Sermons & Devotionals by Dictionary of Theology

From the Greek word for "revelation," or "unveiling." It is synonymous with Armageddon and refers to those future things dealing with the return of Christ and the great battle of Armageddon.... Read More

The word apocrypha means hidden. It is used in a general sense to describe a list of books written by Jews between 300 and 100 B.C. More specifically, it is used of the seven additional books accepted by the Catholic church as being inspired. The entire list of books of the apocrypha are: 1 Esdras, ... Read More

Apollinarianism was the heresy taught by Apollinaris the Younger, bishop of Laodicea in Syria about 361. He taught that the Logos of God, which became the divine nature of Christ, took the place of the rational human soul of Jesus and that the body of Christ was a glorified form of human nature. In ... Read More

Greek for "destroyer." He is the angel of the Abyss, "They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon," (Rev. 9:11 ).... Read More

The word "apologetics" is derived from the Greek word "apologia," which means to make a defense. It has come to mean defense of the faith. Apologetics covers many areas: who Jesus is, the reliability of the Bible, refuting cults, biblical evidences in the history and archeology, answering objections... Read More

The falling away from the faith. It is a revolt against the truth of God’s word by a believer. It can also describe a group or church organization that has "fallen away" from the truths of Christianity as revealed in the Bible.... Read More

Someone sent with a special message or commission. Jesus is called the apostle and high Priest of our confession in Hebrews 3:1. The twelve apostles of Jesus were Simon Peter, Andrew, James the son of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon th... Read More

An unexpected, supernatural appearance of a ghost or a person. Folklore of apparitions are particularly strong among Catholics who claim appearances of the saints, Mary, and Jesus with messages of repentance and turning to the Catholic sacraments and confession.... Read More

In the Bible, a Greek word found only in the New Testament in two places: 1 Thess. 4:16, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first"; and Jude 9, "But Michael the archangel, when h... Read More

An attempt to prove God's existence by arguing that the universe and things in it exhibit attributes of design. A design must have a designer. Since the Universe appears designed, it had to have someone who designed it.... Read More

An irrelevant attack upon a person to deflect the argument from the facts and reasons.... Read More

An argument where appeal is made to common sense and the judgment of people as validating a point.... Read More

An argument where appeal is made to emotions: loyalties, patriotism, prejudices, etc.... Read More

An argument using respect for great men, customs, institutions, and authority in an attempt to strengthen one's argument and provide an illusion of proof.... Read More

An ancient theological error that appeared around the year 320. It taught that God could not appear on the earth, that Jesus was not eternal and could not be God. Additionally, it taught that there was only one person in the Godhead: the Father. Jesus, then, was a creation. It was condemned by the C... Read More

Also called the "Ark of the Testimony" (Ex. 30:6), "Ark of God" (1 Sam. 3:3), and the "Ark of the covenant of the Lord" (Deut. 10:8). The Ark of the Covenant was very sacred to the Ancient Jews. It was a rectangular box made of Acacia wood about 4 x 1.5 x 1.5 feet. It was covered with gold and was c... Read More

The word "armageddon" only occurs in Rev. 16:16. It is the location of the final great battle between good and evil called the Great Day of God Almighty.... Read More

There are five main tenets of Arminianism: 1) God elects or reproves on the basis of foreseen faith or unbelief, 2) Christ died for all men and for every man, although only believers are saved, 3) Man is so depraved that divine grace is necessary unto faith or any good deed, 4) This grace may be res... Read More

A New Age term designating a person of great learning and wisdom who lives on the astral plane. They are not physical beings. An astral plane is another dimension of reality beyond our world and is outside of time and space. Supposedly, Jesus, Buddha, Confuscious, etc. were Ascended Masters.... Read More

The bodily taking up of Jesus into the heavens to be at the right hand of God the Father. The account of Jesus' ascension is record by Luke in Acts 1:4-11.... Read More