Resources: Glossary

Antinomian  

a.) Denial of the binding nature of any external laws on poersonal behavior,  b.) Denial that the OT moral law remains in effect for Christians.

Apologetics

Defense of the Christian faith.  (Sometimes referred to as "pre-evangelism" or "eristics.")

Apostasy

Falling away from Christian belief or sound doctrine.

Apostolic Succession

False doctrine that Peter was the first Pope, and that He transmitted a unique authority to supposed successors.

Arianism

Heresy denying Christ's divinity. Jesus is depicted as the highest created being, but not sharing the same substance as God.  Originally advocated by Arius (c. 250-336).

Aquinas, Thomas

(1225? - 1274) Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian theologian and philosopher known for his allegorical interpretations of scripture and his reconciliation of Aristotle and Christianity. He argued that reason is able to operate within faith yet according to its own laws, so he saw some division between faith and reason.

Arminianism

Doctrinal system denying Irresistible Grace, and substituting Prescient Election for Unconditional Election.

Augustine

(354-430) One of the Latin Church Fathers, generally recognized as the greatest thinker of Christian antiquity. He fused the Bible and Platonic philosophy. The City of God is his most famous work.

Baptists

Theology characterized by the doctrine of baptism by immersion-only, and Believer's Baptism. Of three historic types: Particular Baptists, General Baptists, and Landmark Baptists.

Canon of Scripture

The books of the Bible constituting the Old and New Testaments as decided by God.

Catholic

"Universal."  Reference to the Body of Christ.

Congregational

One of four major model for church government: Rule by local congregants.

Consubstantiation

View of the Lord's Supper (most often associated with Lutheranism) where the bread and wine are cojoined with Christ's physical body without being changed into it.  Lutherans usually deny this as their belief, but have great difficulty explaining how consubstantiation differs from what they believe.

Cult

Organized religion based on false teachings, usually characterized by a charismatic leader with absolute authority, extra-Biblical and contra-Biblical practices and beliefs, and spiritual, emotional, and/or physical abuse of members.

Decalogue

The Ten Commandments

Deification

In pagan religions, humans being elevated to the level of a god.  i.e.: In Mormonism practitioners can become their own god, and in Romanism practitioners become "like" God.  The old lie of Satan from Genesis 3:5 that "you will be like God."

Dispensationalism

Hypothesis that the several Biblical dispensations have differing means of salvation.  Ergo: People in different era were saved on divergent basis.

Ecumenicalism

Movement among liberal theologians to couple authentic Christian denominations with false churches in the name of "unity."

Effectual Calling

Efficacious invitation to salvation. (SAME: Particular Calling, Inner Call, Special Call; CONTRAST: General Invitation, General Calling, External Call, Outward Calling, Universal Call.)

Election

God's choice of people for salvation.  (SAME: Divine Election.)

Eisegesis

Reading meaning into Biblical texts.  (CONTRAST: Exegesis.)

Episcopal

One of four major models for church government: Rule by bishops.  (CONTRAST: Presbyterian, Congregational, Papist, Patriarchy. SEE: Polity.)

Epistle

Lit. "letter".  New Testament writings originally letters to persons or churches.

Eschatology

Study of "last things". The theology of the Last Day, and the climax of human and redemptive history.

Esoteric

Secret, or hidden, or inner teachings.  (CONTRAST: Exoteric.)

Eternal Security

Salvation which can not be lost. Premised on genuine conversion.  (SAME: Assurance of Salvation, OSAS, Perserverance of the Saints.)

Eucharist

(SAME: Lord's Supper.)

Evangel

a.) The Gospel of Christ;  b.) The four Gospels of Scripture;  c.) Doctrine of salvation as found in Scripture; d.) Doctrine-oriented Biblical Christianity;  e.) The "good news" or "glad tidings" present in the Gospel of Christ.

Evangelical

a.) Originally, a nickname for Reformation Christianity;  b.) Later, a description of any doctrinally-oriented denomination, congregation, or individual subscribing to the Primacy of Scripture;  c.) Today, any group or person claiming a Biblically-based belief system.

