Theological Dictionary

As I worked with the Dewey Decimal Classification book in a library, I often came across numerous theological terms in the range from 200 to 291. These pertain mainly to the Christian churches. Since Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and other non-Christian faiths are listed from 292 to 299, very few words which relate to those religions occur in this glossary. The list is far from complete as it contains words only from the above-mentoned book.

The meanings have been taken basically from a secular reference, Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of the English Language, 1958. I have selected the definition which I feel best describes the theological connotation of each word. Words indicated * cannot be found in this dictionary. Thus, other references have been used for them. Students of religion or theology will come across many of these words (and others) in their research. Some words do not occur in every Christian denomination. Also, some may have a little different meaning from one Christian denomination to another. The serious student will notice the limitations of both Dewey and Funk and Wagnalls. Dewey tends to stress one Christian church more than others while Funk and Wagnalls tends to take a more neutral approach. I have omitted the names of any specific religion listed in Dewey, although some lower case names that are applied to specific denominations are included.

When any student sees a word, the meaning of which he does not know, the logical place to find out the meaning is a dictionary. Since the average person is not likely to have a specialized dictionary in the field of the subject, I am using here a standard dictionary rather than a Bible dictionary as my principal reference. Although a Bible dictionary would give a more religious meaning, it, too, sometimes shows its bias.

absolution:

In the Roman Catholic church, the act of a priest in pronouncing the remission of sin, its eternal punishment, or the canonical penalties attached to it; in other churches, the declaration or imploring God’s forgiveness by a priest or minister

abstinence:

Self-denial

accountability:

Liability of being called to account

adherent:

One who is devoted or attached, as to a cause or a leader

Advent:

The birth of Christ; the second coming of Christ

agapes:

The social meal or love feast of the primitive Christians which usually accompanied the Eucharist

agnostic:

One who holds the theory that God is unknown or unknowable

agrapha:

A collection of sayings ascribed to Jesus Christ, but not found in the Bible

Albigensian:

One of the sect of religious reformers during the 11th to 13th centuries in the south of France, suppressed for their heretical doctrines

Anabaptist:

One of a sect that arose in Zurich in 1523 among the followers of Zwingli, who started the Reformation in Switzerland and advocated opposition to infant baptism, and believed that only such persons as had been baptized after a confession of faith in Christ constituted a real church

angel:

One of an order of spiritual beings endowed with immortality, attendant upon the Deity; a heavenly guardian, ministering spirit, or messenger

annihilationism:

The doctrine that the finally impenitent will be totally annihilated after death

Annunciation:

The announcement of the Incarnation to the Virgin by an angel

anointing:

Putting oil on as a sign of consecration, as in a religious ceremony

antinomianism:

The belief that frees the Christian from the obligations of the moral law

Apocalypse:

The book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament

Apocrypha:

Fourteen books of the Septuagint in the Vulgate but not in the canonical Hebrew Scriptures nor in the Authorized Version

apologetics:

The branch of theology which deals with the defensive facts and proofs of Christianity

apostate:

One who is guilty of desertion of one’s faith, religion, party, or principles

apostolic:

According to the doctrine or practice of the apostles

archangel:

An angel of highest rank; in Christian legend, usually Michael

Arianism:

The doctrines of Arius (4th century) and his followers, denying that Christ is one substance with the Father

Armageddon:

In Biblical prophecy, the scene of a great battle between the forces of good and evil, to occur at the end of the world

Ascension:

The bodily ascent of Christ into heaven after the Resurrection

asceticism:

The belief that one can attain to a high intellectual or spiritual level through solitude, mortification of the flesh, and devotional contemplation

Assumption:

The doctrine that the Virgin Mary was bodily taken up into heaven at her death

atheist:

One who denies or disbelieves in the existence of God

Atonement:

The reconciliation between God and man effected by Christ’s life, passion, and death

baptism:

A sacrament in which water is used to initiate the recipient into a Christian church, to symbolize purification, to acknowledge consecration to Christ, etc.

beatification:

In the Roman Catholic church, an act of the Pope declaring a deceased person beatified (declared as blessed) and worthy of a certain degree of public honor, usually the last step toward canonization

Beatitudes:

Eight declarations of special blessedness pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount

belief:

Religious faith

bereavement:

An afflictive loss, as by death

Bible:

The writings of the Old and New Testaments, as accepted by the Christian Church as a divine revelation: in certain churches embracing also parts of the Apocrypha

breviaries:

Books of daily offices and prayers for the canonical hours

canon:

