Church History Unit 1

Orthodoxy

right belief, as defined by Scripture and historic creeds

Orthopraxis

right action, in accordance with Scripture

Heresy

a too-simple solution to an apparent problem, involving willful refusal to submit to the Word of God

Creed

official statement of faith

Canon

authorized collection of documents

Testament

covenant, authorized statement

Codification

process of collecting and affirming books as canonical

Apocrypha

up to 15 books appearing between the Testaments in many Bibles (non-canonical for Protestants; deuterocanonical for Catholics and Orthodox)

Gospel

lit. “good news” usually of a victory, Greco-Roman biography off Jesus Christ

Epistle

letter, correspondence

Apostles

original eyewitnesses of the risen Christ who were sent out by Christ to proclaim the Gospel and given special authority by Christ to speak/write his Word to others

Inspiration

the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit over the human authors of Scripture such that their writings actually are divine self-revelation

Illumination

the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, which brings about comprehension and certainty of the truth of God’s Word

Inerrancy

the Bible speaks truly in all that it teaches and affirms

Infallibility

the Bible never fails in accomplishing its intended purposes

Authority

the Bible is the final word in matters of faith and practice

Sufficiency 

the Bible is enough for us to know, love, trust and obey God as He truly is

Clarity

the Bible is clearly understandable in what it intends to reveal

Transcendence

God is completely “other” than us

Immanence

God is present in and among his creation; he chooses to be near to us

General Revelation

God reveals himself generally and universally through natural means

Special Revelation

God reveals himself specifically and personally through special means

God-breathed

the source [of Scripture] is from God

Holy

marked by the same qualities of God

Useful

[the Scripture] is a practical book for practical aims

Wise into salvation

to bring people in to worship God

the ultimate purpose of Scripture

be fully equipped for every good work

Useful for

teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness