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== Charles Buck Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_20422" /> == | == Charles Buck Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_20422" /> == | ||
<p> Is a Latin word, derived, according to Cicero, from rilegere, "to re-consider;" but according to Servius and most modern grammarians, from religare, "to bind fast." If the Ciceronian etymology be the true one, the word religion will denote the diligent study whatever pertains to the worship of God; but, according to the other derivation, it denotes that obligation which we feel on our minds from the relation in which we stand to some superior power. The word is sometimes used as synonymous with sect; but, in a practical sense, it is generally considered as the same with godliness, or a life devoted to the worship and fear of God. Dr. Doddridge thus defines it: "Religion consists in the resolution of the will for God, and in a constant care to avoid whatever we are persuaded he would disapprove, to despatch the work he has assigned us in life, and to promote his glory in the happiness of mankind." </p> <p> See | <p> Is a Latin word, derived, according to Cicero, from rilegere, "to re-consider;" but according to Servius and most modern grammarians, from religare, "to bind fast." If the Ciceronian etymology be the true one, the word religion will denote the diligent study whatever pertains to the worship of God; but, according to the other derivation, it denotes that obligation which we feel on our minds from the relation in which we stand to some superior power. The word is sometimes used as synonymous with sect; but, in a practical sense, it is generally considered as the same with godliness, or a life devoted to the worship and fear of God. Dr. Doddridge thus defines it: "Religion consists in the resolution of the will for God, and in a constant care to avoid whatever we are persuaded he would disapprove, to despatch the work he has assigned us in life, and to promote his glory in the happiness of mankind." </p> <p> See [[Godliness]] The foundation of all religion rests on the belief of the existence of God. As we have, however, already considered the evidences of the divine existence, they need not be enumerated again in this place; the reader will find them under the article [[Existence Of God]] Religion has been divided into natural and revealed. By natural religion is meant that knowledge, veneration, and love of God, and the practice of those duties to him, our fellow-creatures, and ourselves, which are discoverable by the right exercise of our rational faculties, from considering the nature and perfections of God, and our relation to him and to one another. </p> <p> By revealed religion is understood that discovery which he has made to us of his mind and will in the Holy Scriptures. As it respects natural religion, some doubt whether, properly speaking, there can be any such thing; since, through the fall, reason is so depraved, that man without revelation is under the greatest darkness and misery, as may be easily seen by considering the history of those nations who are destitute of it, and who are given up to barbarism, ignorance, cruelty, and evils of every kind. So far as this, however, may be observed, that the light of nature can give us no proper ideas of God, nor inform us what worship will be acceptable to him. It does not tell us how man became a fallen sinful creature, as he is, nor how he can be recovered. It affords us no intelligence as to the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and a future state of happiness and misery. The apostle, indeed, observes, that the [[Gentiles]] have the law written on their hearts, and are a law unto themselves; yet the greatest moralists among them were so blinded as to be guilty of, and actually to countenance the greatest vices. Such a system, therefore, it is supposed, can hardly be said to be religious which leaves man in such uncertainty, ignorance, and impiety. ( </p> <p> See [[Revelation]] </p> <p> On the other side it is observed, "that, though it is in the highest degree probable that the parents of mankind received all their theological knowledge by supernatural means, it is yet obvious that some parts of that knowledge must have been capable of a proof purely rational, otherwise not a single religious truth could have been conveyed through the succeeding generations of the human race but by the immediate inspiration of each individual. We, indeed, admit may propositions as certainly true, upon the sole authority of the Jewish and [[Christian]] Scriptures, and we receive these Scriptures with gratitude as the lively oracles of God; but it is self-evident that we could not do either the one or the other, were we not convinced by natural means that God exists; that he is a being of goodness, justice, and