The books of the Bible that are recognized by the church as inspired

canonization:

The formal enrolling of a deceased and beatified person in the Roman Catholic canon, or calendar of saints

canticle:

A non-metrical hymn, as one with words taken directly from the Bible text, to be chanted, as in certain church services

catechism:

A short treatise given in catechistic (question and answer) form an outline of the fundamental principles of a religious creed

Catharism:

The aiming at or proclaiming peculiar purity of life or doctrine as practised by the Novatians (3rd century), the Albigenses (12th century), and various others

cherubim:

In Scripture, angelic beings, especially as represented on the ark of the covenant, typifying the presence and power of the Deity

Christ:

The Anointed; the Messiah; the deliverer of Israel whose coming was foretold by the Hebrew prophets

Christianity:

The Christian religion

Christmas:

A church festival observed annually on December 25 in memory of the birth of Jesus Christ

circumcision:

The act of cutting off the prepuce or, in females, the inner labia, especially as a religious rite; the initiatory rite of Judaism, also practised by Moslems

clergy:

The whole body of men set apart by ordination for the service of God in the Christian church: distinguished from laity

commentary:

A treatise in annotation or explanation, as of the Scriptures

Communion:

The Eucharist, or the act of celebrating or partaking of it: often called Holy Communion

confession:

A formulary of public worship embodying a general admission of common sinfulness, used in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other liturgies

confirmation:

A sacramental rite administered to baptized persons, confirming or strengthening their faith, and admitting them to all the privileges of the church

congregationalism:

A form of church polity in which each local congregation is autonomous in all ecclesiastical matters

consecration:

The act of separating from a common to a sacred use

contemplation:

A life of prayer and meditation as practised by certain Roman Catholic orders

contrition:

A feeling of repentance for sin, with an intention to amend, arising from love of God and consideration of His goodness, or from inferior motives, as a fear of punishment

conversion:

The act of turning or being turned to religious belief

cosmology:

The general science or philosophy of the universe

covenant:

God’s promise of blessing to be fulfilled on the performance of a condition, as of obedience

creation:

The act of creating; especially, in a theological sense, the original act of God in bringing the world or universe into existence

creed:

A formal summary of religious belief; an authoritative statement of doctrine

cross:

An ancient instrument of torture in the form of a cross, on which criminals were fastened and exposed until they died from exhaustion

crucifix:

A cross bearing an effigy of Christ crucified

crucifixion:

Death upon the cross; especially, that of Christ on Mount Calvary

dedication:

The setting apart for sacred use

deist:

One who subscribes to or professes the belief in the existence of a personal God, based solely on the testimony of reason and rejecting any supernatural revelation; also believing that God created the world and set it into motion, subject to natural laws, but takes no interest in it

demon:

An evil spirit

denomination:

A body of Christians having a distinguishing name

deuterocanonical:

Pertaining to or constituting a second canon: applied to the books or parts of books of the Old or New Testament whose authenticity and inspiration were at first contested and afterward admitted by the Roman Catholic Church; in Protestant churches, the contested parts of the Old Testament being considered extra-canonical

devil:

In Jewish and Christian theology, the prince and ruler of the kingdom of evil; any subordinate evil spirit

dispensational:

Pertaining to one of several systems or bodies of law in which at several times God has revealed His mind and will to man, or the continued state of things resulting from the operation of one of these systems

divinity:

The quality or character of being divine

doctrine:

That which is held to be true by any person, sect, or school; especially, in religion, a tenet, or body of tenets

Donatism:

The principles of a fourth century, schismatic sect of North Africa, named for Donatus, who was a bishop and the founder

doxology:

A hymn or verse of praise to God; a formula of praise, used as the closing words of a sermon

Easter:

A Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Christ

ecclesiastical:

Of or pertaining to the church, especially considered as an organized and governing power

ecclesiology:

The study of the organization, government, liturgy, and ritual of the Christian church

ecumenical:

Belonging to or accepted by the Christian church throughout the world

encyclopedist:

One whose studies embrace all sciences

episcopal:

Having a government vested in bishops

epistle:

A written message: more formal than a letter, and especially applied to ancient epistolary writings of sacred character or of literary excellence

….., catholic:

Addressed to all Christians

….., Pauline:

Relating to the apostle Paul, his teachings, or writings

eschatology:

The branch of theology that treats of death, resurrection, immortality, the end of the world, the final judgment, and the future state

eternity:

An endless or limitless time; immortality

Eucharist:

A Christian sacrament in which bread and wine are consecrated, distributed, and consumed in commemoration of the passion and death of Christ

evangelism:

