Christian Theology: Trinity, Revelation, Scripture, and Canon

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering historical Trinitarian doctrines, attributes of Scripture, revelation definitions, and models of biblical canonicity based on lecture materials.

Docetism

The heresy teaching that Jesus was purely divine and only appeared (from Greek dokeo, meaning 'to appear, to seem') to be human. Taught by Marcion and Gnostics, and opposed by Irenaeus of Lyons.

Ebionism

The teaching originating from the Ebionites that Jesus was a great prophet but merely human. Defended against by Origen in the 2nd century.

Adoptionism (Dynamic Monarchianism)

The teaching that Jesus was an ordinary human who was adopted by God and indwelt by the divine Logos at his baptism. Taught by Theodotus of Byzantium and Paul of Samosata, and condemned by the Synod of Antioch in A.D. 268.

Modalism (Modalistic Monarchianism)

Also known as Sabellianism and Patripassianism, the heresy teaching that God is a single person who sequentially adopted different roles as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Taught by Noetus and Sabellius.

Arianism

The doctrine taught by Arius stating that Christ was created by God in eternity past and is subordinate to the Father, summarized by the phrase 'There was a time when Christ was not.' Condemned at the Council of Nicaea (325) and First Council of Constantinople (381).

Ontological Trinity

The study of the Trinity focusing on the essence, nature, and simple perfections of God (such as being unchanging, eternal, and impassible) in His absolute oneness.

Economic Trinity

The study of the Trinity focusing on how the distinct persons of the Godhead act and relate in creation, redemption, and history.

Divine Simplicity

The doctrine that God is not composed of separate parts or attributes, but that His three persons are entirely one in being and nature.

Homoousion

The Greek theological term meaning 'of the same substance' or 'of one Being,' used in the Nicene Creed to affirm that the Son and Holy Spirit share the exact divine essence with the Father.

Hypostasis

The Greek theological term denoting a distinct person or subsistence within the unified essence of the Godhead.

Inseparable Operations

Actions of God across redemptive history (such as Creation, Redemption, Resurrection, and Sanctification) in which all three persons of the Trinity act together, preserving divine unity.

Separable Operations

Actions within redemptive history that are specific to a particular person of the Godhead (such as the Incarnation and Crucifixion of the Son, or Pentecost for the Spirit), preserving personal distinctions.

General Revelation

God's display of His glory, power, and divine nature through creation and providence, which is universal, natural/innate, and non-salvific, leaving humanity without excuse.

Special Revelation

God's direct, salvific self-disclosure through His holy and divine Word, making Himself known in a particular and supernatural way necessary for salvation.

Inspiration

The work of the Holy Spirit directing human authors so that the resulting text of Holy Scripture is precisely what God intended to communicate.

Illumination

The active role of the Holy Spirit enabling believers to accurately understand, grasp, and apply God's written revelation.

Verbal Plenary Inspiration

The view that God inspired the exact words (verbal) of the entire text of Scripture (plenary), making it confluent—fully divine in origin and fully human in authorship.

Dynamic Inspiration

A view of inspiration associated with Karl Barth asserting that the Bible is not inherently God's word, but 'becomes' the Word of God as the Spirit uses it to witness to Christ.

Conceptual Inspiration

The position that God inspired only the general concepts or thoughts of Scripture, leaving the specific terminology to human authors who may have used inadequate phrasing.

Natural Inspiration

The view that biblical writers were inspired only in the same general human sense as authors of classic secular literature.

Perspicuity (Clarity of Scripture)

The Reformation doctrine that the central truths of Scripture concerning salvation are clear and accessible for ordinary Christians to understand through the Spirit.

Autopistia (αὐτοπιστια)

The intrinsic, self-attested trustworthiness and divine authority of Holy Scripture, grounded in God as its source rather than external human approval.

Regula Fidei

Meaning 'rule of faith,' referring to church doctrines and creeds that serve to guide interpretation, distinct from Scripture itself.

Fundamentum Fidei

Meaning 'foundation of faith,' representing the unique and supreme status occupied by Holy Scripture as the ultimate source of divine truth.

Self-Authenticating Model

An approach to the canon asserting that Scripture establishes its own boundaries and authority apart from external historical, sociological, or ecclesiastical validation.

Community Determined Model

A canonical model viewing the selection of biblical books as a human construction based on sociocultural conditions or ecclesiastical decisions.

Historically Determined Model

A canonical model seeking to validate biblical books strictly through historical-critical analysis, often isolating a 'canon within a canon.'

Noetic Effect of Sin

The damaging impact of sin on human cognitive faculties, moral disposition, and reasoning, blinding people to divine truth apart from God's redeeming work.

Analogical Language

The concept that human language about God reflects real truths about Him but cannot exhaustively or fully comprehend His infinite essence.