Browse the glossary using this index
Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL
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AdonaiBiblical name of God meaning Lord, Master, Ruler | |
AtheismBelief that there is no God | |
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BasilElected bishop of Caesarea in A.D. 370. In Letter 189, written to Eustathius, he defended the Scriptures as our final authority in doctrine. | |
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CatholicTerm which originally meant "universal," and was used in the Apostles' Creed to describe the Church as including all believers from all places and throughout all of history. The term later came to be used in reference to the Roman Church as an organization, but this was not the original meaning as it was used in the creed. | |
CessationistName given to those who hold the view that the supernatural gifts that were manifest in the time of the New Testament, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing, have ceased. They consider that these gifts were given only for the special spread of the gospel and the establishment of the Church at the time of the apostles. | |
ChalcedonCity in Asia Minor where church council was held in 451 A.D. This creed stated that Jesus was "truly God and truly man." | |
ChristosGreek word (transliteration) for Christ. It is used in the Septuagint to translate "Meshiach," which means "Messiah," "The Anointed One." | |
Common GraceThe forbearance that God shows and the benefits he gives to all humanity, regardless of their faith | |
Communicable Term used to describe attributes of God that can be communicated to man, at least in some degree, such as reason and love | |
ContinuationistName given to those who hold the view that the supernatural gifts that were manifest in the time of the New Testament, such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and miraculous healing, continue even today. | |
Covenant GraceThe forbearance and benefits that God gives to everyone that is part of his covenant people, even if they are not true believers | |
CyprianBishop of Carthage in the third century. In Epistle 73, he wrote that traditional teachings of the Church should not have more authority than the Scriptures, because the Church can make theological mistakes. In this letter he wrote, "...custom without truth is the antiquity of error." | |
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EconomicTerm used when speaking theologically of the Trinity in the sense of the particular role that each person has. In the economic perspective of the Trinity, each person has a unique and distinct role. | |
El ElyonBiblical name of God meaning God Most High | |
El ShaddaiBiblical name of God meaning Almighty God | |
Ex nihiloLatin phrase meaning "out of nothing," used to explain that God created everything out of nothing | |
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General RevelationGod’s use of the natural world and its workings to make his existence, nature, presence, actions and will known to all humanity | |
GnosticismEarly heresy from the first centuries after Christ. Among other things, they believed that material things were evil, including the human body, which was a prison of the human soul. They consequently believed that God would never take on the form of human flesh, and therefore denied that Jesus was both God and man. | |
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HadesGreek term used in the New Testament, usually meaning the abode of wicked souls, but sometimes referring to the place of both the righteous and the wicked. | |
HenotheismBelief in the existence of many gods, but offering special dedication on one primary god | |
HippolytusTheologian from Rome (c 170 – c 236 A.D.). Wrote Against the Heresy of One Noetus, in which he defended the Scriptures as our final authority in doctrine. | |
HypostasisMeans "person." The term was used in the early centuries after Christ to express the doctrine that the divine nature and the human nature of Christ are united in one "person." | |
Hypostatic union Phrase used in early theology to express the doctrine that the divine and human natures of Christ are united in one person | |
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IlluminationA divine gift of knowledge or understanding that is primarily cognitive. It refers to the work of the Holy Spirit as he helps people understand God's revelation. | |
Incommunicable Term used to describe attributes of God that can NOT be communicated to man, such as His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and eternality | |
Inward LeadingA divine gift of knowledge or understanding that is primarily emotive or intuitive. It refers to one way the Holy Spirit guides people. | |
Islam Religion that teaches that Jesus was a true prophet of God, but that He was not crucified or resurrected | |
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Kurios Greek word (English transliteration) for ruler, master, Sir | |
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MonotheismBelief in one true God | |
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Nicene CreedCreed written by a council held in the city of the same name, in 325 A.D. This creed was basically an expansion of the Apostles' Creed. | |
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OntologicalRelated to being. Term used when speaking theologically of the Trinity in the sense of their attributes and essence. In the ontological perspective of the Trinity, they share the same attributes and essence. | |
OrigenEarly Christian theologian (185-254 A.D.) who taught in Alexandria, Egypt. Wrote commentaries on the Bible and On First Principles, in which he defended the Scriptures as our final authority for Christian doctrine. He produced the Hexapla, a comparative study of various translations of the Old Testament. | |
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PassionComes from the Greek word "pasco" (transliteration) meaning to "suffer." | |
PolytheismBelief in multiple gods | |
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Roman Creed A creed used in Rome in the early centuries after Christ, almost identical to the Apostles' Creed | |
Rufinus Monk and historian (340/345 – 410 A.D.), who proposed (in 390 A.D.) the idea that the Apostles' Creed was written by the twelve apostles, each one contributing a phrase | |
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SanctificationThe act of making people and things holy | |
Saving GraceThe application of the eternal benefits of Christ’s perfect life, death, resurrection, ascension and glorious return to those who receive him as Lord and savior | |
SeptuagintGreek translation of the Old Testament. | |
SessionTheological term used to refer to Jesus' ministry of intercession, while seated at the right hand of God the Father. | |
SheolHebrew term used in the Old Testament to refer to the place of the departed spirits, both the righteous and the wicked | |
SimplicityWhen used in theology in reference to God, it means that God's essence consists of only one substance. | |
SingularityWhen used in theology in reference to God, it means that He is the only true God. | |
Sola ScripturaLatin phrase meaning "Scripture alone," one of the basic principles of the Reformation | |
SoulAll the inner, non-physical aspects of our being | |
Special RevelationGod’s direct involvement, or his use of messengers, to make his existence, nature, presence, actions and will known to limited portions of humanity | |
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TertullianEarly Christian writer (160-220 A.D.) from Carthage. (His name is written in several different ways, sometimes ending in "-us.") He referred to the "Roman Creed" by this name around 200 A.D. | |
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Undifferentiated monadTerm used to describe the belief that god is absolutely one, with no distinction between persons | |
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YahwehBiblical name of God meaning Lord. Derives from "I AM" in Hebrew. It is the most intimate name of God, a proper name, used as early as the time of Seth. | |