Pain is physical or emotional suffering experienced in a fallen world. Scripture treats it as a real human affliction and calls be
• Palaces — Royal residences and administrative centers in the biblical world, associated with kings, power, wealth, and judgment.
• Paleography — The study of ancient handwriting and scripts, especially for reading, dating, and comparing manuscripts.
• Palestinian / Land Covenant — An extra-biblical theological label for the biblical material on Israel’s relationship to the land in Deuteronomy 29–30; use Land
• Palestinian Judaism vs. Hellenistic Judaism — A modern scholarly contrast between Judaism centered in the land of Israel and Judaism shaped more directly by Greek language and
• PALMERWORM — A Bible term for a devouring crop-destroying insect or insect stage, used in Old Testament judgment imagery. The exact species is
• Palti — An Old Testament personal name borne by Palti son of Raphu, one of the twelve spies from the tribe of Benjamin.
• Paltiel — Paltiel is a biblical person in the Old Testament, best known as the man to whom Saul gave Michal after separating her from David.
• Pamphylia — Pamphylia was an ancient coastal region in southern Asia Minor (modern Turkey) mentioned in Acts as part of the missionary setting
• panentheism — Panentheism is the view that the world exists in God while God is more than the world and not identical with it. It differs from p
• pantheism — Pantheism is the belief that God and the universe are identical, or that all reality is in some sense divine. It differs from bibl
• Pantokrator — Pantokrator is a Greek title meaning “Almighty” or “all-ruling one.” In the New Testament it is used of God, especially in Revelat
• Papal authority — Papal authority is the Roman Catholic claim that the bishop of Rome has a unique primacy of governance and teaching in the univers
• Paphos — Paphos was a city on Cyprus visited by Paul and Barnabas during their first missionary journey. In Acts it is the setting for the
• Papias of Hierapolis — Papias of Hierapolis was an early Christian bishop and writer from Asia Minor, usually dated to the late first or early second cen
• papyrus — Papyrus is both an ancient writing material and a manuscript written on that material.
• parable — A parable is a brief story or comparison used to teach spiritual or moral truth. In Scripture, Jesus often used parables to reveal
• Parable interpretation — Parable interpretation is the careful explanation of Jesus’ parables according to their context, purpose, and main point. Sound in
• Parable of the Minas — Jesus’ parable in Luke 19:11-27 about a nobleman who entrusts money to his servants and later returns to settle accounts. It teach
• Parable of the Persistent Widow — Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:1–8 that teaches believers to pray persistently and not lose heart while awaiting God’s just vindication
• Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector — Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9–14 that contrasts self-righteous pride with humble repentance and shows that God justifies the one who
• Parable of the Prodigal Son — Jesus’ parable in Luke 15:11–32 about a wayward younger son who returns in repentance, a merciful father who receives him, and an
• Parable of the Talents — A parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:14–30 about faithful stewardship and accountability while awaiting the master’s return.
• Parable of the Unjust Steward — The Parable of the Unjust Steward is Jesus' Luke 16 parable about a dishonest manager whose shrewd crisis response is used to teac
• Parables — Parables are short comparisons or story-like sayings used in Scripture, especially by Jesus, to teach spiritual truth. They use fa
• Paraclete — Paraclete is a title Jesus used for the Holy Spirit in John’s Gospel, often translated “Helper,” “Advocate,” or “Counselor.” It pr
• paradise — Paradise refers to the blessed place or state of life with God.
• Paradise and Abraham's Bosom — Biblical expressions for the blessed comfort of the righteous dead. "Paradise" denotes a place or state of blessing with God, whil
• Paradox — Paradox is a statement that seems contradictory at first but reveals a deeper truth.
• Paraenesis — Paraenesis is moral exhortation or practical instruction that urges believers to live faithfully, especially in the ethical sectio
• Paragraph structure — Paragraph structure is the way Bible text is divided into paragraphs in modern editions to show shifts in thought, narrative, or a
• Parah — A town in the tribal allotment of Benjamin, mentioned in Joshua 18:23.
• parallelism — Parallelism is the pattern in Hebrew poetry where one line echoes, develops, or contrasts with another.
• Paratextual features — Elements that surround the biblical text rather than belonging to the inspired wording itself, such as titles, headings, chapter a
• Parbar — A temple-related place or area mentioned in 1 Chronicles 26:18. Its exact location and meaning are uncertain, but it is associated
• Parchment — A durable writing material made from prepared animal skin.
• parenting — Parenting is the stewardship of raising children in love, discipline, wisdom, and instruction from the Lord.
• Pareto Principle — A descriptive heuristic that a relatively small share of causes often produces a large share of results, commonly summarized as th
• Parosh — Parosh is a biblical family or clan listed among the returned exiles in the postexilic restoration period.
• parousia — Parousia refers to the coming or arrival of Christ, especially His future return.
• Parousia delay — A modern theological term for the apparent delay of Christ’s return, addressed in Scripture by calls to watchfulness, patience, an
• Parshandatha — Parshandatha was one of the ten sons of Haman named in Esther. He is listed among those killed after Haman’s anti-Jewish plot was
• parsing — Parsing is identifying the grammatical form of a word.
• Parthians — The Parthians were a people from the Parthian Empire east of the Roman world. In the New Testament they are named in Acts 2:9 amon
• participation — Participation means sharing in or receiving from a greater reality without becoming identical to it.
• Participationist soteriology — Participationist soteriology is a scholarly label for readings that foreground salvation as participation in Christ and in his dea
• Participle — A participle is a verbal form that can function like an adjective or noun while still retaining verbal force. It is an important g
• Participles — Participles are verb forms that function like adjectives or nouns, describing persons, things, or actions in a sentence. In Bible
• Particles — Small function words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that shape emphasis, negation, questions, connection, and other nuances of mean
• Partridge — A partridge is a bird mentioned in the Old Testament and used in vivid everyday imagery. It has no distinct theological meaning in
• Paruah — Paruah is a minor Old Testament personal name, known only as the father of Jehoshaphat, one of Solomon’s district officials.
• Passion — Passion is strong desire, affection, or emotion that powerfully influences thought and action. In Christian moral reflection, pass
• Passion week — Passion Week is the period of Jesus’ final days in Jerusalem leading up to His crucifixion and resurrection. It usually begins wit
• passive obedience — Passive obedience refers to Christ's willing suffering and submission in bearing the penalty of sin.
