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The tabernacle was the structure ordered
built so that God might dwell among the people (Exodus 25:8). It
was to be mobile and constructed to exacting specifications. It is referred to
in Exodus 25-27, 30-31, 35-40; Num. 3:25ff.;
4:4 ff.; 7:1ff. In all of
scripture more space is devoted to the tabernacle than any other topic. The tabernacle
consisted of the outer court and the tabernacle proper. The outer court was entered
from the East. The outer court contained the altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1-8) and
the bronze laver (Exodus 30:17-21).
The tabernacle stood within the court (Exodus 26:1ff.).
It was divided into two main divisions: the holy place and the holy of holies
which were separated by a veil (Exodus 26:31 ff.),
the same veil that was torn from top to bottom at the crucifixion of Jesus (Matt.
27:51). Where the veil had represented the barrier separating sinful humanity
from a holy God (Heb. 9:8), its
destruction represented the free access sinners have to God through the blood
of Christ (Heb. 10:19ff.).
The tabernacle was a place of sacrifice. The
holy place contained three things: first, a table on which was placed the shewbread,
the bread of the presence (Exodus 25:23-30),
second, a golden lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40)
and third, an altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-7).
In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant which contained the Ten Commandments
(Exodus 25:16).
The holy of holies was entered only once a year by the high priest who offered
sacrifice for the nation of Israel. Teleological argument
An attempted proof of God's existence based upon the premise that the universe
is designed and therefore needs a designer: See also: God. Teleology
The study of final causes, results.
Having a definite purpose, goal, or design. Temptation
That which moves us to sin. God cannot be
tempted (James 1:13).
But everyone esle can be because of lust(James 1:13-15),
the love of money (1 Tim. 6:9),
lack of self examination (Gal. 6:1), and
pride(1 John 2:16).
Deliverance from such temptation is one of the things Jesus suggested that people
of faith should pray for. (Matt.
6:13). Testament
The word testament is
a derivation of the Latin word testamentum, which was used in Jerome's
Vulgate to translate the Hebrew word b'rith, covenant. The Greek equivalent
is diatheke, which also means covenant. The word has come to be used
in describing the two main divisions of the Bible: The Hebrew Bible and The New
Testament. It should be understood then, that the Bible is generally to be looked
at as a covenant between God and humanity. Tetragrammaton (YHWH)
This
is a term applied to the four Hebrew letters that make up the name of God as revealed
to Moses in Exodus 3:14. God said to Moses, "And God said to Moses, “I
AM WHO I AM”; and God said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,
‘I AM has sent me to you.’” YHWH make up the base of the verb
"to be" from which God designated His own name as "I AM." In English the
letters are basically equivalent to YHWH. It is from these four letters that the name of God is
derived and has been rendered as Yahweh and Jehovah. The true pronunciation of
God's name has been lost through lack of use, because the Jews, who were first
given the name of God, would not pronounce it out of their awe and respect for
God. Theism
The
teaching that there is a God and that God is actively involved in the affairs
of the world. This does not necessitate the Christian concept of God, but includes
it. (Compare to Deism) Theodicy
The study of the problem
of evil in the world. The issue is raised in light of the sovereignty of God.
How could a holy and loving God who is in control of all things allow evil to
exist? The answer has been debated for as long as the church has existed. We still
do not have a definitive answer and the Bible does not seek to justify God's actions.
Theology
The study of God's nature, attributes,
character, abilities, revelation, etc. Theophany
A theophany is a visible manifestation of
God usually restricted to the Hebrew Bible. God has appeared in dreams (Gen. 20:3-7; Gen. 28:12-17),
visions (Gen. 15:1-21;
Isaiah 6:1-13),
as an angel (Gen. 16:7-13;
18:1-33), etc.
There
is a manifestation known as the Angel of the Lord (Judges 6:20f.)
and seems to have characteristics of God (Gen. 16:7-9; 18:1-2; Exodus 3:2-6; Joshua 5:14;
Judges 2:1-5;
6:11). Such
characteristics as having the name of God, being worshiped, and recognized as
God has led many scholars to conclude that the angel of the Lord is really Jesus
manifested in the HB. This does not mean that Jesus is an angel. The word "angel"
means messenger.
Other scriptures that describe
more vivid manifestations of God are Gen. 17:1; 18:1; Ex. 6:2-3; 24:9-11; 33:20; Num. 12:6-8; Acts 7:2. Tithe
A portion of one’s
earnings, usually one tenth, that are given to those who perform the work of the
Lord since it belongs to the Lord (Lev. 27:30-33).
Those who received tithes the OT consisted of priests (Num. 18:21-32).
Further OT references are Gen. 14:20; 28:22; 2 Chron. 31:5f;
Mal. 3:7-12).
In the NT there is no command to tithe a tenth. But the tithe is mentioned in
Luke 18:9-14;
1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8). Total
Depravity
The doctrine that fallen
humanity is completely touched by sin such that human nature itself is corrupt,
obscuring the essential goodness and dignity of humanity. Transcendence
A theological term referring to the relation
of God to creation. God is "other," "different" from creation. God is independent
and different from creatures (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God transcends creation in the sense of being beyond it and not by it or to it.
Transfiguration
This refers to the mysterious change that
occurred to Jesus on the mount: "Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter
and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his
clothes became dazzling white." (Matt. 17:1-2).
Transubstantiation
The
theory accepted by Catholicism, that in the Lord's Supper, the elements are transformed
into the actual body and blood of Jesus. However, there is no perceptible
or measurable change in the elements. The transformation occurs during the
Mass at the elevation of the elements by the priest. Tribulation,
The
According
to premillennialism, this is a seven year period that immediately
precedes the return of Christ and the millennial kingdom of His rule which lasts
for 1000 years. It will be a time of great peace (the first 3 ½ years) and great
war (the second 3 ½ years) when the Antichrist rules over many nations. At the
midpoint of the tribulation (at the end of the first 3 ½ years) the Antichrist
will proclaim himself worthy of worship. Many will bow down and worship the Antichrist
and many will refuse. Those who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed.
The second half of the tribulation is called the Great Tribulation. It
will involve the whole world (Rev. 3:10). There
will be catastrophes all over the world. (See Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17.) Trichotomy
The
teaching that the human consists of three parts: body, soul, and spirit. (Compare
with Dichotomy.) Trinity
The
word "trinity" is not found in the Bible. Nevertheless, it
is a word used to summarize the nature of God as it is depicted in the Bible.
The doctrine of the Trinity was formulated during the first several hundred years
C.E. and remains the principal was of explaining the nature of God within most
denominations today. Some Biblical references that refer to aspects of God's being
or actions that have been used by leaders of the early church in their forumulation
of the doctrine:
For
more on the Trinity. Type,
Typology
A type is a representation by one
thing of another. Adam was a type of Christ (Rom. 5:14) and
so was Isaac (Heb. 11:19).
The Passover was a type of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7).
There are many types in the Bible and most of them are too extensive and deep
to be listed.
An example of a typology follows:
Isaac a type of Jesus.
Tritheism
Tritheism is the teaching that
the Godhead is really three separate beings forming three separate gods. This
view is often misplaced for the doctrine of the Trinity which states that there
is but one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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