Dictionaries :: Religion

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Religion:

re-lij'-un: "Religion" and "religious" in Elizabethan English were used frequently to denote the outward expression of worship. This is the force of threskeia, translated "religion" in Ac 26:5; Jas 1:26,27 (with adjective threskos, "religious"), while the same noun in Col 2:18 is rendered "worshipping" ("cult" would give the exact meaning). And in the same external sense "religion" is used by the King James Version for latreia, "worship" (so the Revised Version (British and American)), in I Macc 1:43; 2:19,22. Otherwise "Jews' religion" (or "religion of the Jews") appears in 2 Macc 8:1; 14:38 (the Revised Version (British and American) bis); Ga 1:13,14 (Ioudaismos, "Judaism"); and "an alien religion" in 2 Macc 6:24 (allophulismos, "that belonging to another tribe"). The neglect of the external force of "religion" has led to much reckless misquoting of Jas 1:26,27. Compare Ac 17:22.

Written by Burton Scott Easton

Nave's Topical Bible

Religion: False:

Deu 32:31-33

See IDOLATRY; INTOLERANCE; TEACHERS, FALSE

Religion: Family:

See FAMILY

Religion: National:

Supported by taxes,

Exd 30:11-16; 38:26.

Priests supported by the State,

1Ki 18:19; 2Ch 11:13-15.

Subverted by Jeroboam,

1Ki 12:26-33; 2Ch 11:13-15.

Established by Jeroboam,

1Ki 12:26-33.

Religion: Natural:

Job 12:7-16; 35:10-12; 37:1-24; Psa 8:1-9; 19:1-6; Act 14:17; 17:23-28; Rom 1:18-20; 10:16-18

See REVIVALS

Religion: True:

Mat 5:1-48; 6:1-34; 7:1-29; 22:36-40; Act 10:34, 35; Rom 8:1-18; 10:1-13; 12:1-21; 1Cr 13:1-13; Gal 5:22-25; 1Th 5:15-23; Jam 1:27; 2:8-26; 2Pe 1:5-9; Jud 1:20, 21

See BLESSINGS, SPIRITUAL; COMMANDMENTS; DUTY; GRACES; REGENERATION; REPENTANCE; SANCTIFICATION; SIN, FORGIVENESS OF

Religion: Instances of Outstanding Religious Persons:

Abel,

Gen 4:4-8; Hbr 11:4.

Noah,

Gen 6; 7; 8; 9.

Abraham,

Gen 12:1-8; 15; 17; 18:22-33.

Jacob,

Gen 28:10-22; 32:24-32.

Moses,

Exd 3:2-22; Deu 32; 33.

Jethro,

Exd 18:12.

Joshua,

Jos 1.

Gideon,

Jdg 6; 7.

Samuel,

1Sa 3.

David,

See PSALMS OF DAVID

Solomon,

1Ki 5:3-5; 2Ch 6.

Jehu,

2Ki 10:16-30.

Hezekiah,

2Ki 18:3-7; 19:14-19.

Jehoshaphat,

2Ch 17:3-9; 19; 20.

Jabez,

1Ch 4:9, 10.

Asa,

2Ch 14; 15.

Josiah,

2Ki 22; 23.

Daniel,

Dan 6:4-22.

The three Hebrews (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego),

Dan 3.

Zacharias,

Luk 1:13, 67-79.

Simeon,

Luk 2:25-35.

Anna, the prophetess,

Luk 2:36, 37.

The Roman centurion,

Luk 7:1-10.

Cornelius, another centurion,

Act 10.

Eunice and Lois,

2Ti 1:5.

See, for additional instances, each of the apostles, disciples, and JOHN, PAUL, PETER, STEPHEN; also each of the prophets.

Thematic Subject Guide

Religion:

Job 12:7-16; Job 35:10-12; Job 37:1-24Psa 8:1-9; Psa 19:1-6Mat 22:36-40Act 10:34-35; Act 14:17; Act 17:23-28Rom 1:18-20; Rom 8:1-4; Rom 10:1-4; Rom 10:16-181Cr 13:1-13Gal 5:22-251Th 5:15-23Jam 1:27; Jam 2:8-262Pe 1:5-9Jud 1:20-21

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

1Strong's Number: g2356Greek: threseia

Religion:

signifies "religion" in its external aspect (akin to threskos, see below), "religious worship," especially the ceremonial service of "religion;" it is used of the "religion" of the Jews, Act 26:5; of the "worshiping" of angels, Col 2:18, which they themselves repudiate (Rev 22:8, 9); "there was an officious parade of humility in selecting these lower beings as intercessors rather than appealing directly to the Throne of Grace" (Lightfoot); in Jam 1:26, 27 the writer purposely uses the word to set in contrast that which is unreal and deceptive, and the"pure religion" which consists in visiting "the fatherless and widows in their affliction," and in keeping oneself "unspotted from the world." He is "not herein affirming... these offices to be the sum total, nor yet the great essentials, of true religion, but declares them to be the body, the threskeia, of which godliness, or the love of God, is the informing soul" (Trench).

2Strong's Number: g1175Greek: deisidaimonia

Religion:

primarily denotes "fear of the gods" (from deido, "to fear," daimon, "a pagan deity," Eng., "demon"), regarded whether as a religious attitude, or, in its usual meaning, with a condemnatory or contemptuous significance, "superstition." That is how Festus regarded the Jews' "religion," Act 25:19, AV and RV marg., "superstition" (RV, "religion").
See RELIGIOUS, Note (1), and under SUPERSTITIOUS.

Notes:

(1) Threskeia is external,

     theosebeia is the reverential worship of God (see GODLINESS),

     eusebeia is piety (see GODLINESS),

     eulabeia the devotedness arising from godly fear (see FEAR).

(2) For "the Jews' religion," Gal 1:13, 14, see JEWS, B.