• Passover — Passover is Israel's memorial meal of deliverance from Egypt through the blood of the lamb.
• Passover and Christ's Death — The New Testament presents Christ’s death in close relation to Passover, portraying Him as the true Passover sacrifice whose blood
• Passover Lamb as type — The Passover lamb in Exodus 12 foreshadows Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death delivers believers from judgment and secures rede
• pastor — A pastor is a shepherding leader who teaches, cares for, and oversees God’s people.
• Pastor / Elder / Bishop — New Testament terms for the recognized local church leader who shepherds, teaches, and oversees the congregation.
• pastoral care — Pastoral care is the shepherding ministry of guiding, comforting, correcting, and strengthening people with God’s truth.
• Pastoral theology — Pastoral theology is the branch of theology concerned with how biblical truth shapes the shepherding ministry of the church, inclu
• Pasture — Pasture is land where animals graze, and in Scripture it often functions as an image of God’s provision, care, safety, and rest fo
• Patara — Patara was an ancient port city in Lycia on the southern coast of Asia Minor, mentioned in Acts as a stop in Paul’s journey.
• patience — Patience is steadfast endurance without collapsing into bitterness, panic, or retaliation.
• Patmos — Patmos is a small Aegean island named in Revelation as the place where John was when he received the visions recorded in the book
• Patriarch — In biblical usage, a patriarch is a founding father or ancestral head, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the forefathers of
• Patriarchal journeys — A biblical narrative theme describing the God-guided travels of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph in Genesis as he advanced his co
• Patriarchal sacrifices — Sacrificial offerings made by the patriarchs and other early biblical figures before the law of Moses. They show that worship by s
• Patriarchs — The patriarchs are the founding fathers of Israel, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through whom God gave covenant promises o
• Patriarchy — Patriarchy is a modern term for a male-headed family or social structure. In Bible discussion, it should be used carefully to dist
• Patristic — Patristic means relating to the Church Fathers and the theology of the early church.
• Patristic Theology — The study of Christian teaching in the writings of the early church fathers, especially from the first centuries after the apostle
• Patrobas — A Christian in Rome greeted by Paul in Romans 16:14. Scripture gives no further certain information about him.
• Patrology — Patrology is the study of the church fathers and their writings, especially their historical setting, teaching, and influence on C
• Patron-client relationships — An ancient social arrangement in which a stronger person gave protection, access, or resources and received loyalty, service, or p
• patronage — Patronage is the ancient social system in which a stronger benefactor gave protection, resources, or status to a client who respon
• Paul — Paul is the apostle whose conversion and teaching helped carry the gospel across the Gentile world.
• Paul within Judaism — A modern scholarly label for interpreting Paul as a Jew who remained within Jewish life and thought after coming to faith in Jesus
• Paul, Missionary Journeys — The commonly used name for the major periods of Paul’s travel, preaching, and church-planting ministry, especially in Acts 13–21.
• Pauline churches — A descriptive term for New Testament congregations founded, instructed, corrected, or otherwise shaped by the apostle Paul’s minis
• Pauline Circle — The Pauline Circle is the network of people and churches associated with the apostle Paul—his coworkers, companions, and congregat
• Pauline Epistles — The Pauline Epistles are the New Testament letters associated with the apostle Paul, traditionally the thirteen letters from Roman
• Pauline Hymns — A scholarly term for poetic, confession-like, or hymn-shaped passages in Paul’s letters, especially texts that appear suited to wo
• Pavement — The stone-paved place in John 19:13 where Pilate sat in judgment over Jesus, also called Gabbatha.
• Pax Romana — Pax Romana is the label for Roman imperial peace, order, and stability, together with the ideology that presented Roman rule as th
• Peace — Peace is wholeness, reconciliation, and settled well-being under God’s rule.
• Peace and security — “Peace and security” is a biblical phrase associated especially with 1 Thessalonians 5:3, where claims of safety precede sudden ju
• Peace offering — The peace offering was an Old Testament sacrifice expressing fellowship, thanksgiving, and peace with God. Part was offered to the
• Peacock — A bird mentioned in some older English Bible translations, though the underlying Hebrew term in Solomon’s trade lists is uncertain
• Pearl — A pearl is a precious gem used in Scripture as a symbol of great value, beauty, and rarity.
• Pearl of Great Price — Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:45–46 about a merchant who sells all he has to obtain one pearl of extraordinary value, illustrating
• Pelagian controversy and Semi-Pelagianism — An early Christian controversy about sin, grace, and whether fallen humans can begin to turn to God without prior divine help. Pel
• Pelagianism — Pelagianism is the error that human beings can obey God and begin turning to him without the prior need of grace.
• Peleg — Peleg was a post-flood descendant of Shem in Genesis, remembered for the note that “in his days the earth was divided.”
• Pelican — A pelican is a large water bird named in some Bible translations; in a few passages the underlying Hebrew term may refer to a diff
• Pelonite — A biblical identifying label attached to certain Old Testament names; its exact referent is uncertain.
• penal substitution — Penal substitution means that Christ bore the penalty sinners deserved so they could be forgiven and reconciled to God.
• Penal Substitution as Doctrinal Integrator — Penal substitution means that Christ bore the penalty sinners deserved so they could be forgiven and reconciled to God.
• Peniel — Peniel is the place where Jacob wrestled with a mysterious divine figure and named the site after saying he had seen God face to f
• Peninnah — Peninnah was Elkanah’s other wife in 1 Samuel and Hannah’s rival. The biblical account portrays her as provoking Hannah because Ha
• Pentateuch — The Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It forms the foundationa
• Pentecost — Pentecost is the feast in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church.
• Pentecost and the Jerusalem Church — The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the formation of the first Christian church in Jerusalem, as described in Acts.
• Pentecostal — Pentecostal refers to churches that stress the present work of the Holy Spirit, evangelism, and the continuation of spiritual gift
• Pentecostal Movement — A modern Christian renewal movement that emphasizes the present work of the Holy Spirit, especially Spirit baptism and spiritual g
• People — A collective term for human beings or a defined group, especially God's covenant people.
• People of God — “People of God” is a biblical-theological phrase for those who belong to the Lord by covenant grace. In the New Testament, it incl
• peradventure — An archaic English word meaning “perhaps” or “possibly.” In Bible reading, it is a translation-word issue, not a distinct doctrine
• perdition — Perdition means ruin, destruction, or loss under God’s judgment. In Scripture it can describe temporal ruin or final condemnation,
• Perea — Perea was the Transjordan region east of the Jordan River, associated in the New Testament period with Herod Antipas and with Jesu
• Peres — The Aramaic word in Daniel 5 meaning “divided,” used in the judgment pronounced over Belshazzar’s kingdom.
• Perez — Perez is the son of Judah and Tamar and an important ancestor in the tribe of Judah and the line leading to David and Jesus.
• Perez-Uzzah — The place David named after the Lord struck Uzzah for touching the ark of the covenant.
• Perfect Being Theism — Perfect being theism is the philosophical view of God as the greatest conceivable being, or the one who possesses maximal greatnes
• perfectionism — Perfectionism is the claim that believers can reach a state of sinless perfection in this present life.
• Performative contradiction — A performative contradiction occurs when a statement conflicts with what the speaker must assume in order to make that statement.
• Perfume — Perfume in the Bible refers to fragrant oils or ointments used for personal grooming, hospitality, honoring guests, burial prepara
• Perga — Perga was an ancient city in Pamphylia mentioned in Acts as a stop on Paul and Barnabas’s first missionary journey.
• Pergamum — Pergamum was an ancient city in Asia Minor and one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation. Scripture presents it chiefly th
• perichoresis — perichoresis is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Pericope — A pericope is a distinct literary unit or passage within a larger biblical book. It is a helpful interpretive term for identifying
• Period of the Judges — The era in Israel’s history between Joshua and the rise of the monarchy, when the Lord raised up judges to deliver His people and
• Peripheral consciousness — Peripheral consciousness is awareness that remains at the edge of attention rather than at the center of focused thought.
• Perizzites — One of the peoples inhabiting Canaan before and during Israel’s settlement of the land; they are commonly listed among the nations
• Permanent gifts vs. sign gifts debate — The evangelical debate over whether all New Testament spiritual gifts continue today or whether some miraculous "sign gifts" were
• permissive will — permissive will is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Persecuted church — Believers and Christian communities who suffer opposition, hardship, or punishment because they belong to Christ. Scripture treats
• Persecution — Persecution is suffering, hostility, or mistreatment endured because of faithfulness to God and the gospel. In Scripture, believer
• Perseverance — Perseverance means continuing in faith, obedience, and trust by God's sustaining grace.
• perseverance in trial — Perseverance in trial is steadfast endurance that continues trusting and obeying God under hardship.
• Perseverance of the saints vs. Conditional security — A comparative doctrinal entry on whether all true believers will certainly endure to final salvation by God’s preserving grace, or
• Persia — Persia was the ancient empire east of Babylon that ruled much of the postexilic world and was used by God in the return of the Jew
• Persian administrative structure — The system by which the Persian Empire governed its lands through provinces, officials, royal decrees, taxation, and communication
• Persian Context — The historical setting of the Persian Empire in the Old Testament period, especially the era of return from exile and rebuilding a
• Persian Empire — The Persian Empire was the major ancient Near Eastern power that succeeded Babylon and, under rulers such as Cyrus, allowed many J
• Persian period — The period after Babylon fell when the Persian Empire ruled Judah and the wider biblical world, especially the era of the Jewish r
• Person — A person is an individual subject with identity, consciousness, agency, and moral accountability. In philosophy and theology, the
• Person of Christ — The person of Christ refers to who Jesus Christ is: one divine person with both a full divine nature and a full human nature. This
• Person of the Spirit — The person of the Spirit means that the Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but a divine person who thinks, wills, speaks, and
• Personal evangelism — Personal evangelism is the individual, person-to-person sharing of the gospel with the aim of calling others to repent and believe
• Personal sins — Personal sins are the sinful thoughts, words, and actions for which each individual is morally responsible before God. The term hi
• personhood — personhood is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Personhood of God — The personhood of God means God is not a force, but the living God who knows, wills, loves, and speaks.
• Personhood of the Spirit — The personhood of the Spirit is the biblical truth that the Holy Spirit is not merely a force or influence, but a divine person. S
• personification — Personification is language that treats a thing or idea as if it were a person.
• persons of the Trinity — persons of the Trinity is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• perspicuity — perspicuity is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Perspicuity / Clarity of Scripture — The perspicuity, or clarity, of Scripture means that God’s Word communicates its saving message and essential teachings clearly en
• perverse — In Scripture, “perverse” means morally crooked, twisted, or contrary to God’s truth and righteous ways.
• Pesher — Pesher is a Qumran style of interpretation that applies biblical texts directly to the interpreter's own time and community.
• Peshitta — The Peshitta is the standard Syriac Bible tradition used widely in Syriac-speaking Christianity.
• Pestilence — Pestilence is a deadly disease or plague. In Scripture it is often mentioned among severe judgments God may permit or send, especi
• Peter — Peter is a leading apostle whose life shows both human weakness and Christ's restoring grace.
• Peter Abelard — Peter Abelard (c. 1079–1142) was a medieval French theologian and scholastic teacher known for dialectical method and for controve
• Petra — Greek noun meaning “rock” or “bedrock,” notable in New Testament passages such as Matthew 16:18.
• Petrine mission — A theological term for the apostle Peter’s apostolic calling and leadership in the New Testament, especially his preaching, streng
• Petrine Theology — Petrine theology is the biblical teaching associated with the apostle Peter, especially as seen in 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Peter's s
• Pharaoh — Pharaoh is the royal title used for the kings of Egypt in the Bible. Different pharaohs appear across biblical history, especially
• Pharaoh of the Exodus — The unnamed king of Egypt who opposed Moses, enslaved Israel, and was judged by God during the Exodus.
