Theology-like words Set 1

Question 1

ex nihilo

Answer 1

Ex nihilo is a Latin phrase meaning “out of nothing”.

It often appears in conjunction with the concept of creation, as in creatio ex nihilo, meaning “creation out of nothing”—chiefly in philosophical or theological contexts, but also occurs in other fields.

Question 2

pro·le·gom·e·non

Answer 2

pro·le·gom·e·non ˌprōləˈɡäməˌnän,-nən/
noun
plural noun: prolegomena

a critical or discursive introduction to a book.

Question 3

e·pis·te·mol·o·gy

Answer 3

e·pis·te·mol·o·gy
iˌpistəˈmäləjē/
noun
PHILOSOPHY

the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

Question 4

a·tone·ment

Answer 4

a·tone·ment
əˈtōnmənt/
noun

reparation for a wrong or injury.
“she wanted to make atonement for her husband’s behavior”

(in religious contexts) reparation or expiation for sin.
“an annual ceremony of confession and atonement for sin”
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.
noun: Atonement; noun: the Atonement

Question 5

Christology

Answer 5

Chris·tol·o·gy
krisˈtäləjē/
noun

the branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ.

Question 6

hermeneutics

Answer 6

her·me·neu·tics
ˌhərməˈn(y)o͞odiks/
noun

the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.

Question 7

Systematic Theology

Answer 7

sys·tem·at·ic the·ol·o·gy
noun

a form of theology in which the aim is to arrange religious truths in a self-consistent whole.

Question 8

Biblical Theology

Answer 8

Biblical theology

is an attempt to articulate the theology that the Bible contains as its writers addressed their particular settings. The Scriptures came into being over the course of many centuries, from different authors, social settings, and geographical locations

Question 9

Epistemology

Answer 9

Epistemology is the study of knowing. It deals with the nature of knowledge, how do we know things, what do we know, why we know, is what we know true, and what are the limits of knowledge.

_{https://carm.org/dictionary-epistemology}

Question 10

Teleology

Answer 10

Teleology is the philosophical position that the universe and everything in it has a cause and a purpose. It is the study of final causes or results–having a definite purpose, goal, or design. In Biblical teaching, our God has designed the world and everything in it. However, it has been affected by sin and is not in its original condition.

^{https://carm.org/dictionary-teleology}

Question 11

Teleological Argument

Answer 11

The teleological argument is an attempted proof of God’s existence based upon the premise that the universe is designed and, therefore, needs a designer: God.

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Question 12

Type, Typology

Answer 12

A type is a representation by one thing of another. Adam was a type ofChrist (Rom. 5:14) and so was Isaac (Heb. 11:19). The Passover was a type of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7). There are many types in the Bible and most of them are too extensive and deep to be listed. An example of a typology follows: Isaac a type of Jesus

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Question 13

A priori

Answer 13

a philosophical term that refers to knowledge, judgments, and principles which are true without verification or testing. It is universally true.

The information you start with does not need to be verified with experience. An example would be “All bachelors are unmarried.” This is true naturally and by definition.

https://carm.org/dictionary-apriori

Question 14

Arianism

Answer 14

• an ancient theological error that appeared around the year 320.
• It taught that
  
  • God could not appear on the earth and
  • that Jesus was not eternal and could not be God. And,
  • That there was only one person in the Godhead: the Father. Jesus, then, was a creation.
• It was condemned by the Council of Nicea in 325.

The Jehovah’s Witness cult is an equivalent of this ancient error though not exactly. Please see Heresies for more information.

https://carm.org/dictionary-arianism

Question 15

Common Grace

Answer 15

Common Grace is the grace God gives to creation as a whole, to all unbelievers. In this universal non-salvific form of grace, God allows the sun to shine upon both the righteous and the unrighteous. He does not judge unbelievers right away due to the work of Christ on the Cross by which people are saved. God endures with them for the sake of those who would believe. Unbelievers can be doctors, engineers, parents, etc., and function within God’s domain and counsel.

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Question 16

Depravity

Answer 16

Depravity is the moral corruption and sinfulness of man after the fall. It is from the Latin term depravare, which means to make corrupt 1.

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Question 17

Docetism

Answer 17

Docetism was a Gnostic heresy, that was condemned by the Early Church, with several variations concerning the nature of Christ. Generally,

• it taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body, that he was not really incarnate, (Greek, “dokeo” = “to seem”).
• This error developed out of the dualistic philosophy which viewed matter as inherently evil, that God could not be associated with matter, and that God, being perfect and infinite, could not suffer.

https://carm.org/dictionary-docetism

Question 18

Double Predestination

Answer 18

The view that God sovereignly and freely chose to predestine some to Heaven (the elect) and some to Hell (the reprobate). This predestination is not based on anything in the person, nor is it based on what the foreseen actions and/or beliefs of that person would have been.