Exegesis

To draw meaning out of Biblical texts.  Usually employing a heremeneutical method. (CONTRAST: Eisegesis. ALSO SEE: Hermeneutics.)

Exoteric

Open and public truths. (CONTRAST: Esoteric.)

Experiential Religion

Religion based on experiences and feelings rather than sound doctrine.  (SIMILAR: Quietism, Relational Theology, New Evangelicalism, anti-Creedalism; CONTRAST: Creedal Christianity.)

Faith

Five Solas

Reformation slogans with the common reference of "alone".  Intended to be considered together, "alone" in each instance regards only an aspect of soteriology.  As such, these were intended to say: Salvation through grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone known through Scripture alone. (SEE: Sola Christos, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Soli Deo Gloria, Sola Scriptura.)

Free Willism

Belief that human will is sovereign over God's will in salvation.  (SEE: Arminianism.)

Fundamentalism

a.) Originally, a movement reacting to liberalism and modernism which argued for a return to the basic Biblical principles of Christianity,  b.) More recently an anti-intellectual reaction against Liberalism / Modernism and doctrinal Christianity which favors Relational Theology.

Gnosticism

Pagan religion emphasizing secret knowledge as the only means of knowing truth.  Classical Gnosticism may have Persian origins, but is best known as a Greek mystery religion.  Gnosticism is dualistic (views good and evil as equal forces), disdains the physical as evil and the spiritual as good, and is pantheistic.

Gnosticism crept into the First century A.D. Christian church, and it's condemnation can be found in several of the Epistles.

Godhead

The three Persons of the Trinity considered in essence.

Grace

Unmerited good will or favor.

Hagiographa

Third divisiuon of the Old Testament having Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ruth, Lamentations, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Ester, Daniel, First and Second Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah.  (Not to be confused with Hagiography.)

Hermeneutics

Principles for the methodical interpretation of Scripture.

High Church

Informal categorization (esp. in Anglicanism) of liturgically oriented local congregations, worship services, and theology.  (COMPARE: Low Church.)

Imputed Righteousness

Christ's righteousness ascribed to the redeemed individual without their personal merit. (SAME: Alien Righteousness, simul iustus et peccator.)

Inverbation

A confusion of God with His Word (Bible). Scripture thus becomes an object of Saving Faith, is thought to save men, is worshipped, etc.

Irresistible Grace

Grace that is effective in every instance of it's individual application.  (SAME: Saving Grace, Redemptive Grace, Efficacious Grace, Prevenient Grace.  CONTRAST: Common Grace.)

Judaizer

Those who would return Christianity to OT ritualism. In more extreme (modern) instances, these folks reject sections of the New Testament entirely (esp. the epistles of Paul). The New Testament Judaizers insisted Christians be circumcised and adhere to the Old Testament ceremonial Law.

jus divinum

God's law.  (CONTRAST: Jus Naturae.)

jus naturae

Natural law.  (CONTRAST: Jus Divinum.)

Justification

Reckoning as righteous.  God's declaring a person to be righteous based on the sacrifical atonement and perfect life of Christ.  (SAME:  Imputed Righteousness, Alien Righteousness, simul iustus et peccator. RELATED: Vicarious Atonement CONTRAST: Works Religion, Works Righteousness, Infused Righteousness.)

Kenosis

Lit. "emptying".  Reference to the self-emptying of Christ per Philippians 2:4-11.  (RELATED: Kenotic Theory.)

Kenotic Theory

Theory of Christology which emphasizes the human nature of Christ, esp. His "self-emptying" and role as a servant. (SEE:  Kenosis.)

Ketubim

The third division of the Hebrew Old Testament comprised of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles.

Kirk

Scottish term meaning "church."

Koine Greek

Common, everyday Greek used by the inhabitants of the Roman Empire and in the writing of New Testament.  As opposed to Classical Greek and Modern Greek.

Lexicon

The vocabulary of a particular language.

lex talionis

The law of retribution attributed to the Old Testament, restraining legal punishment to that proportionate to the crime.

Liturgy

Formal worship of God in church services; the pattern and content of formal worship.

Localism

False teaching that there is only one authentic Christian church in every locality (e.g., city).

Lord's Day

The first day of the week.  (SAME: Christian Sabbath.)

Lordship Controversy

Theological controversy which began in the late 1980's between proponents of the Free Grace position and the Lordship Salvation position.  At best, it is a dispute over focus and semantics.  At the extreme, it's a debate over whether carnal Christians are saved and the basic definition for saving faith.  (SEE: Free Grace, Lordship Salvation.  RELATED: Carnal Christian.)

Lordship Salvation

Theological position that works follow faith as faith follows grace.  Same as Luther's dictum that: "Faith alone justifies, but not the faith that is alone". (CONTRAST: Free Grace.)

Lord's Supper

One of the two sacraments prescribed in the New Testament (aka Communion, Eucharist).  Based on Matthew 26:26-28.  (RELATED: Closed Communion, Open Communion, Close Communion, Communion Under One Species. ALSO SEE: Physical Presence, Real Presence, Symbolic Presence, Viaticum, Transubstantiation, Consubstantiation.)

Low Church

Informal cateogorization (esp. in Anglicanism) of Bible-oriented local congregations, worship services, and theology.  (COMPARE: High Church.)

Mishna

The first and principle part of the Talmud.  Contains 63 chapters within six categorizations.  Attempts to codify, explain, and define the Old Testament Law as found in the Pentateuch. (SEE: Talmud, Pentateuch.)

Modalism

Heresy that the three Persons of the Trinity are actually mere manifestations, or modes, of God ...and not distinct Persons.

Modernism

17th Century Rationalism culminating by the 1800's in a disbelief in the possibility of the supernatural. Rejection of the Bible as divinely inerrant, and replacing Christianity with modern sciences and altruistic political schemes.  Essentially, man as his own savior.  (SIMILAR: Naturalism, Scientism.)

Modernity

Is this the same as Modernism?

Monergism

Divine Monergism is the Scriptural teaching of God alone as the efficacious cause in beginning and effecting conversion.  This being contrasted to Synergism, where the Lord merely helps us save ourselves. (CONTRAST: Synergism. RELATED: Regeneration.)

Mortal Sin

Romanist theory of major sin that causes the damnation of those otherwise saved.  (CONTRAST: Eternal Security, Perseverance of the Saints, Imputed Righteousness, Alien Righteousness.)

ms.

Manuscript.

mss.

Manuscipts.

munus triplex

"Threefold office".  The three offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King.

NA

Nestle-Aland.  Greek New Testament with variant readings.  (SIMILAR: USB.)

NAB

New American Bible.  Romanist translation not to be confused with the NAS.  Published 1970.  Based on the Confraternity Bible.  (Not to be confused with the New American Standard Bible.)

NAS95

New American Standard, 1995 update edition. (SAME: NASB95; SIMILAR: NAS, NASB.)

NAS

New American Standard.  First segment published 1963, complete Bible published 1971. Revised 1995. Loosely based on the ASV.  Copyright owned by the Lockman Foundation.  Printed and sold by various publishers.  NASB the preferred acronym today.  (SAME: NASB, NAS95, NASB95. SEE: ASV.)

NAS95

New American Standard, 1995 update edition. (SAME: NAS95; SIMILAR: NAS, NASB.)

NASB

New American Standard Bible.  First segment published 1963, complete Bible published 1971. Revised 1995. Loosely based on the ASV.  Copyright owned by the Lockman Foundation. Printed and sold by various publishers.  NASB the preferred acronym today. Originally the acronym NAS was used.  (SAME: NAS, SIMILAR: NASB95, NAS95, SEE: ASV.)

NASB95

New American Standard Bible, 1995 update edition. (SAME: NAS95; SIMILAR: NASB, NAS.)