• Pharaoh Shishak — Shishak was an Egyptian pharaoh mentioned in Scripture as the ruler who invaded Judah in Rehoboam’s reign and took treasures from
• Pharaonic titles and court — The royal titles, officials, and court setting associated with Egypt’s Pharaohs in the Bible. This is a historical background topi
• Pharisaic schools — The major interpretive traditions within Pharisaism in the late Second Temple period, especially those associated with Hillel and
• Pharisee — A Pharisee was a member of a prominent Jewish movement in the Second Temple period known for careful attention to the law, oral tr
• Pharisees — Pharisees are a Jewish movement known for zeal for Torah, tradition, and purity.
• Pharpar — Pharpar is a river of Damascus mentioned by Naaman in 2 Kings 5:12. It is a biblical place-name, not a theological term, and appea
• Phebe — Phoebe (older spelling: Phebe) is a Christian woman commended by Paul in Romans 16:1–2 as a servant of the church at Cenchreae and
• Phenomenology — Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that studies human experience as it is consciously perceived, asking how things appear b
• Philadelphia — Philadelphia was an ancient city in Asia Minor and one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation. Scripture presents it as a c
• Philemon — Philemon is a short Pauline letter that appeals for reconciled brotherhood in Christ within a real social conflict.
• Philip — A shared New Testament name borne by more than one person, including Philip the apostle and Philip the evangelist.
• Philip the Evangelist — A leader in the early church, one of the seven chosen in Acts 6, who preached Christ in Samaria and explained the gospel to the Et
• Philippi — Philippi was a major Roman colony in Macedonia where Paul preached the gospel, saw converts such as Lydia and the Philippian jaile
• Philippians — Philippians is a Pauline New Testament letter that calls believers to joy, humility, steadfastness, and Christ-centered living.
• Philistia — The coastal land occupied by the Philistines along the southwestern edge of ancient Israel. In Scripture it is chiefly a geographi
• Philistines — An ancient people who lived mainly in the coastal plain of southwestern Canaan and often opposed Israel in the Old Testament.
• Philo — Philo of Alexandria was a first-century Jewish writer and thinker whose interpretations of the Old Testament were shaped in part b
• Philo of Alexandria — Philo of Alexandria was a Jewish thinker who combined biblical interpretation with Greek philosophical language.
• Philosophy — Philosophy is the disciplined study of fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, morality, reason, and meaning.
• Philosophy (Greek Background) — Greek philosophy refers to the major schools and ideas of the ancient Greek world. It helps explain the New Testament setting, but
• Phinehas — Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and a priest in Israel, remembered for his zeal at Baal-peor. Scripture presents his action as
• Phlegon — Phlegon is a Christian greeted by Paul in Romans 16:14; Scripture gives no further biographical details.
• Phoebe — Phoebe was a Christian woman from Cenchreae whom Paul commended to the believers in Rome. He describes her as a servant of the chu
• Phoenicia — Phoenicia was an ancient coastal region north of Israel, associated especially with Tyre and Sidon. In Scripture it functions main
• Phoenicians — An ancient seafaring people centered on the coastal city-states of Tyre and Sidon, important in Scripture for trade, diplomacy, cr
• Phoenix — Phoenix is the harbor on the south coast of Crete mentioned in Acts 27:12, where Paul’s ship sought a safer winter anchorage.
• Phrygia — An inland region of Asia Minor mentioned in the New Testament in connection with Paul’s missionary travels.
• Phylacteries — Small leather cases containing Scripture passages, traditionally worn on the arm and forehead by observant Jews as a reminder to k
• Phylactery — A phylactery is a small leather case containing Scripture passages, worn in Jewish prayer practice; the Hebrew term is tefillin. I
• Physical death — Physical death is the end of earthly bodily life, when the body dies. In Scripture it is part of the human condition after sin ent
• Physical Possibility — Physical possibility refers to what can happen given the actual structures, powers, and conditions of the physical world. It is na
• Physician — A physician is a medical practitioner or healer. Scripture treats physicians as part of ordinary life and also uses the image figu
• Physicians — Physicians are medical practitioners mentioned in Scripture as part of ordinary human care for sickness and injury. The Bible reco
• Physicians and their role — Scripture recognizes physicians as legitimate caregivers and treats medical care as part of ordinary life. Healing ultimately belo
• Pi-Beseth — An Egyptian city named in Ezekiel’s oracle of judgment; it is commonly identified with Bubastis in the Nile Delta.
• Pi-Hahiroth — A place named in Exodus where Israel camped before crossing the sea. Its exact location is uncertain.
• Pierced side — The spear wound in Jesus’ side after His death on the cross, recorded in John’s Gospel, which confirms the reality of His death an
• Pietism — Pietism is a Protestant movement and religious emphasis that stresses personal conversion, heartfelt devotion, Bible reading, pray
• Piety — Piety is sincere devotion to God shown in reverence, obedience, prayer, and godly living. In biblical terms, it refers to practica
• Pig — A pig is an unclean animal under the Mosaic law and a biblical symbol that can picture uncleanness, shame, or contempt for what is
• Pilate inscription — An inscription from Caesarea Maritima that names Pontius Pilate as prefect of Judea. It is an important extra-biblical witness to
• Pilate Stone — An archaeological inscription from Caesarea Maritima that names Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor linked with Jesus’ trial and cr
• Pillar — A pillar is an upright column or standing stone, and in Scripture it can also function as a memorial marker, a cultic object, or a
• Pillar of cloud and fire — The pillar of cloud and fire was the visible sign of the Lord’s presence with Israel during the exodus. It guided and protected th
• Pillar of Fire — The pillar of fire was the visible sign of the Lord’s presence with Israel during the exodus, especially by night. It guided, gave
• Pim — A pim was an ancient unit or payment amount mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:21, commonly understood as a small weight or fee connected wi
• Pinon — Pinon is an Edomite chief named in the genealogies of Esau's descendants.
• Pipe — A pipe is a wind instrument mentioned in Scripture, often associated with celebration and sometimes mourning; Bible translations m
• Pirathon — Pirathon was a town in the hill country of Ephraim, known as the home of Abdon the judge and Benaiah the Pirathonite, one of David
• Pirathonite — A Pirathonite is a person from Pirathon, a town in Ephraim. In Scripture the title is used of Abdon, one of Israel’s judges, and B
• Pirkei Avot — Pirkei Avot is a tractate of ethical sayings from the Mishnah focused on wisdom, conduct, and teaching.