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Question 19

Donatism

Answer 19

Donatism was the error taught by Donatus, bishop of Casae Nigrae, that the effectiveness of the sacraments depends on the moral character of the minister. In other words, if a minister who was involved in a serious enough sin were to baptize a person, that baptism would be considered invalid. Please see Heresiesfor more information.

https://carm.org/dictionary-donatism

Question 20

Existentialism

Answer 20

Existentialism is a philosophical viewpoint based on Soren Kierkegaard’s philosophical work and emphasizes human freedom and abilities. Subjectivity and individual choice are elevated often above conceptual and moral absolutes because truth is found within personal experience. Existentialism would deny objective moral truths.

https://carm.org/dictionary-existentialism

Question 21

Filioque

Answer 21

Filioque is the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds equally from both the Father and the Son.

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Question 22

Gap Theory

Answer 22

Gap Theory

The gap theory is the idea that there is a gap in time between Genesis 1:1 inGenesis 1:2. The gap lasted for millions of years and accounts for the dinosaurs. This theory was begun by a Scottish minister named Chalmers in 1814.

Gen. 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Gen. 1:2, “And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”

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Question 23

Gospel

Answer 23

The Gospel is the good news that we have forgiveness of sins through Jesus.

Specifically, the Gospel is defined by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:1-4, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The Gospel comes from God (Gal. 1:10-12), is the power of God for salvation(Rom. 1:16), is a mystery (Eph. 6:19), and is a source of hope (Col. 1:23), faith (Acts 15:9), life (2 Cor. 4:14), and peace (Eph. 6:15).

https://carm.org/dictionary-gospel

Question 24

Homoiousios

Answer 24

Homoiousios means “of similar substance,” “of the similar essence.” It was a term used in the fourth century by a heretical group to describe the relationship between the Father and the Son. This is an improper term to use when describing the relationship between the Father and the Son. They are not of similar essence. Rather, they are of the same essence (Homoousios). In other words, according to the correct doctrine of the Trinity, the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) share the same essence. See Ontological Trinity.

https://carm.org/dictionary-homoiousios

Question 25

Homoousios

Answer 25

Homoousios (Gk.ὁμοούσιος) means “of the same substance,”“of the same essence.” Homo means “same” and ousia means “essence.” The term was used by Athanasius in his correct teaching of the oneness of the Father and the Son in that they are the same substance, the same essence of divinity. The term was used in the Nicene Creed (and creeds thereafter) when it described Jesus as being of the same substance as the Father in its affirmation of the Trinity.

Question 26

Hypostasis

Answer 26

Hypostasis

Hypostasis is a Greek word ὑπόστασις that has a range of meanings: nature, substance, image, essence, etc. It is translated as “nature” in the NASB in Heb. 1:3, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” It is translated as “image” in the ASV, KJV and NKJV, “imprint” in the ESV and NRSV. It is also found in

https://carm.org/dictionary-hypostasis

Question 27

Hypostatic Union

Answer 27

This is the union of the two natures (Divine and human) in the person of Jesus. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8). He is fully God and fully man (Col. 2:9); thus, He has two natures: God and man. He is not half God and half man. He is 100% God and 100% man. He never lost His divinity. He continued to exist as God when He became a man and added human nature to Himself (Phil. 2:5-11). Therefore, there is a “union in one person of a full human nature and a full divine nature.”

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Question 28

Objectivism

Answer 28

Objectivism is a branch of philosophy which asserts that reality exists apart from the human mind and that the knowledge of this reality is based upon observation.

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Question 29

In facto

Answer 29

In facto means something that exists and is complete. Contrast with in fieri.

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Question 30

Impute, Imputation

Answer 30

To impute means to reckon to someone the blessing, curse, debt, etc., of another. Adam’s sin is imputed to all people (Rom. 5:12-21). Therefore, we are effectively all guilty before God. Our sins were put upon, imputed, to Jesus on the cross where He became sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21) and died with them (Isaiah 53:4-6). Therefore, our sins are forgiven. Understanding imputation is very important. Imputation is the means of our salvation. Our sins were put upon, imputed, to Jesus on the cross. Our sins were “given” to Jesus.

https://carm.org/dictionary-impute

Question 31

Kenosis

Answer 31

Kenosis is a theological error concerning Jesus’ incarnation. The kenosis attempts to solve some paradoxes between the nature of God and of man as united inJesus.

The kenosis maintains that God, when becoming a man, divested Himself of some qualities of being a man. In a sense, the kenosis is God minus something–God subtracting some qualities of deity to become a man. The correct view is called the Hypostatic Union which is God plus something–God adding human nature to Himself.

Question 32

Normative Principle

Answer 32

The normative principle of worship is the position in Christian theology that states that the worship of God can include anything that is not specifically prohibited by Scripture.

Question 33

Ontological Argument

Answer 33

The Ontological Argument is an attempt to prove God’s existence, first postulated by Anselm. In brief, it states that God is a being of which no greater thing exists or can be thought of. Therefore, since we can conceive of God as the greatest of all things that exist, then God must exist.

Question 34

Ontology

Answer 34

Ontology is the study of the nature of being, its essence, its relation to existence. It is the study of the most basic essence of what something is beyond which it cannot be known.