power; and that he inspired with divine wisdom the penmen of these sacred volumes. </p> <p> Now, though it is very possible that no man, or body of men, left to themselves from infancy in a desert world, would ever have made a theological discovery, yet, whatever propositions relating to the being and attributes of the First Cause and duty of man, can be demonstrated by human reason, independent of written revelation, may be called natural theology, and are of the utmost importance, as being to us the first principles of all religion. Natural theology, in this sense of the word, is the foundation of the Christian revelation; for, without a previous knowledge of it, we could have no evidence that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are indeed the word of God." The religions which exist in the world have been generally divided into four, the Pagan, the Jewish, the Mahometan, and the Christian; to which articles the reader is referred. The various duties of the Christian religion also are stated in their different places. </p> <p> See also, as connected with this article, the articles [[Inspiration, Revelation]] and [[Theology]] and books there recommended. </p> | ||
== Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words <ref name="term_79024" /> == | == Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words <ref name="term_79024" /> == | ||
<div> '''1: | <div> '''1: '''''Θρησκεία''''' ''' (Strong'S #2356 — Noun [[Feminine]] — threseia — thrace-ki'-ah ) </div> <p> 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, Acts 26:5; of the "worshiping" of angels, Colossians 2:18 , which they themselves repudiate ( Revelation 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 James 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). </p> <div> '''2: '''''Δεισιδαιμονία''''' ''' (Strong'S #1175 — Noun Feminine — deisidaimonia — dice-ee-dahee-mon-ee'-ah ) </div> <p> 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," Acts 25:19 , AV and RV marg., "superstition" (RV, "religion"). See Religious , Note (1), and under [[Superstitious]] </p> Galatians 1:13,14[[Jews]] | ||
== King James Dictionary <ref name="term_62709" /> == | == King James Dictionary <ref name="term_62709" /> == | ||
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== Fausset's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_37277" /> == | == Fausset's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_37277" /> == | ||
<p> RELIGIOUS. James 1:26-27, | <p> RELIGIOUS. James 1:26-27, '''''Threeskos''''' , '''''Threeskeia''''' ; distinct from '''''Eulabees''''' ''("Reverent"; From The Old Testament Standpoint; "Cautious Fear Toward God")'' , "devout" ( Luke 2:25); '''''Theosebees''''' , "godly"; '''''Eusebees''''' , "pious." "If any man seem a diligent observer of the offices of religion ( '''''Threeskos''''' ) ... pure and undefiled religion ''(Not The [[Sum]] Total Or [[Inner]] Essentials Of Religion, But Its [[Outer]] Manifestations)'' is to visit the fatherless," etc. The Old Testament cult or "religious service" ( '''''Threeskeia''''' ) was ceremony and ritual; the New Testament religious service consists in acts of mercy, love, and holiness. "Religion" refers to the external service, "godliness" being the soul. James as president of the [[Jerusalem]] council ( Acts 15:13-21) had decided against ritualism; so he teaches, instead of Judaic ceremonialism, true religious service is (1) active, (2) passive ( Micah 6:7-8; Matthew 23:23); compare Acts 26:5, "our religion"; Colossians 2:18, "worshipping," '''''Threeskeia''''' . </p> | ||
== Holman Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_43410" /> == | == Holman Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_43410" /> == | ||
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== Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_57674" /> == | == Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_57674" /> == | ||
<p> (Lat. relego, religo). This word, according to Cicero (Div. Instit. 4), is derived from, or rather compounded of, re and legere, to read over again, to reflect upon or to study the sacred books in which religion is delivered. According to [[Lactantius]] (De Civit. Dei, lib. 10:c. 3), it comes from re- ligare, to bind back, because religion is that which furnishes the true ground of obligation. </p> <p> Religion has been divided into natural and revealed. By natural religion is meant that knowledge, veneration, and love of God, and the practice of those duties to him, our fellow-creatures, and ourselves, which are discoverable by the right exercise of our rational faculties, from considering the nature and perfections of God, and our relation to him and to one another. By revealed religion is understood that discovery which he has made to us of his mind and will in the Holy Scriptures. As respects natural religion, some doubt