{
  "id": "dict_003251",
  "term": "Lazarus",
  "slug": "lazarus",
  "letter": "L",
  "entry_type": "biblical_person",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Lazarus is the name of two New Testament figures: Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and Lazarus in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16.",
  "simple_one_line": "Lazarus is the name of two New Testament figures, including Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead.",
  "tooltip_text": "A New Testament name borne by two different men, including Lazarus of Bethany.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Mary and Martha",
    "resurrection",
    "parable",
    "Bethany",
    "rich man and Lazarus"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "John 11",
    "John 12",
    "Luke 16",
    "Eleazar"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Lazarus is a New Testament personal name borne by two different men. The best-known Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha in Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Another Lazarus appears in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A New Testament name used for two distinct men.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Lazarus of Bethany appears in John 11 and John 12.",
    "He was the brother of Mary and Martha and was raised by Jesus.",
    "A different Lazarus appears in Luke 16:19-31 in Jesus’ parable.",
    "The two figures should not be confused or merged."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Lazarus is a New Testament personal name that refers to two distinct men. In John’s Gospel, Lazarus of Bethany is the brother of Mary and Martha and the man whom Jesus raised from the dead. In Luke 16, Lazarus is the poor man in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The entry functions as a biblical name entry rather than a doctrinal term.",
  "description_academic_full": "Lazarus is a New Testament personal name with two distinct referents. In John 11–12, Lazarus of Bethany is the brother of Mary and Martha and the man Jesus raised from the dead, an event that displays Christ’s authority over death and anticipates the theme of resurrection. In Luke 16:19-31, Lazarus is the poor man in Jesus’ parable who is comforted after death while the rich man faces judgment. Scripture presents these as separate figures, and interpreters should not combine them. Because the word names biblical persons rather than a theological concept, the entry is best treated as a biblical person-name entry.",
  "background_biblical_context": "John’s Gospel presents Lazarus of Bethany as a close friend of Jesus and as the subject of one of Jesus’ most striking signs. Luke’s parable uses the name Lazarus for a poor man whose postmortem reversal underscores the seriousness of God’s revelation and the danger of hardened unbelief.",
  "background_historical_context": "Lazarus is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning “God has helped.” The name was common in the ancient world, which helps explain why the New Testament uses it for more than one figure.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "The name reflects a common Jewish naming pattern built from the Hebrew Eleazar. In the first-century Jewish world, names often carried theological meaning, but the significance of Lazarus in the New Testament comes from the narratives in which the name appears.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "John 11:1-44",
    "John 12:1-11",
    "Luke 16:19-31"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "John 11:45-53",
    "John 12:17-18"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "Greek Lazaros reflects Hebrew Eleazar, meaning “God has helped.”",
  "theological_significance": "Lazarus of Bethany is important because his resurrection by Jesus serves as a sign of Christ’s life-giving authority and points toward the larger resurrection hope of the Gospel. The Lazarus in Luke 16 contributes to Jesus’ teaching on repentance, revelation, and the reality of judgment after death.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The entry illustrates how a single name can refer to more than one person, so meaning must be determined by context rather than by the name alone. In Scripture, personal identity is anchored in the narrative setting and not merely in the label.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not confuse Lazarus of Bethany with the Lazarus in Luke 16. The parable should be read as a teaching story, not as a basis for constructing detailed doctrine from every narrative element. Avoid speculative claims about the afterlife beyond what the text clearly states.",
  "major_views_note": "Most interpreters distinguish the two Lazaruses without controversy. The main interpretive question concerns the parable in Luke 16, especially how much detail should be pressed for doctrinal use; careful readers keep the focus on the parable’s main point.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should not be used to support speculative teachings about the intermediate state beyond the clear teaching of Scripture. The Bethany narrative supports Jesus’ authority over death and the reality of resurrection, while Luke 16 warns of final accountability.",
  "practical_significance": "Lazarus of Bethany encourages faith in Christ’s power over death and comfort in the hope of resurrection. The Lazarus in Luke 16 warns readers to heed God’s word now and not harden their hearts.",
  "meta_description": "Lazarus is the New Testament name borne by two distinct men: Lazarus of Bethany, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and the Lazarus in Jesus’ parable in Luke 16.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/lazarus/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/lazarus.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}