Topical Encyclopedia
The term "religious" in the context of the Bible refers to the outward expression of faith and devotion to God, encompassing practices, rituals, and a lifestyle that reflects one's beliefs. The Bible addresses the concept of being religious in various passages, emphasizing both the importance and potential pitfalls of religious practices.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, religious practices were central to the life of the Israelites. The Law given to Moses included detailed instructions for worship, sacrifices, and festivals, which were integral to maintaining a covenant relationship with God. The book of Leviticus, for example, outlines numerous religious rituals and ceremonies. However, the prophets often warned against empty religious formalism. In
Isaiah 1:13-14 , God expresses disdain for hollow rituals: "Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. Your New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the focus shifts to the heart and intent behind religious practices. Jesus frequently criticized the Pharisees and religious leaders for their hypocrisy, as seen in
Matthew 23:27 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity."
The Epistle of James provides a succinct definition of true religion.
James 1:26-27 states, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." This passage highlights that genuine religion is characterized by compassionate action and personal holiness.
Religious PracticesThroughout the Bible, various religious practices are depicted, including prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and communal worship. These practices are intended to draw believers closer to God and foster a community of faith. In
Acts 2:42 , the early church is described as devoted to "the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Warnings Against Empty ReligionThe Bible consistently warns against the dangers of empty religious observance. In
Amos 5:21-24 , God declares, "I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them... But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." This passage underscores the importance of justice and righteousness over mere ritual.
ConclusionThe biblical perspective on being religious emphasizes a sincere and heartfelt devotion to God, manifested through righteous living and compassionate deeds. True religion, according to Scripture, is not merely about external observance but involves a transformation of the heart and a commitment to living out one's faith in tangible ways.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a religious society; a religious sect; a religious place; religious subjects, books, teachers, houses, wars.
2. (a.) Possessing, or conforming to, religion; pious; godly; as, a religious man, life, behavior, etc.
3. (a.) Scrupulously faithful or exact; strict.
4. (a.) Belonging to a religious order; bound by vows.
5. (n.) A person bound by monastic vows, or sequestered from secular concern, and devoted to a life of piety and religion; a monk or friar; a nun.
Greek
2357. threskos of unc. or. --religious.threskos of unc. or. 2356, 2357. threskos of unc. or. 2358 .
religious.
Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: threskos of unc. or.
...1174. deisidaimonesteros -- very fearful of gods,religious...
... 1173, 1174. deisidaimonesteros. 1175 . very fearful of gods,religious,
superstitious. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration...
3008. leitourgeo -- to serve the state, ie by anal. to perform...
... to performreligious service. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: leitourgeo Phonetic
Spelling: (li-toorg-eh'-o) Short Definition: I minister, serve publicly...
1577. ekklesia -- an assembly, a (religious) congregation
... an assembly, a (religious) congregation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
ekklesia Phonetic Spelling: (ek-klay-see'-ah) Short Definition: an...
1778. entalma -- an injunction, iereligious precept
... an injunction, iereligious precept. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
entalma Phonetic Spelling: (en'-tal-mah) Short Definition: an injunction...
1456. egkainia -- dedication, renewal (ofreligious services)
... dedication, renewal (ofreligious services). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: egkainia Phonetic Spelling: (eng-kah'-ee-nee-ah) Short Definition:...
5330. Pharisaios -- a Pharisee, member of a Jewishreligious sect
... a Pharisee, member of a Jewishreligious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Pharisaios Phonetic Spelling: (far-is-ah'-yos) Short Definition...
4523. Saddoukaios -- a Sadducee, a member of a Jewishreligious...
... a Sadducee, a member of a Jewishreligious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Saddoukaios Phonetic Spelling: (sad-doo-kah'-yos) Short...
5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer.
... Cognate: 5332 -- a person using drug-based incantations or druggingreligious
enchantments; a -practitioner who "mixes up distortedreligious potions" like a...
1175. deisidaimonia -- a religion, superstition
... Cognate: 1175 (akin to 1174 , see there) -- properly, dread of a pagan deity "inspiring"
a "token show of respect" (religious gesture) -- especiallyreligious...
Strong's Hebrew
8335. shareth -- (religious) ministry... 8334, 8335. shareth. 8336 . (
religious) ministry. Transliteration: shareth
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-rayth') Short Definition: service.
...5212. Nisan -- first month of the Jewishreligious year
... 5211, 5212. Nisan. 5213 . first month of the Jewishreligious year.
Transliteration: Nisan Phonetic Spelling: (nee-sawn') Short Definition: Nisan....
6345. pachdah -- dread, (religious) awe
... 6344, 6345. pachdah. 6346 . dread, (religious) awe. Transliteration: pachdah
Phonetic Spelling: (pakh-daw') Short Definition: dread....