whether, properly speaking, there can be any such thing; since, through the fall. reason is so depraved that man, without revelation, is under the greatest darkness and misery, as may be easily seen by considering the history of those nations who are destitute of it, and who are given up to barbarism, ignorance, cruelty, and evils of every kind. So far as this, however, may be observed, the light of nature can give us no proper ideas of God, nor inform us what worship will be acceptable to him. It does not tell us how man became a fallen, sinful creature, as he is, nor how he can be recovered. It affords us no intelligence as to the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and a future state of happiness and misery. The apostle, indeed, observes that the Gentiles have the law written on their hearts, and are a law unto themselves; yet the greatest moralists among them were so blinded as to be guilty of, and actually to countenance, the greatest vices. Such a system, therefore, it is supposed, can hardly be said to be religious which leaves man in such uncertainty, ignorance, and impiety. (See [[Natural Theology]]). </p> <p> [[Revealed]] religion forms the correlate of natural religion, or the religion of reason. It is not the result of human investigation, but being the result of an extraordinary communication from God, is therefore infallible; whereas, on the contrary, all processes of human thought are more or less subjected to error. Hence we can explain why it is that religion gives itself out to be, not a product of the reason merely, not anything which originated from human inquiry and study, but a result of a divine revelation. The religious feeling is undoubtedly a propension of human nature; yet without a divine revelation the mind would sink in dark and perpetual disorder. Of the whole family of man, existing in all ages, and scattered over every quarter of the globe, there is not one well-authenticated exception to the fact that, moved by an inward impulse, and guided by revelation or tradition, man worships something which he believes to be endowed with the attributes of a superior being. Even the occasional gleamings of truth found in the various idolatrous systems are but the traditions of ancient revelations, more or less corrupted, which have descended from the first worshippers. Revealed religion comprehends, besides the doctrines of natural religion, many truths which were beyond the reach of human reason, though not contradictory thereto, and for a knowledge of which we are indebted directly to the Old and New Testaments. While other religions had been variously accommodated to the peculiar countries in which they flourished, Christianity was so framed as to be adapted to the whole human family. It is the one thing needful for the elevation of our race, and is destined alike to universality and perpetuity. </p> <p> In all forms of religion there is one part, which may be called the doctrine or dogma, which is to be received by faith; and the cultus, or worship, which is the outward expression of the religious sentiment. By religion is also meant that homage to the [[Deity]] in all the forms which pertain to the spiritual life, in contrast with theology, the theory of the divine nature and government. (See | <p> (Lat. relego, religo). This word, according to Cicero (Div. Instit. 4), is derived from, or rather compounded of, re and legere, to read over again, to reflect upon or to study the sacred books in which religion is delivered. According to [[Lactantius]] (De Civit. Dei, lib. 10:c. 3), it comes from re- ligare, to bind back, because religion is that which furnishes the true ground of obligation. </p> <p> Religion has been divided into natural and revealed. By natural religion is meant that knowledge, veneration, and love of God, and the practice of those duties to him, our fellow-creatures, and ourselves, which are discoverable by the right exercise of our rational faculties, from considering the nature and perfections of God, and our relation to him and to one another. By revealed religion is understood that discovery which he has made to us of his mind and will in the Holy Scriptures. As respects natural religion, some doubt whether, properly speaking, there can be any such thing; since, through the fall. reason is so depraved that man, without revelation, is under the greatest darkness and misery, as may be easily seen by considering the history of those nations who are destitute of it, and who are given up to barbarism, ignorance, cruelty, and evils of every kind. So far as this, however, may be observed, the light of nature can give us no proper ideas of God, nor inform us what worship will be acceptable to him. It does not tell us how man became a fallen, sinful creature, as he is, nor how he can be recovered. It affords us no intelligence as to