• Pistis Christou — Pistis Christou is a debated Pauline Greek expression that may be rendered faith in Christ, faithfulness of Christ, or a closely r
• Pit — In Scripture, a pit is a hole, cistern, trap, or grave, and it can also serve as an image of danger, ruin, death, or judgment depe
• Pitch — A tar-like waterproofing substance mentioned in Scripture, especially for sealing Noah’s ark and the basket used for Moses.
• PITCHER — An ordinary vessel used in biblical times for carrying, storing, or pouring liquids, especially water.
• Pithom — Pithom was an Egyptian store city associated with the forced labor of the Israelites in Exodus.
• Pity — Pity is compassionate concern for someone in distress. In Scripture, it overlaps with mercy and compassion and usually leads to pr
• Places, Geography, and Archaeology — A broad study heading for the biblical lands, locations, travel routes, and archaeological evidence that illuminate Scripture's hi
• Plague — A plague is a severe outbreak of disease or calamity, often portrayed in Scripture as an act of divine judgment or a sign of God’s
• Plagues as judgment on Egyptian deities — God’s plagues on Egypt were judgments on Pharaoh, Egypt, and the false gods Egypt trusted, proving that the LORD alone is God.
• Plain — A plain is an area of level or gently rolling land. In Scripture, it is a geographic term, not a doctrine.
• Planet — A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star. Scripture speaks of the heavens, sun, moon, and stars, but it does not treat plan
• Plato — A major ancient Greek philosopher whose ideas shaped Western thought and later Christian engagement with philosophy, but who is no
• Platonism — Platonism is the philosophical tradition associated with Plato and later Platonists. It is not a biblical doctrine, though some of
• PLATTER — A platter is a serving dish or tray. In Scripture it is usually an ordinary household item, though Jesus uses it in a vivid illust
• Pledge — In Scripture, a pledge is something given as security for a debt, obligation, or promise. In some New Testament contexts, the rela
• Pliny — Pliny was a Roman official whose letter gives early non-Christian evidence about Christians and their worship.
• Plot structure — Plot structure is the way a narrative is arranged and developed from beginning to end, including the rise of conflict, tension, an
• Plow — A plow is a farming tool used to break up soil for planting. In Scripture it appears in ordinary agricultural life and as an image
• Plowing, Sowing, and Harvesting — Biblical farming images that describe preparation, labor, patience, growth, blessing, judgment, and the principle that people ulti
• Plumbline — A plumbline is a builder’s tool used to test whether a surface is truly upright. In Scripture it becomes an image of God’s righteo
• Plural — Plural is the grammatical number used for more than one person, thing, or referent. It is a language category, not a distinct phil
• pluralism — Pluralism is the view that many beliefs, values, or religions can coexist, and in its strongest form it claims that multiple relig
• Pneuma — Pneuma is the Greek word for “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” In the New Testament, context determines whether it refers to the Holy
• Pneumatology — Pneumatology is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Pneumatomachian / Macedonian controversy — A fourth-century church controversy over whether the Holy Spirit is fully divine and personally distinct, or instead a created pow
• Pochereth — Search alias for the biblical proper name Pochereth-hazzebaim, found in the postexilic return lists.
• poetry — Biblical poetry is a major literary form in Scripture, especially in the Old Testament, used to express praise, lament, wisdom, pr
• Poetry and psalms interpretation — The practice of reading biblical poetry, especially the Psalms, according to its genre, imagery, parallelism, and covenant setting
• Poison — Poison is a harmful substance that can injure or kill. In Scripture it appears mainly as an image for deadly speech, moral corrupt
• Pole — A pole is an upright shaft or carrying bar mentioned in Scripture, used for transporting sacred objects or lifting an object into
• Political Apologetics — The defense and commendation of the Christian faith in relation to civil government, public ethics, and political life.
• Political structures — A broad term for forms of civil government and public authority. Scripture teaches that governing authority is real, limited, and
• Politics — Politics concerns the ordering and governance of public life under God’s ultimate sovereignty.
• pollution — pollution is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Polycarp — Polycarp was an early Christian bishop of Smyrna and a martyr of the post-apostolic church.
• Polycarp of Smyrna — Polycarp of Smyrna was an early Christian bishop, teacher, and martyr in the post-apostolic church, traditionally associated with
• Polygamy — Polygamy is the practice of having more than one spouse at the same time. Scripture records it among some biblical figures but pre
• Pomegranate — A biblical fruit and tree mentioned as part of the land’s produce and in priestly and temple imagery; it commonly suggests fruitfu
• Pompey's conquest of Jerusalem — The Roman capture of Jerusalem in 63 BC, which brought Judea under Roman control and helped shape the political setting of the New
• Pontius Pilate — Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect of Judea who presided over Jesus’ trial and authorized His crucifixion. The Gospels portray h
• Pontus — Pontus was a historical region on the southern coast of the Black Sea in Asia Minor, mentioned in the New Testament as a place con
• Pool — A pool is a gathered body of water, natural or man-made, mentioned in Scripture as a place for water supply, washing, or, in some
• Pool of Bethesda — A pool in Jerusalem named in John 5 as the setting where Jesus healed a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years.
• Pool of Siloam — A pool in Jerusalem associated with the city's ancient water system and, in John 9, with Jesus' healing of a man born blind.
• Poor — In Scripture, the poor are those who lack material resources and are therefore especially vulnerable. God repeatedly commands His
• Poplar — A Bible tree name used in passages about ordinary vegetation and pastoral life; it is a botanical term rather than a doctrinal con
• Porch — A porch is a covered entrance, portico, or colonnaded area attached to a building. In Scripture, it usually refers to an architect
• Porcius Festus — Porcius Festus was the Roman governor of Judea who succeeded Felix and heard the apostle Paul’s case before Paul appealed to Caesa
• Porneia — Porneia is a Greek term commonly translated “sexual immorality,” referring broadly to sexual sin outside God’s design for holiness and marriage.
• Portion — In Scripture, “portion” usually means an allotted share, inheritance, or assigned part. In some passages it also describes the Lor
• Positional — A theological shorthand for a believer’s standing before God in Christ—accepted, set apart, and counted righteous on the basis of
• Positivism — Positivism is a philosophical view that treats empirical observation and scientific method as the primary basis for knowledge. In
• possessions — Possessions are material goods entrusted by God for thankful use, wise stewardship, and generous service.
• Possible World — Possible World is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Post-biblical — Post-biblical describes anything that comes after the biblical period or outside the written canon of Scripture.
• Post-Reformation — The period after the Protestant Reformation, especially the centuries in which Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions further de
• Post-Reformation Developments — A historical overview term for major theological, confessional, and ecclesial developments in Christianity after the Protestant Re
• Post-resurrection appearances — Post-resurrection appearances are the occasions after Jesus rose from the dead when he appeared bodily to his disciples and others
• postmillennialism — postmillennialism is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Postmodernism — Postmodernism is a broad intellectual and cultural movement skeptical of universal truth claims, neutral reason, and overarching e
• Potiphar — An Egyptian officer of Pharaoh who bought Joseph, placed him over his household, and later had Joseph imprisoned after Potiphar’s
• Potiphar's Wife — Potiphar’s wife is the unnamed Egyptian woman who tried to seduce Joseph in Genesis 39 and then falsely accused him when he refuse
• POTSHERD — A potsherd is a broken piece of pottery. In Scripture it often pictures human frailty, lowliness, humiliation, or something shatte
• Potter — A potter is a craftsman who shapes clay vessels. In Scripture, the image also portrays God’s rightful authority as Creator to form
• Potter's Field — The Potter's Field is the field connected with Judas Iscariot's betrayal money and the burial place for strangers purchased by the
• Pottery — Pottery is the biblical term for clay vessels and the imagery built around them. Scripture uses pottery to picture human frailty,
• Pottery chronology — An archaeological method that studies changes in pottery forms and styles over time to help establish the relative date of layers,
• Pottery types — Categories of ancient ceramic vessels and wares found in the biblical world, useful for historical and archaeological background r
• Pottery typology — An archaeological method for classifying pottery by shape, style, and manufacturing features in order to compare sites and estimat
• poverty — Poverty is material lack or vulnerability that calls for justice, mercy, and wise care.
• Power — In Scripture, power commonly refers to the ability and authority to act. It is seen supremely in God’s sovereign works and is also
• powers — In the New Testament, “powers” can refer to spiritual authorities or forces, human rulers, or displays of power; the meaning depen
• practical theology — The branch of theology concerned with applying biblical truth to Christian life, worship, discipleship, and ministry.
• Praetorium — The praetorium was the official residence, headquarters, or judgment hall of a Roman governor or military authority. In the New Te
• praise — Praise is verbal or sung ascription of honor, thanks, and glory to God.
• Prayer — Speaking to God in trust, dependence, worship, and need.
• Prayer of Manasseh — An ancient penitential prayer attributed to King Manasseh of Judah. It is associated with 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 but is not part of
• Pre-established harmony — Pre-established harmony is Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz’s theory that mind and body do not directly interact, but correspond because
• preaching — Preaching is the public proclamation and application of God’s word to God’s people and the world.
• preceptive will — preceptive will is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Precious Stones — Precious stones in Scripture are valuable gems used in descriptions of priestly adornment, royal splendor, trade, beauty, and the
• Predestination — Predestination is God's purpose for the final destiny of those who are in Christ.
• Predestined — Appointed beforehand; in Christian theology, especially God’s prior determination of His saving purpose.
• Predication — Predication is the act of affirming something of a subject, such as attributing a quality, action, or relation to a person or thin
• Preexistence and Eternality — Preexistence is existence before a later earthly life or event; eternality is existence without beginning or end. In Christian the
• Prefect — A Roman prefect was an appointed administrative or military official. In Bible background, the title helps explain Roman rule in J
• premillennialism — premillennialism is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Premise — A premise is a statement or proposition offered as a reason in support of a conclusion.
• Preparation Day — The day before the Sabbath or another sacred rest day, when necessary work was completed in advance. In the Gospel passion narrati
• Presbyterian — Presbyterian refers to churches governed by elders and shaped historically by the Reformed tradition.
• Presbyters — Presbyters are church leaders referred to in the New Testament as elders. In many passages, they are associated with pastoral over
• Presence of God — God’s nearness and self-manifestation among His people and in His creation, especially in covenant fellowship, blessing, guidance,
• Presentation in the Temple — The Presentation in the Temple is the event in Luke 2:22–38 when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to Jerusalem in obedienc
• preservation — preservation is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• preservation of Scripture — preservation of Scripture is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Presumptuous sins — Presumptuous sins are deliberate, defiant sins committed with conscious disregard for God's command. Scripture contrasts them with
• Presupposition — A presupposition is a prior assumption or starting point that stands behind a person’s reasoning and shapes how evidence and ideas
• Presuppositional apologetics — A Christian apologetic approach that starts from the authority of God’s revelation and argues that all reasoning depends on prior
• Presuppositionalism — Presuppositionalism is a Christian apologetic method that argues all people reason from basic commitments, and that God’s revelati
• prevenient grace — prevenient grace is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• pride — pride is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Priest — A priest is one appointed to represent people before God, especially by offering sacrifices and leading in matters of worship. In
• Priest after the Order of Melchizedek — A biblical title for Jesus drawn from Psalm 110:4 and explained in Hebrews. It emphasizes Christ’s eternal, divinely appointed pri
• Priest and Priesthood — In Scripture, a priest is one appointed to represent people before God, especially in offering sacrifices and leading worship acco
• priesthood — priesthood is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Priesthood and Christ's Priesthood — In Scripture, priesthood is God-appointed ministry of representing people before God and offering sacrifices. Christ’s priesthood
• priesthood of Christ — priesthood of Christ is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Priestly blessing — The priestly blessing is the blessing God gave Israel’s priests to pronounce over the people, asking for the Lord’s favor, protect
• Priestly consecration — Priestly consecration is the Old Testament act of setting apart priests for holy service to God through washing, anointing, sacrif
• Priestly covenant — A theological term for God’s covenantal commitment concerning Israel’s priesthood, especially the promise in Numbers 25:10–13 pres
• Priestly duties — The responsibilities God assigned to Israel’s priests under the Mosaic covenant, including sacrifice, sanctuary service, teaching
• Priestly garments — The sacred garments God appointed for Israel’s priests, especially Aaron and the high priest, to mark them as holy and set apart f
• Priestly office — The priestly office is the God-given role of representing the people before God, especially through sacrifice, intercession, and m
• Priestly purity laws — Mosaic regulations that governed ritual cleanness and uncleanness in Israel, especially for priests and sanctuary worship.
