Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Pierre Charron French philosopher, moralist, theologian, and pulpit orator. Born in 1541 in Paris, France in a family of 25 children; died in 1603. Priest and canon. Author of Les Trois Vrits, the unity of God, Christianity the sole religion, and Catholicism the only Christianity. Friend of Michael de Montaigne, but bolder and more dogmatic. … Continue reading “Pierre Charron”

Pierre Biard (1567 -1622 ) Jesuit missionary, born Grenoble, France ; died Avignon , France . After laboring unsuccessfully at the Jesuit mission of Port Royal, Acadia , he was transferred with his co-worker, Edmond Masse, to Saint Sauveur (now Bar Harbor, Maine) in 1613 , but the Virginian marauder, Argall, destroyed the colony and … Continue reading “Pierre Biard”

Pierquin, Jean a French ecclesiastic, noted especially as a writer, was born February 15, 1672, at Charleville. After taking holy orders, he was in 1699 appointed curate of Chatel, in the Ardennes, where he spent his whole life, dividing his time between works of charity and literary pursuits. He died March 10, 1742. He published, … Continue reading “Pierquin, Jean”

Pierpont, John an eminent American Unitarian divine, noted especially for his part in temperance and antislavery movements, was born in 1785 at Litchfield, Conn., and graduated at Yale College in 1804. The years immediately after his leaving college were occupied in teaching, a part of the time at the South aid afterwards in New England, … Continue reading “Pierpont, John”

Pierpont, James a noted New England Congregational minister of colonial days, was born at Roxbur, Connecticut, in 1661. He was educated at Harvard College, where he graduated in 1681; was ordained fourth minister in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1685, and retained that connection until his death in 1714. In the year 1698 Mr. Pierpont was … Continue reading “Pierpont, James”

Pierpont, Hezekiah B an American Presbyterian minister, was a native of Connecticut, and was born about 1791. In 1821 he came to New York state and settled at Rochester, and soon after was ordained a Presbyterian minister. He became the pastor of a Church in Hopewell, Ontario County, for several years. He was then called … Continue reading “Pierpont, Hezekiah B”

Pierleone, Pietro Antipope from 1130 to 1138; born Rome, Italy; died there. Of Jewish extraction, his family had been a powerful Roman faction, opposing the Frangipani. A Benedictine and a cardinal-deacon, he was employed on important missions by successive pontiffs. He was elected by the Pierleone faction, on the same day as Innocent II; both … Continue reading “Pierleone, Pietro”

Pierius, Urban (originally Birnbaunm), a Protestant theologian of Germany, was born at Schwedt, Pomerania, in 1546. He studied law and theology, was for some time doctor and professor of theology at Frankfort, afterwards pastor at Brandenburg, and superintendent at Custrin. In 1589 he was appointed superintendent at Dresden, aid in the same year professor of … Continue reading “Pierius, Urban”

Pierius, a presbyter of Alexandria Pierius (Hierius). An eminent presbyter of Alexandria, famous for voluntary poverty, philosophical knowledge, and public expositions of Holy Scripture. He ruled the catechetical school of Alexandria under bp. Theonas, a.d. 265, and afterwards lived at Rome. He wrote several treatises extant in St. Jerome’s time, and some were known as … Continue reading “Pierius, a presbyter of Alexandria”

Pierius A priest and probably head master of the catechetical school at Alexandria conjointly with Achillas, flourished while Theonas was bishop of that city; died at Rome after 309. His skill as an exegetical writer and as a preacher gained for him the appellation, “Origen the Younger”. Philip of Side, Photius, and others assert that … Continue reading “Pierius”