the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and a future state of happiness and misery. The apostle, indeed, observes that the Gentiles have the law written on their hearts, and are a law unto themselves; yet the greatest moralists among them were so blinded as to be guilty of, and actually to countenance, the greatest vices. Such a system, therefore, it is supposed, can hardly be said to be religious which leaves man in such uncertainty, ignorance, and impiety. (See [[Natural Theology]]). </p> <p> [[Revealed]] religion forms the correlate of natural religion, or the religion of reason. It is not the result of human investigation, but being the result of an extraordinary communication from God, is therefore infallible; whereas, on the contrary, all processes of human thought are more or less subjected to error. Hence we can explain why it is that religion gives itself out to be, not a product of the reason merely, not anything which originated from human inquiry and study, but a result of a divine revelation. The religious feeling is undoubtedly a propension of human nature; yet without a divine revelation the mind would sink in dark and perpetual disorder. Of the whole family of man, existing in all ages, and scattered over every quarter of the globe, there is not one well-authenticated exception to the fact that, moved by an inward impulse, and guided by revelation or tradition, man worships something which he believes to be endowed with the attributes of a superior being. Even the occasional gleamings of truth found in the various idolatrous systems are but the traditions of ancient revelations, more or less corrupted, which have descended from the first worshippers. Revealed religion comprehends, besides the doctrines of natural religion, many truths which were beyond the reach of human reason, though not contradictory thereto, and for a knowledge of which we are indebted directly to the Old and New Testaments. While other religions had been variously accommodated to the peculiar countries in which they flourished, Christianity was so framed as to be adapted to the whole human family. It is the one thing needful for the elevation of our race, and is destined alike to universality and perpetuity. </p> <p> In all forms of religion there is one part, which may be called the doctrine or dogma, which is to be received by faith; and the cultus, or worship, which is the outward expression of the religious sentiment. By religion is also meant that homage to the [[Deity]] in all the forms which pertain to the spiritual life, in contrast with theology, the theory of the divine nature and government. (See Theology). </p> | ||
== International Standard Bible Encyclopedia <ref name="term_7764" /> == | == International Standard Bible Encyclopedia <ref name="term_7764" /> == | ||
<p> ''''' rḗ ''''' - ''''' lij´un ''''' : "Religion" and "religious" in Elizabethan English were used frequently to denote the outward expression of worship. This is the force of φρησκεία , <i> ''''' thrēskeia ''''' </i> , translated "religion" in Acts 26:5; James 1:26 , James 1:27 (with adjective <i> '''''thrḗskos''''' </i> , "religious"), while the same noun in Colossians 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 λατρεία , <i> '''''latreı́a''''' </i> , "worship" (so the Revised Version (British and American)), in 1 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); Galatians 1:13 , Galatians 1:14 ( Ἰουδαΐσμός , <i> '''''Ioudaismós''''' </i> , "Judaism"); and "an alien religion" in 2 Macc 6:24 (ἀλλοφυλισμός , <i> '''''allophulismós''''' </i> , "that belonging to another tribe"). The neglect of the external force of "religion" has led to much reckless misquoting of James 1:26 , James 1:27 . Compare Acts 17:22 . See [[Superstition]] . </p> | <p> ''''' rḗ ''''' - ''''' lij´un ''''' : "Religion" and "religious" in Elizabethan English were used frequently to denote the outward expression of worship. This is the force of φρησκεία , <i> ''''' thrēskeia ''''' </i> , translated "religion" in Acts 26:5; James 1:26 , James 1:27 (with adjective <i> ''''' thrḗskos ''''' </i> , "religious"), while the same noun in Colossians 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 λατρεία , <i> ''''' latreı́a ''''' </i> , "worship" (so the Revised Version (British and American)), in 1 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); Galatians 1:13 , Galatians 1:14 ( Ἰουδαΐσμός , <i> ''''' Ioudaismós ''''' </i> , "Judaism"); and "an alien religion" in 2 Macc 6:24 (ἀλλοφυλισμός , <i> ''''' allophulismós ''''' </i> , "that belonging to another tribe"). The neglect of the external force of "religion" has led to much reckless misquoting of James 1:26 , James 1:27 . Compare Acts 17:22 . See [[Superstition]] . </p> | ||
== The Nuttall Encyclopedia <ref name="term_78916" /> == | == The Nuttall Encyclopedia <ref name="term_78916" /> == | ||
