Why are the Pilgrims called Pilgrims?
Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:
PIL’GRIM, n.
1. A wanderer; a traveler; particularly, one that travels to a distance from his own country to visit a holy place, or to pay his devotion to the remains of dead saints. [See Pilgrimage.]
Continuing: “A pilgrim is a person who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons. Or someone who travels on long journeys. This is a good term for the Pilgrims who were seeking a place of religious safety after leaving England and then Holland.”
Have you ever considered the question “why are the pilgrims who left Europe and went to America called pilgrims?”
The first time the word “pilgrims” is used to refer to the Mayflower passengers can be found in William Bradford’s record of the events titled “Of Plymouth Plantation”.
As W. Bradford finished recounting his group’s departure for the promised land of America he used the imagery of Hebrews 11:13-16, about Old Testament “strangers and pilgrims” who had opportunity to return to their old country but instead longed for a better, heavenly country.
Here is what W. Bradford wrote:
“So they lefte [that] goodly & pleasante citie, which had been ther resting place, nere 12 years; but they knew they were pilgrimes, & looked not much on these things; but lift up their eyes to ye heavens, their dearest cuntrie, and quieted their spirits.”
So the next time you hear someone mentions “the Pilgrims” ask them if they know why those people were referred to in that way. Or better yet: strike up a conversation and educate people about the Godly heritage of america.
Click here for a short, fun, educational course about the Pilgrims.
Join Parson Rayphe, host of The Victorious Edge, live, 7@7 (7 days a week at 7:00 PM / PST), on The Edge of the Sword Radio. Also tune in to “The Word To Live By” TV (a live weekly TV broadcast).
Parson Rayphe is the Pastor of Living Water Ministries, which includes Christian Persecution in America. For more information please click here.
I’ll see you out in the field,
Parson Rayphe
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