Review Flashcards

Eastern Orthodox Church

• Emerged around 1500 AD.
• The end of the Byzantine era is marked by the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

Roman Catholic Church

Protestant Church

• Protestant churches are divided into groups like Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostals, etc.

Wesleyan Quadrilateral

• Four sources for theological understanding:
  1. Scripture: The primary source of authority.
  2. Tradition: Christian teachings through time.
  3. Reason: Using logic and critical thinking.
  4. Experience: Personal engagement with the world and faith.

Regula Fidei (Rule of Faith)

• The Trinitarian foundation is evident: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Council of Nicaea (AD 325)

• The Trinitarian issue began when Arius was troubled by the bishop in Alexandria.
• Arius believed that the Son was not equal to the Father, but only the Father was truly God.
• Athanasius believed the Son and Father are of the exact same essence.
• What Christians have historically affirmed.
• Compromised on "homoousion" meaning of similar nature.

Council of Constantinople (AD 381)

• The Council of Nicaea ruled that the Father and Son have the same nature ("homoousion").
• This council included extensive discussion about the Holy Spirit.

Macrion

• Advocated a complete separation from anything material.
• Proposed that God is not limited to a single persona, like an actor playing many parts.
• God reveals himself through nature, prophetic actions, scripture, and miracles.

Biblical Canon

• Used to measure and standardize truth.
• Old Testament has 39 books.
• New Testament has 27 books.

Apocrypha

• Means "hidden."
• All Protestant Bibles until the 1800s included the Apocrypha.

Canonicity

• Inspired:Believed to be communicated by God's voice.
• Apostolic: Written by apostles or close associates.
• Catholic: Recognized and used universally by churches in the ancient world.
• Orthodox: Aligning with the church's historic teaching.

Transcendence

• God is almighty and stands apart from creation, not depending on it.

Immanence

• God is engaged with creation and present in time and space.

Providence

• God's governance over the world.

Dualism

• Mind and body are separate.

Views of Creation

• Cosmology: The study of the nature of the universe.
• Cosmogony: The study of how the universe began.
  • Young Earth Creationism: God created the earth thousands of years ago with the appearance of age.
  • Old Earth Creationism: God created the earth progressively over billions of years but created Adam and Eve more recently.
  • Evolutionary Creationism: God created the earth through evolution.

Jesus in Alexandria

• Figures like Athanasius (AD 378-444) confronted groups like the Novatians (who were seen as too strict).

Adoptionism

• The view saying that Jesus, the Son, was adopted by God.

Messianic Expectations

• Old Testament expectations
• New Testament expectations

Divine Nature

• Jesus incarnate is fully divine and fully human.

Apollinarianism

• Argues Jesus was fully divine but only had a human body, not a human soul.

Nestorianism

• The Divine Son and human Jesus are distinct.

Charismatic Movement

• 3 waves of outpouring of the Spirit.
  • Embrace of charismatic life.
  • Embrace of signs and wonders.

Filioque Controversy

• Eastern Church vs. Western Church.
• Debate was over the Holy Spirit and the use of leavened bread in Holy Communion.

Reformation Figures

• Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli.

Views of Humanity

• Substantive View: Humans possess a unique essence or soul.
• Functional View: God creates humans in His image so they may rule over His creation as stewards.

Pelagius

• No corruption; not liable to sin.

Augustine

• Corruption and inclination toward sin from Adam.

Original Sin

• Each person's accountability before God for sin.
• Sin of Adam.
• Total depravity: Incapable of achieving salvation or turning to God apart from grace because of sin.

Salvation/Redemption

• How God fixed what sin broke.
  • Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis).
  • Mosaic Covenant (Exodus, Deuteronomy).
  • Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel, Psalms).
  • New Covenant (Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel).
• Divine Restitution and Victory over evil powers.
• Ransom.
• Christus Victor.
• Recapitulation.
• Transforming vision and moral influence.

Monergism vs. Synergism

• Synergism: Divine and human wills work together.
• Monergism: Salvation is God's work alone.

Soteriological Terms

• Exclusivism: Only those who have faith in Jesus are saved.
• Inclusivism: Salvation is possible through other means, but faith in Jesus is still superior and ultimately needed.
• Pluralism: All religions are equal paths to ultimate.

Eschatology (End Times)

• Annihilationism: Punishment is real, but those separated from God will cease to exist.
• Universalism: All will ultimately be reconciled with God.
• Already and Not Yet: The Kingdom is here but not fully realized.
• Intermediate State: Time between death and resurrection where the body and soul separate; they reunite later.