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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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The third century A.D. movement that attempted to discredit Christianity by pointing to the absurd anthropomorphisms in the Bible. Before his conversion, Augustine was a Manichaean. (Zuck, p.38) The improper Christological theory espoused by Marcion that the Bible portrays two Gods. The Creator God of the Old Testament Marcion considered evil because of the law he forced on Israel, while the God of the New Testament Marcion considered good because He was merciful and sent Jesus as a Redeemer for humanity. (Sarles, Christology, p.4-1) The study of the Roman Catholic doctrines relating to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. From the Greek word martys, meaning "a witness." The usage of the word today is of a person who has proved the strength and genuineness of his faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death. Stephen is the first recorded martyr for his Christian faith, recorded in Acts 6-7. In Acts 22:20 the Apostle Paul identifies Stephen as a martyr, or witness, using the Greek word martys. see Witness 'And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' - Acts 22:20 (NKJV) A humanistic view of the origin of man, mechanism is a theory set forth by Sir Isaac Newton, based upon the empiricism of Francis Bacon and the rationalism of Rene Descarte. Newton saw the natural world as a machine, a closed system operating based upon natural law. Newton provided the mechanism that science had been looking for to explain the operation of the universe. Interestingly, Newton was a Christian, and unknowingly developed the basis for the mechanistic view of the world that godless men were searching for to refute biblical creationism. (Sarles, Anthropology, p.6-2) One of the attributes of God, mercy is essentially not getting what we, as sinful men, deserve. According to God's Law, what we all deserve is death. But because God is merciful, He does not give us what we justly deserve. Instead, He graciously gives us what we don't deserve, His unmerited favor. see Grace The word messiah is a hellenized transliteration of the Hebrew word mesiha, which is derived from the root word masah, meaning "to anoint or smear with oil." The root meaning of messiah is "anointed one," with the primary meaning being understood as "the anointed one of God" or "king." Throughout Israel's history their legitimate kings were anointed with oil by a prophet or the presiding high priest (Saul in 1 Samuel 10:1 and David in 1 Samuel 16:13). Messiah also has an eschatological meaning as the promised king who will appear in the end time. This promised Messiah has the additional titles of Son of David, Lord, Son of God, the King, the Holy One, etc. Jesus Christ is this promised Messiah, or "anointed one of God." Methodism - see Wesleyanism Mid Tribulationism - see Rapture An extraordinary event wrought by God through human agency. Miracles are also known in Scripture as "signs and wonders" (Ex. 7:3; Deut. 6:22; 34:11; Neh. 9:10; Ps. 135:9; Jer. 32:21; Dan. 6:27; John 4:48; Acts 2:43; Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:4). Miracles are not simply mysterious phenomena, strange happenings or sensational events. Miracles are events used by God to authenticate the human instrument He has chosen to declare a specific revelation to those who witness the miracle. (MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, p.127) Also known as Sabellianism, it is a heretical belief concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. The Modalistic view is that there are not three distinct members of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), but instead there is only one God who plays the three different roles or reveals Himself in three different fashions. (Sarles, Christology, p.1-10) Modalistic Monarchianism - see Monarchianism Modernism - see Liberal Theology A Christological controversy. Monarchianism can actually be broken down into two divisions: Dynamic Monarchianism and Modalistic Monarchianism. The doctrine of Dynamic Monarchianism was championed by Theodotus of Byzantium in the 2nd century AD and then later by Paul of Samosata in AD 260. The essence of Dynamic Monarchianism is the belief that God's wisdom or word dwelt in Jesus, as it dwelt in Moses and the prophets, but Jesus is in no way divine. This doctrine claims the union between Jesus and the word is simply a moral union. This doctrine denies the deity of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Modalistic Monarchianism differed from Dynamic Monarchianism in that it did not deny the full divinity of Jesus Christ, but simply identified it with the Father. However, in this extreme view this doctrine also denies the deity of Christ and is therefore not a true Trinitarian doctrine. Though first identified with Praxeas as the probable originator, Sabellius was the best known supporter of this doctrine. He believed in a view known as Patripassianism that became further known as Sabellianism, which believed that the Father suffered in the crucifixion of Christ. Sabellius believed the Father was in fact playing the role of the Son. The designation "modalistic" stressed the idea that God was one God who variously manifested Himself as Father, other times as the Son, and other times as the Holy Spirit. Although Modalistic Monarchianism spoke of three persons, they nonetheless believed that there was but one essence of deity who variously manifested Himself in three different roles. (Sarles, Christology, p.5-1) also see Modalism and Sabellianism From the Greek word monos, meaning "alone." Monasticism is a withdrawal