Babylon. A city and a regime in southeastern Mesopotamia inimical to God and His people throughout most of history. Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon became the greatest power on earth (Dan. 2:1-38). Saddam Hussein of Iraq labored to restore the greatness of Babylon.

Babel (Babylon) was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:10 in connection with Nimrod (whose name means “we shall rebel”). Nimrod’s kingdom included Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar (the southeasternmost half of Mesopotamia, which is the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers). But the dispersion of the nations recorded in Genesis 10 was in accordance with their distinct languages (Gen. 10:5). That means the events surrounding Babel recorded in Genesis 11:1-9 preceded the dispersions of Genesis 10. So Genesis 11:9 is the first reference to Babel (Babylon) chronologically speaking.

After the Flood of Noah (Gen. 6-8), God had blessed Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1). But there came a time when the people of the earth resisted the last part of that command. Speaking but one language, they traveled east to the land of Shinar (Gen. 11:1-2), where they counseled themselves to build a city whose top would reach to heaven. They desired to make a name for themselves to prevent themselves from being scattered abroad over the face of the entire earth (Gen. 11:4). It is possible, if not likely, that Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-12) was the chief instigator of this rebellion. I call this council the first General Assembly of the United Nations, and it did not bode well for good or for God. It certainly caught Yahweh’s attention (Gen. 11:5)! He said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech” (Gen. 11:6-7). The effect was dramatic! Yahweh succeeded in scattering the human race abroad over the face of the earth and they were forced to stop building the city (Gen. 11:8). The name of the city was called “Babel” (babel) because there Yahweh confused (balal) the language of the whole earth and scattered them abroad (Gen. 11:9). So the name Babel (Babylon) means “confusion.” From its inception it connotes rebellion against God.

Idolatry plagued the nation of Israel. In judgment, God sent the Assyrians to deport the northern ten tribes into captivity in 722 B.C. (2 Kings 17). God sent the world-class power of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar to deport Judah into captivity in 606, 597, and 586 B.C. (2 Kings 24-25). God later judged Babylon with the invasion of the Medes and Persians (Dan. 5).

In the perhaps not-too-distant future, Babylon will again come into extraordinary power. It is depicted in Revelation 17:1-6, 18 as the seductive prostitution of the true worship of God temporarily wielding enormous religious, political and economic influence over the rest of the world. The religious/political/economic entity of Babylon will be drunk with the blood of the saints (Rev. 17:6; 19:2). Because of Babylon’s perversion of the worship of God and her slaughter of believers, she is singled out for destruction (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:1, 16; 18:1-8, 9-10, 21), and all heaven will rejoice at her demise (Rev. 18:20; 19:1-3). It is no accident that Babylon is depicted as a prostitute worthy only of judgment (Rev. 17:1-19:3), while New Jerusalem is depicted as the holy bride of the Lamb (Rev. 21:1-9), and the eternal capital city of all who submit to the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ (Rev. 21-22).

Baptism, Water.  The outward sign whereby believers in Jesus publicly identify themselves as His adherents.  Baptism consists of immersion in water by a fellow believer.  It is not a means of salvation but a public act of obedience.  Water baptism is a ritual baptism, meaning that it has no transformational, but only identificational significance.  See a chart on water baptism.

Baptism, Spirit.  The act of Jesus whereby He uses the Holy Spirit to place believers in the body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13).  There is no universally accompanying visible sign of Spirit baptism.  Exceptions to that general rule occurred at the founding of the Church on the Day of Pentecost, when Jewish believers were granted tangible phenomena by which they could identify Jesus’ impartation of the Spirit; and at the Gentiles’ salvation in the home of Cornelius, where the new Gentile believers spoke in tongues.  This served to demonstrate to the Jewish believers that the Gentiles had also been granted the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Spirit Baptism is a real baptism in the sense that it supernaturally accomplishes something – believers are actually immersed into the Body of Christ.  See a chart on Spirit baptism.

Bible. The collection of sixty-six books that make up God’s Word to man.  The Old Testament was written to Jewish people, the New Testament to both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus.  Redemption, the Sovereignty of God, the faithfulness of God, the depravity of man, and the sacrifice and supremacy of the Messiah (Christ) are themes that permeate the Bible.  The most-beloved Scripture passage, John 3:16, accurately captures the message of the Bible: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” For more information about the Bible, go to Bibliology, the Study of the Bible.

Bishop.  In the New Testament the term bishop (episkopos) is an alternative and descriptive word for term elder (presbuteros), the leader of a church.  Episkopos means simply overseer, emphasizing the job description of a church leader.  The term elder emphasizes the honor, gravity, and responsibility of the task.  He is to oversee the flock of God.  The Holy Spirit places elders/overseers in charge of the flock.  The qualifications given for the overseer (1 Tim. 3:1-8) are the same, essentially, as that given for an elder (Titus 1:5-9).  Overseers (elders) must be men who are spiritually mature, exemplary in their marriages and family governance, above reproach in the community, and gifted at teaching God’s Word to others.  The main task of an overseer/elder is that of shepherding the flock.  Shepherding the flock consists of feeding, guiding, and guarding the flock.  See Elder.  See Biblical Eldership.