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A Layman's Reference Guide to Selected |
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Theological "-ism"s, "-ology"s, "-tion"s
and Other Terms |
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by Randy Smith |
A B C D E F G H I-J K-L M N O P-Q R S T U-Z
Title Page Acknowledgments Bibliography Scripture Index
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Hades is the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament Hebrew word sheol. The Septuagint translates Hades as the abode of the dead, but assigns no doctrine of reward or punishment to those in Hades. However, in the New Testament Hades is identified as the place of punishment of the wicked. (Matt. 11:23, Luke 10:15 and Luke 16:23) (Harrison, p.260) see Hell and Sheol "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. - Matt. 11:23 The doctrine of sin. Hamartiology is a study of sin and man, specifically the fall of man, the biblical evidence of how sin entered into creation, the nature of sin, the imputation of sin, and the Christian and sin. (Enns, p.310) From the Greek words poroo and skleryno (from which we derive the English word sklerosis). Hardening denotes the spiritual condition of unbelievers towards God. Hardening occurs both by the active working on the hearts of unbelievers by God and by the passive permitting of men to go their own way. In Hebrews 3:13 Christians are warned not to become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Since it is the natural condition of man to disobey God, it is only by God's sovereign choice to actively intervene that the heart of man is "softened" to obedience. So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. - Romans 9:18 Heathenism - see Autosoterism From the Hebrew word samayim and Greek word ouranos, heaven is translated as "the heights, sky or air." Heaven is used to refer to the atmosphere and to the universe. Since the Hebrew Old Testament had no word for universe, the word heaven was used. Because of the reference to "the third heaven" in 2 Cor. 12:2, it is believed that the first heaven is the earth's atmosphere, the second heaven is outer space, and the third heaven is the dwelling place of God, or paradise. Spiritually understood, heaven is the abode of God. To be in heaven is to be in the immediate presence of God and to eternally live with Him. (Harrison, p.264) The humanistic self-indulgent philosophy of life that the pursuit of happiness and pleasure is the proper aim of the individual in society. (Webster's, p.648) From the Greek word Hellas, meaning Greece, Hellenism is the culture, language and philosophy of life of the Greco-Roman world during the time surrounding Christ's life on earth. With his conquest of the known world in 336 B.C., the Greek conqueror Alexander the Great set forth to Hellenize the world. It was based upon Alexander's efforts that Greek became the universal language in the world during the time of Christ, resulting in the New Testament being recorded in Greek. (Harrison, p.261) From the Hebrew words sheol and hades, and the Greek word gehenna. In the Old Testament hell was seen as "the place of the departed." Within sheol there was seen a special division reserved for the wicked dead. It is in the New Testament that the distinction is made between heaven and hell. Gehenna is derived from the Hebrew ge-hinnom ("valley of Hinnom") which was a literal place, a refuse dump. Gehenna was known as a place of loathsomeness where there burned a perpetual fire. The bodies of executed criminals were thrown into the eternal fire of Gehenna, thus providing an illustration of the place reserved for the wicked dead. (Harrison, p.266) see Sheol and Hades From the Greek word hairesis, it is used in the New Testament in 2 Peter 2:1 to describe "a deliberate denial of revealed truth." Heretical teaching is described as false teaching that causes destructive opinions. (Harrison, p.268) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. - 2 Peter 2:1 The study of biblical interpretation. Specifically, it is the contextual observation of the Bible along with a word study on the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic words used in the text of the Bible. The task of hermeneutics is to discover the meaning of Scripture in its proper context, to draw meaning from Scripture instead of reading one's own presuppositions into it. Observation of Scripture breaks down when men seek out-of-context Scripture to "make their case." This out-of-context use of Scripture is known as proof-texting. It is the formation of an opinion, then the search for an out-of-context Bible verse to support one's opinion. Most religious heresies occur because of poor hermeneutics. For example, the Pentecostal and Charismatic beliefs that true believers can handle poisonous snakes and drink deadly poison comes from an out-of-context reading of Mark 16:17-18. (MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, p.121) Higher Criticism - see Criticism Historical theology is the study of the historical development and unfolding of theology and is a classification within Systematic Theology. (Enns, p.148) Historicism (Eschatological) - see Eschatology Historic Premillennialism - see Premillennialism From the Hebrew word qadosh and the Greek word hagios, there are several meanings of holiness. As it relates to believers, we have been made holy by the imputed (see imputation) righteousness of Christ. Though we continue to sin in our flesh, we have been made holy by the work of Christ in us. In regards to God, holiness signifies His separation from, and transcendence over, all His creation. God's holiness is His supremacy, majesty and awesome glory. (Harrison, p.269) Holiness means "that which is spiritually perfect or pure; untainted by evil or sin." It also has the meaning of "deserving deep respect, awe, reverence, or adoration." (Webster's, p.670) An attribute of God, His holiness is a fuller expression of Himself than anything else. God is absolute holiness, unblemished by even the hint of sin. God is so holy that He can not even be in the presence of sin. God abhors sin. Yet despite His abhorrence of sin, God forgives sinners. This does not mean He accepts the sin of some and not others. In fact, God forgives some sinners despite their sin. This is the essence of His grace. (Pink, p.41) Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts. - Isaiah 6:3 The science (principles) and art (task) by which the meaning and relevance of the biblical text are communicated in a preaching situation. Homiletics is the word from which the word "homily" is derived. (Zuck, p.20) From the Greek word elpis, the biblical use of hope does not carry the secular meaning of "whimsical or wishful thinking." Instead, biblical hope conveys the certainty of favorable and confident expectation. In Colossians 1:27 the Apostle Paul speaks of the certainty of our glorification in Christ since it is in Christ that we find our hope. Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Col. 1:27 From the Hebrew phrasing found in Psalm 118:25, Hosanna is the Greek translation of the Hebrew salutation, meaning "save now, we beseech Thee." All six usages are found in the New Testament and refer to the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. (Harrison, p.271) And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" - Matt. 21:9 The philosophy that says humanity has unlimited potential. Give people enough time and education, and they can solve any problem. Similar to existentialism, humanism urges everyone to self-authenticate, to be someone. Like the existentialist, the humanist recognizes no final authority. All truth is relative. (MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, p.48) see Existentialism and Experiential Theology Concerning the person of Jesus Christ, He is uniquely and completely God while at the same time being uniquely and completely man. He remains forever God-man, with two distinct natures. Though Jesus has two natures, God and man, He does not have two personalities. As God, Jesus is eternal. But when He was born of Mary He took on an additional nature. He became a man in all respects without sacrificing any of His deity. He did not simply dwell in a human person. He became a man, though for a time Jesus chose to set aside His deity. (Enns, p.227) For a discussion of this, see Kenosis. |