Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

polychromy (Greek: poly, many; chroma, color) Term applied to processes of decoration in which several colors are used. Greek sculpture used a variety of colors. In both Greece and Egypt buildings were partly polychrome. Medieval sculpture used color freely and in modern times French sculptors have attempted to revive this style of decoration. Fuente: New … Continue reading “polychromy”

Polycarpus, Moyses of Aghel Polycarpus (5). Moyses of Aghel (c. 550), in a Letter to Paphnutius prefatory to his Syriac version of the Glaphyra of Cyril of Alexandria, prepares his readers to find variations from the Peshitto in Cyril’s citations of Scripture after the Greek, by referring them to “the translation of the N.T. and … Continue reading “Polycarpus, Moyses of Aghel”

Polycarpus, bishop of Smyrna Polycarpus (1), bp. of Smyrna, one of the most prominent figures in the church of the 2nd cent. He owes this prominence less to intellectual ability, which does not appear to have been pre-eminent, than to the influence gained by a consistent and unusually long life. Born some 30 years before … Continue reading “Polycarpus, bishop of Smyrna”

Polycarpus The title of a canonical collection in eight books composed in Italy by Cardinal Gregorius. It is borrowed chiefly from the collections of Anselm and from the “Anselmo Dedicata”. Writers generally date it about 1124 because it includes a decretal of Callistus II (died 1124), but some place it prior to 1120 or 1118, … Continue reading “Polycarpus”

Polycarp the Ascetic There is extant in Greek a life of the female saint Syncletica, which has been ascribed to various persons. Some MSS. and the Greek ecclesiastical historian Nicephorus Callisti (H. E. 8:40) ascribe it to Athanasius; but Montfaucon, though he gives the piece with a Latin version in his edition of the works … Continue reading “Polycarp the Ascetic”

Polycarp, Saint (Greek: much fruit) Born c.69; died in 166. Bishop of Smyrna; one of the Apostolic fathers; martyrs. He embraced Christianity under the guidance of the Apostles, especially of Saint John the Evangelist by whom he was elevated to the See of Smyrna. He was a bitter foe to heresy and upon his visit … Continue reading “Polycarp, Saint”

Polycarp 1. Life.-In a polemic treatise entitled and addressed to a Roman priest named Florinus, Irenaeus (c._ a.d. 190) speaks of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (the part relating to Polycarp is given in Eus. HE_ v. xx. 4-8). Irenaeus remonstrates against the doctrines professed by Florinus, which Florinus cannot boast of having received from the … Continue reading “Polycarp”

Polybotus A titular see in Phrygia Salutaris, suffragan of Synnada. This town is mentioned only in the sixth century by Hierocles, “Synecdemus”, 677, 10. It is now Boulvadin, capital of the caza of the vilayet of Brousse, with 8000 inhabitants, all Mussulmans; there are some ruins of no interest, Le Quien (Oriens christianus, I, 841) … Continue reading “Polybotus”

Polyandry (from , many, and , a man), that form of polygamy which permits a woman to have several husbands. SEE MARRIAGE. The hot – bed of polyandry is Thibet. There a wife commonly is the wife of a whole family of brothers, the elder brother being chief husband. In the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions … Continue reading “Polyandry”

Polyander, Johann a Reformed theologian, was born at Metz, March 28, 1568. He studied at different universities, was in 1588 pastor at Dort, in 1611 professor of theology at Leyden, and died February 4, 1646. He wrote, Concertatio anti-Sociniana: Syntagmae Exercitationum: Theologicarum: A Miscellanea Tractationes Theologicae: De Existentia Jesu Christi Essentiali et Gloria Divina contra … Continue reading “Polyander, Johann”