Biblical Social Perception
-
Pharisees
1. Name / Role Pharisees 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Second Temple period (circa 2nd century BC to 1st century AD); especially prominent during the New Testament era, appearing frequently in the Gospels and Acts. 4. Origin / Background The Pharisees emerged during the intertestamental…
-
Sadducees
1. Name / Role Sadducees 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Prominent during the Second Temple period, especially in the first century BC and first century AD. They feature frequently in the Gospels and Acts as a leading religious and political faction in Jewish society. 4.…
-
Priests
1. Name / Role Priests 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Spanning from the time of Moses and the establishment of the Tabernacle (circa 15th century BC) through the Temple periods in Jerusalem. Priests were central figures in both Old Testament Israel and Second Temple Judaism,…
-
Prophets
1. Name / Role Prophets 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Prophets appear throughout both the Old and New Testaments, with their primary prominence during the time of the kings of Israel and Judah (approximately 1050–400 BC). They also appear in the New Testament in the…
-
Levites
1. Name / Role Levites 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Old Testament to Second Temple period. The Levites appear from the time of the Exodus (circa 15th century BC) and continue to serve through Israel’s wilderness journey, conquest, monarchy, exile, and return. Their presence is…
-
Disciples
1. Name / Role Disciples 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Primarily New Testament period, especially in the Gospels and Acts. The term is used during Jesus’ earthly ministry and continues into the early Church era. Discipleship remains a defining concept for Christian life across all…
-
Apostles
1. Name / Role Apostles 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context New Testament period, particularly during the earthly ministry of Jesus, the post-resurrection era, and the early Church as recorded in Acts and the Epistles. The apostolic role is foundational to early Christian theology and church…
-
Scribes
1. Name / Role Scribes 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Active from the post-exilic period (circa 5th century BC) through the Second Temple era and into the New Testament period. Scribes feature prominently in the Gospels as experts in the Jewish Law and are often…
-
Teachers of the Law
1. Name / Role Teachers of the Law (also referred to as “lawyers” or “experts in the Law”) 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Primarily featured in the New Testament period, especially in the Gospels. They were key figures within Second Temple Judaism, often mentioned alongside…
-
Nazirites
1. Name / Role Nazirites 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Old Testament period, particularly during the wilderness wanderings and the time of the Judges. The Nazirite vow is detailed in the Pentateuch and appears in narratives through the early monarchy. It is referenced symbolically in…
-
False Prophets
1. Name / Role False Prophets 2. Category Religious Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Found throughout both the Old and New Testaments, from the time of Israel’s wilderness wanderings through the monarchy, exile, and into the New Testament Church era. They were present in times of national crisis,…
-
King
1. Name / Role King 2. Category Royal & Noble Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Kings appear throughout the Old Testament—from the time of Israel’s monarchy beginning with Saul (circa 1050 BC) through the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the exile, and prophetic literature. The New Testament…
-
Queen
1. Name / Role Queen 2. Category Royal & Noble Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Queens appear throughout both the Old and New Testaments, particularly in narratives concerning Israel, Judah, and foreign nations such as Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and Ethiopia. While Israel’s monarchy was patriarchal, the role of…
-
Prince / Princess
1. Name / Role Prince / Princess 2. Category Royal & Noble Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, princes and princesses appear within royal families of Israel, Judah, and surrounding nations. The term prince (Hebrew: sar, nagid) can denote a ruler, leader,…
-
Shepherds
1. Name / Role Shepherds 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Shepherds appear from the earliest narratives in Genesis and continue throughout the Old and New Testaments. The role is both literal and metaphorical, with significant theological implications. Prominent biblical figures—such as Abel, Abraham, Moses, David,…
-
Beggars / Poor
1. Name / Role Beggars / Poor 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Beggars and the economically poor are found throughout the Bible—from the Law of Moses to the Prophets, Psalms, Gospels, and Epistles. Their presence is often highlighted in both social justice teachings and spiritual…
-
Tax Collectors
1. Name / Role Tax Collectors 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Tax collectors feature prominently in the New Testament, especially during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. Under Roman rule, taxes were collected through a system of subcontractors known as publicani, often involving local Jews…
-
Fishermen
1. Name / Role Fishermen 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Fishermen appear throughout the New Testament, especially in the Gospels. Many of Jesus’ early disciples, including Peter, James, and John, were fishermen by trade. Fishing was also a key economic activity in Galilee and served…
-
Slaves / Servants
1. Name / Role Slaves / Servants 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Slavery and servanthood appear throughout the Old and New Testaments, from patriarchal times through the Roman Empire. While the institution varied across cultures, both voluntary and involuntary servitude were part of ancient economic…
-
Merchants / Traders
1. Name / Role Merchants / Traders 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Merchants and traders are referenced throughout both the Old and New Testaments. They appear in historical, prophetic, and parabolic passages, particularly in urban centres, international dealings, and symbolic visions (e.g., Revelation). Trade was…
-
Farmers / Vinedressers
1. Name / Role Farmers / Vinedressers 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Farmers and vinedressers are present throughout the Bible, from Genesis to the Gospels. As ancient Israel was an agrarian society, agricultural workers played a foundational role in daily life and national identity. Many…
-
Builders / Craftsmen
1. Name / Role Builders / Craftsmen 2. Category Common People 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Builders and craftsmen are seen throughout the Bible, particularly in the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus), the Temple (1 Kings, 2 Chronicles), and in various prophetic and parabolic illustrations. They are also present…
-
Widows / Orphans
1. Name / Role Widows / Orphans 2. Category Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Widows and orphans are consistently mentioned throughout the Bible—from the Pentateuch through the Prophets, Psalms, and into the New Testament. Their presence in both legal codes and prophetic declarations highlights their…
-
Foreigners / Sojourners
1. Name / Role Foreigners / Sojourners (also referred to as strangers, aliens, or resident foreigners) 2. Category Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Foreigners and sojourners are present throughout the Bible, from the patriarchal period through to the New Testament. The concept is particularly prominent…
-
Roman Officials
1. Name / Role Roman Officials 2. Category Government and Political Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Roman officials are present primarily in the New Testament, during the period of Roman occupation of Judea and the broader eastern Mediterranean (1st century BC to 1st century AD). They appear in…
-
Centurions
1. Name / Role Centurions 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Centurions appear in the New Testament during the Roman occupation of Judea and surrounding regions. They are mentioned in the Gospels, Acts, and occasionally referenced in the Epistles. Their presence reflects the military structure and…
-
Herodians
1. Name / Role Herodians 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Herodians appear in the New Testament, primarily during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. They are mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels, particularly in connection with plots against Jesus and political-religious discussions involving taxation and Roman…
-
Judges (Old Testament)
1. Name / Role Judges (Old Testament) 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The judges governed Israel during the period between the death of Joshua and the rise of the monarchy, approximately from the late 14th to early 11th century BC. This era is chronicled primarily…
-
Elders
1. Name / Role Elders 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Elders are mentioned throughout the Bible, from the patriarchal period in the Old Testament through to the formation of the early Church in the New Testament. They appear in legal, social, and religious contexts as…
-
Sanhedrin
1. Name / Role Sanhedrin 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Sanhedrin is mentioned in the New Testament during the Second Temple period, particularly in the Gospels and Acts. While its formal origins trace back to post-exilic Jewish governance, its most prominent role was during…
-
Spies / Scouts
1. Name / Role Spies / Scouts 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Spies and scouts appear predominantly in the Old Testament during Israel’s wilderness journey, conquest of Canaan, and in certain strategic military accounts. Their roles are especially noted in the books of Numbers, Joshua,…
-
Watchmen
1. Name / Role Watchmen 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Watchmen appear throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the historical books, Psalms, and prophetic writings. While some served literal security roles on city walls, others were prophetic figures tasked with spiritual alertness and warning. 4.…
-
Soldiers / Warriors
1. Name / Role Soldiers / Warriors 2. Category Government Roles 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Soldiers and warriors are found throughout both the Old and New Testaments, from the tribal battles of early Israel to the standing armies of monarchic, imperial, and Roman periods. They play major roles…
-
Babylon
1. Name / Role Babylon 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Babylon appears throughout the Bible—from early references in Genesis to major prominence in the prophetic books and Revelation. Its historical significance peaks during the Babylonian Empire’s conquest of Judah and the subsequent exile in…
-
Assyria
1. Name / Role Assyria 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Assyria appears throughout the Old Testament, particularly from the 9th to the 7th centuries BC. It plays a major role in the prophetic books, historical narratives, and theological reflections on divine judgement and sovereignty.…
-
Persia
1. Name / Role Persia 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Persia features prominently in the post-exilic period of the Old Testament, especially in books such as Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel, and Isaiah. It succeeded Babylon as the dominant empire in the ancient Near East…
-
Philistines
1. Name / Role Philistines 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Philistines appear extensively in the Old Testament, particularly from the time of the Judges through the early monarchy of Israel (circa 12th–10th century BC). They were one of Israel’s primary antagonists during the…
-
Canaanites
1. Name / Role Canaanites 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Canaanites appear throughout the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, and various prophetic books. They were the inhabitants of the land of Canaan prior to and during Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. Their presence and…
-
Moabites / Ammonites
1. Name / Role Moabites / Ammonites 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Moabites and Ammonites appear across the Old Testament—from the time of Abraham and Lot through the monarchy and prophetic periods. These two nations were frequent neighbours and adversaries of Israel and…
-
Edomites
1. Name / Role Edomites 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Edomites appear throughout the Old Testament, from the patriarchal narratives to the prophetic books. They are regularly mentioned during Israel’s wilderness journey, the monarchy period, and in prophetic oracles of judgement. Their conflict…
-
Medes
1. Name / Role Medes 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Medes are mentioned in both historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament and briefly referenced in the New Testament. They appear prominently in the 7th and 6th centuries BC, especially in relation…
-
Chaldeans
1. Name / Role Chaldeans 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Chaldeans appear in the Old Testament, especially during the prophetic and exilic periods (7th–6th centuries BC). They are often used interchangeably with the Babylonians due to their rise to power under the Neo-Babylonian…
-
Syrians / Arameans
1. Name / Role Syrians / Arameans 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Arameans (later referred to as Syrians) appear throughout the Old Testament, from the patriarchal era to the time of the kings. They are especially prominent during the period of the divided…
-
Cretans / Islanders
1. Name / Role Cretans / Islanders 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Cretans are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, though more explicitly in the New Testament. They are referenced at Pentecost (Acts 2) and in Paul’s Epistle to Titus, which addresses…
-
Egyptians
1. Name / Role Egyptians 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Egyptians appear throughout the Bible, from the time of Abraham (Genesis) through the Exodus, the monarchy period, the prophets, and into the New Testament. Egypt was one of the most significant foreign nations in…
-
Greeks / Hellenists
1. Name / Role Greeks / Hellenists 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Greeks and Hellenists appear primarily in the intertestamental period, the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. Though the Old Testament contains prophecies about the rise of Greek powers (notably in Daniel), their full…
-
Samaritans
1. Name / Role Samaritans 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Samaritans appear primarily in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and Acts, but their origins and significance are rooted in Old Testament history. Their distinct identity emerged after the Assyrian conquest of…
-
Jews / Israelites
1. Name / Role Jews / Israelites 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Jews (originally known as Israelites) are central throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Their story begins with Abraham in Genesis, continues through the patriarchs, the Exodus, the monarchy, the…
-
Proselytes / God-fearers
1. Name / Role Proselytes / God-fearers 2. Category Nations / Peoples 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Proselytes and God-fearers are primarily found in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. Their emergence follows the Jewish diaspora and the spread of synagogue communities across the…
-
God (Yahweh)
1. Name / Role God (Yahweh) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Yahweh is present from the very beginning of the biblical narrative in Genesis and remains central throughout all 66 books of the Bible. He is the eternal, self-existent Creator, Redeemer, Judge, and Sustainer, revealed…
-
Jesus (Yahshua)
1. Name / Role Jesus (Jesus Christ / Yeshua / Messiah) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Jesus appears in the New Testament as the central figure of Christianity and is foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament. His earthly life spans the early first century AD, but…
-
Holy Spirit
1. Name / Role Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh / Pneuma / Spirit of God) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Holy Spirit is present throughout the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. He is active in creation, prophecy, regeneration, and empowerment. In the Old Testament,…
-
Angels
1. Name / Role Angels (Malakhim / Angeloi – “Messengers”) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Angels appear throughout both the Old and New Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation. They are active in the Patriarchal narratives, the Exodus, the Prophets, the life of Jesus, and the…
-
Demons
1. Name / Role Demons (Evil spirits / Unclean spirits / Fallen angels) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Demons appear throughout the Bible, particularly in the Gospels, Acts, and apocalyptic literature. Their activity is especially visible during Jesus’ earthly ministry, where exorcisms are a frequent…
-
Satan / Devil
1. Name / Role Satan / Devil (Hebrew: Satan – “Adversary”; Greek: Diabolos – “Slanderer”) 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Satan appears across the biblical narrative, from Genesis to Revelation. He is first introduced as the tempter in the Garden of Eden and reappears as…
-
Seraphim / Cherubim
1. Name / Role Seraphim / Cherubim 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Seraphim and Cherubim appear in key Old and New Testament passages, particularly in the context of divine presence, temple worship, and heavenly visions. Cherubim are first mentioned in Genesis and are prominent in…
-
Antichrist / Beast
1. Name / Role Antichrist / Beast 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Antichrist and the Beast appear predominantly in the New Testament, particularly in the Johannine Epistles (1 & 2 John), Paul’s letters (2 Thessalonians), and apocalyptic visions in Revelation. These figures are associated…
-
Beasts of Daniel / Revelation
1. Name / Role Beasts of Daniel / Revelation 2. Category Supernatural Beings 3. Time Period / Biblical Context These symbolic beasts appear primarily in the prophetic and apocalyptic visions of Daniel (chapters 7–8) and Revelation (chapters 13, 17). They are central to end-time imagery and serve as representations of…
-
Ten Virgins
1. Name / Role Ten Virgins 2. Category Parables / Symbolic Figures 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This parable is found in the New Testament, within Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in the Gospel of Matthew. It is recorded in Matthew 25:1–13 and forms part of Jesus’ eschatological teachings about the…
-
Prodigal Son / Elder Brother
1. Name / Role Prodigal Son / Elder Brother 2. Category Parables / Symbolic Figures 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This parable is found in the New Testament, within the Gospel of Luke. It is part of a trio of parables in Luke 15 (Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Lost…
-
Rich Man / Lazarus
1. Name / Role Rich Man / Lazarus 2. Category Parables / Symbolic Figures 3. Time Period / Biblical Context This parable is found in the New Testament, in Luke 16:19–31, as part of Jesus’ teachings on wealth, justice, and the eternal consequences of one’s life choices. It immediately follows…
-
Good Samaritan
1. Name / Role Good Samaritan 2. Category Parables / Symbolic Figures 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Parable of the Good Samaritan is found in Luke 10:25–37. It is spoken by Jesus in response to a lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbour?” within a discussion about inheriting eternal…
-
Wise Men (Magi)
1. Name / Role Wise Men (Magi) 2. Category Other 3. Time Period / Biblical Context The Wise Men, or Magi, appear in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew 2:1–12, during the infancy narrative of Jesus. They arrive in Jerusalem shortly after Christ’s birth, guided by a star, seeking the…
-
Magicians / Sorcerers
1. Name / Role Magicians / Sorcerers 2. Category Mystics and Cultural Outsiders 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Magicians and sorcerers appear in both the Old and New Testaments. They are most prominent in Pharaoh’s court (Exodus), Babylon (Daniel), and in the early Church’s missionary encounters in Acts. They…
-
Nazarenes / Galileans
1. Name / Role Nazarenes / Galileans 2. Category Mystics and Cultural Outsiders 3. Time Period / Biblical Context Nazarenes and Galileans appear primarily in the New Testament, especially in the Gospels and Acts. These terms refer to individuals associated with Jesus’ regional identity—Nazareth being His hometown, and Galilee the…