Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Abhor ab-hor: To cast away, reject, despise, defy, contemn, loathe, etc. (1) Translated in the Old Testament from the following Hebrew words amongst others: (ba’ash), to be or to become stinking (1Sa 27:12; 2Sa 16:21); (gaal), to cast away as unclean, to loathe; compare Eze 16:5 the King James Version; (quts), to loathe, to fear … Continue reading “Abhor”

Abhijit in Hindu religion, is one of the sacrifices to be brought by a king, or rajah, as a propitiation for unpremeditatingly killing a priest. Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Abhidharma the third class of the Buddhist sacred books, called Pitakali, or Pitakattayan (q.v.). The Abhidharma contain instructions which are supposed to be addressed to the inhabitants of the celestial worlds. This is accordingly accounted the highest class of sacred books; and the expounders of it are to be held in the highest honor, for … Continue reading “Abhidharma”

Abheda (Skr. “not distinct”) Identity, particularly in reference to any philosophy of monism which does not recognize the distinctness of spiritual and material, or divine and essentially human principles. — K.F.L. Fuente: The Dictionary of Philosophy

Abhassara in the Buddhist religion, a superior celestial world. Previous to the creation of the present world there were several successive systems of worlds, which were destroyed by fire. On the destruction of the former worlds, the beings that inhabited them, and were meritorious, received birth in the celestial world Ablhassara; and when their proper … Continue reading “Abhassara”

Abhasa, abhasana (Skr.) “Shining forth”, the cosmopsychological process of the One becoming the Many as described by the Trika (q.v.) which regards the Many as a real aspect of the ultimate reality or Parama Siva (cf. Indian Philosophy). Reflection, objectivity. — K.F.L. Fuente: The Dictionary of Philosophy

Abhan, Saint St. Abban of New Ross — also known as St. Ewin, Abhan, or Evin, but whose name has been locally corrupted as “Stephen,” “Neville,” and “Nevin” — was the contemporary and namesake of St. Abban of Magheranoidhe. Some writers have confounded him with St. Evin of Monasterevan, County Kildare. Even Colgan (Followed by … Continue reading “Abhan, Saint”

Abgarus (ABAGARUS, AGBARUS; sometimes derived from the Arabic Akbar, greater, but better from the Armenian Avag, great, and air, man; see Ersch und Gruber, s.v. Abgar), the common name of the petty princes (or Toparchs) who ruled at Edessa in Mesopotamia, of one of whom there is an Eastern tradition, recorded by Eusebius (Eccl. Hist. … Continue reading “Abgarus (2)”

Abgar, The Legend of The historian Eusebius records a tradition (H.E., I, xii), which he himself firmly believes, concerning a correspondence that took place between Our Lord and the local potentate at Edessa. Three documents relate to this correspondence: the letter of Abgar to Our Lord; Our Lord’s answer; a picture of Our Lord, painted … Continue reading “Abgar, The Legend of”

Abgar, Bar-Maanu a descendant of Abgarus (q.v.), who reigned in Edessa about the year 200, was a Christian and friend of Bardesanes (see Euseb. Chronic. ad Olymp. 149, 1; and Epiphan. Hoer. 56, ). That he did not believe in the gnosticism of his friend may be seen from the fact that the orthodox Epiphanius … Continue reading “Abgar, Bar-Maanu”