Page 476 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

POPULOUS - POVERTY

The pope teaches salvation is by grace plus the Tithe.]
works and sacraments of the Roman church POST. (1) A piece of timber set upright, usually
(The Gospel Catholic). larger than a stake, and intended to support something
[See Clergy, Diotrephes, Eastern Orthodox, Father, else; as the posts of a house; the posts of a door; the
Korah, Nicolaitan, Priest, Reverend, Roman Catholic posts of a gate; the posts of a fence (Webster) (Ex. 12:7;
Church, Sacrament.] 1 Sa. 1:9; Eze. 40:14). (2) A messenger (2 Ch. 30:6; Es.
POPULOUS. Numerous (De. 26:5). 8:14; Job 9:25; Je. 51:31). “The Hebrew in these
PORATHA (a gift). Es. 9:8. passages signifies ‘runner.’ ‘Post’ as a substantive is not
PORTER. A gate keeper (2 Sa. 18:26; Jn. 10:3). now used in this sense, though it exists in post-haste. It
POSITION. In relation to salvation, position is derived from Fr. poste, It. posta, which again are from
describes the believer’s new relationship with God in Lat. positum, anything fixed or placed, and so originally
Christ Jesus. It is important to distinguish between signified a fixed place, as a military post; then, a fixed
position and practice, standing and state, relationship place on a line of road where horses are kept for
and fellowship, union and communion. [See travelling, a stage, or station; thence it was transferred
Footwashing, Holy, Justification, Sanctification.] to the person who travelled in this way, using relays of
horses, and finally to any quick traveller” (The Bible
POSSESS. To seize; take possession of (Nu. 13:30; Word-Book).
Ac. 16:16). POSTERITY. (1) Remnant; residue; surviving portion
POSSESSIONS. The Bible has much to say about (Ge. 45:7). (2) Generation; descendants; succeeding
man’s earthly possessions. (1) There are many clear generations (Nu. 9:10; 1 Ki. 16:3; Ps. 109:13). [See
warnings in the Word of God in regard to covetousness. Generation.]
[See Covet.] (2) Covetousness is a heart matter.
Covetousness is not a problem only for the well-to-do. POST-MILLENNIAL. The allegorical method of
The poor man can be covetousness as easily as the rich. interpreting prophecy. Post-millennial means “after the
Covetousness is not a problem so much of whether a millennium,” and refers to the fact that the post-
man has possessions or how many possessions he has, millennial view does not believe there will be a literal
but of the place those possessions have in his heart and restoration of Israel and fulfillment of the 1,000
life. (3) The use of money is a personal decision which kingdom described in Re. 20. [See Allegorical, A-
must be made before God. There are no hard and set millennial, Great Tribulation, Millennium, Prophecy.]
rules which one can make applicable for all people. The POTENTATE. Ruler; king (1 Ti. 6:15).
Bible does not say that a Christian can only have a POTIPHAR (fruit of fatness). Ge. 39:1.
certain kind of home or a certain kind of automobile or POTIPHERAH (priest of the sun). Ge. 41:45.
a certain kind of clothing; that he can only have an POTSHERD. A piece of broken earthenware (Job
income of a certain set amount; that his bank account 2:8; Ps. 22:15; Pr. 26:23).
can have only this or that amount. All of this is between POTTAGE. Soup; broth (Ge. 25:29,34; 2 Ki. 4:38-40;
each man and his God. Ananias and Sapphira were told Ha. 2:12).
that their possessions were “in thine own power” (Ac.
5:4). The Bible does not support the enforcement of POUND. [See Weights and Measures.]
some form of Christian communism or communalism. POURTRAY. To engrave; to draw (Eze. 4:1; 8:10;
The Bible forbids the child of God of judging another 23:14).
believer in these things (Ro. 14:4). The great matter the POVERTY. Destitution of property (Ge. 45:11; Pr.
Bible addresses in regard to money and possessions is 6:11; 10:4, 15; 11:24; 13:7, 8, 18, 23; 14:20, 21, 31;
not whether a man has such and such amount of 17:5; 18:23; 19:1, 4, 17, 22; 20:13; 21:13, 17; 22:2, 7,
wealth, not how big his bank account is, not how nice 9, 16, 22; 23:21; 24:34; 28:3, 6, 8, 11, 15, 19, 22, 27;
his home, not how new his automobile, but whether he 29:7, 13, 14; 30:8, 9, 14; 31:7, 9, 20; 2 Co. 8:2, 9; Re.
is rich toward self or whether he is rich toward God (Lk. 2:9). The Cause of Poverty: (1) Sloth (Pr. 6:9-11; 20:13;
12:21). What does it mean to be rich toward God? (1) It 24:30-34). (2) Selfishness and greed (Pr. 11:24; 28:8).
means to support Gods House (Mal. 3:10; 1 Ti. 3:15; 1 (3) Rebellion (Pr. 13:18). (4) Injustice (Pr. 13:23). (5)
Co. 9:6-14; Ga. 6:6; 1 Ti. 5:17-18). (2) It means to Much talk and little work (Pr. 14:23). (6) Love of
support God’s Program, which is the Great Commission pleasure (Pr. 21:17). (7) Drunkenness and gluttony (Pr.
of sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth (Mt. 23:21). (8) Following vain persons (Pr. 28:19). (9)
28:18-20; Ph. 4:15, 16; Tit. 3:13, 14). (3) It means to Hastening to be rich (Pr. 28:22). (10) Persecution (2 Co.
communicate to Gods people (Ga. 6:10; 1 Ti. 6:18). 8:2; Re. 2:9). (11) God’s sovereign purposes (1 Sa. 2:7).
[See Covet, Employment, Gold, Labor, Money, Offerings, The Pain of Poverty: (1) Lack of worldly protection (Pr.
Private Ownership of Property, Steal, Stewardship,

476 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity