Pilgrims
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In the biblical context, the term "pilgrims" refers to individuals who are on a spiritual journey, often characterized by a temporary sojourn in a foreign land, with the ultimate goal of reaching a promised or heavenly destination. This concept is deeply rooted in the narrative of the Bible, where the life of faith is frequently depicted as a pilgrimage.

Old Testament Context

The idea of pilgrimage is first seen in the lives of the patriarchs. Abraham is a quintessential example of a pilgrim. In Genesis 12:1, God calls Abram (later Abraham) to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to a land that God would show him. This call to leave behind the familiar and journey to an unknown land is a foundational aspect of the pilgrim experience. Hebrews 11:8-10 reflects on this, stating, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country."

The Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their subsequent journey to the Promised Land is another significant pilgrimage narrative. This journey, marked by trials and divine guidance, symbolizes the spiritual journey of believers from bondage to freedom, from the temporal to the eternal.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of pilgrimage is expanded to encompass the Christian life as a whole. The Apostle Peter addresses believers as "foreigners and exiles" (1 Peter 2:11), emphasizing the transient nature of earthly life and the believer's status as a pilgrim on the way to a heavenly home. This theme is echoed in Hebrews 11:13-16 , which speaks of the faithful as "strangers and exiles on the earth," who "were longing for a better country—a heavenly one."

The life of Jesus Christ also embodies the pilgrim motif. His incarnation can be seen as a divine pilgrimage, leaving the glory of heaven to dwell among humanity. Jesus' earthly ministry was marked by movement and mission, culminating in His journey to Jerusalem, where He would fulfill His redemptive work.

Spiritual Significance

For Christians, the pilgrimage is not merely a physical journey but a spiritual one. It involves a continual process of sanctification, as believers seek to live according to God's will and grow in Christlikeness. The pilgrim's path is often fraught with challenges, but it is also marked by divine presence and guidance. Psalm 84:5 captures this sentiment: "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage."

The pilgrim journey is ultimately a journey toward God, with the hope of eternal life in His presence. Revelation 21:3-4 offers a vision of the pilgrim's final destination: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.'"

Conclusion

The biblical concept of pilgrimage serves as a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, emphasizing faith, obedience, and the hope of a future inheritance. As pilgrims, believers are called to live as citizens of heaven, journeying through this world with their eyes fixed on the eternal promises of God.
Greek
4638. skenoma -- a tent
... tent ("tabernacle," Ac 7:46); (figuratively) the physical body, serving as God's
vehicle (dwelling place) -- ie as believers live as ("pilgrims") the Lord in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4638.htm - 7k
Library

Happy Pilgrims
... VOLUME II: PSALMS LI to CXLV HAPPY PILGRIMS. 'Blessed is ... Zion. II. And now
notice the blessedness of the pilgrims' experience. If ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/happy pilgrims.htm

The Pilgrims of Jesus.
... THE PILGRIMS OF JESUS. 7,6,7,6 Joseph of the Studium. O happy band of pilgrims,.
If onward ye will tread. With JESUS as your Fellow. To JESUS as your Head! ...
/.../neale/hymns of the eastern church/the pilgrims of jesus.htm

The Pilgrims.
... NATIONAL HYMNS. 843. " The Pilgrims. 843. CM C. Sprague. The Pilgrims.
1 Our fathers, Lord, to seek a spot Where they might ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/843 the pilgrims.htm

Pilgrims of the Victorious Life
... CHAPTER THIRTEEN PILGRIMS OF THE VICTORIOUS LIFE. PILGRIMS OF THE VICTORIOUS
LIFE Please tell me, will you, if a really victorious ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter thirteen pilgrims of the.htm

O Food to Pilgrims Given
... No. 57 O Food to Pilgrims Given. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT O Food to Pilgrims Given
O Esca Viatorum. 17th Century H. Isaak (1493) Translated by Rt. Rev. Msgr. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 57 o food to.htm

April 26. "Strangers and Pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13).
... APRIL 26. "Strangers and pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13). "Strangers and pilgrims"
(Hebrews 11:13). If you have ever tried to plough a ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /april 26 strangers and pilgrims.htm

O Happy Band of Pilgrims
... PROCESSIONALS Processionals 536. O happy band of pilgrims. 7.6.7.6 [2095]Knecht: ...
John Mason Neale, 1862; Alt. O happy band of pilgrims,. If onward ye will tread. ...
/.../processionals 536 o happy band.htm

Sunday after Ascension Day. These all Confessed that they were ...
... These all confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. . . . ... These
all confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. . . . ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/sunday after ascension day these.htm

The Torments of Giant Bad Feelings
... Nearly every pilgrim in Canaan has met Giant Bad Feelings, a doughty
old giant with a long bad record for troubling pilgrims. ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter ten the torments of.htm

In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager
... Some pilgrims are fortunate in passing through it quickly, while others, coming
under the spell of two old giants who live there, have a very hard time passing ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter nine in the dungeon.htm

Thesaurus
Pilgrims (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pilgrims (2 Occurrences). Hebrews 11:13 These
all died in faith, not having received the promises, but ...
/p/pilgrims.htm - 7k

Mizpeh (24 Occurrences)
... Two days later he murdered a company of pilgrims, throwing their dead bodies into
the great cistern which Asa had made when strengthening the place against ...
/m/mizpeh.htm - 21k

