A selected passage or reading from scripture used in liturgical worship or biblical study, typically forming a complete unit of meaning. These passages are often organized into cycles for systematic reading throughout the church year.
From Greek 'perikope' meaning 'a cutting around' or 'section,' derived from 'peri' (around) and 'koptein' (to cut). The term originally referred to any extracted portion of a text but became specialized in Christian usage to describe liturgical scripture readings arranged for worship services.
Pericopes are like biblical 'greatest hits' collections—carefully chosen passages that capture essential teachings and stories for regular worship! The lectionary system organizing these readings is incredibly sophisticated, weaving together Old Testament, Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels in patterns that unfold the entire Christian story over three-year cycles. This ancient practice means that Christians worldwide often hear the same biblical passages on the same Sunday, creating a global conversation around shared texts despite denominational differences.
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