Vocab Test 2

Question 1

The belief that the thousand years mentioned in Revelation 20 do not represent a specific period of time between Christ’s first and second comings.

Answer 1

Amillenialism

Question 2

The belief that all the wicked will be judged by God and thrown into the lake of fire, where they will cease to exist. Some suggest that this will occur instantaneously, while others believe that the unrighteous may experience a brief period of awareness. However, they all agree that no individual, however wicked, will suffer eternally a conscious existence in hell.

Answer 2

Annihilationism

Question 3

The bringing together of two principles, statements, or laws that, even though appearing to be contradictory to or in tension with one another, are both believed to be true.

Answer 3

Antinomy

Question 4

Millennialism also goes by this term, arising out of the Biblical Greek word chilias, meaning “one thousand.” In contemporary theology, it is often used in the narrower sense of referring to belief in the premillennial return of Christ.

Answer 4

Chiliasm

Question 5

The theory that human free will is consistent with God’s sovereign prerogative to determine or will all things that are to happen. In order for this to be true, those who believe in this usually argue that human freedom is only analogous to God’s freedom and not identical with it. More specifically, human freedom is limited, whereas God’s freedom is absolute.

Answer 5

Compatibilism

Question 6

The theory that the Lord’s Supper most closely associated with the Lutheran tradition. Martin Luther taught that the body and blood of the Lord is present “in, with, and under” the actual bread and wine.

Answer 6

Consubstantiation

Question 7

Believer’s baptism; the baptism only of those able to make a profession of faith

Answer 7

Credobaptism

Question 8

A system of theology popularized mainly in 20th century North America, especially through the influence of the Scofield Reference Bible. Scofield suggested that God works with humans in distinct ways through history; that God has a distinct plan for Israel over against the church; that the Bible, especially predictive prophecy, needs to be interpreted literally; that the church will be secretly raptured from earth 7 years prior to Christ’s second coming; and that Christ will rule with Israel during a literal thousand-year earthly reign. Contemporary, or progressive, this idea remains thoroughly premillennial but rejects the ontological distinction between Israel and the church as two peoples of God, seeing them instead as two salvation-historical embodiments of a single people.

Answer 8

Dispensationalism

Question 9

The area of theological study concerned with understanding the church. It seeks to set forth the nature and function of the church. It also investigates issues such as the mission, ministry, and structure of the church, as well as its role in the overall plan of God.

Answer 9

Ecclesiology

Question 10

In Greek, it means “church”

Answer 10

Ekklesia

Question 11

Derived from the Greek term meaning “last,” and refers to the ultimate climax or end of history wherein Christ returns to earth to establish His eternal kingdom of righteousness and justice among all nations.

Answer 11

Eschaton

Question 12

From a Greek word meaning “I give thanks,” the term has been used in the Christian tradition to refer to one of the central rites of the church, namely, the ongoing commemoration of the last supper that Christ had with His disciples before His crucifixion or the commemoration of the crucifixion itself. It is a celebration of thanksgiving to God for the redemptive work of Christ.

Answer 12

Eucharist

Question 13

A compound Greek word meaning “to speak in tongues.” It is the supernatural ability to speak in languages not previously learned, is first recorded in Scripture as happening on the day of Pentecost. The apostle Paul later makes a reference to is as a special gift of the Spirit given to some Christians and to be practiced for the edification of the church.

Answer 13

Glossolalia

Question 14

The last stage in the process of salvation, namely, the resurrection of the body at the second coming of Jesus Christ and the entrance into the eternal kingdom of God. In this, believers attain complete conformity to the image and likeness of the glorified Christ and are freed from both physical and spiritual defect. It ensures that believers will never again experience bodily decay, death or illness, and will never again struggle with sin.

Answer 14

Glorification

Question 15

A biblical term generally meaning “to be set apart.” The term is used widely in Scripture to refer to a variety of people and objects alike but ultimately points to God as the one who is qualitatively different or set apart from creation. It may also be used to describe someone or something that God has “set apart” for special purposes. In the NT holiness takes on the sense of ethical purity or freedom from sin.

Answer 15

Holy

Question 16

Most simply, the inability to cease to exist or the ability to exist eternally. In this sense God is the only being who is truly like this, because God has always existed and will not cease to exist.

Answer 16

Immortality

Question 17

The situation of those people who have died and who now await the future resurrection. Major theories about this proposed in the history of Christian theology included “soul sleep”, “restful bliss or conscious torment”, and purgatory. Some deny this theory and suggest instead that those who die are ushered directly into eternity.

