Terms starting with E

Church leadership roles from the New Testament. Elders typically oversee teaching and direction; deacons typically oversee practical care and service. The exact meaning varies widely by denomination.

The devil — a personal spiritual adversary Christians believe opposes God, works against people (especially believers), and strives to hinder God's work of bringing humanity into right relationship with Him.

January 6, the feast marking the arrival of the Magi to worship the infant Jesus — Christ revealed to the nations — and, in the Eastern church, the baptism of Christ. It ends the twelve days of Christmas.

Telling other people about Jesus with the hope they'll believe — from a quiet conversation with a friend to a stranger with a megaphone.

Careful reading and interpretation of a Bible passage — drawing out what it meant (exegesis) — and the principles and methods for doing that well (hermeneutics).

A formal rite of prayer to drive an evil spirit out of a person or place — in the Catholic Church, performed only by a priest with the bishop's permission and after other explanations are ruled out.