2763. charam -- to ban, devote, exterminate
... A primitive root; to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote toreligious uses
(especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose...
2933. tamah -- to be stopped up, stupid
... be defiled, be reputed vile. A collateral form of tame'; to be impure in areligious
sense -- be defiled, be reputed vile. see HEBREW tame'. 2932b, 2933....
6496. paqid -- commissioner, deputy, overseer
... From paqad; a superintendent (civil, military orreligious) -- which had the charge,
governor, office, overseer, (that) was set. see HEBREW paqad. 6495, 6496...
8057. simchah -- joy, gladness, mirth
... From sameach; blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) -- X exceeding(-ly),
gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing). see HEBREW sameach....
6588. pesha -- transgression
... rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. From pasha'; a revolt (national, moral
orreligious) -- rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. see HEBREW pasha'....
2932. tum'ah -- uncleanness
... filthiness, uncleanness From tame';religious impurity -- filthiness, unclean(-ness).
see HEBREW tame'. 2931, 2932. tum'ah. 2932a . Strong's Numbers.
3547. kahan -- to act as a priest
... A primitive root, apparently meaning to mediate inreligious services; but used
only as denominative from kohen; to officiate as a priest; figuratively, to put...
Library
Bible Stories andReligious Classics
Bible Stories andReligious Classics. <. Bible Stories andReligious
Classics Philip P. Wells. Produced by Kevin Handy...
The Development ofReligious Liberty in Connecticut
The Development ofReligious Liberty in Connecticut. <. The Development
ofReligious Liberty in Connecticut M. Louise Greene, Ph. D....
Religious and Social State.
... Part II. THE SONG OF THE THREE HOLY CHILDRENRELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE.
RELIGIOUS. So far as the Jewish actors in the scene are...
Religious and Social State.
... Part IV. THE HISTORY OF BEL AND THE DRAGONRELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE.RELIGIOUS....
Anotherreligious feature shews itself in v.28, viz....
Religious and Social State.
... THE HISTORY OF SUSANNARELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL STATE.RELIGIOUS.... In fine, areligious
tone, befitting the time intended, is consistently maintained throughout....
WhetherReligious who are Raised to the Episcopate are Bound to...
... OF THINGS PERTAINING TO THE EPISCOPAL STATE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whetherreligious who
are raised to the episcopate are bound toreligious observances?...
Religious Characteristics.
... Chapter II Character. Section 6.Religious Characteristics. Was Constantine a Christian?
This vain question has to be considered, hardly discussed....
Whether Indulgences AvailReligious?
... OF THOSE WHOM INDULGENCES AVAIL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether indulgences availreligious?
Objection 1: It would seem that indulgences do not availreligious....
Whether aReligious Order that is Devoted to the Contemplative...
... OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OFRELIGIOUS LIFE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether areligious order
that is devoted to the contemplative life is more excellent than on that is...
Of aReligious State. ...
... THE THIRD SECTION OF THE FIRST TREATISE, TOUCHING THE SCHOOL OF CONTEMPLATION, VIZ.
SOLITUDE AND ARELIGIOUS PROFESSION. CHAPTER III. Of areligious state.?...
Thesaurus
Religious (13 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to religion; concerned with religion; teaching, or setting
forth, religion; set apart to religion; as, a
religious society; a
...Over-religious (1 Occurrence)
Over-religious. Over-ready, Over-religious. Over-righteous .
Multi-Version Concordance Over-religious (1 Occurrence)....
Fasting (34 Occurrences)
... The theory that fasting, like many other ancient customs, had areligious origin,
is in favor with scholars, but we must not assume areligious origin for all...
Fast (157 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To practice abstinence as areligious exercise or duty; to abstain from
food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or...
Warfare (18 Occurrences)
... wor, wor'-far (milchamah, 'anshe m., "men of war," "soldiers"; polemos, polemein,
strateuesthai, stratia): 1.Religious Significance 2. Preliminaries 3...
War (529 Occurrences)
... wor, wor'-far (milchamah, 'anshe m., "men of war," "soldiers"; polemos, polemein,
strateuesthai, stratia): 1.Religious Significance 2. Preliminaries 3...
Superstition (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness
or rigor inreligious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary...
Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)
... purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was
areligious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning....
Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)
... purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was
areligious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning....
Conversion (1 Occurrence)
... to the return from the captivity (Isaiah 1:27 Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 30:3 Ezekiel
16:53 Zephaniah 2:7). (3) In the figurative, ethical orreligious sense (a...
Resources
How should Christians view religious liberty? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Religious Science? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is religious pluralism? | GotQuestions.orgReligious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
