Abrahamic Covenant
The covenant God made with Abraham
and his Seed in Genesis 15 and 18.
Adamic Covenant
The Adamic Covenant is often called
the covenant of works or the covenant of creation. It refers to the
covenant God made with Adam promising him eternal life or eternal death
according to the success of his priestly kingship during his probation
period in the garden of Eden. Jesus Christ, the last Adam, satisfied this
covenant through His human obedience.
Amillennialism
Amillennialism is derived from the Latin
prefix a- meaning "no" plus the word mille meaning thousand
and annus meaning year. Amillennialism is the belief that the
history between Christ's ascension and His second coming is the period
referred to in Revelation 20 as the millennium in which Christ presently
reigns with the church of triumphant saints in heaven over all things to
the glory of God.
Antediluvian
Antediluvian
is derived from the two Latin words
ante meaning "before" and diluvium meaning "a flood." The
period before the great deluge of Genesis 7 is referred to as the
antediluvian world.
Antinomianism
Antinomy
is derived from the two Greek words (anti) meaning "over against" and (nomos)
meaning "law." An antinomian is one who denies that there is any objective
law or standard of obedience in the New Testament age to which the
believer is accountable.
Antithesis
Antithesis
is derived from the Greek words (anti) meaning "over against" and (tithenai)
meaning "to set." Antithesis in literary terms refers to the scheme in
which the author juxtaposes two contrapositional tenets in order to
demonstrate a dialectic. In philosophical terms antithesis is that
utter dialectic opposition of two presuppositions.
Anthropology
Anthropology
is derived from the two Greek words (anthropos) meaning "man" and (logos)
meaning "word." Biblical anthropology deals with the study of the Bible's
revelation of the nature of man both before and after the fall and both
before and after regeneration. A fundamental idea in Biblical anthropology
is the image of God.
Apologetics
Apologetics
is derived from the Greek word (apologia) meaning "defense" or "answer."
Apologetics is giving a reason for the hope of Christianity and a defense
of the gospel. Because of the identity of Christians with the One true
God, the Christian worldview is antithetical with the world of unbelievers
who hate their Maker and thus Christianity as well. Christian apologetics
serves its Creator by affirming Him as the basis and purpose of
rationality before men, and showing that the basis of other worldviews
cannot account for the reality they live in. The goal of reformed
apologetics is to defend the gospel from the wisdom of the world by
silencing its foolishness and offering the only possible interpretation of
reality in light and hope of Jesus Christ.
Apophatic
A term used to refer to a particular style of theology, which stressed
that God cannot be known in terms of human categories. "Apophatic"
(which derives from the Greek apophasis, "negation" or
"denial") approaches to theology are especially associated with the
monastic tradition of the Eastern Orthodox church.
A priori
"From first [to last]" A priori
is a Latin phrase which designates deduction; from cause to effect; from
generalization to peculiars. Opposed to a posteriori.
Arminianism
The heretic Arminius led a revolt in
the reformed church in 1616. His denial of the Christian doctrines of
God's sovereignty and human depravity have since been controversial in the
protestant church.
Basileia
The Greek word basilei/a means
"kingdom."
Berith
The
Hebrew word (berith) means "covenant."
Biblical Theology
Biblical theology is the discipline
which traces the organic self-revelation of God through the history of
Special revelation.
Calvinism
Jean Caulvin (1509-1564) was a
prominant French reformer and pastor in Geneva. His teachings have
remained foundational in the reformed church over the ages. In 1619 the
Synod of Dordtrecht systematized his teachings on soteriology in response
to the remonstrance of James Harmenz (Latin Arminius). Since then,
Calvinism has been identified with the five creedal doctrines which the
Synod of Dort laid out.
Cataphatic
Of or relating to the religious belief
that God can be known to humans positively or affirmatively.
Catechism
Catechism
is a derivative of the Latin word
chatechismus meaning a handbook of questions and answers. To catechize
is to teach or instruct using the repetition of questions and answers.
Christology
Christology
is derived from the two Greek words (Christos) meaning "anointed one" or
"messiah" and (logos) meaning "word." Christology is
the study of the Messiah. Traditionally this deals with the science of
Christ's incarnation, seeking to understand the relationship between the
divine and human nature of Christ. As a theological discipline,
Christology is that study of the Messianic content of a passage of
Scripture.
Coram Deo
Latin, literally: "in the presence
of God."
Corporate Personality
Corporate personality is the
doctrine of collective identity of the church or the people of God within
the covenant . In other words, being joined to Christ is induction into
the membership in Christ's body and no longer does one find his identity
in himself apart from the body; but as a part of the body, his existence
serves the church. It is the church for whom Christ died, and He died for
individuals as they are part of that body. The doctrine of corporate
personality is provisional and eschatological. God's covenant dealings
with His people are always corporate and collective. The biblical language
describing God's covenant people likewise is always collective.
Cosmonogy
Cosmonogy
is derived from the two Greek words (cosmos) meaning "order" or "universe"
and (gonos) the base of (gignesthai) meaning "to produce." Cosmonogy is
the origin or generation of the universe; or the account of the creation
of the cosmos.
Cosmology
Cosmology is
derived from the two Greek words (cosmos) meaning "universe" or "order"
and (logos) meaning "word." Cosmology is the study of the universe, (or
cosmos). This study encompasses not only the physical, but the
metaphysical means by which God governs and sustains creation. Cosmology
therefore deals with time, and seeks to understand the Creator's
relationship with His creation, from the beginning, to the end of time.
Covenant
A covenant is an agreement upon the promises concerning
the relationship between two or more parties.
In Biblical terms the covenant is the prime agency of God's
self-revelation in history. God reveals Himself to be the covenant God.
The essence of the covenant between God and man is "I will be your God,
and you will be My people." The probationary covenant of life by which man
was to keep God's commandments perfectly was ultimately and consummately
fulfilled by Christ, God in the flesh. The covenant of grace is that by
which God's elect are attributed Christ's satisfaction by faith. An
understanding of the covenant is central to understanding the history of
redemption.
Covenant-Redemptive
The hermeneutical approach is based
on the presupposition that God works through progressive covenants which
reflect His eternal covenant nature and purpose of redemption.
Covenant Theology
Covenant theology is that system of
theology which recognizes the successive covenants of Scripture as a
unity, and the means by which God orders His creation and brings about
redemption for His elect.
Davidic Covenant
The everlasting kingship covenant
God made with David and his Seed in 2 Samuel 7.
Diatheke
The Greek word (diatheke) means
"covenant."
Didactics
Didactics
is derived from the Greek word (didaktikos) meaning "apt to teach."
Didactics is the art of science of teaching; pedagogy.
Dispensation
A historical age or cosmos, in which
God provides the environment through which men relate with Him, and His
righteousness and love. The Old Testament is best interpreted as the
history foreshadowing the coming of the Messiah. Because the history
before Christ could not perfectly represent God to men, God's people
belonged to a burdensome age looking forward to the one who could mediate
the promises of God, and could uphold their obligations to God. Following
the coming of Christ, we now experience an age where the promises of God
have been realized historically in Jesus Christ, and historically belong
to all those who believe in His name and eagerly await His return.
Doctrine
Doctrine
is derived from the Latin word doctrina meaning "teachings."
Something taught as a the principle or creed of a religion.
Dooweerdian
Dogmatics
Dogma
(Greek dogma,
literally "decree") is a doctrine of practice or a body of doctrines
formally and authoritatively affirmed. Dogmatics is the study of religious
dogmas.
Ecclesia
The Greek word (ecclesia) means
"church" or "assembly."
Ecclesiology
Ecclesiology
is derived from the two Greek words (ecclesia) meaning "assembly" or
"church" and (logos) meaning "word." Ecclesiology is the science of the
church.
Ecumenism
Ecumenism
from the Greek
oikos/meno, derives from the Greek words
(oikos) meaning "house" and (meno) meaning "to remain." In general
ecumenical means simply "universal." In religious terms, ecumenical
refers to the Christian church as a whole. Ecumenism is the doctrine of
the universal (holy catholic) church.
Epistemology
Epistemology
is derived from the two Greek words (epistemon) meaning "understanding"
and (logos) meaning "word." Epistemology is the science of knowledge. Epistemology seeks to find the true
assumptions that account for reality. Biblical epistemology acknowledges
that apart from God's personal self-revelation in His word and by His
Spirit, no man can make right judgments about God, himself, or any of
God's creation.
Eschatology
Eschatology is
derived from the two Greek words (eschatos) meaning "final" or "last" and
(logos) meaning "word." Formally, eschatology means "the study of the last
things". In a broad sense, eschatology seeks to understand the
relationship between the eternal decisions or decrees of God through time,
which were made before time, and were revealed to us at the fullness of
time in Jesus Christ. In a corporate sense, eschatology is categorized by
those who are in Christ, clothed with His righteousness and obedience, and
those who are in Adam, clothed in his wickedness and disobedience.
Eschatology concerns itself with the judgment confirming righteousness,
and the judgment condemning wickedness.
Etymology
Etymology
is derived from the Greek word (etymon) meaning "a sense" and (logos)
meaning "word." Etymology is the study of the original meaning and
development of a word tracing its meaning back as far as possible.
Exegesis
Exegesis
is derived from the Greek word (exegesis), and means simply "explanation."
As a theological discipline, exegesis is the study, including critical
analysis, of a passage of Scripture in order to derive the authorial
intent of the relevant word of truth for God's people. Exegetical
preaching, then, deals with the verse-by-verse explanation of a text.
Existentialism
Broadly existentialism is the
philosophy of existence or experience. More specifically, existentialism
is the philosophical cult of nihilism, that is that each man exists as an
individual in a purposeless universe, and that he must oppose this hostile
environment through the exercise of his free will.
Federalism
Federalism
is derived from the Latin word foederis, meaning "by contract or
treaty." Federalism was a term used by previous generations of reformed
scholars to refer to the doctrine of the covenant.
Form Criticism
Framework Model
The framework model is the theory
that the Genesis one creation account follows a pattern of two triads of
day-frames, and that those day-frames are not necessarily 24 hour periods.
Ginosko
The Greek word (ginosko)
means "to know" and carries connotations of personal covenant knowledge;
even marital, one-flesh intimacy.
Gnosticism
Grammatico-Historical
The hermeneutical approach which is
aimed at descrying the intent of the human authors of a text to their
immediate audience. That intent, grammatico-historians insist, is the sole
intent of God for all generations of readers in that passage.
Heilsgeschichte
German; literally "sacred history."
(see Redemptive-history)
Heresy
Hermeneutics
Hermeneutics
is a technical term derived from the Greek
(hermeneutikos) meaning "the science of
interpretation," In biblical terms "especially the branch of theology
dealing with the principles of exegesis." The science of understanding a
message or complete thought, especially that which is communicated through
written text. In other words,
hermeneutics seeks to know how to interpret the actual intended
conveyence of a message.
Homiletics
Homiletics
is derived from the Greek word (homiletikos) which means "conversation."
More specifically, homiletics deals with the art of writing or delivering
sermons as a means of communication of God's truth to His church.
Imago Dei
Imago Dei
is Latin for image of God.
Indicative/Imperative
Infralapsarianism
Concerning the order of the divine
decrees before creation
infralapsarianism is the belief that God decreed to redeem mankind
after God decreed the fall of mankind. Thus the fall brought about a
proliferation of human life on the earth, all those whom God had not
elected.
Interpretive Maximalism
(see Maximalism)
Irresistible Grace
The fourth tenet of Calvinism, the
doctrine of irresistible grace teaches that all those for whom Christ died
are those in whom the Holy Spirit works regeneration, and that the Holy
Spirit's working is irresistible, that is no human being who is engaged by
the Holy Spirit rejects His working.
Johannine
Klinean
Liberalism
Limited Atonement
(see Particular Atonement)
Maximalism
Maximalism
in literature is the scheme in which the author invests each character,
image, section, and chapter of the narrative with a reflection of the
entire plotline of the story. When we speak of interpretive maximalism
with reference to Scripture we mean that principle of hermeneutics by
which we recognize that the Author of Scripture has invested reflections
of his plan of redemption in each of the many characters, passages,
themes, and sections of the Bible; and thus we recognize God's sovereignty
and gracious self-revelation. Interpretive maximalism is a difficult
chore, because a thorough understanding of the plot-line is pre-requisite.
Thus, any error in one's understanding of the plot-line is multiplied
exponentially in each sub-section.
Mosaic Covenant
(see Sinaitic Covenant)
Neo-Calvinist
Neo-Orthodoxy
The heretical system of
theology/philosophy represented by Karl Barth which teaches among other
things that the Scriptures do not contain truth, but are merely a means of
accessing truth in the individual and that truth is relative to the
individual. Neo-Orthodoxy drives a wedge between the ontological God and
the redemptive-historical (objective) God.
Neo-Puritan
Noahic Covenant
The covenant God made with Noah and
his descendents and with the whole new creation after the destruction of
the antediluvian world in the flood.
Ontology
Ontology is derived
from the two Greek words (ontos) meaning "to be" and (logos) meaning
"word." Ontology is the science or study of being.
Ordo Salutis
Latin, "the order of salvation." The
ordo salutis is the doctrine that deals with the logical sequencing of
the various elements of redemption.
Organic (nature of redemptive revelation)
When we speak of the organic nature
of Biblical theology, we refer to that quality of redemptive revelation
which is complete and sufficient in all of its stages of development. That
concentrated truth develops as subsequent redemptive acts and covenants
bring to light those multifarious aspects of redemption which were
periphery or indistinguishable earlier, but were nonetheless present. The
organic nature of Biblical theology means that at every stage of
development the full substance of redemption present, though early on many
elements are indistinguishable. New revelation does not "add" to previous,
but rather develops or brings to light the multiformity of what was
latently present earlier. Affirming the organic nature of special
revelation via history is a defense against dispensationalism.
Particular Atonement
The third tenet of Calvinism, the
doctrine of particular atonement teaches that Christ died not for all men,
but for only those whom the Father gave Him.
Parousia
The Greek word,
parousi/a, meaning "presence" or "appearance." The term is used
almost exclusively to indicate Christ's second coming.
Pauline
Pelagianism
The heresy of Pelagius, a 4th
century British monk, which denies original sin and maintains that man has
absolute free will.
Pericope
Pronounced pehr·i´·coh·pee
Perseverance of the Saints
The fifth tenet of Calvinism, the
doctrine of perseverance of the saints teaches that all those who are
truly redeemed are sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit unto the day
of the Lord.
Phenomenology
Phenomenology
is derived from the two Greek words (phainomenon) and (logos) meaning
"word." Phenomenology is the branch of existentialism which deals with phenomena with
no attempt at explanation.
Phinehaitic Covenant
The covenant of everlasting
priesthood which God made with Phinehas in Numbers 25.
Platonism
Pneumatology
Pneumatology
derives from the two Greek words (pneuma) meaning "spirit" and (logos)
meaning "word." Generally the study or science of things spiritual. In
Christian theology pneumatology is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
Postmillennialism
The belief that the millennial reign
takes place as the world becomes Christianized and the operates according
to Christian principles while sin is reduced to a minimum.
Premillennialism
The belief that Christ's second
coming inaugurates an earthly millennial reign.
Presbyterianism
From the Greek (presbyterion)
meaning "body of elders."
Presbyterianism is the form of church government in which hierarchical
groups or courts of elders gather to determine cases of church polity,
dogma, discipline, and doctrine. The presbyterian form of government finds
biblical precendent in Acts 15.
