Jacob (יַעֲקֹב)

Jacob, or Yaʿaqov in Hebrew, is one of the three patriarchs of Israel, alongside Abraham and Isaac. His name is traditionally interpreted as “he grasps the heel” or “he supplants,” derived from the Hebrew root ʿqb (עָקֵב), meaning “heel” or “to follow.” According to Genesis (25:26), Jacob was born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau, a gesture that anticipates his later acquisition of Esau’s birthright and paternal blessing. As the son of Isaac (יִצְחָק) and Rebekah (רִבְקָה), Jacob occupies a central role in continuing the Abrahamic covenant that promises land, descendants, and divine favour. Jacob’s story, recounted in Genesis 25–50, charts his transformation from a shrewd and ambitious youth into a patriarch shaped by struggle and faith. Fleeing Esau’s anger, Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching to heaven at Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל), where God reaffirms the covenantal promises. In Haran, Jacob serves his uncle Laban, marrying Leah and Rachel and fathering twelve sons, the ancestors of Israel’s tribes. On his return to Canaan, he wrestles through the night with a divine being at Peniel (פְּנִיאֵל) and receives a new name, Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל), meaning “he who struggles with God.” This episode signifies both spiritual renewal and the emergence of Israel as a people forged through endurance and divine encounter. Jacob’s later life centres on his sorrow over Joseph’s disappearance and their eventual reunion in Egypt, where he blesses his sons before dying and is buried beside his forefathers at Machpelah. Theologically, Jacob embodies the tension between human imperfection and divine purpose; his life reflects the persistence of faith through conflict and transformation. The name Jacob was rendered in Greek as Iakōbos (Ἰάκωβος) and in Latin as Jacobus, forms that later produced both the English Jacob and James.

Jesse

Name of the father of King David and a member of the tribe of Judah, known in Hebrew as Yishai (יֵשַׁי). He lived in Bethlehem and is introduced in the Book of Ruth (Ruth 4:22) as an important ancestor in Israel’s royal lineage. Jesse had several sons, the youngest of whom, David, was anointed by the prophet Samuel to become king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). Jesse’s significance extends beyond his immediate family: he is considered the root of the Davidic line, from which, according to biblical prophecy, the Messiah would emerge. In Isaiah 11:1, the prophecy states, “A shoot (netser) will come up from the stump of Jesse”, a passage Christians interpret as foretelling the birth of Jesus. Thus, Jesse symbolizes both the ancestral and spiritual foundation of Israel’s monarchy and the messianic hope in biblical tradition. See also Nazareth.

Jesus Christ

The central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the Son of God and the promised Messiah (Christ) prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and carried out his public ministry in the region of Galilee and Judea during the early first century AD. His teachings, miracles, crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and resurrection are foundational to Christian faith, emphasizing salvation, love, and reconciliation with God. The name Jesus comes from the Greek Iesous (Ἰησοῦς), itself a Hellenisation of the Hebrew-Aramaic names Yeshua (ישוע) and Yehoshua (יהושע), both meaning “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh rescues”, while Christ is a title that derives from the Greek Christos (Χριστός), meaning “Anointed One”, which corresponds to the Hebrew-Aramaic word Messiah (משיחא). His birth in Bethlehem is regarded as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Micah 5:2 regarding the Messiah’s origin. He is also known as Jesus of Nazareth, after his childhood home town. Judaism rejects the claim that Jesus is the Messiah and incarnate God, and Islam regards Him as a prophet.

John Bunyan

Name of a 17th century English Christian writer and preacher, famed as the author of The Pilgrim's Progress, a Christian allegory describing the journey of a man named Christian, from “this world to that which is to come”, i.e. from his hometown, metaphorically called the “City of Destruction”, to heaven or the “Celestial City”. John Bunyan was born in 1628 at Harrowden, near Bedford. He had little to none official education and followed in his father's trade as a tinsmith. Plagued by a sense of guilt and self-doubt he converted after having heard a voice, alleged by him to be from God. He began a four year long spiritual discussion with some women who belonged to a nonconformist sect in Bedford and increasingly believed he was one of the spiritual elite, chosen by God, and claimed to hear voices and have religious visions. In 1655, he became a deacon and began preaching, with marked success from the start, yet in 1660, he was imprisoned for preaching without a license, as the country returned to Anglicanism and it became punishable by law to conduct religious services, except in accordance with the ritual of the Anglican Church, or for one not in Episcopal orders, to address a congregation. He was confined at first for three months, but on his refusing to conform or to abstain from preaching, his confinement was extended for a period of nearly 12 years. It was during this period that John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, of which the first part was published in 1678 and the second in 1684. He passed away in 1688 after catching a cold and developing high temperature.

John Calvin

A 16th-century French theologian, pastor, and reformer whose teachings and writings were fundamental to the development of the Reformed branch of Protestantism, particularly in shaping the theological system later known as Calvinism. Born on 10 July 1509 in Noyon, Picardy, in the Kingdom of France, Calvin was originally trained as a lawyer before turning to theology during the Protestant Reformation. Deeply influenced by the humanist movement and by the writings of Martin Luther, he published the first edition of his seminal work, Institutio Christianae Religionis (Institutes of the Christian Religion), in 1536. This treatise systematically articulated Reformed theology, emphasising doctrines such as the sovereignty of God, predestination, total depravity, and salvation by grace through faith. Calvin settled in Geneva, where he sought to establish a model Christian commonwealth governed according to biblical principles. His rigorous reforms transformed Geneva into a centre of Protestant thought and education, attracting scholars and refugees from across Europe. Central to Calvin’s theology was the belief that Scripture alone (sola Scriptura), is the supreme authority for faith and life, and that all aspects of existence should be lived coram Deo, i.e. “before the face of God”. Calvin’s influence extended far beyond Geneva, shaping Protestant communities in France, the Netherlands, Scotland, England, and later in North America. His emphasis on disciplined piety, moral order, and collective responsibility contributed significantly to the ethical and cultural frameworks of modern Western society. He died in Geneva in 1564 and was buried in an unmarked grave, in accordance with his own wishes, reflecting his enduring conviction that all glory belongs to God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).

John Knox

A 16th-century Scottish clergyman, theologian, and leading figure of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, who was born around 1514. Regarded as the founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Knox was instrumental in establishing Protestantism as the national faith. Born near Haddington, East Lothian, he was educated at the University of St Andrews and ordained as a Catholic priest before converting to Protestantism under the influence of reformers such as George Wishart. After Wishart’s execution in 1546, Knox joined the Protestant forces who seized St Andrews Castle but was later captured by French troops and forced to serve as a galley slave for nearly two years. Upon his release, Knox spent several years in exile in England and on the Continent, where he came into contact with Reformation leaders including John Calvin in Geneva, whose doctrines of predestination and church governance profoundly influenced him. Returning to Scotland in 1559, Knox became the principal spokesman for the Protestant cause, preaching with great fervour against Catholicism and the authority of Mary, Queen of Scots, whom he opposed both politically and theologically. Knox played a central role in drafting the Scots Confession of Faith (1560) and the First Book of Discipline, which laid the foundations for Presbyterian polity and church organisation in Scotland. His preaching and writings helped shape Scottish national identity and the development of a distinct Reformed tradition. John Knox died in Edinburgh on 24 November 1572.

Judas (Ιούδας)

Judas Iscariot, from the Greek Ioúdas Iskariṓtēs (Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης) was one of the twelve original apostles of Jesus, traditionally known for betraying him to the Roman authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14–16). His Hebrew name, Yehudah (יְהוּדָה), corresponds to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (Israel) in the Hebrew Bible. This shared name has led some Christian commentators to draw typological parallels between Judas and the biblical Judah. In the Old Testament, Judah suggested selling his brother Joseph to a passing caravan of Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:26–27). Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28), but he eventually rose to a position of power in Egypt, ultimately preserving his family during a famine (Genesis 41–45). Scholars and theologians have noted that, in both cases, an act of betrayal led to a greater outcome: Joseph’s rise saved his family, and Jesus’ crucifixion led, according to Christian belief, to the possibility of salvation for humanity. The Gospel narratives also highlight that Judas’ betrayal resulted in Jesus being delivered to Roman authorities, linking the event to the wider historical context of Roman governance in Judea. While typological comparisons between Joseph and Jesus are common in Christian literature, they are interpretive in nature and should be distinguished from historical or textual claims. Similarly, interpretations that link Judas’ actions directly to the Jewish nation as a whole are theological perspectives, not statements made in the biblical text itself. In sum, Judas Iscariot’s role as the betrayer of Jesus has been the subject of typological interpretation, drawing parallels with Old Testament figures such as Judah and Joseph. These interpretations highlight themes of betrayal, suffering, and eventual deliverance, which are central motifs in both the Joseph and Jesus narratives. Following the betrayal, the Gospels report that Judas Iscariot experienced remorse and ultimately hanged himself from a tree under the weight of his sin, in guilt and despair (Matthew 27:3–5). Allegorically, this contrasts with Jesus, who also dies hanging on a tree—a wooden cross—but to redeem others. By acting out of material greed and relying on money rather than faith, Judas fails to trust the Saviour for his salvation and forfeits the promise of eternal life. Judas’ death reflects personal punishment and the tragic outcome of unrepented betrayal, whereas Jesus’ death demonstrates willing sacrifice for the redemption of humanity, being substitutionary and taking upon himself the sins of those who believe and trust in him. This juxtaposition underscores a stark moral and theological contrast: the one who betrays Christ suffers death as a consequence of his own choices, while the one who is betrayed, Christ, dies to offer salvation and eternal life to those who believe.

Judas Iscariot

See Judas.