Christian Theology Vocabulary

Agnosticism

The belief that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable.

Anabaptism

A Christian movement that emerged during the Reformation, emphasizing believer's baptism, nonviolence, and separation from state influence.

Annihilationism

The doctrine that the wicked will ultimately be destroyed rather than suffer eternal torment in hell.

Arianism

A heretical belief that denies the full divinity of Christ, teaching that Jesus was a created being and not co-eternal with the Father.

Arminianism

A theological system emphasizing free will, prevenient grace, and conditional election, in contrast to Calvinism.

Atheism

The rejection of belief in any god or divine being.

Atonement

The doctrine of how Christ's death reconciles sinners to God, encompassing various models like penal substitution and Christus Victor.

Calvinism

A theological system emphasizing God's sovereignty, predestination, and the five points of TULIP (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, etc.).

Cessationism

The belief that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased after the apostolic age.

Charismatic

A movement within Christianity that emphasizes spiritual gifts, including prophecy, tongues, and healing.

Christology

The study of the person and work of Jesus Christ, particularly His divine and human natures.

Conditionalism

A view that eternal life is granted only to the righteous, and the wicked will ultimately perish.

Christus Victor

A model of the atonement that sees Christ’s death as defeating sin, death, and the devil.

Deism

The belief that God created the universe but does not intervene in human affairs.

Depravity (Total)

The doctrine that every part of human nature is affected by sin, making humans unable to seek God without divine grace.

Determinism

The belief that all events, including human actions, are predetermined by God or natural laws.

Dispensationalism

A theological system that sees history as divided into distinct periods (dispensations) in which God interacts with humanity differently.

Docetism

A heresy claiming that Christ only appeared to have a human body but was purely divine.

Dogma

Essential doctrines of the Christian faith, held as authoritative by the church.

Ecclesiology

The study of the church, its structure, purpose, and function.

Ecumenical

Efforts or movements toward Christian unity across different denominations.

Election

The doctrine that God chooses certain individuals for salvation.

Eschatology

The study of the end times, including topics like the Second Coming and the final judgment.

Eucharist

The sacrament of Holy Communion, commemorating Christ’s death and resurrection.

Evangelical

A movement within Protestantism emphasizing personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and evangelism.

Ex Nihilo

The doctrine that God created the universe out of nothing.

Expiation

The removal of sin and guilt through Christ’s sacrifice.

Fideism

The belief that faith is independent of reason and that religious beliefs do not require rational justification.

Fundamentalism

A movement emphasizing the inerrancy of Scripture and adherence to core Christian doctrines.

Glorification

The final stage of salvation, in which believers are perfected and enter eternal glory with God.

Gnosticism

An early heresy teaching that salvation comes through secret knowledge (gnosis) and often denying Christ’s true humanity.

Hypostatic Union

The doctrine that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man in one person.

Imago Dei

The belief that humans are created in the image of God, reflecting His attributes.

Immanence

The theological concept that God is actively present in and involved with His creation.

Immutable

The belief that God is unchanging in His nature and promises.

Imputation

The doctrine that Christ’s righteousness is credited to believers, and their sin is placed upon Him.

Incarnation

The doctrine that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ.

Inerrancy

The belief that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error.

Infallibility (Biblical)

The belief that the Bible is completely trustworthy in all matters of faith and practice.

Inspiration

The doctrine that the Bible is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Justification

The act by which God declares sinners righteous through faith in Christ.

Kenosis

The idea from Philippians 2:7 that Christ 'emptied Himself' in taking on human form.

Liberalism

A theological approach that often emphasizes reason, experience, and moral teachings over doctrinal orthodoxy.

Monergism

The belief that salvation is entirely the work of God, without human cooperation.

Monotheism

The belief in one God.

Monophysitism

The heretical belief that Christ has only one nature, blending the divine and human.

Omnipotence

The attribute of God that He is all-powerful.

Omnipresence

The belief that God is present everywhere at all times.

Omniscience

The doctrine that God knows everything.

Open Theism

The belief that God does not have exhaustive foreknowledge of future free human actions.

Original Sin

The doctrine that all humans inherit a sinful nature from Adam.

Orthodoxy

Right belief or doctrine, often in line with historical Christian creeds.

Paedobaptism

The practice of baptizing infants.

Pantheism (and Panentheism)

Pantheism: God is identical with the universe. Panentheism: God is in all things but also transcendent.

Parousia

The Second Coming of Christ.

Pelagianism

The heresy denying original sin and asserting that humans can achieve salvation without divine grace.

Penal-Substitution

A model of atonement where Christ takes the penalty for human sin.

Eternal Security

The belief that true believers cannot lose their salvation.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods.

Postmodernism

A philosophical movement that often challenges absolute truth, impacting theological interpretations.

Predestination

The doctrine that God has foreordained all events, particularly concerning salvation.

Prevenient Grace

The grace that precedes human decision, enabling free will to respond to God.

Priesthood of All Believers

The belief that all Christians have direct access to God without the need for an intermediary priest.

Propitiation

The appeasement of God's wrath through Christ’s sacrifice.

Protestant

A branch of Christianity that broke from the Roman Catholic Church during the Reformation.

Rapture

The belief that believers will be taken up to be with Christ before or during the tribulation.

Reconciliation

The restoration of a right relationship between God and humanity through Christ.

Regeneration

The act of being born again through the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness

The moral perfection required by God, imputed to believers through Christ.

Sacrament

A sacred rite, such as baptism or communion, instituted by Christ.

Salvation

Deliverance from sin and its consequences through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sanctification

The process of becoming more like Christ.

Sola Scriptura

The Protestant doctrine that Scripture alone is the ultimate authority in faith and practice.

Soteriology

The study of salvation.

Synergism

The belief that human cooperation with divine grace plays a role in salvation.

Theodicy

The defense of God's goodness in light of the existence of evil.

Tribulation

A period of suffering and turmoil preceding Christ’s return.

Trinity

The doctrine that God is one in essence but three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Universalism

The belief that all people will ultimately be saved.

Wesleyan Quadrilateral

A theological method emphasizing Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.