Sources of Wisdom and Authority - Key Words

Question 1

Anglican Church

Answer 1

A Christian tradition which consists of the Church of England and other Churches that have historical and organisational ties to it. Its principal head is the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is also the nominal leader of the Anglican Communion, which is the world-wide group of Churches that are in full communion with the Anglican Church.

Question 2

Apostles

Answer 2

Applied to Jesus’ original 12 apostles; widening to the group of Christian Figures such as St Paul

Question 3

The Apostolic Tradition

Answer 3

Is the tradition that stems from Jesus’ Apostles. Jesus commanded them to preach the gospels to all men. This was done orally, from the teachings they had received from Jesus and from the Holy Spirit; also in writing by the apostles and by others associated with them, again under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Question 4

The Apostolic Succession

Answer 4

The Apostolic Tradition was continued in the Apostolic Succession. Jesus’ Apostles appointed bishops as their successors, and the bishops were given teaching authority, and this established a continuous line of succession that would last until the end of time.

Question 5

Atonement

Answer 5

Part of the Theology of St Paul, who held that after the original sin of Adam, God and the world were ‘reconciled’ by the sacrificial death of Jesus. An example of this is shown in Romans 5:1-11.

Question 6

Canon

Answer 6

A collection of books which a religious group regards as inspired by God, and which therefore forms a body of authoritative scripture, for example, the Christian Canon of the books of the Old and New Testaments.

Question 7

Denomination

Answer 7

A recognised, independent branch of the Christian Church.

Question 8

Deist

Answer 8

This refers to someone who accepts the existence of God on the basis of reason and the world of nature. Most deists would reject the idea of special revelation, and would hold that God created the world and then left it to its own free devices.

Question 9

Disciples

Answer 9

A Disciple is a pupil, student or apprentice of a teacher. Jesus’ twelve apostles would have been disciples of Jesus, but not all disciples were apostles.

Question 10

Divinity

Answer 10

The state of being divine (God).

Question 11

Ecumenical Councils

Answer 11

Councils of Church leaders and scholars who met to discuss and decide matters of doctrine and practice. ‘Ecumenical’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘the inhabited world’, so the decisions of ecumenical councils were seen as having authority for the whole Church, however, after the various schisms that split the Church into different traditions, the authority of any council was limited to the tradition of its members represented.

Question 12

Evangelism

Answer 12

The Greek ‘Euangelion’ means ‘good message’ or ‘good news’. To evangelise is to spread the good news about Jesus the Messiah.

Question 13

General Revelation

Answer 13

Revelation that is available to all people at all times: knowledge of God that comes through natural means, such as reason and observation of the world.

Question 14

Gentiles

Answer 14

A word commonly used in the Bible to mean ‘Non-Jews’.

Question 15

Holy Spirit

Answer 15

The third person of the Christian Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), each being an aspect of God.

Question 16

Incarnation

Answer 16

The Doctrine that Jesus as the Son of God became flesh. In the Bible, this is expressed in John 1:14.

Question 17

Inspiration

Answer 17

In the biblical sense, the Doctrine that God in some sense influenced the authors and editors of the Bible, so that what they recorded was the ‘Word of God’.

Question 18

Special Revelation

Answer 18

Revelation that occurs to specific people at specific times: for example, Scripture; also religious experiences and the on-going work of the Holy Spirit.

Question 19

Sustainer

Answer 19

When applied to God, the idea that God sustains creation/maintains it/keeps it in existence/maintains order in a chaotic universe; so that if God ceased to sustain the universe, it would cease to exist.