Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Nikiphor a Russian prelate of note, flourished after the opening of the 12th century. He was a Greek by birth, and came to Russia in 1106. He rapidly rose to the highest ecclesiastical distinction, and finally became metropolitan of Kief and all Russia. He died in April, 1121. He is spoken of by contemporaries as … Continue reading “Nikiphor”

Nikator, Demetrius Son of Demetrius Soter , who regained the throne about 146 B.C., but was forced by Jonathan Machabeus to release the Jews from taxation and to increase their territory. He was later captured by the Parthians; on his release, after attacking Egypt he was defeated by Alexander Zabinas, a pretender, and assassinated at … Continue reading “Nikator, Demetrius”

Nihus, Barthold Convert and controversialist, b. at Holtorf in Hanover, 7 February, 1590 (according to other sources in 1584 or 1589, at Wolpe in Brunswick); d. at Erfurt, 10 March, 1657. He came from a poor Protestant family, obtained his early education at Verden and Goslar, and from 1607 studied philosophy and medicine at the … Continue reading “Nihus, Barthold”

Nihilists is the name given to a sect of German mystics who flourished in the 14th century, and, according to Ruysbroek, held that neither God nor themselves, heaven nor hell, action nor rest, good nor evil, have any real existence. They denied God and the work of Christ, Scripture, sacraments- everything. God was nothing; they … Continue reading “Nihilists”

Nihilism, ethical The denial of the validity of all distinctions of moral value. As this position involves in effect the denial of possibility of all ethical philosophy, it has seldom been taken by philosophers. In the history of thought, however, a less pure ethical nihilism sometimes appears as an intermediate stage in a philosophy which … Continue reading “Nihilism, ethical”

Nihilism The term was first used by Turgeniev in his novel, “Fathers and Sons” (in “Russkij Vestnik”, Feb., 1862): a Nihilist is one who bows to no authority and accepts no doctrine, however widespread, that is not supported by proof. The nihilist theory was formulated by Cernysevskij in his novel “Cto delat” (What shall be … Continue reading “Nihilism”

Nihil Prebends a title given at Bangor to unendowed canonries, held by the precentor, chancellor, and three canons, who were maintained by corrodies, pensions, and oblations. Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Nihil obstat Clerics, in practise always priests, appointed according to canon law by the bishop of a diocese to examine, before publication, those writings or other things that are to be submitted to ecclesiastical supervision. The censors are to be chosen either from the secular or regular clergy. Conditions of age, learning, and prudence are … Continue reading “Nihil obstat”

Nihil ex nihilo (Lat.) Nothing comes from nothing; a negative statement of the principle of sufficient reason. — V.J.B. Fuente: The Dictionary of Philosophy

Nihil est in intellectu quod non prius fuerit in sensu (Lat.) Nothing is in the intellect which was not first in sense. All the materials, or content, of higher, intellectual cognition are derived from the activity of lower, sense cognition. A principle subscribed to by Aristotle, St. Thomas and Locke; opposed by Plato, St. Augustine … Continue reading “Nihil est in intellectu quod non prius fuerit in sensu”