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General biblical topics and themes — 4,980 entries

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Peor was a mountain in Moab where Balaam was taken by Balak to curse Israel, though God turned the curses into blessings. This location represents God's sovereign protection of His people against spiritual opposition.

Peresh was a son of Machir in the tribe of Manasseh, representing one of the tribal lineages in Old Testament Israel.

Perez-Uzza is the place where God struck down Uzzah for touching the ark of the covenant during its transport to Jerusalem, resulting in sudden death as a sobering reminder of God's holiness.

Biblical perfection refers to spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ, not sinless perfection in this life. It is the process of growing toward Christ-likeness through faith and obedience to God's Word.

Perfume in Scripture represents both the allure of worldly temptation and the fragrant beauty of devotion to God, appearing in contexts ranging from personal adornment to sacred worship.

Perga was a city in Pamphylia (southern Asia Minor) where Paul and Barnabas ministered during the first missionary journey. It marked a significant point where John Mark departed from the apostolic team.

Pergamos was an ancient city in Asia Minor and one of the seven churches addressed by Christ in Revelation. Jesus commended the church for remaining faithful despite living in a spiritually hostile environment, yet warned them against compromising doctrine and morality.

Perida was a family of temple servants who returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem. They are listed among those who came back with Zerubbabel.

The Perizzites were one of the Canaanite nations inhabiting the land of Canaan before Israel's conquest, representing pagan peoples whom God commanded Israel to dispossess and not intermarry with.

Perjury—giving false testimony under oath—is condemned throughout Scripture as a serious sin that violates God's character and undermines justice. God's law demands truthfulness and holds those who swear falsely accountable.

Persecution is the suffering and opposition believers face for their faith in Christ. Scripture teaches that persecution is inevitable for faithful Christians, but God provides strength and eternal reward.

Perseverance is the Christian virtue of steadfast commitment to faith and obedience despite obstacles, difficulties, and opposition. Scripture emphasizes that genuine believers endure to the end through Christ's strength.

Persia was a dominant ancient empire that God sovereignly used to accomplish His purposes, including the preservation of the Jewish people and the rebuilding of Jerusalem after exile.

Persis was a faithful Christian woman in Rome whom Paul commended for her diligent labor in the Lord's service. She exemplifies the quiet, devoted service of early church women who labored sacrificially for Christ and His kingdom.

Personification

Personification is a literary device where non-human things are given human characteristics, used throughout Scripture to make spiritual truths more vivid and memorable. In Proverbs 2, wisdom is personified as a person who can be sought, found, and who guards those who follow her.

Peruda was one of the servants of Solomon whose descendants returned from exile to Jerusalem. This name appears in the genealogical records of those who rebuilt the temple.

Pestilence is a form of divine judgment sent by God upon those who disobey His covenant, yet it also serves as a call to repentance and faith in His sovereignty.

Peter was one of Jesus's first disciples and became a leading apostle in the early church, demonstrating both bold faith and human weakness. His life exemplifies God's grace in transforming an ordinary fisherman into a foundation of the church.

Pethahiah was a Levite priest during the time of David and later served as an official in Jerusalem during Nehemiah's governorship, representing the people's concerns before the king.

Pethor was an ancient city in Mesopotamia from which the pagan prophet Balaam was summoned to curse Israel. This location demonstrates God's sovereignty over foreign powers and pagan practitioners.

Pethuel was the father of the prophet Joel, mentioned at the beginning of Joel's prophetic book. He is known only through his son's biblical record.

Petroleum, Figurative

Petroleum in Scripture is used figuratively to describe material abundance and divine blessing. The Bible employs oil imagery to represent prosperity, anointing, and God's provision.

Peulthai was a Levite gatekeeper in the temple during King David's reign, representing faithful service in God's house.

Pallu was the second son of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and founder of the Palluite clan in Israel.

Phalti (also spelled Palti) was the man to whom King Saul gave his daughter Michal in marriage after David fled, demonstrating the political instability and family turmoil of Saul's reign.

Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, appears throughout Scripture as a powerful earthly king whose authority is ultimately subject to God's sovereignty. The biblical accounts reveal both Pharaoh's human tendency toward pride and God's ability to work through circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

Pharez was a son of Judah and Tamar whose name means 'breach' or 'breaking through,' commemorating his dramatic birth. He became an ancestor of Jesus Christ and the founder of one of Judah's most prominent tribal families.

The Pharisees were a Jewish religious sect known for strict adherence to the law and oral traditions, yet Jesus frequently confronted them for hypocrisy and spiritual blindness. Understanding their character helps us recognize similar patterns of outward religiosity masking inward corruption.

The Pharisees were a Jewish religious sect known for strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions, yet Jesus consistently condemned their hypocrisy, spiritual pride, and rejection of His gospel message.

Pharosh was a family head whose descendants returned from Babylonian exile and helped rebuild Jerusalem. His lineage is documented among those who returned under Zerubbabel and later under Ezra.

Pharpar was one of the rivers of Damascus in Syria, mentioned when Naaman the Syrian general sought healing from leprosy through the prophet Elisha.

Phaseah was a family of temple servants (Nethinim) who returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. The name appears in the lists of those who helped rebuild Jerusalem.

Phoebe was a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae whom Paul commended to the Roman church for her faithful service and Christian character. She exemplifies the important role of women in early church ministry.

Phenice was a harbor on the island of Crete where the Apostle Paul's ship sought shelter during his voyage to Rome. Though the sailors believed it would provide better winter protection, they ultimately encountered a devastating storm instead.

Phoenicia was an ancient maritime nation on the Mediterranean coast, known for its skilled sailors and traders, with whom Israel had both commercial and spiritual interactions throughout Scripture.

Phichol was the commander of the army of Abimelech, king of Gerar, who negotiated peace treaties with Abraham and later with Isaac. He represents a pagan ruler's acknowledgment of God's blessing upon His people.

Philadelphia was one of the seven churches of Asia Minor, commended by Christ for its faithful endurance and missionary zeal despite limited resources. Jesus promised this persecuted church protection through the tribulation and eternal reward.

Biblical philanthropy is the overflow of genuine faith expressed through sacrificial giving and service to the poor and vulnerable. Isaiah 58 reveals that true fasting and worship involve loosing chains of injustice and sharing bread with the hungry.

Philemon is Paul's personal letter to a wealthy Christian regarding the runaway slave Onesimus, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in reconciling broken relationships. This brief epistle illustrates biblical principles of forgiveness, Christian brotherhood, and the dignity of all people in Christ.

Philetus was an early false teacher whose heretical doctrine about the resurrection led Paul to warn Timothy against ungodly chatter and those who have wandered from the faith.

Philip was one of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus Christ to follow Him and participate in His earthly ministry. He is mentioned in the Gospel accounts and the early church in Acts.

Philippi was a prominent Macedonian city where Paul established one of his most beloved churches, demonstrated by his epistolary relationship with the Philippians and their faithful financial support of his ministry.

Philistia was an ancient pagan nation hostile to God's people, representing worldly opposition to the kingdom of God. The Psalms reference Philistia as a conquered territory under God's sovereignty.

The Philistines were a prominent ancient people who frequently opposed Israel during the judges and early monarchy periods, serving as instruments of God's discipline and testing of His people's faith.

Philologus was an early Christian in Rome greeted by Paul, representing the faithful believers in the first-century church. His mention in Scripture reminds us of the personal relationships Paul maintained with fellow Christians across the Roman Empire.

Scripture teaches that human philosophical wisdom is foolishness before God and that believers should rely on God's revealed truth rather than human reasoning. The gospel is communicated through the power of the Spirit, not through persuasive intellectual arguments.

Phinehas was a priest in Israel during the wilderness period, known for his zealous action that stopped a plague and earned him an eternal covenant of peace. His example demonstrates righteous zeal for God's holiness and the consequences of sin within the community.

Phlegon was a Christian in Rome mentioned by Paul in his letter to the church, representing faithful believers in the early church community.

Phrygia was an ancient region in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) where the apostle Paul traveled during his missionary journeys, and where the gospel was proclaimed to both Jews and God-fearing Gentiles.

Phurah was the servant of Gideon who accompanied him on a nighttime reconnaissance mission to the Midianite camp. He exemplifies faithful service and obedience to God's purposes.