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Religion; Religious

Dictionary of Biblical Words:

We get three religions spoken of in Scripture; the Jew’s religion (Gal. 1:13,14¹³For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: ¹⁴And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. (Galatians 1:13‑14); Acts 26:5⁵Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Acts 26:5) synonymous in Paul’s time, alas, with formality and hypocrisy; vain religion, consisting in a mere profession with an unbridled tongue; and pare religion, which consists in visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. We fear that the first two of these religions are still common, while the last is exceedingly rare, especially in the latter of its two qualities.

Concise Bible Dictionary:

This is applied in scripture to

1. The Jews’ religion, in which Paul was very strict (Acts 26:5⁵Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Acts 26:5)).

2. Practical Christianity (James 1:26-27²⁶If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. ²⁷Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26‑27)).

3. The character of the proselytes as “religious” or “worshipping” (Acts 13:43⁴³Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. (Acts 13:43)).