Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Encyclopedias
Book of Life

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Book of Jubilees
Next Entry
Book of Noah
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

(ספר חיּים , ṣēpher ḥayyı̄m ; ἡ βίβλος τῆς ζωῆς , hē bı́blos tḗs zōḗs , "book of life"): The phrase is derived from the custom of the ancients of keeping genealogical records (Nehemiah 7:5 , Nehemiah 7:64; Nehemiah 12:22 , Nehemiah 12:23 ) and of enrolling citizens for various purposes (Jeremiah 22:30; Ezekiel 13:9 ). So, God is represented as having a record of all who are under His special care and guardianship. To be blotted out of the Book of Life is to be cut off from God's favor, to suffer an untimely death, as when Moses pleads that he be blotted out of God's book - that he might die, rather than that Israel should be destroyed (Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28 ). In the New Testament it is the record of the righteous who are to inherit eternal life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 21:27 ). In the apocalyptic writings there is the conception of a book or of books, that are in God's keeping, and upon which the final judgment is to be based (Daniel 7:10; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 20:12 , Revelation 20:15; compare Book Jubilees 39:6; Revelation 19:9 ). See APOCALYPSE; BLOT; BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE; JUDGMENT , LAST .

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Book of Life'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​b/book-of-life.html. 1915.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile