Flashcards: Issues Terms Quiz
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Created by:
sarahhester on February 4, 2011
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fifty-seven pages of terms??? flashcard time.
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Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Doctrine | Teaching |
| Theology | Study of the knowledge of God |
| Systematic theology | Study of Bible doctrine and Christian interpretation organized under topics. |
| Biblical theology | The study of the Bible's doctrinal teaching, or the study of doctrine as it was unfolded in the historical development in the Bible revelation. |
| Historical theology | Study of Christian interpretation of doctrines arranged historically through church history. |
| Textual criticism | Attempt to identify the exact form of the original text by comparing the copies, fragments, and translations of the original documents. |
| Historical criticism | Attempt to understand the author's intended meaning in light of his or her cultural and historical setting. Assumption: Works within a rationalistic paradigm which often denies or ignores the miraculous. |
| JEDP Theory | The documentary hypothesis of the O.T. The belief that several sources are behind Pentateuch. |
| Demythologization | The reinterpretation of the supposed "myth" terminology in the Bible in existential terms. |
| Source criticism | Method which attempts to identify the sources underlying the current form of the text. Especially applied to first five books of the O.T. (JEDP) and the Gospels (Q etc.) in the N.T. Assumption: The books of the Bible were written or compiled much later than supposed authors lived, therefore the traditional authors were not really responsible for writing the books. Instead, the books evolved over an extended period of time. |
| Q | Abbreviation from the German word (Quelle, source). The alleged source which the Gospel writers Matthew and Luke used to supplement the material in Mark. |
| Form criticism | Method which seeks to identify various kinds of material which were behind the written text of Bible books. These story forms have standard characters and functions in a given community. Assumption: The biblical stories were passed down orally and later used by an editor/redactor for theological purposes. By analyzing the style of a particular pericope, we can learn about its history, development, revisions and use in the church/community. |
| Redaction criticism | Method which seeks to identify the author's editorial work which he adds to his sources. Based on these editorial changes one can discover the needs and characteristics of the community "behind the text" for whom these changes were made. Assumption: Biblical texts were not "authored" but edited and redacted, sometimes over a long period of time. |
| Rhetorical (Literary) criticism | Attempt to analyze the literary style and devices used in a particular pericope (e.g. inclusio, chiasm, parallelism, repetition, etc.). Like form criticism, it recognizes that in literature, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Yet it differs from form criticism in that it takes into account not only the finished form of the text but the author and audience as participants in the rhetorical process, that is, the art of theology. Assumption: Aesthetics and communication theory take precedence over theology. It is often assumed that the text is the product of a community rather than an author. |
| Structuralism | Attempt to dissect the text and its parts. In contrast to rhetorical criticism it analyzes thought patterns under the literary features. Assumption: Authors/editors subconsciously embed thought patterns into their work which we are able to decipher and thus psychoanalyze the author's intentions. These linguistic codes are open to multiple interpretations by different readers and communities. |
| Social Science criticism | Attempt to understand the social world of the text through the use of psychology, anthropology, and sociology and thereby interpret the original reason(s) behind such things as rituals, laws, customs, etc. Assumption: The paradigms drawn up by modern, western psychology, anthropology, and sociology are adequate templates for the biblical world. |
| Reader response criticism | Explores the contribution that readers make to the meaning of the text. Truth is created as the reader reads, not as the writer writes. Emphasis is on how the reader responds to the text when he or she reads it. Perhaps the reader is in total control of the interpretation to play with the text as he or she sees fit. Assumption: The reader is more important than the author in ascribing meaning or eliciting meaning from the text. |
| Deconstruction | Words are merely arbitrary linguistic symbols that refer to other arbitrary linguistic symbols and as a result, we can never really understand each other. The task of the interpreter is to deconstruct the communication, unmask its oppressive intentions and recreate new, existential meanings by playing with the text. Assumption: Language is incapable of clearly communicating an author's intent. Also, a commitment to no absolute truth. |
| Dogma | A decree, doctrine, or teaching that has been handed down. |
| Eisegesis | To import into the text the interpreter's meaning as opposed to the author's intended meaning; opposite of exegesis. |
