Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Simon of Cyrene

(Encyclopedia)Simon of Cyrene sīrēˈnē [key], in the New Testament, bystander made to carry Jesus' cross. He was probably an African Jew, and is identified as the father of Alexander and Rufus. ...

Cephas

(Encyclopedia)Cephas sēˈfəs [key], in the Gospels, Jesus' name for St. Peter. It is a transliteration of the Aramaic word for rock, and identical in meaning with “Peter” in Greek. ...

monarchianism

(Encyclopedia)monarchianism mōnärˈkēənĭzəm [key] [Gr.,=belief in the rule of one], the concept of God that maintains his sole authority even over Christ and the Holy Spirit. Its characteristic tenet, that Go...

Saramago, José

(Encyclopedia)Saramago, José zho͞ozĕˈ särˌämäˈgo͞o [key], 1922–2010, Portuguese novelist and short-story writer. He became a member of the Communist party in 1969 and was a staunch atheist and a strong ...

Pius VII

(Encyclopedia)Pius VII, 1740–1823, pope (1800–1823), an Italian named Barnaba Chiaramonti, b. Cesena; successor of Pius VI, who had created him cardinal in 1785. He conducted himself ably during the period of t...

Nicodemus, Gospel of

(Encyclopedia)Nicodemus, Gospel of, book composed of the Acts of Pilate and Christ's Descent into Hell, part of the loosely defined New Testament Apocrypha. The Acts of Pilate is an amplified account of the trial, ...

Bartimaeus

(Encyclopedia)Bartimaeus bärtīmēˈəs [key], in the New Testament, blind man to whom Jesus restored sight. ...

Nazarene

(Encyclopedia)Nazarene năzˈərēn [key], term used of the early Christians. Jesus was sometimes referred to as a Nazarene, alluding to his home town, Nazareth. This usage occurs several times in the New Testament...

Golden Rule

(Encyclopedia)Golden Rule, in the New Testament, saying of Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew he says, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” The Gospe...

Immanuel

(Encyclopedia)Immanuel or Emmanuel both: ĭmănˈyo͞oəl [key] [Heb.,=God with us], in the Book of Isaiah, name given to the child who would be a sign to Judah of her deliverance. In the Gospel of St. Matthew it i...