from life in the world by those individuals, male or female, who have elected to pursue an ideal of perfection or a higher level of religious experience. Monasticism embraces both the life of the hermit, characterized by varying degrees of extreme solitude, and the life of a Monk living in a community offering a limited amount of solitude. Monasticism always entails asceticism, or the practice of disciplined self-denial. This asceticism may include fasting, silence, a prohibition against personal ownership, and an acceptance of bodily discomfort. Almost always it includes poverty, celibacy, and obedience to a spiritual leader. The goal of such practices is usually a more intense relationship with God, some type of personal enlightenment, or the service of God through prayer, meditation, or good works. (Harrison, p.361) From the Greek word mono, meaning "one." Monism is the doctrine of the unity of things. The difficulty comes in understanding what this unity refers to. Properly, monism means that all things have one origin. This is also known as theism. Improperly, monism is understood to mean that all things have one nature. This is pantheism. (Ibid., p.362) The controversial (and incorrect) Christological doctrine that Jesus Christ possessed only one nature. This theory centered primarily around the confusion of distinguishing between "nature" and "person." Monophysites have difficulty understanding how one person could possess two natures, one human and one divine. (Sarles, Christology, p.7-1) The belief that there is only one member of the Godhead, rather than a Triune God. This is the belief of the Hebrew people. Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! - Deuteronomy 6:4 It is based upon Deuteronomy 6:4 that the Hebrew people reject the doctrine of the Trinity and reject Jesus Christ as their Messiah. The Jews cannot or will not accept the truth that God is Triune. The controversial (and incorrect) Christological doctrine concerning the will as an attribute of person. Monotheletism reasons that since Christ is only one person, He can possess only one will. This doctrine was denied by the Council of Constantinople in A.D.681. (Ibid.) also see Dyothelitism The erroneous teaching that by attempting to be good and moral, a person will go to heaven. This moralistic attitude completely omits God's grace and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior from salvation. Moralism is a "good works" oriented man-centered salvation. (Heinze, p.72) Refers to the way words are constructed and inflected. Morphology is an important part of the grammatical approach to biblical interpretation. (Zuck, p.112) see Hermeneutics To mortify means literally "to put to death." Theologically, the primary task of mortification is to weaken the habit of sin so that its power to express itself is quelled. The Holy Spirit is the principal means of accomplishing this. It must be recognized and remembered that mortification of sin never means the death and final elimination of sin. That cannot be expected in this life. But there are several things that can be expected. 1) Mortification can weaken the habit of sin; 2) Mortification can help us recognize sin as our enemy and help us to fight it; 3) Mortification can give us varying degrees of success, though not complete triumph, as we seek to fight the sin that indwells us. (Owen, Sin and Temptation, pp.153-158) In Exodus 19 God entered into a conditional covenant with Israel. God promised to make Israel "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex. 19:6). She was set apart to the Lord to mediate His truth to other nations. Having entered into a covenant with the nation of Israel, God gave Israel her constitution (the Law), comprising much of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. These were the stipulations of the covenant that Israel was to obey if the nation was to enjoy the blessing of God. (Enns, p.57) Also known as the Law. The word law is capitalized when referring to the Mosaic Law because this refers to the law that was handed down from God to Moses. The best known portion of the Law is the Ten Commandments. This is the foundation of the moral law. In addition, the Law also includes the civil and ceremonial law that is described throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. There are some 634 laws in the Mosaic Law. From the Greek musterion. In the New Testament it does not denote the mysterious, as with the conventional English usage, but that which is outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension and can be made known only by divine revelation. The nature of the mystery is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and only to those who are illumined by His Spirit. In the ordinary sense a "mystery" implies knowledge withheld. In the Scriptural sense it is truth revealed. (Vine, p.424) Examples include: 1) the rapture into the presence of Christ in 1 Cor. 15:51; 2) the cause of the present condition of Israel in Rom. 11:25; 3) the union of redeemed saints with God in Christ in Eph. 5:32; 4) the mystery of lawlessness in 2 Thes. 2:7. A system of belief that attempts to perceive spiritual reality apart from objective, verifiable facts. It seeks truth through feelings, intuition, and other internal senses. Objective data is usually discounted, so mysticism derives its authority from within. Spontaneous feeling becomes more significant than objective fact. Intuition outweighs reason. Mysticism is at the heart of modern existentialism, humanism and many forms of paganism, most notably Hinduism and it's close ally, New Age philosophy. (MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, p.35)
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