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Paidagogos
A slave attendant who accompanied students from wealthy families
to school in order to tutor them in the lessons they received
from the teacher in the gymnasium. (See Gal. 3:24).
Palaestra
Courtyard of gymnasium used for exercise, wrestling, and boxing.
Palestine
Name given to the Promised Land after the Second Jewish Revolt
(AD 132-235). It is derived from the word Philistia and was used
by the Romans to denigrate the Jews.
Parable
A short story that is told to show how one thing is like
another. Most of the parables in the Bible are stories used by
Jesus. These parables teach us what the kingdom of God is like.
Passover
A Jewish celebration feast. It reminds the people how God saved
them from slavery in Egypt. Part of the meal includes the
Passover Lamb. At the first Passover a lamb was killed and its
blood was placed on the people's doorframes. This was so God
would "pass over" the homes of his people and spare the lives of
their firstborn sons. Jesus is the Passover lamb for all of
God's people. He was sacrificed so his people could be saved
from sin and death.
Passover Cup
During the Passover liturgy of Jesus' day, participants would
drink from four cups of wine at different times. The third cup
was called the cup of salvation. While celebrating the Passover
with his disciples in the Upper Room, Jesus offered them the cup
of salvation and said, "This cup is a new covenant in my blood."
He was saying, in effect, "I love you. I give you my life. Will
you give your life to me?". So, every time we drink from the
Communion cup when the minister says, "This cup is a new
covenant in my blood," God is saying to us, "I love you. I
invite you to be my spiritual bride." And every time we drink
it, we are in effect saying to him, "I accept your gift, and I
give you my life in return."
Patriarch
Any of the very early Biblical personages regarded as the
fathers of the human race, comprising those from Adam to Noah,
and those between the Deluge and the birth of Abraham.
Peloponnese
The peninsula forming the southern part of Greece.
Peripteros
Temple surrounded by a row of columns.
Peristyle
Row of columns surrounding a building or open court.
Peristyle garden
Cultivated garden inside a colonnaded area. Herod the Great
built several peristyle gardens, including Jericho and the
Herodion.
Pharisees
Means "the separate ones." Descended from the Hasidim ("pious
ones"); considered obedience to Torah to be the heart of a godly
life. Separated from sinful ways and people in their desire to
be faithful. Believed strongly in God's judgment and a
resurrection where men would be rewarded or punished according
to their deeds. Constituted the largest Jewish sect during
Jesus' lifetime; exerted great control over society through
synagogues.
Philistia
Means "land of the Philistines." It was located on the fertile
coastal plain.
Philistine
This cultured seafaring group from the Aegean moved into Israel
at about the same time as the Israelites. They lived on the
fertile coastal plain, had advanced iron technology, and
worshiped many gods through extremely immoral religious
practices, including sacred prostitution.
Phoebus
Roman god of light, music, and poetry. He is often pictured with
bow and arrow; Son of Zeus and Leto.
Phonecia
Country along the Mediterranean Sea to the north of Israel. The
people worshiped Baal in the same fertility cults as did the
Canaanites. Jezebel came from here.
Pluto
Roman god of the underworld. Brother of Zeus and Poseidon.
Pool of Siloam
Located near where the Tyropoeon Valley joins the Kidron;
supplied drinking water for a large portion of Jerusalem. Water
for the pool came from Spring of Gihon through Hezekiah's
tunnel. Jesus sent a blind man he had healed here to wash the
mud off his eyes.
Portico
Elliptical or circularspace surounded by seats; used by Romans
for gladiator contests.
Poseidon
Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. Brother of Zeus and Hades.
Potter's Workshop
Here, archaeologists have found a basin for preparing clay, a
base for a potter's wheel, and two kilns. The clay jars, which
helped to preserve the Dead Sea Scrolls for nearly two thousand
years, were probably made here.
Priest
A person who brought sacrifices and prayers to God for all the
people. In Israel, a priest had to be from the tribe of Levi.
Procurator
Roman military governor. Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea.
Prohedria
Special seat in a theater.
Promised Land
Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants
(Gen. 12:7). Also is referred to as heaven.
Prophet
A person God has chosen to bring his message to the people.
Propylon
Entrance gate to sacred enclosure.
Prytaneion
Administrative building in a city, dedicated to Hestia.
Psalm
Means "song." In the Bible, God's people used psalms to (1)
praise God, (2) cry out for help during trouble, and (3) thank
God. The people also sang the psalms when they were together to
worship God.
Psuedo-dipteros
Dipteral temple without inner row of columns.
Ptolemies
Descendants of Ptolemy I (one of the generals of Alexander the
Great) who ruled over Egypt from 323 BC until 198 BC. Israel was
under their control during this time. Generally, they were
benevolent rulers, though they sought to spread the influence of
Hellenism among the Jews.