Presuppositionalism
Presuppositions are the foundational
assumptions, basic committments, or heartfelt convictions which determine
how a person interprets reality. In other words, a presupposition provides
the metaphysical basis by which a person claims to understand sensation,
experience, and reason. Not all presuppositions are true, and thus those
who base their lives on false presuppositions, live a life of error, no
matter how consistent they are with respect to those presuppostitions.
Presuppositionalism is a philosophical approach which states that a
person's presuppositions determine his Weltanschauung.
Preterism
Preterism
derives from the Latin word praeteritus meaning "to go beyond."
When we speak of preterism with reference to Biblical prophesy we refer to
what extent that prophesy has been fulfilled. Thus a hyper-preterist would
believe that all of the prophesies of Scripture have already been
fulfilled and that we now have our resurrection bodies and are in heaven.
(Such people (full-preterists) do exist.) More common, however are full
preterists, who contend that a majority of the prophesies of the New
Testament were exhausted in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
Probation
Prophetic Idiom
Protology
Protology
derives from the Greek words (protos) meaning "origin" and (logos) meaning
"word." Protology means the science or truth of the origin of beginning of
things.
Redaction Criticism
Redemptive-History
Redemptive-history
is a translation of the German term
Heilsgeschichte (heil meaning "sacred" and geschichte
meaning "history" or "story"). History understood as God's self revelation
to mankind in the person of Jesus Christ, through whom God purposed to love
a people as His own, even to the point of sending His Son in their likeness,
being tempted and suffering death on the cross, bearing the full penalty of
their sins, that they may live in Him through His resurrection from the
dead. The life, death, and resurrection of the Savior, being the means of
God's redemptive purpose, was foreshadowed in all of history, specially
revealed in the Bible, that those who follow after Christ by His death to
the age of His resurrection might know God as faithful to His promises, and
have complete access to fellowship with Him without fear of condemnation.
Reprobation
Sacramentology
Sacramentology is a
combination of the Latin word
sacramentum meaning "sacred oath" or "sacred place" and the Greek word
(logos) meaning "word." Sacramentology is the study of the sacraments
(divine, covenant ordinances of worship).
Semper Reformanda
The motto of the reformed church. Latin meaning
"always reforming."
Sinaitic Covenant
The covenant God made with
Israel and their descendents at Sinai mediated by Moses, also known as the
covenant law.
Sola Dei Gloria
Latin meaning "For God's Glory
alone."
Sola Fide
Latin meaning "faith alone." The
reformed doctrine of the
means of salvation.
Sola Gratia
Latin meaning "grace alone." The
reformed doctrine of the
basis of salvation.
Sola Scriptura
Latin meaning "The Scriptures
alone." The reformed doctrine of infallible authority. Scripture alone is
the infallible and final authority in the Church for matters of doctrine
and practice.
Solus Christus
Latin meaning "of Christ alone." The reformed
doctrine of the merit of salvation. Closely related to the doctrine
of Solus Christus is the doctrine of imputation.
Soteriology
Soteriology is
derived from the two Greek words (soteria) meaning salvation and (logos)
meaning "word." Soteriology, then, is the science of salvation. Salvation
is not only an "A-Okay" from God. It involves not only the forgiveness of
sins, but the power over them. Soteriology studies God's historical
deliverence of His people from the bondage of sin and death and
affliction, to the promise of an eternal life with God in His holy love,
through His Son Jesus Christ.
Supralapsarianism
With reference to
the pre-creation decrees of God, supralapsarianism is the belief that
God's decree of election came before He decreed the fall. Thus, God chose
people for hell and hell free from any influence of what man might do.
Summum Bonum
Summum
Bonum is Latin meaning "highest good."
Scripture presents God Himself to be man's summum bonum.
Suzerain-Vassal
Treaty
In ancient times,
particularly in the Persian world, the sovereign or "suzerain" would enter
into treaty with his subjects or "vassals" in which he would agree to
protect them and be their king so long as they submitted to his laws and
ordinances. Meredeth Kline points out that the Sinaitic Covenant fits into
this ancient treaty format.
