Angels. These immortal beings serve God in Heaven and act as his messengers in his communications with people on the earth. Angels were created before people and have free will. Some of them, led by Satan, rebelled against God and were expelled from Heaven. Of those that stayed loyal, the best-known are the archangels Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael. It was Gabriel who came to earth to tell the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.
Antichrist. A man of ultimate evil, he will appear during the End Times, and with the help of the Devil will take temporary control of the earth. During his rule he will reward wicked people and persecute righteous people. But eventually he will be defeated and condemned to eternal torment in hell.
Apocryphal. This word is used to describe writings of questionable authenticity. It is often applied to ancient books with unknown or uncertain origins, or written under false names, especially early Christian gospels that were excluded from the bible for these reasons. Several previously-lost apocryphal gospels have been re-discovered during the last two centuries. Go to Lost and Missing Gospels to see some examples.
Barabbas. This Jewish prisoner was in the custody of the Romans on the morning that Jesus was brought before Pilate. The Roman governor wanted to release Jesus, but a crowd in the courtyard pressured him into releasing Barabbas instead. Many experts think that this otherwise unknown man was a captured freedom fighter or rebel leader in the Jewish resistance to the Roman occupation of the country. See Barabas for more information about him.
Beloved Disciple. The Gospel of John gives a prominent role to a "disciple whom Jesus loved", but doesn't identify this disciple by name. According to church tradition, this "Beloved Disciple" was John the son of Zebedee. But some scholars think that this is a mis-identification, and that the gospel is actually referring to someone else such as Lazarus or Mary Magdalene. See Beloved Disciple.
Crucifixion. The Romans often employed crucifixions to execute rebels. Attachment to a cross usually led to a slow agonizing death, and the public nature of such an execution served as a warning to other potential rebels. When Jesus was crucified, he was taken to a site called Golgotha on the edge of Jerusalem. The exact medical cause of his death is uncertain. Wounds similar to his, which sometimes appear on mystics and very devout people, are called stigmata. Go to How Jesus Died and Jesus on the Cross for more information.
Demons. These evil spirits are servants of Satan. They can bring bad luck and cause disease, madness, or other afflictions. In the gospels they are often depicted as being in control of a person's body, a condition known as demonic possession. Jesus had the power to remedy this condition by ordering the demon to leave the victim's body. To learn more, go to Demonic Possession.
The Devil. The Devil is the supreme evil spirit and the ruler of Hell. He was originally an angel in Heaven, but was thrown out after he rebelled against God. He commands an army of demons who assist him in his evil pursuits. Eventually he and his demons will be defeated and condemned to burn forever in a Lake of Fire at the center of Hell. See this article about the Devil.
Devil's Mark. During the witch hunts, the body of a suspected witch would often be searched for a suspicious-looking mole, scar, or skin blemish known as a Devil's Mark. Some people believed that such a mark could be created when the Devil licked a woman's skin. In many cases the examiners would stick needles into suspected marks to test their sensitivity, but the final identification was often an arbitrary judgement. The Devil's Mark is also called a Devil's Seal or Witch's Mark.
Disciple. In the gospels a disciple is a follower of a particular religious leader such as Jesus or John the Baptist. The name is derived from a Greek word which means "learner". Jesus selected twelve men to serve as his original disciples, but he acquired many others during his ministry. His best-known disciples include Peter, James, John, Andrew, Thomas, Matthew, Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, and the mysterious Beloved Disciple.
End Times. According to some ancient prophesies, the world will eventually enter a period of terror and tribulation known as the End Times. Many devastating events will occur during this period, as the forces of good and evil engage in a final great struggle for control of the world. The struggle will end after the second coming of Jesus, who will defeat all the evil forces and establish the eternal Kingdom of God.
Galilee. This was the most northern of the three provinces of Roman Palestine, located just south of modern Lebanon. Its inhabitants were regarded as backward "yokels" by people in other parts of the country. Jesus grew up in Galilee and began his ministry there.
Golgotha. The Bible says that Jesus was crucified at a location called Golgotha. This name is derived from an Aramaic word which means "place of the skull", but the origin of the name is unknown. Most likely the location was a knoll or small hill outside one of the gates of ancient Jerusalem. Go to Golgotha the Place of the Skull for more information.
Gospel. The first gospels were small books intended to announce the good news that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, and that his death and resurrection initiated a new era in which everyone has the opportunity to be saved. Modern scholars have expanded the meaning, so that now the word can refer to any early writing that contains information about the life or teachings of Jesus. Although many gospels were written, only four were included in the Bible. See the Gospel 0f John for an example.
Hell. This is the place of eternal torment for the souls of the unsaved. These souls can be tortured in various ways, but ultimately all of them will be cast into a Lake of Fire along with the Devil, the Antichrist, the false prophet, and all the demons. For more information, see Hell.
Harrowing of Hell. One of the lines in the Apostle's Creed says that Jesus "descended into hell." This refers to a visit that he made to hell after he died on the cross, a visit which completed his sacrifice, and which also gave him the opportunity to free the souls of the ancient dead saints from their imprisonment in the underworld. According to some sources, Jesus encountered the Devil during this visit and inflicted a severe wound on the evil fiend.
Heresy. A heresy is a belief that is contrary to the true gospel. The first heresies began to appear in the early period of Christianity, and although tolerated initially, all of them were eventually condemned by church authorities. Over the centuries many people who held heretical beliefs have been tortured and burned to death. See this article about Heresies.
Incorruptible Bodies. Some Christians believe that the bodies of saints and other very holy people don't undergo the normal processes of decay and decomposition after death. This is not considered to be the same as artificial preservation or mummification, but instead is regarded as a miraculous supernatural preservation with absolutely no decomposition taking place. Some people also believe that these perfectly-preserved bodies will be resurrected back to life again during the End Times.
James the Just. The gospels identify James as the oldest brother of Jesus, although he may have actually been a step-brother. In any case, he became one of the principal leaders of the Nazarenes, the community of believers who lived in Jerusalem during the earliest period of Christianity. Because of his devoutness and ascetic lifestyle, he was also called James the Righteous. In 62 AD he was executed by the local Jewish authorities. For more information about his life, go to James the Just.
Josephus. Flavius Josephus was a first-century Jewish historian whose books provide valuable background information about the social and political history of Palestine during the period of the life of Christ and the development of early Christianity. This Writings of Josephus resource contains complete texts of all of his surviving writings.
Judas Iscariot. One of the original twelve disciples, Judas Iscariot is widely regarded as the most infamous villain in history because of his betrayal of Jesus. Some scholars think that he wanted Jesus to organize a rebellion against the Romans and became angry when Jesus refused to do so. This fits with the theory that Judas had been a member of a secret rebel group before he became a disciple. He died shortly after the betrayal, possibly by hanging himself. Go to this article about Judas Iscariot to learn more about him.
Mary Magdalene. Her name indicates that this early follower of Jesus came from Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. In the gospels she plays a very important role in the accounts of the crucifixion and the resurrection, but is hardly mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Several apocryphal gospels suggest that she had a special relationship with Jesus, and this has led to assertions that she was the Beloved Disciple. Some modern books claim that she married Jesus in secret and had his child after he died on the cross. See Mary Magdalene.
Messiah. Originally this name, which means "anointed one", designated a king or high priest of ancient Israel. After the ancient kingdom was destroyed, various prophets predicted that a new Messiah would eventually appear and establish a glorious new kingdom of true righteousness. During the first century most Jews were expecting him to be a political and military leader. But after Jesus died for our sins and then was resurrected, many people came to realize that he was the Messiah. The English word "Christ" is derived from the Greek word for Messiah, Christos. Visit the Messiah to learn more about this subject.
Nazarenes. Many of the people who believed that Jesus was the Messiah remained in Jerusalem after he departed. Called Nazarenes, they included most of his original followers together with James the Just and other members of his family. Because they expected the second coming to take place very quickly, they waited in Jerusalem instead of going back to their homes in Galilee and resuming their previous way of life. Go to Nazarenes for more details about them.
Parable. A short simple story that teaches a moral lesson is called a parable. The word is derived from the Greek word parabole, which means "a comparison". Parables were an important part of the teachings of Jesus, and were especially effective because they usually involved comparisons to common events or actions of everyday life. See Teachings of Jesus.
Pontius Pilate. During the period of Jesus' ministry, Palestine was controlled by the Romans, with Pontius Pilate serving as governor of Judea and Samaria. After Jesus was arrested, it was Pilate who gave the order for the crucifixion. According to the gospels, he actually wanted to set Jesus free, but was pressured into releasing a prisoner named Barabbas as a substitute. However, some biblical scholars question the accuracy of the gospel accounts. For further discussion of this matter, see Why Didn't Pilate Save Jesus.
Relics. A relic is a surviving body part or personal item of great religious significance. In Christianity, relics of Jesus or famous saints are especially revered and are often kept in special shrines or reliquaries. Well-known relics include the Holy Grail, the Crown of Thorns, the True Cross, the bones of Saint Peter, and the skull of Mary Magdalene. Some people believe that many purported relics are fakes.
Second Coming. The predicted future return of Jesus is called the Second Coming. In Mark 14:62 he says "you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Some people see signs that he will come back very soon, but the bible indicates that the exact time can't be foreseen, and that it will happen suddenly and unexpectedly. The exact place of the return is also unknown, although the city of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives are often mentioned as possibilities. Go to The Second Coming.
Secret Gospels. Some early gospels were believed to contain private teachings of Jesus or special revelations from Jesus or God. Because these books were often passed around secretly, modern scholars call them secret gospels. Go to Secret Gospels for more information.
Signs of the Times. Some people believe that certain "signs" will precede the arrival of the End Times, and serve as a warning of the events to come. Such signs include earthquakes, pestilences, famines, wars, the breakdown of society, rampant immoral behavior, the appearance of evil political leaders, and sightings of the Wandering Jew.
Simon of Cyrene. After Jesus was condemned by Pilate, the Roman soldiers ordered a man named Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross to the place of the crucifixion at Golgotha. The most detailed account of this is found at Mark 15:20-21.
Son of Man. In a number of gospel passages Jesus refers to himself by the title "Son of Man". Many biblical experts think that he may have used this mysterious term as a secret way to call himself the Messiah. Evidence for this can be found in the Book of Daniel and other prophetic writings from the Old Testament period. See the Son of Man for more information.
Speaking in Tongues. According to the Bible, the ability to speak in tongues is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul discusses this in detail in his first letter to the Corinthians, where he points out that different people receive different gifts. In the letter he also asks the tongue-speakers at Corinth to be careful about disrupting church services. Go to Speaking in Tongues.
Stigmata. Many wounds were inflicted on Jesus during his passion, particularly on his hands, his ankles, his side, his back, and his head. Wounds or skin blotches in the same places have subsequently appeared on other people. Called stigmata, they may be a sign that a person is very devout and close to God. But in some cases they have apparently been self-inflicted. See Causes of Stigmata for more discussion of possible explanations.
True Cross. This is a name for the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Some people believe that its wood has a mysterious power to heal. But many of the surviving pieces could be fakes. See History of the True Cross for the story of how it was discovered.
Transubstantiation. The miraculous conversion of bread and wine into the flesh and blood of Jesus is called transubstantiation. This conversion is believed to take place when the bread and wine are consecrated during Holy Communion. To most people, the bread and wine still look the same after the consecration, and many modern Christians doubt that the conversion actually occurs. Go to Transubstantiation and the Eucharist for more information.
Virgin Birth. Most Christians believe that Mary was still a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus. Occurrences of natural virgin births have been scientifically documented in animals such as reptiles, but not in humans. Thus, as the biblical accounts indicate, Mary's pregnancy was most likely due to a divine intervention. Luke 1:26-38 describes how the angel Gabriel came to her beforehand and told her about the coming pregnancy. For more information, go to Virgin Birth of Jesus.
Wandering Jew. After Jesus picked up his cross and began carrying it, a Jewish bystander hit him on the back and told him to go faster. For this action, the Jew was condemned to wander the earth alone until the Second Coming of Jesus. Over the centuries many sightings of this Wandering Jew have been reported. Some people believe that a sudden increase in these sightings would be a sign of the nearness of the End Times.
Zealots. This was an extremely nationalistic faction of first-century Jews who were dedicated to driving the Romans out of the country. They carried out assassinations and periodically staged uprisings against the government. They temporarily gained control of Jerusalem during the great rebellion of 66-73 AD.
Why Jesus Was Crucified. Jesus was crucified only a few days after he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. What was the main reason he was put on the cross? And should the Romans or the Jews get the most blame?
Jesus and his Family. According to the bible, Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters. But some people believe that these were actually step-brothers and step-sisters.
Endings of Mark. Was the original ending of this gospel accidentally lost? Was a new ending added later?
Witnesses to the Resurrection. Who were the first people to see Christ after he left the tomb?
What Do We Know about the Lost Gospels?. Several previously-lost gospels have been re-discovered during the last two centuries. What can they tell us about the life and teachings of Jesus?
Theories about the Resurrection of Jesus
Are there other possible explanations for the belief in the resurrection?
Matthew 27:52. According to this passage, many dead saints were resurrected and left their tombs after the crucifixion. Who were these resurrected saints?
Atonement Theories. Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer and die?
Last Words on the Cross. What did Jesus say just before he died?