Page 277 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

GOLD - GOSPEL

one of the three cities of refuge (De. 4:43; Jos. 20:8; that Gomer refers to the east European satellite nations
21:27; 1 Ch. 6:71). [See Cities of Refuge.] which have been aligned with Russia. [See Gog.]
GOLD. Precious metal; the name derives from its GOMORRAH (a ruined heap, submersion). One of
shining substance. Gold is referred to from the Garden the cities destroyed by fire from heaven because of its
of Eden to the new heaven and new earth (Ge. 2:11-12; wickedness (Ge. 19:23-29). This judgment is often used
Re. 21:18, 21). The Bible frequently warns of the in the Bible as a warning to Israel and other people (De.
danger of gold (Job 22:24; 34:24; De. 8:13; 17:17; Ac. 29:23; 32:32; Is. 1:9; 13:19; Je. 23:14; 49:18; 50:40;
20:33). Consider some things that are more valuable Am. 4:11; Zep. 2:9; Mt. 10:15; 2 Pe. 2:6; Ju. 7). The
than gold: The Word of God (Ps. 19:7-10; 119:72, 127), Bible says the lives of the citizens of Gomorrah were
salvation through the blood of Christ (1 Pe. 1:18-19), “ungodly” (2 Pe. 2:6), “filthy” and “wicked” (2 Pe. 2:7),
wisdom (Job 28:12-16; Pr. 3:13-14; 8:10, 19; 16:16), and “unlawful” (2 Pe. 2:8). The peculiar sin of Sodom
lips of knowledge (Pr. 20:15), loving favor (Pr. 22:1), a and Gomorrah was that they “gave themselves over to
wise reprover (Pr. 25:12), the trying of our faith (1 Pe. fornication” and went “after strange flesh” (Jude 7).
1:7), a meek and quiet spirit (1 Pe. 3:3-4). Gold refers They were also guilty of pride and idleness (Eze. 16:49).
to the wealth of Christ’s kingdom (Ps. 45:9 ,13; 72:15; Sodomy is the sin of homosexuality and gross
Is. 60:6, 9, 17). Gold is used symbolically to refer to immorality. [See Sodomy.]
salvation and spiritual wealth (Re. 3:18). [See Covet, GOOD CHEER. [See Cheer.]
Employment, Greedy, Labor, Money, Possessions, Private GOOD FRIDAY. [See Easter, Friday.]
Ownership of Property, Sluggard, Steal, Stewardship,
GOOD MAN. Husband; master (Pr. 7:19; Mt. 20:11;
Tithe.] 24:43).
GOLDEN CALF. [See Idolatry.] GOOD SPEED. Good success; good fortune (Ge.
GOLDEN CUP. [See Cup.] 24:12).
GOLGOTHA (skull). This was the place of the Lord’s GOODLIER, GOODLIEST. Best; well favoured; most
crucifixion (Mt. 27:33; Mk. 15:22; Jn. 19:17). Golgotha excellent; handsome; beautiful (1 Sa. 8:6; 9:2; 1 Ki.
is Greek, meaning skull. The Latin name for this hill is 20:3).
Calvary (Lk. 23:33). There are several possible
explanations for the name. (1) The place had the GOODLY. Honorable; valuable; desirable; beautiful
appearance of a skull when viewed from a short (Ge. 49:21; Ex. 2:2; De. 3:25; 2 Sa. 23:21; Ps. 16:6).
distance. (2) As a reference merely to the rounded GOPHER WOOD. The wood used in building Noah’s
appearance of the human head and thus to the hill so ark (Ge. 6:14).
named. Though the Bible does not expressly say that GOSHEN. (1) The part of Egypt in which the
Golgotha was a hill, it does say that the place could be Israelites were located. It is also termed “the land of
seen from far away (Mk. 15:40), so it must have been Rameses.” It is generally supposed that Goshen was
higher than much of the surrounding countryside. (3) situated on the east of the ancient Delta of the Nile
The word skull may have been used symbolically to (Concise) (Ge. 45:10; 46:28,29,34; 47:1, 4, 6, 11, 27;
picture a place of execution. [See Atonement, Blood, 50:8; Ex. 8:22; 9:26). (2) Land in the southern part of
Cross, Crucify, Death, Friday, Gospel, Jesus Christ.] Palestine (Jos. 10:41).
GOLIATH (exile). The giant slain by David (1 Sa. GOSPEL (glad tidings). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is
17). The giant was 9.5 feet tall; his coat of armor the glad tidings that Jesus Christ died for man’s sins,
weighed 125 pounds; and his spear’s head weighed 15 that He was buried, and that He rose again from the
pounds (1 Sa. 17:4-7, 23; 21:9; 22:10). His brothers dead to be the Saviour of those who receive Him (1 Co.
were slain by David’s men (2 Sa. 21:19; 1 Ch. 20:5). 15:1-11). It is the message of free righteousness for
GOMER (completion, heat). Eldest son of Japhet and those who trust Christ (Ro. 1:15-17). It is also called
father of Ashkenez, Riphath, and Togarmah, B.C. 2340. “the gospel of the grace of God” (Ac. 20:24), “the gospel
He was progenitor of the Cimerians, Cimbei, and other of Christ” (Ga. 1:7), “the gospel of God” (2 Co. 11:7),
branches of the Celtic family, as well as of the modern “the gospel of peace” (Ro. 10:15), “the glorious
Gad and Cymry, the latter preserving the original name gospel” (2 Co. 4:4), and “the gospel of salvation” (Ep.
with slight variation (Ge. 10:2-3; 1 Ch. 1:5-6). The 1:13). Each of these names emphasizes different aspects
descendants of Gomer settled on the N. of the Black of the same gospel. For example, “gospel of the grace of
Sea, and then spread themselves southward and God” emphasizes that true salvation is a free gift of
westward to the extremities of Europe (Young). In God’s grace (Ep. 2:8-9). The gospel is grace alone
relation to Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39, we can see through faith alone without admixture of works (Ac.
15:11; Ro. 3:24; 4:5-16; 11:6; Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5-7).
Any addition to the gospel of the grace of Christ is

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