Naturalism

Belief reaching the pinnacle of it's popularity in the late-1800's to late-1900's that natural causes explain all physical phenomenon, and supernatural events are all mythical.  (SIMILAR: Modernism, Scientism.)

Natural Religion

Religious belief derived from observation of the physical world through human reason.  (COMPARE: Deism.)

Natural Revelation

Understanding of God through nature. (SAME: Light of Nature.)

NBV

New Berkley Version (aka Modern Language Bible). By Gerrit Verkuyl.  NT in 1945, revised 1969.

NCC

National Council of Churches.  Organization who's primary agenda is the acceptance of pagan doctrine by Christian churches.  The major proponent of Ecumenicalism outside the Church of Rome.  (SEE: Ecumenicalism, Syncetism.)

NCT

(SAME: New Coventant Theology.)

NCV

New Century Version. (aka The Everyday Bible.) Translation team included some of those who had worked on the NIV, NASB, and NKJ. The NT was published in 1978, the completed Bible in 1986. Touts a 3rd. Grade reading level. Was originally titled "The International Children's Bible". Was used by the Billy graham organization's crusades after they stopped using the Living Bible. (SAME: TEB.)

NEB

New English Bible. Project commenced in 1947.  NT published 1961, completed Bible in 1970.  Joint effort of the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Churches of Wales and Ireland, Medothist Church, Baptist churches, Congregational churches, and the Quakers. (COMPARE: REB.)

Neotheism

Modernistic "open view' of God as mutable, fallible, and definitely not omniscirnt.  (SIMILAR: Process Theology. ALSO SEE: SDA.)

Nestorianism

The Christological heresy that Jesus is two distinct persons ...one human and one divine.  Exact opposite heresy of Monophycitism.  (CONTRAST: Monophycitism.)

NET

New English Translation.  Produced by the Society of Biblical Literature.  Project commenced 1995.  Only NT issued to date.

New Age

Popular acceptance of cults, the occult, mysticism, spiritualism, anti-intellectualism, and pretty much any weird idea that runs counter to then-established opinion.  Manifested in the late 1960's as part of the rebellion of the Me Generation baby boomers, but has it's roots in New Though. New Age is sort of a 'low church' Post Modernism (and vice versa) for the unsophisticated and gullible.  (RELATED: Post Modern, New Thought.)

New Covenant Theolgy

Attempt to promote Dispensationalism under the guise of Covenant Theology. (SAME: NCT. SIMILAR: Dispensationalism. CONTRAST: Covenant Theology.)

New Evangelicalism

Religious movement emphasizing love above doctrine.  (SIMILAR: Relational Theology, Experiential Religion, Pietism; COMPARE: Fundamentalism; CONTRAST: Creedal Christianity.)

New Thought 

Early-1900s philosophy that each individual ought to be loyal to truth as they perceive it.  Incipient New Age belief.  (SEE: New Age, Post Modern.)

Nihilism

Nihilism is the belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.

NIV

New International Bible.  Complete version published in 1978.  A conservative reaction to the National Council of Churches' RSV.  Project commenced 1965 by the Christian Reformed Church, and the National Association of Evangelicals. Work turned over to the Committee on Bible Translation in 1966. Financial responsibility assumed by the New York Bible Society (now the International Bible Society) in 1967.  NT published 1973, completed Bible in 1978.  (SEE: NCC, RSV.)

NJB

New Jerusalem Bible (Romanist). Published 1985.  Update of the Jerusalem Bible.  (RELATED: JB.)

NKJ

New King James.  Ostensibly intended to be stylistically similar to the KJV.  Employs modern language, however, and eliminiates most of the KJV's translational errors. The NKJ project was started by ThomasNelson Publishers in 1975.  NT came out in 1979, the completed NKJ Bible in 1982.  (SAME: NKJV. SEE: KJV.)