Systematic
Theology
Systematic
theology is that branch of theology which deals with the logical
categoration of Biblical truths.
Teleology
Teleology
is derived from the two Greek words, (telos) meaning "purpose or end" and
(logos) meaning "word." Teleology is the study of the end or purpose of
things.
Theism
Theism is derived
from the Greek (Theos) meaning "God" plus -ism. Theism for our
intents and purposes is the belief in the true and living God who is Creator
and sovereign Ruler of the universe and known by voluntary revelation.
Theocracy
Theocracy is
derived from the two Greek words (Theos) meaning "God" and (cratein)
meaning "to rule." Theocracy is the civil rule of God. The government of
the people of Israel until the inauguration of Saul is termed a theocracy.
Theology
Theology
is derived from the two Greek words (Theos) meaning "God" and (logos)
meaning "word." Formally, theology means "the study or science of God."
Informally, theology is the means by which God gives us understanding to the
things concerning Himself and our relationship to Him. In a broader sense,
theology is Christ living out His life in our lives through His Spirit that
we may know God as He knows God, and be One with the Father, as He and the
Father are One. Theology properly understood is not just mental knowledge of
the Bible. God is a living God, and His word is living. We know His word
through a relationship with Him and a daily hunger and feeding on His word.
Theonomy
Theonomy
is derived from the two Greek words,
(theos) meaning "God"
and (nomo)
meaning "law." Theonomy is the belief that all laws, civil, economic, and
social, should be patterned after the particulars of the Sinaitic covenant
which God gave to Israel in the wilderness for her politico-civil government
including in the punishment of criminals.
Total Depravity
The first tenet of
Calvinism teaches that mankind in its original state is utterly unable to
choose God, but rather chooses only to rebel against his Creator
continually. In this state he can do nothing good and worthy of God's grace.
Every area of his life is affected and infected with sin and death.
Typology
Typology
is derived from the two Greek words
(typo) meaning "type"
and (logos)
meaning "word." Typology in Biblical and literary terms denotes the
authorial use of allusion employing ectypal figures or conditions to
represent an archetypal figure or condition.
Unconditional
Election
The second tenet
of Calvinism, unconditional election is the doctrine that God's choice (or
election) of men to eternal life is not based on any merit of their own but
solely on His sovereign will.
Vantillian
After the teaching
of Cornelius Van Til.
Vosian
After the teaching
of Geerhardus Vos.
Weltanschauung
Weltanschauung is the combination of the
German words
Welt meaning "world" and anschauen meaning "to view." One's
weltanschauung is one's fundamental beliefs about the world and life. In
English the term is often represented by the phrase "world and life view."
Zarathustra
German for
Zoroaster.
Also Sprach Zarathustra
is a book on philosophy by Friedrich Nietzsche, the self-attested nihilist
and persecutor of existentialism, in which he affirms "God is dead."
Nietzsche's attack on Christianity as "herd mentality" is profound and
continues to haunt the popular modern concept of faith in evangelical
circles His concepts of the
übermensch (superman) and "will to power" became standard
philosophical terms.
Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist
is a German word. Zeit meaning "time" and Geist meaning
"ghost," Zeitgeist means the spirit of the age or times. The trend of
thought and counter-thought specific to a certain temporo-spatial environs.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroaster was a
Persian philosopher and pagan prophet of the 7th century B.C. who taught
that there were two deities who were in eternal struggle; one, Spenta Mainyu,
who was the god of good and light and the other, Angra Mainyu, who was the
god of evil and darkness. Zoroastrianism is the belief that there are two
equal and opposite deities or powers at work in the universe, and that the
affairs of men are the result of the conflict between the two.
Zwinglian
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) was an
early Swiss reformer who developed the reformed doctrines of sacramentology
refuting the Roman Catholic teaching of transubstantiation. Zwinglian
refers to the teachings of Zwingli.
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