• Priests — Priests are people appointed to represent the people before God, especially by offering sacrifices and serving in sacred worship.
• Priests and Levites — In the Old Testament, the Levites were set apart for sacred service connected with the tabernacle and temple, while the priests we
• Prince — A prince is a ruler, chief, or high official. In Scripture the term can refer to human leaders, angelic powers, or royal titles ap
• Prince of Peace — Prince of Peace is a messianic title for Jesus Christ from Isaiah 9:6. It presents Him as the ruler who brings true peace through
• Princes of Israel — A biblical title for leading men among Israel, including tribal chiefs, elders, military leaders, and royal officials, depending o
• Princeton theology — Princeton theology is the conservative Reformed tradition associated with Old Princeton Seminary, especially in the nineteenth and
• principalities — In the New Testament, principalities is an older English rendering for ruling powers or authorities, often in the unseen spiritual
• Principalities and powers — A biblical phrase for ranks of authority, especially hostile spiritual powers, that oppose God and His people. Scripture teaches t
• Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) — A philosophical principle stating that whatever exists or happens has an adequate explanation or sufficient reason, even if that r
• Principles of Worship — Biblical truths and guidelines that shape how God’s people honor him in worship, especially in gathered church life and personal d
• Prison — A prison is a place of confinement used for punishment, detention, or restraint. In Scripture, prisons often appear in accounts of
• privation of good — privation of good is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Probability — Probability is the degree of likelihood that something is true or will occur. It is used in logic, statistics, and everyday reason
• Problem of Evil — The problem of evil asks how evil exists in a world ruled by a good and powerful God.
• Problem of evil and theodicy — The problem of evil asks how evil and suffering can exist under the rule of an all-good and all-powerful God. Theodicy is the atte
• Procession of the Spirit — The procession of the Spirit is the doctrine that the Holy Spirit has an eternal personal relation of origin within the Trinity. S
• processions — processions is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Proconsul — A Roman provincial governor, especially one assigned to a senatorial province. In the New Testament, the title helps identify the
• Profane — Profane describes what is common, irreverent, or treated as unholy rather than set apart to God. In Scripture it can describe both
• profligacy — Reckless, wasteful, and morally unrestrained living. In biblical usage, it overlaps with debauchery, sensual excess, and shameless
• Progress — Progress is movement toward a judged improvement in knowledge, skill, society, or moral life, measured by some stated standard of
• Progressive creation — Progressive creation is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Progressive Revelation — Progressive revelation is the biblical pattern that God disclosed his truth and redemptive plan gradually across the course of Scr
• Progressive revelation through the covenants — The biblical principle that God discloses his redemptive plan in stages across Scripture, with each covenant adding real clarity a
• Progressive sanctification — The ongoing work of God in believers by which they grow in holiness in thought, desire, and conduct. It continues throughout the C
• promise and fulfillment — promise and fulfillment is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Pronoun — A pronoun is a word used in place of a noun or noun phrase, such as he, she, it, they, or who. In interpretation, pronouns help sh
• Proof Text — A proof text is a biblical passage cited to support a doctrinal or ethical claim. The practice is legitimate when the passage is r
• Proof-texting — Proof-texting is the practice of citing a Bible verse or brief passage out of context to support a claim without giving proper att
• Proper Function — Proper function is the role a faculty, power, or thing is meant to perform according to its nature or design. In philosophy it is
• Properly Basic Belief — A belief rationally held without being inferred from other beliefs, often discussed in Reformed epistemology.
• Properly functioning faculty — A properly functioning faculty is a cognitive capacity—such as perception, memory, or reason—working as it should, especially in d
• Prophecies against Babylon — Biblical prophecies against Babylon are passages in which God announces judgment on Babylon for pride, idolatry, violence, and opp
• Prophecies against Egypt — Biblical prophecies against Egypt are prophetic oracles in which God announces judgment on Egypt for pride, idolatry, misplaced tr
• Prophecies against Tyre — Biblical prophecies against Tyre are prophetic oracles announcing judgment on the wealthy Phoenician city. They highlight God’s so
• Prophecies of Christ in OT — Old Testament passages that point forward to the Messiah and are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whether as direct prediction, covenant
• Prophecy — Prophecy is a Spirit-given message that must be tested by Scripture and used for edification.
• Prophecy interpretation — The disciplined reading of biblical prophecy according to context, genre, grammar, and the unfolding plan of redemption, so that t
• Prophet — A prophet is a person called by God to speak His message to His people or to others. In Scripture, prophets may foretell future ev
• Prophet and Prophecy — A prophet is someone God appoints to speak his message, and prophecy is the message spoken. In Scripture it includes both proclaim
• Prophet like Moses — The promised prophet in Deuteronomy 18:15–19 whom God would raise up from among Israel. In the New Testament, the promise is appli
• Prophetess — A prophetess is a woman recognized in Scripture as speaking God’s message under his authority. The Bible names several prophetesse
• prophethood of Christ — prophethood of Christ is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Prophetic call narratives — Biblical accounts that describe God calling and commissioning a prophet for ministry, often highlighting divine initiative, the pr
• Prophetic eschatology — The study of end-times teaching as revealed in biblical prophecy, especially the day of the Lord, Christ’s return, resurrection, f
• Prophetic kingdom hope — The Old Testament hope that God would openly reign, rescue his people, defeat evil, and establish peace and righteousness through
• Prophetic promises of restoration — Prophetic promises of restoration are God’s prophetic pledges to renew his judged people after sin and exile. They include regathe
• prophetic revelation — prophetic revelation is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Prophetic sign-act — A prophetic sign-act is a symbolic action that visibly communicates a prophetic message.
• Prophets — Prophets were God’s appointed messengers who spoke his word to his people, calling for repentance, faithfulness, and obedience, an
• Prophets, Former — The traditional Jewish label for Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings as a unit within the Hebrew Bible.
• Prophets, Latter — A traditional Jewish canonical label for the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve. It describes a section
• Prophets, Minor — The twelve shorter prophetic books of the Old Testament, from Hosea through Malachi. “Minor” refers to length, not importance.