NKJV

New King James Version.  Ostensibly intended to be stylistically similar to the KJV.  Employs modern language, however, and eliminiates most of the KJV's translational errors. The NKJV project was started by ThomasNelson Publishers in 1975.  NT came out in 1979, the completed NKJV Bible in 1982.  (SAME: NKJ. SEE: KJV.)

NLB

New Life Bible.  By Canadian missionaries Gleason and Kathyrn Ledyard.  NT produced in 1969.  Completed Bible in 1986.

NLT

New Living Translation.  Replacement for Kenneth Taylor's Living Bible.  Published 1996.  Very paraphrasic.  (RELATED: LB.)

non posse peccare

"Inability to sin".  (CONTRAST: non posse non peccare, posse peccare. SIMILAR: posse non paccare.)

non posse non peccare

"Inability not to sin".  (SIMILAR: posse peccare.  CONTRAST: non posse peccare, posse non peccare.)

NRSV

New Revised Standard Version. Revision of the RSV by the National Council of Churches. Further attempt by the NCC to produce a Common Bible.  Project commenced 1973. Published 1990. Romanists and Orthodoxists on the translation committee along with Christians.  (SEE: NCC, RSV, Common Bible.)

NRSVA

New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha. (SIMILAR: NRSV.)

NT

New Testament.  27 books, 260 chapters, 7959 verses (Willmington; 7957, Meredith), 181,253 words.

NWT

New World Translation.  Jehovah's Witnesses' cult "bible".  None of the "translators" were fluent in either Greek or Hebrew.  Very loosely based on the ASV.  NT published in 1950, OT in parts from 1953 to 1960. (SEE: Watchtower Society, JW, ASV.)

OCRC

Orthodox Christian Reformed Church.

Offertory

That part of the Romanist Mass where the the bread and wine are offered to God prior to their consecration.  Part of the Lord's Supper as a re-sacrifice of Christ.

Omnibenevolent

"All good".  God as utterly good with no trace of evil.

Omnipotent

All powerful, almighty.  Doesn't imply that God can do what is against His nature.

Omnipresent

God present everywhere in the universe at once, yet distinct from His creation.  (SAME: Ubiquity.)

Omniscient

Having all knowledge. God knowing everything past, present, and future.

Omnitemporal

God existing at all times; the eternality of the Supreme Being.

Oneness

A heresy of some Pentecostal churches which denies the Trinity.

Ontology

The philosophical study of being, i.e. the nature of a thing.

OPC

Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Open Communion

Lord's Supper celebrated with no restriction on participation. (CONTRAST: Closed Communion, Close Communion.)

operans

"Workings".

Oral Hypothesis

Theory that the Gospels were originally oral traditions that eventually got written down.

Oral Law

The extra-Biblical traditions of the Jews condemned by Jesus in Mark 7:1-23.  Also known as the Talmud, it was supposedly delivered to Moses by God at the same time as the Written Law (Bible).  The Talmud, however, is very obviously a much later set of rabbinical writings.  (SAME: Talmud.)

ordo salutis

"Order of salvation".  The order of salvific events as they relate to an Elect individual.  (SEE: Soteriology.)

Original Righteousness

A state of innocence before God, and being without sin.  (COMPARE: Original Sin, Regeneration. SAME: status integritatis.)

Original Sin

A state of alienation from God resulting in spiritual blindness and a propensity for evil.  In the theological sense, Original Sin does NOT refer to the first sin committed by man.  (COMPARE: Original Righteousness, Total Depravity; RELATED: Hamartology, Sin Nature.)

Orthodoxism

The Eastern "Orthodox" Church. Former branch of Christianity that became involved in ritualism and dead externalism. (SEE: Ortho's.)

OT

Old Testament.

Panentheism

New Age belief that God is in everything. (COMPARE: Pantheism.)

Pantheism

Pagan and heretical belief that God is everything, or -conversely- everything is God. (COMPARE: Panentheism.)

Particular Atonement

Biblical doctrine that Christ atoned only for the Elect.  (CONTRAST:  Universal Atonement.)

Particular Baptists

Baptists in line of theological descent from the Reformation.  Name is reference to the doctrine of Particular Atonement.  (SEE: Baptists. CONTRAST: General Baptists, Landmark Baptists.  RELATED: Particular Atonement.)

Particular Call

Efficacious invitation to salvation. (SAME: Effectual Calling, Inner Call, Special Call.  CONTRAST: General Invitation, General Calling, External Call, Outward Calling, Universal Call.)

Passive Obedience of Christ

One of the two components of Christ's redemption of us:  His submission to conviction for crimes He didn't commit, and His submission to unjust execution for those crimes.  (COMPARE: Active Obedience of Christ.)

Patriarchy

Along with Papistry, one of four major models for church government: Rule by a supreme human leader. (CONTRAST: Congregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Papist, SEE: Polity.)

PCA

Presbyterian Church in America.  Break-away church from the PC-USA.  (SEE: PC-USA.)

PC-USA

Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.

peccatum originis

"Original Sin".  (SEE: Original Sin.)

Pelagianism

Doctrinal system denying Original Sin, and subscribing to human perfection in this life with the assistance of divine grace.  (COMPARE: Pietism, Perfectionism.)

Pentateuch

First five books of the Bible. 

Perfectionism

Religion focused upon human striving for moral righteousness rather than Christ's atonement and His perfect life.  (COMPARE: Pietism, Pelagianism.)

Permissive Will

That will of God which allows events to occur.  (SEE: Will of God.  COMPARE: Decretive Will, Prescriptive Will.)

Perseverance of the Saints

Salvation which can not be lost. Premised on genuine conversion, and the idea that it is God who causes the perseverance rather than the saint.  (SAME: Assurance of Salvation, Eternal Security, OSAS.)

Petrine Primacy

Theory that Peter was the foremost of Jesus' twelve apostles, and -as such- received more power and authority than the other apostles.  Forms the basis for the heresy of a human supreme pontiff, and contradicts the New Testament (esp. Acts). (RELATED: Apostolic Succession, Universal Bishop, Papist.)

Physical Presence

Believe that Christ is bodily present in the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper.  (SEE: Lord's Supper. RELATED: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Consubstantiation, Transubstantiation, CONTRAST: Real Presence, Symbolic Presence.)

Pietism

Personal appropriation of holiness and minimization of doctrine and church.  (COMPARE: Perfectionism, Pelagianism; CONTRAST: Creedal Christianity.)

Pistology

Study of faith.  (SEE: Faith.)

Plenary Inspiration

All of the Bible as the inspired Word of God, rather than merely parts of it. (SIMILAR: Verbal Inspiration.)

Pneumatology

Study of the Person of the Holy Spirit, His works, and His relation to the Godhead and mankind. (COMPARE: Christology.)

Political Theology

Theology emphasizing the political implications of Christianity. (SIMILAR: Theonomy, Reconstructionism, Liberation Theology. RELATED: Replacement Theology.)

Polity

Church government.

Polyglot Bible

Bible with the original languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic) side-by-side one or more other languages. (SIMILAR: Interlinear Bible.)

posse non peccare

"Ability not to sin".  (SIMILAR: non posse peccare. CONTRAST: posse peccare, non posse non peccare.)

posse peccare

"Ability to sin".  (SIMILAR: non posse non peccare. CONTRAST: posse non peccare, non posse peccare.)

Post Milleniallism

Eschatological belief (almost always associated with Christian Reconstructionism or Theonomy) that Christ will return to following a thousand year millennium during which Christians rule the earth politically.  (SEE: Eschatology. COMPARE: Premillennialism, Amillenialism. SIMILAR: Reconstructionism, Theonomy. SAME: Postmil.)

Post Modern

Characterized by disbelief in absolutes, except the absolute belief that there are no absolutes.  Hostile to Christianity's exclusive claims.  Variously believes in no objective reality, or that objective reality is unknowable.  Promotes moral relativity, cultural relativity, and -ultimately- intellectual relativity. Tolerance is viewed as the highest good, intolerance as the only sin.  In the final analysis, Post Modernism invariably leads to nihilism. The term "Post Modern" being from the concept that the "Modern Age" was one of contending ideas, philosophies, and ideologies, while the "Post Modern Age" is one of tolerance and harmony where everybody respects as "true" what everbyelse believes. Post Modernism is just 'high church' New Age, and New Age merely 'low church' Post Modernism ...so to speak.  In Biblical criticisn, Post Modernism is sometimes called "PostStructuralism". (RELATED: New Age, Deconstructionism, Bible Deconstruction, PostStructuralism, Negative Theology.)

Post Tenebras Lux

(Latin) Reformation motto: "After darkness, light !".  Reference to the darkness of Romanism, and the subsequent light of the Reformation.

PRC

Protestant Reformed Church.

Premillennialism

Eschatological belief (almost always associated with Dispensationalism) that Christ will return to reign on earth for a thousand year millennium.  In most formulations, this would be following a seven year Great Tribulation that, itself, follows a "Raputure" of Believers. (SEE: Eschatology. COMPARE: Post Millennialism, Amillenialism. SIMILAR: Dispensationalism. SAME: Premil.)

Presbyterian

One of four major models for church government: Rule by Elders.  (CONTRAST: Congregational, Episcopal, Papist, Patriarchy, SEE: Polity.)

Prescient Election

Doctrine of Election whereby God elects people unto salvation by foreseeing their future choice of Him. (SEE: Arminianism, Free Willism.)

Prescriptive Will

That will of God for human conduct and belief dictated by the Lord to man in His Word.  (SEE: Will of God. COMPARE: Decretive Will, Permissive Will.)

Preserving Grace

An infrequently used term referring to Common Grace.  (SEE: Common Grace.)

Presuppositional Apologetics

School of Apologetics developed by Cornelius Van Til.  Rejects Classical Apologetics, and insists that fruitful arguments establishing the truth of Christianity can only be made by identifying a person's presuppositions and having correct ones.  (SEE: Van Til. CONTRAST: Classical Apologetics.)

Preterit Reprobation

The Reformed/Calvinist view of reprobation whereby God decides to passby someone with Saving Grace. The Lord simply leaves the reprobate in their sin and rebellion, and doesn't extend to them efficacious calling / irresistible grace. While Election unto Salvation, and Reprobation to Damnation, are both foreordained by God, Scripture nowhere depicts anyone 'elected' unto damnation. (SEE: Reprobation, decretum horrible.)

Prevenient Grace

a.) In Reformed Theology, grace which precedes human decision,  b.) In Arminianism and Wesleyanism, grace which allows all men to choose to come to Christ or not.  (COMPARE: Irresistible Grace, Saving Grace, Redemptive Grace, Efficacious Grace, Common Grace, Prevenient Grace, Actual Grace.)

Priesthood of All Belivers

Every Christian having Christ as their only intermediary with the Father.  (SIMILAR: Ministry of the Laity.)

Primacy of Scripture

Use of the Bible as the supreme authority in matters of Christian faith and practice.  (SEE: Sola Scriptura.)

Process Theology

Invention of Alfred Whitehead (1861-1947), and others, which attempts to ascribe to God human qualities of fallibility, mutability, and non-omniscience.  Just another attempt to cut the Supreme Being down to size!  (SIMILAR: Neotheism.)

Providence

The working of God's will in human events, including His preservation and sovereign government of this world. Contrasted against the Epicurean view that the world is ruled by chance, and the Stoic position that it is ruled by fate. Providence involves the Lord's foreknowledge, foreordination, and decree. It operates through Second Causes (natural phenomenon) and through the miraculous. Providence entails three elements:  1.) Preservation, 2.) Concursus, and 3.) Governance.

Sanctification

Definition

Term

Definition

Zwinglianism

The term is used generally to refer to the thought of Huldrych Zwingli, but is often used to refer specifically to his "memorial" view of the the Lord's Supper.