Christianity Terms and Concepts

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the study of Christianity.

Jesus

Considered to be the messiah by his followers, the founder of Christianity.

Paul

Missionary for Gentiles, and was the first person to say that Jesus’s words were for everyone.

Constantine

Issued the Edict of Milan, appointed himself to the Bishop, and created the Council of Nicaea.

Augustine of Hippo

Considered the last great theologian of early Christianity, and wrote the City of God.

Martin Luther

German Monk who is the father of the Reformation.

Messiah

The chosen/anointed, the promised savior; Jesus is believed to be this.

Pope

Head of the Catholic Church, means father/papa.

Jerusalem Church

The name of Christianity after the death of Jesus before the destruction of the 2nd temple, focused on the spiritual aspect of Jewish tradition.

Edict of Milan

Issued by Constantine, granting Roman toleration of Christianity.

Council of Nicaea

The first ecumenical council; a meeting where bishops talked about problems facing the Church.

Great Schism

Split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Reformation

Fracture of the Church into the Protestants and other groups.

Anglican Reformation

Split between the Catholic Church and England’s Church.

Vatican II

The Modern Catholic Council, which looked to update the Church.

Gospel

Narratives of Jesus, known as good news.

Epistle

Letters of Jesus.

New Testament

The second part of the Christian Bible, divided into Gospels and Epistles.

Sin

Violating the law of God; a huge problem in Christianity.

Repentance

To turn away from sin.

Elect

Those chosen by God to be saved.

Sacraments

Rituals that work because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism

Removes original sin (induction).

Eucharist

Communion; a sacrament.

Apostolic Succession

How the authority succeeds from Jesus to the apostles.

Grace

God’s unasked-for and unmerited favor.

Trinity

The Triune (3 things together) and Tripartite (3 things separate): God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Salvation

Being forgiven of sin; the goal of Christianity.

Atonement

To make up for sin.

Original Sin

The first act of disobedience of God, incurred by Adam and Eve in the garden.

Logos

Word of God; Jesus is believed to be this.

Priesthood of Believers

Central concept of Protestantism. Faith and Scripture alone are needed for Salvation, and it says that nobody gets in between the Believer and God

Allegorical Method

Clergy can spiritually interpret scripture.

Fundamentalism

The approach to get back to the basics of a religion.

Church

The entirety/community of Christianity or a Christian place of worship.

Orthodox

The correct belief; the eastern branch of Christianity emphasizing the resurrection.

Catholic

Universal; the largest branch of Christianity.

Protestant

A group that broke away from the Church in the Reformation.

Christmas

The birth/story of Jesus.

Easter

The resurrection of Jesus.