Theological Terminology

Just trying to learn

Doctrine

Teaching imparted by an authoritative source

Theology

The study of God

Atonement

The act of God by which He reconciles sinful humanity to Himself, causing enmity to end and fellowship to begin

Covenant

An agreement between two parties involving promises from each to the other

Hermeneutics

The study of biblical interpretation

Illumination

The Holy Spirit's work of providing spiritual insight into God's Word so that His children can know Christ better

Immutability

The quality of God that shows Him to be unchanging in who He is

Impute

To charge something to the account of another

Incarnation

The occasion of God the Son taking on human flesh and becoming a man

Indwelling

The work of the Holy Spirit by which He lives within the believer, sealing him or her until the day of redemption

Iniquity

Sin, evil, or wickedness

Inspired

God-breathed; the quality of Scripture that ensures its inerrancy, infallibility, and authority

Justification

The act by which God, for Christ's sake, declares a guilty sinner acceptable in His sight

Messiah

Literally "Chosen One" or "Anointed One"; the Hebrew equivalent of Christ

Omnipotence

The divine quality of having all power

Omnipresence

The divine quality of being everywhere at the same time

Omniscience

The divine quality of possessing all knowledge

Propitiation

Satisfaction; the appeasement of God's wrath through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross

Reconciliation

The process by which God makes peace between Himself and sinful humanity through the atoning work of Christ

Redemption

The act of paying a purchase price by which sinners are delivered from death and sin

Remission

Forgiveness; a release from sin

Righteousness

Holiness; a following of God's perfect standards

Sanctification

A setting apart for special use; the process by which God changes the sinner into the image of His Son

Sovereignty

God's complete control over all things in nature and the affairs of men, past, present, and future

Transfiguration

The shining forth of divine glory in Jesus Christ in His earthly form

Transgression

Sin; any violation of a law or command

Worship

Reverence and devotion; the attributing of glory and honor; biblical worship is directed toward God alone

Holiness

Absolute perfection

Transubstantiation

Catholic belief that once the priest blesses the sacrament, the blood and wine are the physical body of Christ

Legalism

Trying to earn God's favor through works and rule keeping

Antinomianism

The belief that Christians don't need to follow moral laws

Libertinism

Abusing grace as an excuse to sin

Double fulfillment

Prophecy that has both a near and future fulfillment

Progressive Revelation

God revealing truth gradually over time

Sensus Plenior

A "fuller meaning" in Scripture beyond the human author's intent

Intertestamental Period

Time between Old and New Testaments (~400 years)

Effectual calling

When God's call actually results in salvation

Irresistible Grace

God's saving grace cannot ultimately be rejected

Prevenient grace

Grace that comes before salvation, enabling a response

Federal Headship

Adam/Christ representing humanity

Active Obedience (of Christ)

Jesus perfectly obeying God's law for us

Passive Obedience (of Christ)

Jesus suffering and dying in our place

Covenant Theology

Sees the Bible structured around God's covenants

New Covenant Theology

Emphasizes the New Covenant over Old Testament law

Open Theism

Belief that God does not fully know future free choices

Molinism

God uses "middle knowledge" to govern outcomes

Process Theology

Belief that God changes and develops over time

Theodicy

Explains why a good God allows evil

Compatibilism

God's sovereignty and human free will both operate together

Libertarian free will

Humans have complete freedom to choose otherwise

Divine simplicity

God is not made of parts; His attributes are one

Aseity

God is self-existent, dependent on nothing

Means of grace

Ways God strengthens faith (Bible, prayer, communion)

Spiritual disciplines

Practices that grow faith (fasting, prayer, etc.)

Mortification

Putting sin to death in your life

Vivification

Growing in new spiritual life

Backsliding

Drifting away from faith or obedience

Imminence

Christ could return at any moment

Apostasy

Falling away from the faith

Abomination of desolation

Sacrilegious event tied to end times prophecy

Man of lawlessness

Figure associated with the Antichrist

Already / not yet

God's kingdom is here now but not fully completed

Seeker-sensitive

Church style aimed at attracting non-believers

Expository preaching

Preaching that explains Scripture verse-by-verse

Prosperity gospel

Teaching that faith leads to wealth/health

Deconstruction (faith)

Rethinking or dismantling one's beliefs

Arianism

Teaches that Jesus is not fully God, but a created being.

Modalism (Sabellianism)

Teaches that God is one Person who just appears in different modes (Father, Son, Spirit), not three distinct Persons.

Adoptionism

Teaches that Jesus was just a man who was 'adopted' by God.

Nestorianism

Teaches that Jesus is two separate persons (one divine, one human), instead of one unified person.

Monophysitism

Teaches that Jesus only has one nature (usually divine), not both human and divine.

Docetism

Teaches that Jesus only appeared human but wasn't actually physical.

Gnosticism

Teaches secret knowledge saves you and that the physical world is evil.

Marcionism

Rejects the Old Testament and teaches that its God is different from the New Testament God.

Pelagianism

Teaches humans can choose God and be good without God's grace

Semi-Pelagianism

Teaches humans make the first move toward God, then God helps

Works-based salvation

Teaches you earn salvation through good deeds

Universalism

Teaches everyone will eventually be saved

Antinomianism

Teaches that moral law doesn't matter at all for Christians

Relativism

Teaches that truth changes based on personal belief or culture

Full Preterism

A theological viewpoint that asserts all biblical prophecy, including the second coming of Jesus, has already been fulfilled.

Partial Preterism

A belief that some prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled, but others, including the final return of Christ, are yet to occur.

Eschatology

The study of end times and final events in human history, often involving concepts of judgment and the afterlife.

Second Coming

The anticipated return of Jesus Christ to Earth, a central theme in Christian eschatology.

Amillennialism

The belief that there is no literal thousand-year reign of Christ on Earth, often associated with a symbolic interpretation of biblical prophecy.

Postmillennialism

The belief that Christ will return after a period of Christian dominance and peace on Earth, often linked to a progressive view of history.

Historical Preterism

A perspective that interprets biblical prophecies as events that occurred in the first century, particularly surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem.

Futurism

A viewpoint in eschatology that holds that many prophecies, particularly those in the Book of Revelation, are yet to be fulfilled in the future.

Biblical Prophecy

Messages believed to be divinely inspired, often concerning future events and the fate of humanity.

Theological Debate

Discussions and disagreements among scholars and theologians regarding interpretations of religious texts and doctrines.

Word of Faith

Teaches that speaking things in faith can create reality or control outcomes

Open theism (extreme form)

Teaches that God does not fully know the future

Hyper-grace

Teaches repentance and confession of sin are unnecessary

Tritheism

Teaches that the Father, Son, and Spirit are three separate gods

Subordinationism

Teaches that the Son and Spirit are inferior in nature to the Father

First Council of Nicaea (325 AD)

Confirmed Christ's divinity and formulated the Nicene Creed.

First Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

Affirmed the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

Council of Ephesus (431 AD)

Affirmed Christ as one person and Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer).

Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)

Defined the 'hypostatic union' (Christ's two natures in one person).

T - Total Depravity:

Also known as total inability, this asserts that as a result of the fall of man, every person is enslaved to sin. Humans are spiritually dead and completely unable to choose God or save themselves on their own.