Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Adam, the first man, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Adam ădˈəm [key], [Heb.,=man], in the Bible, the first man. In the Book of Genesis, God creates humankind in his image as a species of male and female, giving them dominion over other life. Elsewhe...

Demetrius, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Demetrius, in the New Testament. 1 Silversmith of Ephesus who stirred up a riot against Paul. 2 Disciple commended in Third John. ...

David, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)David, d. c.970 b.c., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 b.c.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Sau...

Clement, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Clement, in Philippians, one of Paul's coworkers. He is traditionally identified with St. Clement of Rome, the likely author of a letter written from there to the Corinthian church in c.a.d. 96. ...

Narcissus, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Narcissus närsĭsˈəs [key], in the New Testament, Roman whose household was partly Christian. ...

patriarch, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)patriarch pāˈtrēärk [key], in biblical tradition, one of the antediluvian progenitors of the race as given in Genesis (e.g., Seth) or one of the ancestors of the Jews (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,...

Rama, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Rama rāˈmə [key], variant of Ramah. ...

Lydia, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Lydia lĭdˈēə [key], in the New Testament, Christian convert at whose house in Philippi Paul stayed. She was from Thyatira. ...

Magdala, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Magdala măgˈdələ [key], in the New Testament, home of Mary Magdalene. It is identified with Migdal, Israel, a town on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee, and the neighboring site of the former A...

Israel, in the Bible

(Encyclopedia)Israel ĭzˈrēəl, ĭzˈrāəl [key] [as understood by Hebrews,=he strives with God], according to the book of Genesis, name given to Jacob as eponymous ancestor of the Hebrews, the chosen people of ...