Panentheism The belief that the universe is contained within God. The universe is a part of God, but not all of God. Pantheism This is an identification of the universe with God. With this view there is a blurring of the distinction between the Creator and the creation. Pantheism tends to equate God with the process of the universe and states that the universe is God and God is the universe. This is a problem for Christians who believe that God is the creator of the universe (Isaiah 44:24) and therefore separate from it. Papyrus A plant growing along the Nile in Egypt during biblical times. It was used as writing material. Papyrus scrolls were made by cutting and pressing sections of the papyri plant together at right angles. The typical maximum length of a scroll was about 35 feet. The scribe, when using papyrus, would often use the natural horizontal fibers of the papyrus plant as guidelines. He would take a blunt instrument and score horizontal lines and then score two or more vertical lines as margins for the edge of the sheet or to define columns on it. We get the word "paper" from this word. Many of the biblical manuscripts were on papyrus. Parable An illustrative discourse or story that uses common events and culture and is meant to convey a meaning or lesson. Jesus used parables extensively. Some of the OT parables are Trees Making a King (2 Sam. 12:1-4); The Thistle and the Cedar (2 Kings 14:9); Israel, a Vine Planted by Water (Ezek. 24:1014), etc. Some NT parables are The Sower (Luke 8:5-8); the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13); The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37); The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), etc. See Parables. Paradise Biblically, paradise is the place of uninterrupted bliss. The Garden of Eden was considered a paradise. Jesus mentioned paradise while on the cross (Luke 23:43) and Paul also mentioned Paradise (2 Cor. 12:1-4). See also: Heaven Parapsychology The study of things not generally explainable by the scientific method. Examples of subjects studied by parapsychologists would be telepathy, clairvoyance, ghosts, etc. Parousia (par-ooo-see’-a) A Greek term that means “arrival” or “coming.” The term is often referred to as the time of Christ’s return; hence, the Parousia, i.e., 2 Thess. 2:1. Pascal's Wager The argument that believing in God is the most logical thing to do since if there is a God and you deny him, then you are in trouble. If there is no god and you accept him, there is no problem because it doesn't matter. Logically, it is better to not deny that God exists than to deny he does. There is truth to this argument, but the problem is that it does not define which "god" to believe in. Pedobaptism The practice of infant baptism. Pelagianism The teaching of a monk named Pelagius in the fifth Century. He taught that people are free to choose good or evil and there is no inherited sin (through Adam). Every infant born into the world is in the same condition as Adam before the fall and becomes a sinner only by commiting a specific violation of the law. This is opposed to the orthodox view that the sin of Adam implicated the entire human race, a notion referred to as the doctrine of original sin. (Compare to Arminianism and Calvinism.) Penance In Catholicism, a process through which sins are acknowledged and forgiven. In the Roman Catholic Church, penance is seen as one of the sacraments and is a means of grace.More on the sacraments. Pentateuch This word is from the Greek penta, "five" and teuchos, "a tool". It refers to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. All five were traditionally attributed to Moses and are also known as "the Law". Pentecost The word comes from the Greek which means fifty. So, Pentecost was a celebration on the fiftieth day after Passover. It was a culmination of the feast of weeks (Exodus 34:22,23). Pentecost in the NT is the arrival of the H