- TRANCE (Gr. ekstasis, from which the word “ecstasy” is derived)
denotes the state of one who is “out of himself.” Such were the trances of
Peter and Paul, Acts 10:10; 11:5; 22:17, ecstasies, “a preternatural,
absorbed state of mind preparing for the reception of the vision”, (comp. 2
Corinthians 12:1-4). In Mark 5:42 and Luke 5:26 the Greek word is
rendered “astonishment,” “amazement” (comp. Mark 16:8; Acts 3:10). - TRANSFIGURATION, THE of our Lord on a “high mountain apart,” is
described by each of the three evangelists (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8;
Luke 9:28-36). The fullest account is given by Luke, who, no doubt, was
informed by Peter, who was present on the occasion. What these
evangelists record was an absolute historical reality, and not a mere vision.
The concurrence between them in all the circumstances of the incident is
exact. John seems to allude to it also (John 1:14). Forty years after the
event Peter distinctly makes mention of it (2 Peter 1:16-18). In describing
the sanctification of believers, Paul also seems to allude to this majestic
and glorious appearance of our Lord on the “holy mount” (Romans 12:2; 2
Corinthians 3:18).
The place of the transfiguration was probably Mount Hermon (q.v.), and
not Mount Tabor, as is commonly supposed.
- TREASURE CITIES store cities which the Israelites built for the
Egyptians (Exodus 1:11). (See PITHOM.) Towns in which the treasures
of the kings of Judah were kept were so designated (1 Chronicles 27:25). - TREASURE HOUSES the houses or magazines built for the safe keeping
of treasure and valuable articles of any kind (Ezra 5:17; 7:20; Nehemiah
10:38; Daniel 1:2). - TREASURY (Matthew 27:6; Mark 12:41; John 8:20). It does not appear
that there was a separate building so called. The name was given to the
thirteen brazen chests, called “trumpets,” from the form of the opening
into which the offerings of the temple worshippers were put. These stood
in the outer “court of the women.” “Nine chests were for the appointed
money-tribute and for the sacrifice-tribute, i.e., money-gifts instead of the
sacrifices; four chests for freewill-offerings for wood, incense, temple
decoration, and burnt-offerings” (Lightfoot’s Hor. Hebrews ). - TREE OF LIFE stood also in the midst of the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9;
3:22). Some writers have advanced the opinion that this tree had some