• Propitiation — Christ bearing God's righteous wrath for sinners.
• Proposition — A proposition is the content of a statement that can be judged true or false. In logic, it is what is affirmed or denied.
• Prosbul — Prosbul is a later Jewish legal procedure associated with Hillel that allowed debts to remain collectible across the Sabbatical-ye
• Proselyte — A proselyte is a convert, especially a Gentile who joined the Jewish community and its faith.
• proselytes — proselytes are Gentiles who fully converted to Judaism.
• Proselytism — The effort to persuade someone to adopt a different religion or religious commitment. In biblical settings, it is best distinguish
• Prosopological exegesis — Prosopological exegesis is the interpretive practice of identifying the speaker or persona in scriptural discourse in order to rea
• Prosopopoeia — Prosopopoeia is the rhetorical device of speaking in an assumed voice or persona, where a speaker adopts another voice for argumen
• Prosperity — Prosperity in Scripture can mean flourishing, peace, success, or material provision. It may be a blessing from God, but it is not
• Prosperity and Poverty — In Scripture, prosperity and poverty are real conditions of life under God’s providence, but neither one is a sure measure of a pe
• prosperity gospel — The prosperity gospel is the false teaching that faith, giving, or speech guarantees material wealth, health, or success.
• Protestant Orthodoxy — The post-Reformation era in which Protestant theologians systematized, clarified, and defended confessional doctrine with careful
• Protevangelium of James — An early extra-biblical Christian infancy writing about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus’ birth. It is not Scripture and has no doctrinal a
• Protoevangelium — The theological term for the “first gospel,” usually applied to Genesis 3:15 as the earliest promise of victory over the serpent.
• Proverbs — Proverbs is a wisdom book that teaches practical wisdom rooted in the fear of the LORD.
• Providence — God's wise rule, care, and guidance over all things.
• providence in pain — Providence in pain refers to God’s wise and sovereign rule even in seasons of grief, trial, and unanswered questions.
• Providence triad — Providence triad is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Provinces — Administrative regions within larger kingdoms or empires; in Scripture, the term is mainly historical and geographic rather than d
• Provisionism — Provisionism is a Free Will soteriological view that emphasizes God's saving provision in Christ, the genuine offer of
• Psalm — Psalm is a poetic song or prayer that usually refers to one individual psalm within the Psalms collection.
• Psalms — Psalms is a poetic worship book that collects inspired songs and prayers that teach worship, lament, praise, and trust.
• Psalms and singing — The Bible presents singing as a normal way God’s people praise, thank, pray, teach, and remember His works. The Psalms especially
• Psalms of Solomon — A collection of eighteen Jewish psalms from the late Second Temple period. They are not part of Protestant canonical Scripture, bu
• Psaltery — An ancient stringed musical instrument named in older Bible translations, especially in worship and royal or ceremonial settings;
• pseudepigrapha — A scholarly label for ancient Jewish and some early Christian writings attributed to biblical figures but not included in the bibl
• Psychiatry — Psychiatry is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. Christians may va
• Psychologism — Psychologism is the view that logical laws, meanings, or truths can be explained as products of human psychological processes. It
• Psychology — Psychology is the study of human thought, emotion, and behavior. In practice, it includes research, theory, diagnosis, and counsel
• Ptolemaic period in Palestine — The era after Alexander the Great when the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt controlled Judea and much of the surrounding region, shaping
• Ptolemais — An ancient coastal city in Phoenicia, mentioned in Acts 21:7 as a brief stop on Paul’s journey to Caesarea.
• Public reading — Public reading is the reading of Scripture aloud before God’s people in gathered worship or instruction. In the Bible, it serves t
• Public reading of Scripture — The public reading of Scripture is the practice of reading God’s Word aloud in the gathered worship of His people. It is a biblica
• Publican — A publican was a tax collector, especially one collecting tolls or taxes under Roman administration in the New Testament world.
• Punishment — Punishment is the just penalty for wrongdoing. In Scripture it may refer to human penalties, God’s temporal judgments in history,
• Pur — The lot cast by Haman in Esther to choose a day for destroying the Jews; the Feast of Purim is named from it.
• Purgatory — In Roman Catholic theology, purgatory is a temporary state of purification for believers after death before entrance into the full
• Purification — Purification is cleansing from ceremonial uncleanness and, more deeply, from sin so that a person is fit for God’s presence and se
• Purification rituals — Old Testament ceremonial washings, waiting periods, and sometimes sacrifices used to restore ritual cleanliness and readiness for
• Purim — Purim is the Jewish feast recorded in Esther to commemorate the Jews’ deliverance from Haman’s plot in Persia. It is a biblical ob
• Puritan — Puritan refers to the English Protestant movement that sought a more thoroughly reformed church and a more disciplined Christian l
• Puritanism — A Protestant reform movement, especially in England and New England, that sought to bring church life, worship, and daily conduct
• purity — Purity is moral and spiritual cleanness expressed in holiness of thought, desire, and conduct.
• Purity and impurity customs — Biblical and Jewish practices that distinguished ceremonial cleanness from uncleanness in worship and daily life. These customs ta
• purity laws — Purity laws are the Old Testament regulations that distinguished between clean and unclean persons, foods, objects, and conditions
• Purple — A costly ancient dye or fabric color associated in Scripture with royalty, wealth, honor, and the furnishings or garments of worsh
• purpose — purpose is a biblical and theological term that names a real doctrine, condition, or aspect of God's work.
• Purpose of God — God’s purpose is his wise, holy, and sovereign intention in all that he does, from creation and providence to redemption and final
• Purposes — In Scripture, purposes are intentions, plans, or aims. Applied to God, the term refers to his wise and holy plans that he carries
• Puteoli — An Italian harbor city where Paul stopped on his journey to Rome and found local believers.
• Putiel — Putiel is a minor biblical figure named in Exodus 6:25 as the father of Eleazar’s wife and the grandfather of Phinehas. Scripture
• Pygarg — An older Bible translation term for one of the clean wild animals listed in Deuteronomy 14:5. Its exact modern species is uncertai
• Tomb of the Patriarchs — The traditional burial site in Hebron associated with the cave of Machpelah and with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and their wives. It is