Answer 17

Intermediate State

Question 18

A designation, dating perhaps to Augustine, referring to the sum total of all genuine believers who have been united by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, whether living or dead. It cannot be observed outwardly because its members are known only by God, who sees their internal faith and not merely their outward profession or faith.

Answer 18

Invisible Church

Question 19

Originating with Ulrich Zwingli, a view of the Lord’s Supper that sees the rite as symbolic, as representing Christ’s self-giving on the cross (together with His last supper with the disciples). In contrast to the idea of real presence espoused both by the medieval theologians and by Luther, it is the belief that Christ’s presence is not localized in the communion elements but within the gathered community of believers. Those who believe in this theory consider the word “is” in Christ’s words, “This is my body…This is my blood” to be figurative, so that it means “signifies” or “represents.” Hence by this phrase Jesus was not referring literally to His physical body and blood but was indicating that the physical elements are symbols of His life that would be given for them.

Answer 19

Memorialism

Question 20

Arising from the Latin word for “thousand,” it refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ mentioned in Revelation 20:1-8. Also goes by the term chiliasm.

Answer 20

Millennialism

Question 21

Literally, an authoritative decree or law. Certain free-church groups (such as the Baptists) refer to baptism and the Lord’s Supper as this rather than sacraments. In so doing they highlight the voluntary nature of these rites as having been ordained (commanded) by Christ.

Answer 21

Ordinance

Question 22

A Greek word used to refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of history. Literally, the term means “presence.” Hence it designates Christ’s return as the point at which He will be fully present to the world or His presence will be fully revealed.

Answer 22

Parousia

Question 23

The practice of baptizing infants or children who are deemed not old enough to verbalize faith in Christ. There are several conceptions of the significance of this type of baptism. Some Christians view the act as effecting regeneration; others see it as the symbol of God’s grace extended to the infant prior to personal response; others suggest that, like circumcision in the OT, this type of baptism marks an infant as a member of the covenant community.

Answer 23

Pedobaptism

Question 24

The view that Christ’s second coming will follow the millennium. This idea asserts that the millennium will come by the spiritual and moral influence of Christian preaching and teaching in the world. This will result in increased conversions, a more important role of the church in the world, earthly prosperity, the resolution of social ills, and a general adoption of Christian values. Evil will diminish until the time of Christ’s second coming, which will mark as well the resurrection of the dead and the last judgment.

Answer 24

Postmillenialism

Question 25

The view that the millennium follows the return of Christ. Some teachings state that the millennium will begin supernaturally and cataclysmically, preceded by signs of apostasy, worldwide preaching of the gospel, war, famine, earthquakes, the coming of the antichrist, and the great tribulation. Jesus will then return and rule on the earth with His saints for one thousand years, during which time peace will reign, the natural world will no longer be cursed, and evil will be suppressed. After a final rebellion, God will crush evil forever; judge the resurrected, nonbelieving dead; and establish heaven and hell.

Answer 25

Premillennialism

Question 26

From the Latin rapio (caught up), the belief that the church will be caught up and united with Christ at His second coming. One point of contention among theologians is the time of the rapture, especially in relation to the great tribulation period associated with the end of the age. The views regarding the related timing of these events lead to the designations pre-, mid-, and posttribulationists for the views that the rapture occurs prior to, during or at the end of the tribulation. Some theologians view the rapture as a biblical image referring to the church’s greeting the returning Christ.

Answer 26

Rapture

Question 27

The emphasis in the Roman Catholic tradition, especially as proclaimed in the Middle Ages, on the powers of earthly priests as essential mediators between God and human-kind. It teaches that by virtue of ordination priests have the gifting of the Spirit whereby they are able to transform mundane physical elements (water, bread, and wine) into means of grace.

Answer 27

Sacerdotalism

Question 28

From the Hebrew and Greek, “to be set apart” from common use, “to be made holy.” The nature of this is twofold in that Christians have been made holy through Christ and are called to continue to grow into and strive for holiness by cooperating with the indwelling Holy Spirit until they enjoy complete conformity to Christ.

Answer 28

Sanctification

Question 29

A term in Roman Catholic theology meaning “essential change,” the belief that by the power of God at the consecration in the Mass, the bread and wine change substance into the actual substance of Jesus’ body and blood, even though they seem to retain their natural characteristics.

Answer 29

Transubstantiation

Question 30

The church as an organization that encompasses baptized members of local congregations, in contrast to the invisible church, which includes all true believers (or elect persons) and therefore is known only to God. Alternately, the church as consisting of those who are now living, in contrast to the invisible company of saints who have died and are now present in heaven with God.

Answer 30

Visible Church