Paschal
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The term "Paschal" is derived from the Hebrew word "Pesach," which means "Passover." In the Christian tradition, it is closely associated with the celebration of Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Paschal theme is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, symbolizing deliverance, sacrifice, and redemption.

Old Testament Context

The origin of the Paschal concept is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the account of the Passover in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites were instructed by God to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood so that the angel of death would "pass over" their homes during the final plague in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13). This event marked the beginning of the Israelites' liberation from slavery, and the Passover became an annual observance to remember God's deliverance.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the Paschal theme is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul explicitly connects Christ to the Passover lamb, stating, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). This identification underscores the belief that Jesus' sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection accomplished the ultimate deliverance from sin and death for all who believe.

The Gospels recount that Jesus' crucifixion occurred during the Passover festival, further linking His sacrifice to the Paschal lamb. The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, is understood as a Passover meal, where He instituted the Lord's Supper, saying, "This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me" (Luke 22:19). This act established a new covenant, signifying the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover through His atoning death.

Paschal Celebration in the Early Church

The early Christian Church recognized the significance of the Paschal mystery, celebrating the resurrection of Christ as the cornerstone of the faith. The Paschal Vigil, held on the night before Easter Sunday, became a central liturgical event, symbolizing the transition from darkness to light, death to life. This vigil included the reading of Scripture, the lighting of the Paschal candle, and the celebration of the Eucharist, reflecting the joy of the resurrection.

Theological Significance

The Paschal theme is rich with theological implications. It emphasizes the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, highlighting God's redemptive plan through history. The sacrifice of the Paschal lamb in the Old Testament prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This connection underscores the belief in Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, bringing salvation to all who trust in Him.

In Christian theology, the Paschal mystery encompasses not only the death and resurrection of Christ but also His ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit. This comprehensive understanding affirms the transformative power of the resurrection, offering believers new life and hope in Christ.

Paschal in Christian Worship

The Paschal theme continues to be central in Christian worship, particularly during the Easter season. Hymns, liturgies, and sermons often reflect on the victory of Christ over sin and death, encouraging believers to live in the light of the resurrection. The Paschal candle, lit during the Easter Vigil, serves as a powerful symbol of the risen Christ, the light of the world.

In summary, the term "Paschal" encapsulates the profound mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, rooted in the biblical narrative of deliverance and redemption. It remains a foundational element of Christian faith and worship, celebrating the victory of life over death through Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(a.) Of or pertaining to the Passover, or to Easter; as, a paschal lamb; paschal eggs.
Greek
106. azumos -- unleavened
... unleavened. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: azumos Phonetic Spelling:
(ad'-zoo-mos) Short Definition: unleavened, the paschal feast, uncorrupted ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/106.htm - 6k

1207 -- second, after the first.
... From deuteros and protos; second-first, ie (specially) a designation of the Sabbath
immediately after the Paschal week (being the second after Passover day ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1207.htm - 6k

Library

The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria
The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria. <. The Paschal Canon
of Anatolius of Alexandria Anatolius. Translated by the Rev. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anatolius/the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/

The Paschal or Easter Table of Anatolius. ...
The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria. <. ... Section XIV. The Paschal or
Easter Table of Anatolius.? The Paschal or Easter Table of Anatolius. ...
/.../the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/section xiv the paschal or.htm

Whether the Paschal Lamb was the Chief Figure of this Sacrament?
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the Paschal Lamb
was the chief figure of this sacrament? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the paschal lamb was.htm

The Paschal Supper - the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... CHAPTER X. THE PASCHAL SUPPER - THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. ... Hence,
He would not have been the offerer of the Paschal lamb. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the paschal supper.htm

Meditation iii. Arrangements for Eating the Paschal Lamb.
... MEDITATION III. Arrangements for eating the Paschal Lamb. ... He chose out four, which
were carried to the supper-room, engaged in preparing the Paschal Lamb. ...
/.../meditation iii arrangements for eating.htm

The Paschal Meal. Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet.
... Part Seventh. Last Week of Our Lord's Ministry, the Fourth Passover, the Crucifixion.
CXVIII. The Paschal Meal. Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxviii the paschal meal jesus.htm

Fragment iii. St. Hippolytus, Bishop and Martyr, in his Homily on ...
... St. Hippolytus, Bishop and Martyr, in his Homily on the Paschal Supper.? St. Hippolytus,
Bishop and Martyr, in his Homily on the Paschal Supper. ...
/.../fragment iii st hippolytus bishop.htm

