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C

Catholic

Term 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.

Cessationist

Name 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.

Chalcedon

City in Asia Minor where church council was held in 451 A.D. This creed stated that Jesus was "truly God and truly man."

Christos

Greek word (transliteration) for Christ. It is used in the Septuagint to translate "Meshiach," which means "Messiah," "The Anointed One."

Church

The people of God, His congregation, His kingdom on earth

Common Grace

The 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

Continuationist

Name 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 Grace

The forbearance and benefits that God gives to everyone that is part of his covenant people, even if they are not true believers

Cyprian

Bishop 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."