Christianity Vocab

World Religions

Trinity

main belief or doctrine of Christianity that says God consists of three divine people: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit

Christ/Messiah

Jesus of Nazareth is the “Christ” or “Messiah” of Christianity who was chosen by God and sent to save the people from sin

Logos

refers to Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity

Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost

the third person/being of the Holy Trinity, a main belief of Christianity

Sin

an immoral act that breaks God’s law and signifies disobedience from God

Original Sin

the state of sin that every being is born with as a result of Adam and Eve eating the apple in the Garden of Eden; humans are inherently sinful

Grace

“God’s favor to the unworthy”, significant in Christianity as it shows that even when humans sin or disobey him, God will forgive them

Agape

God’s selfless, sacrificial, immense love that he has for humanity and the love that humans should have for others according to teachings

Salvation

saving humans from sin and its consequences often through baptism, repentance, and sharing the death and resurrection of Jesus

Sacrament

a religious ceremony or ritual such as the Eucharist and Baptism

New Testament

the collection of books that Christians believe represents and interprets the covenant between God and His followers; begins with the four Gospels

Gospels

four biblical narratives about the life and death of Jesus Christ

“The Two Great Commandments”

summarized in the Bible: to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor as yourself

Book of Revelation

the final book in the New Testament, a symbolic text that discusses end times, God’s judgement, and the triumph of good over evil

Second Coming

refers to the return of Jesus Christ to earth after ascending to Heaven

Kingdom of God/Heaven

used to describe God’s reign over all creation, represents a spiritual realm where God’s will is complete and a perfect world under his command

Ecumenical Council

the meeting of bishops and other church authorities to address matters of the Christian doctrine, administration, and discipline

Catholic

a major branch of Christianity that follows the teachings of the Pope

Pope

the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman-Catholic church

Transubstantiation

refers to how the bread and wine used in the Eucharist is transformed into Jesus Christ’s real body and blood

Vatican II

an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church that attempted to address relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world

Great Schism

an event in history where the Orthodox Church separated from the Roman Catholic Church

Orthodox

a branch of Christianity that follows traditional beliefs and practices established by the early church, emphasizing sacred tradition, the importance of ecumenical councils, and the continuity of faith

Icon

a representation of sacred people or events in paintings, wood carvings, or mosaics; used to symbolize significant characters in the faith like Jesus Christ, apostles, saints, and prophets

Protestant Reformation

a major movement that posed a religious and political challenge to the authority of the Catholic Church

Denominations

a religious organization that unites local congregations in a single body; members believe the same beliefs and participate in similar practices and worship

Christmas

a festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ from the Virgin Mary

Lent

a period of preparation for Easter, symbolic of Jesus’ fasting while traveling 40 days through the desert and enduring temptation by Satan

Easter

honoring and remembering/ celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his tomb, three days after His crucifixion

Pentecost

celebration of the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, or the beginning of the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel