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Dictionary of Theology

A priori

Knowledge, judgments, and principles which are true without verification or testing. It is universally true.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

A.D.

From the Latin, "Anno Domini," which means in the year of our Lord. The Western Calendar is dated from the birth of Christ. Therefore, 2000 A.D. means 2000 years after the birth of Jesus.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Abaddon

The Hebrew word for "destroyer" whose Greek equivalent was "Apollyon." Abaddon is the satanic angel of the Abyss (Rev. 9:11 ).... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Absolution

In Catholicism, the act of releasing someone from their sin by God, through the means of a priest.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Abyss

The abode of the dead and the place where evil spirits are imprisoned (Rev. 9:1-11).... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Active Obedience

As distinguished from passive obedience in Reformed Theology. Active obedience is Jesus' actively fulfilling all the law of God. This active obedience is imputed to the believer when he believes; that is, God reckons to the believer the righteousness of Christ when the believer trusts in Christ and ... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Adiaphora

Teachings and practices that are neither commanded nor forbidden in scripture. An example might be whether or not to use a sound-board in a church, to meet in a tent or a building, to have two or more services or simply one on the day of worship.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Adoptionism

Adoptionism is an error concerning Jesus that first appeared in the second century. Those who held it denied the preexistence of Christ and, therefore, His deity. Adoptionists taught that Jesus was tested by God and after passing this test and upon His baptism He was granted supernatural powers by G... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Advent

From the Latin, “coming.” The coming of or the arrival of something very important as in the advent of Christ’s return. Advent is also a Christian time of preparation preceding Christmas.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Agnosticism

The belief that it is not possible to know if there is or is not a God. (Compare Atheism, Deism, and Theism.)... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Albigenses

A heresy during the middle ages that developed in the town Albi in Southern France. This error taught that there were two gods: the good god of light usually referred to as Jesus in the New Testament and the god of darkness and evil usually associated with Satan and the "God of the Old Testament." A... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Amillennialism

The teaching that there is no literal 1000 year reign of Christ as referenced in Revelation 20. It sees the 1000 year period spoken of in Revelation 20 as figurative. Instead, it teaches that we are in the millennium now, and that at the return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16 - 5:2) there will be the final... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Anabaptists

Any of a group of sects of the early Reformation period of the 16th century that believed in rebaptism of people as adults. Infant baptism was not recognized as valid and the Catholic Mass was rejected. Anabaptist means “one who baptizes again.” They believed in non-violence and opposed state run ch... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Angel

Angel means messenger. Angels are created (Psalm 148:2,5; Col. 1:16), non-human, spirit beings (Heb. 1:14). They are immortal (Luke 20:36), innumerable (Heb. 12:22), invisible (Num. 22:22-31), sexless (Matt. 22:30), and do the will of God (Psalm 103:20). These angels have a ministry to believers. Th... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Animism

The belief that everything in the universe contains a living soul. The belief that every object is indwelt by a spirit.... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Annihilationism

The teaching that when a person dies, he is annihilated, most often this doctrine is applied to the wicked, thereby negating eternal hell fire. This is contradicted by the Bible in Matt. 25:46 which says “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Also, deg... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Anthropic Principle

The idea that the universe exhibits elements of design specifically for the purpose of containing intelligent beings; namely, humans. Much debate surrounds this issue. Is the universe necessarily arranged by God so as to make life possible or is it simply that the universe is godless and that life c... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Anthropomorphic

Manifesting in human form. It is from the Greek "anthropos" meaning "man" and "morphe" meaning "form." In biblical theology, God is described in anthropomorphic terms; that is, in human terms with human attributes. For example, God has hands and feet in Exodus 24:9-11 and is loving (1 John 4:8).... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Antichrist

A figure who opposes God. The word is used to describe a spirit of rebellion against God, "...the spirit of the Antichrist..." (1 John 4:3) and of a specific future person identified as the man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3). He actively opposes Christ (2 Thess. 2:4) and when he arrives, he will be a... Read More
Dictionary of Theology

Antinomianism

The word comes from the Greek anti, against, and nomos, law. It is the unbiblical practice of living without regard to the righteousness of God, using God's grace as a license to sin, and trusting grace to cleanse of sin. In other words, since grace is infinite and we are saved by grace, then we can... Read More

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