Glossary for Lessons 1-4

Glossary for all 4 lessons. SCROLL DOWN to review key names and terms. You may also search for a term by clicking on its first letter below.

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Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

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A

Anthropology

In theology, it is the doctrine of man.

B

Bibliology

The study of the Bible

C

Compositional collation

Process of using several different arguments to defend a point of view.

D

Deductive

Kind of logical reasoning that starts with premises, then draws a necessary conclusion

Doctrine

A synthesis and explanation of biblical teachings on a theological topic

Dualism

Belief that the spiritual world is good, but the material world is evil

E

Ecclesiology

The doctrine of the Church

Eschatology

The doctrine of the last things

F

Factual reduction

Process of focusing on only one point of a Bible passage that has the purpose of communicating other points as well

Fatalism

View of God that makes Him impersonal, overemphasizing how far He is removed from the universe in space and time. In this view, God does not interact with man.

I

Immanence

Attribute of God indicating that He is Involved in the universe in space and time

Inductive

Kind of logical reasoning that begins by observing particular facts, then draws a probable conclusion

Inductive Gap

Missing or weak element in reasoning from particulars to probable conclusions. It may mean failing to take into account possible exceptions or overstating the probability of the conclusion.

J

Justification

It sometimes means a person is declared righteous when he believes in Christ, as in Romans 3:28, and it sometimes means a person is shown to be righteous in his way of life, as in James 2:24.

L

Lapsarian Question

Theological debate that tries to determine the order of the eternal decrees

M

Mysticism

Belief system that emphasizes the need to go beyond reason to receive revelation through spiritual ecstasy

N

Neo-Platonism

A philosophical school rooted in Plato, but including new ideas by philosophers such as Plotinus.

O

Open Theism

View of God that overemphasizes how He interacts with man in space and time, leaving Him less able to control the universe

Orthodoxy

Correct thinking

Orthopathos

Correct feeling

Orthopraxis

Correct living

P

Patristic Theology

Theology during the period of 150-600 A.D.

Premise

In a syllogism, this is one of the first statements that lead to a conclusion. For example, in the following syllogism, "1. All men are mortal. 2. Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Socrates is mortal.", the two premises are "All men are mortal" and "Socrates is a man."

Proposition

A meaningful sentence that declares something which can be evaluated either as true or as false.

R

Rationalism

Belief system that emphasizes the uses of reason and human reflection

Repetitive collation

The process of using a series of Bible passages with similar content to present an argument for a theological point of view

S

Sanctification

This term can refer to several different aspects of righteousness: a. first righteousness, or definitive righteousness for Christians, b. progressive ongoing holiness in Christians, and c. being set apart from the rest of the world, even though a person is not a Christian.

Scholasticism

School of theology during the medieval period, that put great emphasis on the use of Aristotelian logic

Soteriology

The doctrine of salvation

Syllogism

A logical argument in which two or more premises lead to a conclusion. For example, "1. All men are mortal. 2. Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Socrates is mortal."

Syncretism

The practice of mixing religions or mixing philosophy with religion.

Systematic Theology

A systematic presentation of all the doctrinal truths of the Christian religion.

T

Theological Proposition

An indicative sentence that asserts as directly as possible at least one factual theological claim

Theology Proper

The doctrine of God

Transcendence

Attribute of God, indicating that He is above all limitations of the creation, including space and time

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