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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...

Cleopas

(Encyclopedia)Cleopas klēˈōpəs [key], in the New Testament, one of the two who met the risen Jesus on the way to Emmaus. Perhaps the same as Cleophas. ...

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...

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 ...

Holy Family

(Encyclopedia)Holy Family, term referring to the child Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. In the Roman Catholic Church the feast in its honor falls usually on the first Sunday after the Epiphany. In art the theme of the Holy...

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...

Docetism

(Encyclopedia)Docetism dōsētˈĭzəm [key] [Gr.,=to appear], early heretical trend in Christian thought. Docetists claimed that Christ was a mere phantasm who only seemed to live and suffer. A similar tendency to...

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, ...

Zacchaeus

(Encyclopedia)Zacchaeus or Zaccheus both: zăkēˈəs [key] [Gr.,=Heb. Zaccai], in the New Testament, publican of Jericho, short of stature, who climbed a tree to see Jesus. ...