Church History & Theology Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing Church History & Theology vocabulary.

Ecclesiology

The study of the Church.

Qahal

Hebrew word for 'assembly of God’s people.'

Ekklesia/Ecclesia

Greek/Latin word meaning 'called out ones'; early term for the Church.

St. Peter

First pope and leader of the apostles.

St. Paul

Apostle to the Gentiles who wrote many New Testament letters.

Body of Christ

Image of Church where Jesus is the head, we are the parts.

People of God

The Church as God's chosen people.

Sacrament

Visible sign of God’s grace; Church itself is a sacrament.

Unity

Comes from God as the source of one faith, worship, and leadership.

One faith

Visible sign of unity within the Church.

One worship

Visible sign of unity within the Church.

One leadership

Visible sign of unity within the Church, referring to the Pope.

Apostolic succession

Visible sign of unity within the Church.

Cultures

A kind of diversity in unity within the Church.

Liturgical rites

A kind of diversity in unity within the Church.

Spiritualities

A kind of diversity in unity within the Church.

Charisms

A kind of diversity in unity within the Church.

Heresy

False teaching against Church doctrine.

Schism

Refusal to follow Church leadership, breaking away.

Apostasy

Total rejection of the Christian faith.

Ecumenism

Effort to restore unity among Christian churches.

Ecumenical dialogue

Conversations between Christian denominations.

Interreligious dialogue

Conversations with non-Christian religions.

Hypostatic union

Jesus is one person with both divine and human natures.

Gnosticism

Belief that material world is evil and secret knowledge saves.

Arianism

Denied Jesus is fully God.

Monophysitism

Belief that Jesus had only one nature, not two.

Nestorianism

Belief that Jesus is two persons (divine and human).

Apollinarianism

Claimed Jesus didn’t have a human mind.

Pelagianism

Belief that humans can be saved without God’s grace.

Protestantism

Religious movement breaking from Catholic Church in 1500s.

Sanctify

To make holy.

Worldliness

Being overly focused on worldly/material things.

Immaculate Conception

Mary was born without original sin.

Assumption of Mary

Mary was taken to heaven body and soul.

Transfiguration of Jesus

Jesus revealed His divine glory to 3 disciples.

Mortal sin

Serious sin that breaks relationship with God.

Venial sin

Lesser sin that weakens relationship with God.

Sins of commission

Doing something wrong or sinful.

Sins of omission

Failing to do something good.

Perfect contrition

Sorrow for sin out of love for God.

Imperfect contrition

Sorrow for sin out of fear of punishment.

Temporal punishment

Temporary consequences of sin after forgiveness.

Indulgence

Removes temporal punishment for sins.

Apostolic succession

Passing down authority from apostles through bishops.

Christian moral maturity

Living a holy and responsible Christian life.

Great Commissioning

Jesus sending disciples to evangelize the world.

Baptism of desire

Wanting baptism but dying before receiving it.

Baptism of blood

Dying for the faith before being baptized.

Magisterium

Church's teaching authority (Pope + bishops).

Evangelization

Spreading the message of Christ.

Dogma

Essential truth of the faith revealed by God.

Doctrine

Official Church teaching that may develop.

Sacred Tradition

Living transmission of faith through Church life.

Sacred Scripture

The written Word of God in the Bible.

Catholic

Universal; first used by St. Ignatius.

Pentecost

Holy Spirit comes to apostles; birthday of the Church.

Apostle

One who is sent (Jesus' chosen followers).

Disciple

A learner or follower of Jesus.

Martyr

A person who dies for their faith.

Bishop

A Church leader who oversees a diocese.

Priest

An ordained minister who offers Mass and sacraments.

Deacon

Ordained helper under priest and bishop.

St. Evodius

Successor to Peter as bishop of Antioch.

St. Ignatius

Early bishop who first used 'Catholic Church.'