Terms Flashcards
Aetiology
Causal explanation or “causality” – from the Greek ai0ti/a (aitia), meaning cause or origin
Adoptionism
the view that Jesus was born as a typical human being who was then “adopted” (usually at his baptism in the Jordan) by the Son or Word of God on a semi-permanent or permanent basis
Allegorical interpretation
reading a text as if it were a metaphor; similar to typological reading
Apocalyptic
literature about a vision of God, written either of personal experience (by being transported to heaven), or as prophecy, about God’s future appearance to the world (see: eschatology)
Apologetic(s)
a reasoned defense of belief or behavior
Apologists
early Christians concerned with defending Christianity against the criticisms made by Jews and Pagans
Apostolic Succession
the doctrine that the true teachings of Christianity, as well as spiritual authority over believers, is handed or passed down through succeeding generations of bishops who trace their origin back to the apostles
Binitarianism
an account or logical explanation of the diversity in God that finds two rather than three (trinitarianism) existents/persons in God
the Canon (of Scripture)
those books regarded by the Church as containing an authentic fundamental statement of Christian belief
CE
“Common Era”, the era shared by both Judaism and Christianity = AD (Anno Domini – “in the year of our Lord”)
Docetism
the view that Jesus’ humanity was only an appearance or disguise, so that it only seemed to be real
Dualism
any belief that explains the world in terms of pair(s) of opposing principles ie:heaven and earth, flesh and spirit
Eisegesis
elaborating on or explaining the meaning of a text by reading your own ideas into it (putting your meaning into a text); (contrast eisegesis with exegesis)
Eschatology
an account of the end of natural history
Exegesis
elaborating on or explaining the meaning of a text by considering the author’s intent (taking a meaning out of a text)
Gnosticism
radical dualistic beliefs that emphasize the gaining of secret knowledge as the only means of salvation. Christian gnosticism emphasizes Christ’s unique function as revealer of the hidden God
Hierarchical trinitarianism
an explanation of the diversity in God that involves a non-subordinationist (see: subordinationism) ranking of the Three
Metaphysics
an account of the different kinds of existence; usually involving an account of something that exists in terms of the kind of existence it has. The kind of existence is called the being of an existent.
Modalism
a belief that the different persons of the Trinity are actually just different appearances or modes of one divine person; or a doctrine that denies any permanent distinctions within the Godhead
Pneumatology
the theology of the Holy Spirit; pneu=ma (pneuma) means spirit
Radical dualism
a type of dualism that identifies goodness with spirit (the spiritual) and evil with matter (the material)
Septuagint
the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament used by the apostles and early Greek Christians
Soteriology
an account of the means of salvation
Subordinationism
an explanation of the diversity in God that involves gradations of divinity, so that the Son and/or Holy Spirit are less divine than the Father