The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria
The Paschal Canon of Anatolius of Alexandria. <. ...
/.../anatolius/the paschal canon of anatolius of alexandria/title page.htm

On the Sacraments of the Old Testament, the Tree of Life ...
... DISPUTATION LXI ON THE SACRAMENTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE TREE OF LIFE,
CIRCUMCISION, AND THE PASCHAL LAMB. The tree of life was ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxi on the sacraments.htm

The Festal Epistles of Dionysius, in which He Also Gives a Paschal ...
... Book VII. Chapter XX."The Festal Epistles of Dionysius, in which he also
gives a Paschal Canon. Dionysius, besides his epistles ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xx the festal epistles of.htm

Thesaurus
Paschal (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Of or pertaining to the Passover, or to Easter;
as, a paschal lamb; paschal eggs. ...Paschal (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/paschal.htm - 6k

Eucharist
... Acts and Words of Christ on Eve of the Passion 2. Sacrificial Language of the
Institution 3. Sacrificial System of Jewish Dispensation 4. Paschal Background of ...
/e/eucharist.htm - 38k

Supper (17 Occurrences)
... Acts and Words of Christ on Eve of the Passion 2. Sacrificial Language of the
Institution 3. Sacrificial System of Jewish Dispensation 4. Paschal Background of ...
/s/supper.htm - 44k

Easter (1 Occurrence)
... word comes from the Anglo-Saxon Eastre or Estera, a Teutonic goddess to whom sacrifice
was offered in April, so the name was transferred to the paschal feast. ...
/e/easter.htm - 12k

Passover (81 Occurrences)
... lamb. 2. (n.) The sacrifice offered at the feast of the Passover; the paschal
lamb. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PASSOVER. pas ...
/p/passover.htm - 58k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... As the name indicates (pentekoste), this second of the great Jewish national festivals
was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, from the Paschal Feast, and ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Lord's (548 Occurrences)
... The kind of bread, whether leavened or unleavened, is not specified. Christ used
unleavened bread simply because it was at that moment on the paschal table. ...
/l/lord's.htm - 88k

Lamb (124 Occurrences)
... the ancients, Lucke, DeWette, Meyer, Ewald, Alford, among the moderns, refer it
to Isaiah 53:7; Grotius, Bengel, Hengstenberg, to the paschal lamb; Baumgarten ...
/l/lamb.htm - 50k

Leg (24 Occurrences)
... (2) Kara`, dual kera`ayim, the "leg," "respecting the legs," mentioned as a portion
of the paschal lamb (Exodus 12:9), or, usually, in connection with the head ...
/l/leg.htm - 19k

Lintel (4 Occurrences)
... 7, "upper door post, " but RV "lintel"); the head-piece of a door, which the Israelites
were commanded to Mark with the blood of the paschal lamb. ...
/l/lintel.htm - 8k

Resources
What is the paschal mystery? | GotQuestions.org

If Jesus is our atonement, why did He die at Passover instead of the Day of Atonement? | GotQuestions.org

What is Pascha? | GotQuestions.org

Paschal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Paschal (1 Occurrence)

1 Corinthians 5:7
cleanse out, therefore, the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, according as ye are unleavened, for also our passover for us was sacrificed -- Christ,
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Paschal

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb without Blemish

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: A Male of the First Year

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: A Type of Christ

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Blood of, not Sprinkled on Threshold

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Blood of, Sprinkled on Lintel and Door-Posts

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Chosen Before-Hand

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten in Haste

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten With Bitter Herbs

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten With Shoes On

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten With Staff in Hand

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten With the Loins Girt

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Eaten With Unleavened Bread

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Its Blood to be Shed

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Killed at the Place where the Lord Put his Name

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Killed by the People

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Killed in the Evening

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Not a Bone of, Broken

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Not Eaten Raw

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Not Taken out of the House

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Roasted With Fire

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Shut up Four Days That It Might be Closely Examined

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: Taken out of the Flock

Typical Nature of Paschal Lamb: What Remained of It Till Morning to be Burned

Related Terms

Pas-dammim (2 Occurrences)

Dammim (3 Occurrences)

Pas (2 Occurrences)

Paschal (1 Occurrence)

Parcel (10 Occurrences)

Plot (53 Occurrences)

Barley (35 Occurrences)

Troops (92 Occurrences)

Pasach: Son of Japhlet
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