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)
... The wealthy king Croesus supplied it with many of its stone columns, and the pilgrims
from all the oriental world brought it of their wealth. ...
/e/ephesus.htm - 24k

Mizpah (42 Occurrences)
... Two days later he murdered a company of pilgrims, throwing their dead bodies into
the great cistern which Asa had made when strengthening the place against ...
/m/mizpah.htm - 31k

Exiles (46 Occurrences)
... in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them
from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the ...
/e/exiles.htm - 20k

Dayspring (2 Occurrences)
... The unfortunate pilgrims, overtaken by the night, are sitting down expecting
death, when suddenly a star brightly beams above them. ...
/d/dayspring.htm - 11k

Pilgrim
... 2. (n.) One who travels far, or in strange lands, to visit some holy place or shrine
as a devotee; as, a pilgrim to Loretto; Canterbury pilgrims. See Palmer. ...
/p/pilgrim.htm - 7k

Cilicia (8 Occurrences)
... Minor. Through these passes the armies and the pilgrims, the trade and
the travel of the centuries have made their way. Alexander ...
/c/cilicia.htm - 13k

Aliens (53 Occurrences)
... in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them
from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the ...
/a/aliens.htm - 22k

Strangers (95 Occurrences)
... in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them
from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the ...
/s/strangers.htm - 36k

Resources
Who are the Hospitaller Knights? | GotQuestions.org

What should be the focus of Christians on Thanksgiving? | GotQuestions.org

What is The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Pilgrims (2 Occurrences)

Hebrews 11:13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS)

Subtopics

Pilgrims

Pilgrims and Strangers: Abraham

Pilgrims and Strangers: All Saints Are

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They are Actuated by Faith

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They are Exposed to Persecution

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They are not at Home in This World

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They are not Mindful of This World

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They are Strengthened by God

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Die in Faith

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Forsake all for Christ

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Hate Worldly Fellowship

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Have a Heavenly Conversation

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Have the Example of Christ

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Have Their Faces Toward Zion

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Invite Others to Go With Them

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Keep the Promised in View

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Long for Their Pilgrimage to End

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Look for a Heavenly City

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Look for a Heavenly Country

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Pass Their Sojourning in Fear

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Pray for Direction

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Rejoice in the Statutes of God

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: Shine As Lights in the World

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: should Abstain from Fleshly Lusts

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: should Have Their Treasure in Heaven

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: should not be Over Anxious About Worldly Things

Pilgrims and Strangers: As Saints They: The World is not Worthy of

Pilgrims and Strangers: David

Pilgrims and Strangers: Described

Pilgrims and Strangers: God is not Ashamed to be Called Their God

Pilgrims and Strangers: Jacob

Pilgrims and Strangers: Saints are Called to Be

Pilgrims and Strangers: Saints Confess Themselves

Pilgrims and Strangers: Saints of Old

Pilgrims and Strangers: The Apostles

Pilgrims and Strangers: Typified: Israel

Related Terms

Mizpeh (24 Occurrences)

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)

Mizpah (42 Occurrences)

Exiles (46 Occurrences)

Dayspring (2 Occurrences)

Pilgrim

Cilicia (8 Occurrences)

Aliens (53 Occurrences)

Strangers (95 Occurrences)

Artemis (5 Occurrences)

Diana (5 Occurrences)

Pilgrimage (4 Occurrences)

Jericho (59 Occurrences)

Exploration

Beg (77 Occurrences)

Natures (12 Occurrences)

Juttah (3 Occurrences)

Johanan (31 Occurrences)

Lusts (28 Occurrences)

Gilead (130 Occurrences)

Wage (39 Occurrences)

Wares (23 Occurrences)

Indulge (12 Occurrences)

Foreigners (76 Occurrences)

Fleshly (15 Occurrences)

Tekoa (12 Occurrences)

Tabernacles (43 Occurrences)

Embraced (19 Occurrences)

Middin (1 Occurrence)

Palmerworm (2 Occurrences)

Promises (35 Occurrences)

Paphos (2 Occurrences)

Peraea

Pilha (1 Occurrence)

Palmer-worm (2 Occurrences)

Baca (1 Occurrence)

Begging (18 Occurrences)

Beggar (5 Occurrences)

Cana (4 Occurrences)

Caravan (8 Occurrences)

Confessed (19 Occurrences)

Cravings (17 Occurrences)

Abstain (13 Occurrences)

Admitted (16 Occurrences)

Afar (98 Occurrences)

Apostolic (2 Occurrences)

Sojourners (37 Occurrences)

Balm (7 Occurrences)

Welcomed (30 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Plague (142 Occurrences)

Issachar (40 Occurrences)

Gold (429 Occurrences)

Dearly (30 Occurrences)

Lower (72 Occurrences)

Urge (34 Occurrences)

Joppa (14 Occurrences)

Persuaded (40 Occurrences)

Jacob's (34 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

Manna (19 Occurrences)

Passions (26 Occurrences)

Entreat (55 Occurrences)

Beseech (85 Occurrences)

Lust (42 Occurrences)

Machpelah (6 Occurrences)

Golgotha (4 Occurrences)

Sinful (61 Occurrences)

Galilee (73 Occurrences)

Age (404 Occurrences)

Demetrius (3 Occurrences)

Territory (140 Occurrences)

Dear (120 Occurrences)

Strange (234 Occurrences)

Botany

Beloved (117 Occurrences)

Star (16 Occurrences)

Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
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