Question 35

Ordo salutis

Answer 35

Latin for “order of salvation.” Theologically it is the order of decrees by God in bringing about the salvation of individuals. In the Reformed camp, the ordo solutis is 1) election, 2) predestination, 3) calling, 4) regeneration, 5) faith, 6) repentance, 7) justification, 8) sanctification, and 9) glorification. In theArminian camp, the ordo soluits is 1) calling, 2) faith, 3) repentance, 4) regeneration, 5) justification, 6) perseverance, 7) glorification.

https://carm.org/dictionary-ordo-salutis

Question 36

Open Theism

Answer 36

Open Theism, also called openness and the open view, is a theological position dealing with human free will and its relationship to God and the nature of the future. It is the teaching that God has granted to humanity free will and that in order for the free will to be truly free, the future free will choices of individuals cannot be known ahead of time by God. Open Theists hold that if God knows what we are going to choose, then how can we be truly free when it is time to make those choices since a counter choice cannot then be made by us because it is already “known” what we are going to do. In other words, we would not actually be able to make a contrary choice to what God “knows”; we will choose thus implying that we would not then be free.

https://carm.org/dictionary-open-theism

Question 37

Process Theology

Answer 37

Process theology is the theological position that God is changing as is our knowledge about God and that God is not immutable and that Jesus is not God in flesh and the Bible is not God’s inerrant word.

https: //carm.org/dictionary-process-theology
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Process theology is the philosophical and theological position that God is changing as is the universe. Therefore, our knowledge of God must be progressing as we learn more about Him, and it can never rest in any absolutes, which is why process theologians deny the absolutes of God’s immutability and truth. Furthermore, this would mean that absolute knowledge of God would not be achievable, and a self-revelation of God (in the person of Jesus Christ and the Bible) would also not be possible. This would open the door for humanistic philosophy and/or false theological systems to be “rationalized” by process theologians.

Question 38

Pragmatism

Answer 38

Pragmatism is the philosophical position that what works is best.

In other words, the value of something is established by its practicality, functionality, and usefulness.

Therefore, that which is impractical is rejected as having lesser value or no value as compared to that which works. Pragmatism has been considered in various fields of study such as law, politics, psychology, religion, and education.

Question 39

Regulative Principle

Answer 39

The regulative principle is the understanding of how Christians are to worshipGod as instructed in the Bible. Generally speaking, the regulative principle is held by those who are Reformed. It states that worship of God can only be properly accomplished by what is commanded in Scripture or by what can be deduced from Scripture and without violation to it. Therefore, the regulative principle would prohibit using such things as icons and statues in the worship of God since they are forbidden in the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-6). Historically, some Reformed Churches have not used musical instruments. Others have stated that dancing is also forbidden. However, many Reformed Churches have modified their view of the regulative principle to allow musical instruments and in some cases dancing.

https://carm.org/dictionary-regulative-principle

Question 40

Sacerdotalism

Answer 40

Sacerdotalism is the teaching that ordination imparts special abilities/powers necessary for the operation of the ministry. Also, the teaching that grace is administered through the one so ordained. Sacerdotalism is taught in Roman Catholicism.

https://carm.org/dictionary-sacerdotalism

Question 41

Supralapsarianism

Answer 41

Supralapsarianism is an issue within Reformed Theology (Calvinism) dealing with what may have happened in God’s mind regarding the logical order of His considering whom to elect into salvation before the foundation of the world. The word means “before the fall.”

This position holds that God first decided that He would save some people and then second that He would allow sin into the world. By contrast, the infralapsarian (“after the fall”) position is the reverse in that it holds that God first decided He would allow sin into the world and second that He would then save people from it.

Question 42

Vicarious Atonement

Answer 42

Vicarious Atonement is the teaching that the atonement which states thatChrist’s death was “legal.” It satisfied the legal justice of God. Jesus bore the penalty of sin when He died on the cross. His death was a substitution for the believers. In other words, He substituted himself for them upon the cross. Jesus hung in our place as He bore our sin in His body on the cross. See 1 Pet. 2:24.

https://carm.org/dictionary-vicarious-atonement

Question 43

Wholly Other

Answer 43

The term “wholly other” is used in Christain theology to describe the difference between God and everything else. God, the Christian God, is completely different than all other things that exist. God can be described by essential properties such as holiness, immutability, etc. But we have to ask how we, as finite creatures, can relate to the infinite God. It is difficult when he is “wholly other” than we are. It means that we must relate to him by his self-revelation in the person of Christ Jesus, and through the Bible.

Question 44

Zurich Agreement

Answer 44

The Zurich Agreement was a pact made in 1549 by John Calvin and Heinrich Bullinger, Zwingli’s successor, the result of which was an increased unity between the two largest Reformed Churches in Switzerland. The document contained 26 articles, affirmed that Christ was present spiritually in Communionvia the Holy Spirit and is foundational to the Reformed understanding ofsacraments.

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