| Exegesis | To draw out the author's meaning of the text by using the principles of interpretation. |
| Exposition | Taking the author's intended meaning learned through exegesis and restating that truth in words understandable to people today. |
| Hermeneutics | The science of interpretation, consisting of applying various principles and rules. |
| New Hermeneutic | An interpretive approach which draws upon existential philosophy to understand the Bible in terms of its effect upon a person rather than its objective meaning. |
| Hermeneutical circle | The interplay between all the variables (author, text, and interpreter) in the interpretation process. |
| Hermeneutical distance | The admission of the years, miles, and cultures that separate the modern interpreter from the ancient text. |
| Understanding distance | The ability to interpret correctly in spite of hermeneutical distance. |
| Genre | A certain category of literature, such as parable, miracle story, etc. |
| Analogy of Scripture | Interpretation of one passage of Scripture in light of other passages of Scripture. |
| Apologetics | A defense of historical and supernatural Christianity. |
| Evidences | The positive presentation of the facts supporting the truth of Christianity. |
| Fact | An event which has occurred in time and space. |
| Truth | A statement which correctly describes things as they are. |
| Epistemology | The study of the sources, nature, and tests of knowledge. |
| Logic | The principles of correct thinking. |
| Elohim | Plural for Eloah, translated God. Common Hebrew word for deity, generic in nature. |
| Yahweh | Specifically denotes the one true God, translated LORD. The Great I Am. |
| Adonai | A Jewish substitution for the name, Yahweh. Literally "my Lord." |
| El Shaddai | God Almighty; a name which emphasizes God's power. |
| Sabaoth | Lord of Hosts. |
| Theism | Belief in a personal God; the study of the existence and attributes of a personal God. |
| Monotheism | Belief in one God. |
| Atheism | Denial of the existence of God. |
| Agnosticism | View that you can't have certain knowledge, especially about the existence of God. |
| Naturalism | The belief that the system of nature is the whole of reality. |
| Pantheism | God and the world are the same; everything in nature is divine. |
| Polytheism | Belief in many gods. |
| Deism | Belief in a God who created but has no continuing involvement with the world and events within it. |
| Creation | God brought into existence matter, the universe, plants, animals and man. |
| Creation ex nihilo | Creation out of nothing, without the use of preexisting materials. |
| Naturalistic evolution | The theory that the universe, plants, animals and man have originated from matter alone by natural forces. |
| Theistic evolution | God used evolution as His method of creation. |
| Liberalism | A subjective, naturalistic reinterpretation of Christianity which stresses practical values of the Christian experience. Also called modernism. |
| Neo Orthodoxy | A system of theology that is based on existential thought. |
| Liberation theology | A reinterpretation of Christianity based on Marxist socialism. Uses the text as a tool for liberating opporessed or marginalized groups. Assumption: Meaning resides in my current community and the Bible is merely a sociological tool for purposes of liberation. |
| Existentialism | The belief that truth is subjective and relative to each person. It stresses man's anxiety and personal freedom. |
| Postmodernism | An incredulity to meta-narrative. An aversion to any all-encompassing truth claim. All truth claims are equal. An existential reaction to the Enlightenment. Objectivity does not exist. |
| Glory | Brightness, greatness, or splendor, which is one of the qualities of God. |
| Hallelujah | Praise the LORD (Yahweh). |
| Hosanna | Greek form of a Hebrew salutation, meaning, "Save now, we beseech thee." |
| Theophany | A visible appearance or manifestation of God, particularly in the Old Testament. |
| Idol | Anything less than God which is given the worship due only to Him. |
| Satan | The evil spiritual being, also called the Devil (deceiver). |
| Authority | The right to command belief and action. |
| Revelation | Communication from God to man of His nature and will. |
| General revelation | The disclosure of the truth of God in the physical universe and in man. |
| Special revelation | The disclosure of the truth of God and His will for men through God-directed spokesmen - the prophets, the apostles and supremely through His Son. |
| Inspiration | God guided the writers of Scripture by the Holy Spirit to write the truth He wanted written, without error and without omission of necessary truth. |
| Canon | A list of books considered to be inspired. |
| Canon criticism | Attempt to find the "faith needs" of the community by considering how the final form the canon came to be. Assumption: Meaning and authority reside in the believing community that accepts the text as Scripture more than the author or the historical events behind the text. |
| Autographs | The originals of the Bible books as written by the Biblical authors. |
| Torah | Hebrew word for law. Specifically refers to the revelation of God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. |
| Pentateuch | The first five books of the O.T. |
| Talmud | From the Hebrew word meaning study or instruction; It is a comprehensive term for the Mishna and the Gemara. |
| Mishnah | From the Hebrew word meaning to repeat or learn. A collection of legal material developed from the traditions of the Jews. |
| Gemara | From a Hebrew word meaning "to study." The term specifically refers to a commentary on the Mishnah. |
| Midrash | From the Hebrew word meaning "investigation." Collections of legal and procedural rabbinic material. |
| Targum | Translation or interpretation. |
| Halakah | From a Hebrew word meaning to go or walk. It refers to rabbinic (legal material) rules for daily conduct handed down by the rabbis. |
| Haggadah | Rabbinic (non-legal) material which seeks to illustrate the Torah. |
| Verbal inspiration | The words and sentences of the Bible as written by the original writers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit expressing God's truth. |
| Mechanical dictation | The view that every word of Scripture was dictated word-by-word by the Holy Spirit to the Biblical authors. |
| Inerrancy of the Bible | The Bible is without error in the author's intended meaning in the original Scriptures. |
| Infallibility of the Bible | Usually a synonym of inerrancy. Some have advocated that infallibility refers to matters of faith, salvation, and morals and inerrancy refers to matters of history and science. |
| Prophecy | Divine message delivered by a Holy Spirit - inspired spokesman. |
| Predictive prophecy | An inspired spokesman reveals historical events before they happen. |
| Miracle | An event in the external world worked by the direct power of God intended as a sign. |
| Sovereignty of God | God is in control of the universe. God's will prevails. |
| LXX | The abbreviation for the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the O.T. |
| Bibliolatry | The worship of the text of Scripture. |
| Apocrypha | Unauthorized books not recognized with the authority of Scripture. |
| Messiah | The anointed one; the prophet, priest and King predicted by the OT prophets, who would come to Israel and redeem God's people. (Messiah-Aramaic; Christ-Greek.) |
| Savior | One who saves people from their sins and gives them true wholeness. |
| Lord | Divine master; word used to translate God's personal name in LXX. |
| Son of God | The one characterized by divine nature. |
| Son of Man | The coming ruler prophesied by Daniel; Jesus' favorite title for Himself. |
| Deity of Jesus | Jesus was God in flesh. He was fully God even though He was in human flesh. |
| Incarnation | God in flesh. |
| Ascension of Christ | Jesus' bodily departure from earth to heaven forty days after his resurrection. |
| Crucifixion | Execution by nailing a person to cross and leaving there until dead. |
| Logos | Greek term for God; a name for Christ. |
| Arianism | An unbiblical view of the person of Christ according to which he is the highest of created beings. |
| Redemption | God purchased the freedom of sinners from punishment through the death of Christ. |
| Reconciliation | Having been an enemy of God because of sin, man comes into the favor and friendship of God. |
| Salvation | Man is released from his sins and lost condition and granted a new life of spiritual wholeness and forgiveness. |
| Atonement | The payment price which is the basis for the forgiveness and covering of man's sins. |
| Justification | The state of having been declared free from the guilt of sin. |
| Righteousness | The state of being right. A gift from Christ and a calling of the Christian life. |
| Sanctification | The act of dedicating oneself totally to do the will of God. The process of bringing one's thoughts and actions into conformity to the will of God. |
| Grace | Undeserved favor. |
| Conversion | The action of turning to Christ. Renouncing of sin and accepting Christ in faith. |
| Faith | Trust based on sufficient evidence; acceptance of testimony. |
| Repentance | Acknowledgment of one's sins and resolve to change desires and actions. |
| Baptism | Immersion; burial in water in the name of Christ for remission of sins. |
| Legalism | An approach which makes conformity to human opinions and regulations as essential to salvation. |
| Fall | When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden man fell from fellowship and favor with God and brought about a world in which man makes a choice to live without God. |
| Election | The doctrine of how God calls men to salvation. |
| Flesh | Human nature; sinful nature. |
| Soul | Life, self, or the person himself or herself. |
| Spirit | The living part of man's nature. |
| Body | The physical part of man's nature; can stand for man's total being. |
| Assurance of Salvation | Confidence of the believer that he or she is truly saved. |
| Covenant | An agreement between two parties in which the conditions of the agreement are set by the one offering the agreement and are accepted by the other party. |
| Testament | A covenant in which God dictates the conditions of His favor based on the death of Christ. |
| Total depravity | All men have inherited the guilt of Adam's sin and it has affected each human being so that he or she can not believe in or truly know God without the direct enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. |
| Unconditional election | When God calls one to salvation, the individual meets no conditions. The process is totally of God without human effort. |
| Limited atonement | Since God is sovereign and everything He wills comes to pass, the death of Christ was only for the elect, those chosen by God to be saved. |
| Irresistible grace | When God calls one to salvation by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit, the individual cannot resist. |
| Perseverance of the Saints | "Once saved, always saved." When a person has been called to salvation by God, he will never lose his saved position with God. |
| Predestination | The eternal destiny of every person has been determined by the sovereign choice of God before the world was formed. Taught by Calvinism. |
| Arminianism | Holds that salvation is conditional and can be lost. |
| Baptismal regeneration | The view that the act of baptism saves the person by removing the guilt of original sin. |
| Universalism | The unbiblical view that all men will be saved. |
| Covenant theory | Views the relationship between God and man as a type of agreement. Stresses continuity in God's dealings with man. |
| Dispensationalism | View that God deals with His people on a different basis in each period of history. Involves a literal interpretation of Scripture, distinction between Israel and the church and a premillennial view of the end time. |
| Church | Followers of Christ, bound to one another as a family, and a body under the lordship of Christ, whose purpose is to win the lost, strengthen the believers and to help the needy. |
| Kerugma | The Greek word for message. |
| Kingdom of God | The rule of God in the hearts and lives of men. |
| Fellowship | A relationship between a believer and God which involves sharing common concerns, interests, and values. |
| Priesthood of all believers | A reference to the idea that each person has direct access to God and a contribution to the church. |
| Lord's Supper | A memorial set up by Jesus for believers to commemorate, celebrate, participate in the death of Christ. |
| Eucharist | A term meaning thanksgiving, often associated with the Lord's Supper. |
| Apostle | One sent on a mission; a disciple specially chosen by Christ to be one of His inspired spokesmen. |
| Evangelist | One who spreads the good news about Christ. |
| Prophet | A person who delivered messages which he received by direct inspiration from God. |
| Elder | A man who is one of the spiritual overseers in a local church, also called bishop and pastor. |
| Teacher | The one who gives instruction. |
| Deacon | A man who performs a ministry in the local church. |
| Disciple | A learner and follower of Christ; sometimes it means just the 12 apostles. |
| Preaching | Declaration of the truth of Scripture to an audience; to herald the message of the king. |
| Ordination | The setting apart of someone for a special aspect of Christian service. |
| Tongues | Miraculously speaking unlearned foreign languages. |
| Charismatic | In the Biblical sense, pertaining to the gifts of God. In common use today, refers to the use of miraculous or sign-gifts as evidence of baptism of Holy Spirit. |
| Glossalalia | The practice of speaking in tongues. |
| Apostolic succession | The view that authority in the church has been passed through the laying on of hands from the apostles to present day church leaders. |
| Asceticism | The abstaining from things such as foods and marriage to show one's spirituality. |
| Judaism | The religion and culture of the Jewish people, especially during the intertestamental period. |
| Judaizers | People who attempted to impose the standards and laws of Judaism upon Christianity. |
| Cult | An interpretation based on an individual's views which differs radically from established religion. |
| Occult | The world of Satan and his forces. |
| Eschatology | The study of the end times. |
| Second coming | The return of Christ to earth to receive His own. |
| Advent | The coming of Christ. |
| Final judgement | The eternal destinies of both lost and saved will be declared as all men and women appear before the judgment seat of Christ. |
| Day of the Lord | The day designated as the day of Christ's return and judgment. |
| Heaven | Eternal destiny of the saved in the presence of God. |
| Hell | Eternal destiny of punishment for the unsaved, excluded from the presence and favor of God. |
| Hades | Greek word used in the LXX for the Hebrew Sheol, i.e. the place of the dead. |
| Millennium | Thousand year rule of Christ. |
| PreMillennial view | Christ's coming will be before the millenial reign. Christ will rule on a literal throne in literal Jerusalem for a literal 1000 years. |
| PostMillennial view | Christ's coming will be after a thousand year period of progress in which Christ reigns. |
| A-Millennial view | The millennial is a figurative expression to be equated with the church age which will come to a conclusion with the Second Coming of Christ. No literal 1000 year rule. |
| Rapture | Non-biblical term used to refer to the rising of Christians, dead and alive, to meet the Lord at His Second Coming. |
| Secret Rapture | The view that at the Second Coming the saved will be secretly taken from the earth by Christ. |
| Annihilation | The idea that at least some humans will permanently cease to exist at death or some point thereafter. |
| Apostasy | A falling away by abandoning Christian faith and practice. |
| AntiChrist | One who is an opponent of Christ; always plural in the New Testament. |
| Armaggedon | The battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil. |