The zealous preaching or spreading of the gospel

evangelistic:

Denoting the adherents of a school of Protestant theology stressing the divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Scriptures, the fallen state of man, salvation by faith in the redeeming work of Christ, and spiritual regeneration, and denying in whole or in part the efficacy of the sacraments and the authority of the church

evolution:

The doctrine that all forms of life originated by descent, with gradual or abrupt modifications, from preexisting forms which themselves trace backward in a continuing series to the most rudimentary organisms

exegesis:

The explanation of the language and thought of a literary work; especially Biblical exposition or interpretation

exhortation:

Admonition; earnest advice

exorcism:

The act of casting out evil spirits by prayers or incantations

faith:

Belief without evidence

fall:

* In Christian theology, the transgression of Adam and Eve recorded in Genesis 3 (TIDOTB, E-J, p. 235)

fasting:

Going without food, wholly or in part, as in observance of a religious duty

flagellation:

Self-scourging as a means of religious discipline

foot washing:

A religious ceremony performed by certain sects in remembrance of the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus

forgiveness:

The act of granting pardon for or remission of (something)

free will:

The power of self-determination regarded as a special faculty

glossolalia:

* Speaking in tongues, a striking phenomenon of primitive Christianity (TIDOTB, R-Z, p. 671)

Gnosticism:

A philosophical and religious system (1st to 6th century) teaching that knowledge rather than faith was the key to salvation

Gospels:

The narrative of Christ’s life and teaching as given in the first four books of the New Testament

grace:

The unmerited love and favor of God in Christ; hence, free gift

Hagiographa:

The third of the three ancient divisions of the Old Testament, comprising all books not reckoned in the Law or the Prophets

heaven:

The abode of God and the blest spirits; the dwelling place or state of existence of righteous souls after their life on earth

hell:

The place of eternal punishment, of extreme torment, etc.; the abode of evil spirits

heresy:

A doctrinal view of belief at variance with the recognized tenets of a system, church, school, or party

hermeneutics:

The science or art of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures

Hexateuch:

The first six books of the Bible considered as constituting one series

Holy Week:

In the Christian church, the week before Easter

homiletics:

The branch of rhetoric that treats of the composition and delivery of sermons

hope:

Desire accompanied by expectation

Humanism:

The intellectual, scientific, and literary movement of the 14th to 16th centuries which exalted Greek and Roman culture and learning

hymn:

A song expressive of praise, adoration, or elevated emotion; specifically, a metrical composition, divided into stanzas, intended to be sung in religious worship

hypostatic union:

The union of two natures in the one person of Christ

icon:

In the Greek Church, a holy picture, mosaic, or related object

Immaculate Conception:

In the Roman Catholic Church, the doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb without the stain of original sin: distinguished from Virgin Birth

immortality:

Eternal life

Incarnation:

The assumption of the human nature by Jesus Christ as the second person of the Trinity

indulgences:

In the Roman Catholic Church, remission, by those authorized, of the temporal punishment still due to sin after sacramental absolution, either in this world or in purgatory

Inquisition:

A court or tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church for the discovery, examination, and punishment of heretics; specifically, the ecclesiastical tribunal for the discovery and punishment of heretics, active in central and southern Europe in the 13th century

intercession:

Entreaty in behalf of others

Jansenism:

The doctrines taught by Cornelis Jansen, emphasizing predestination and the irresistibility of God’s grace, and denying free will

Johannine:

* Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the Apostle John or the New Testament books whose authorship is ascribed to him (WTNID, p. 1218)

judgment:

The final award or sentence of the human race; also, the times of this

justice:

One of God’s attributes, by virtue of which He wills equal laws and makes just awards

justification:

The forensic, juridical, or gracious act of God by which the sinner is declared righteous, or justly free from obligation to penalty, and fully restored to divine favor

laity:

The people, as distinguished from the clergy

laying on of hands:

* A form used in consecrating to office, in the rite of confirmation, and in blessing persons and consisting in laying the hands upon the head of the person on whom the divine blessing is invoked (WTNID, p. 1281)

lectionary:

A book or table of lessons for church service

Lent:

A fast of forty days (Excluding Sundays), observed annually from Ash Wednesday till Easter as a season of penitence and self-denial

limbo of the children:

A region on the edge of hell to which are consigned the souls of infants who died before baptism

limbo of the fathers:

A region on the edge of hell to which are consigned the souls of the righteous who died before the coming of Christ

litany:

A liturgical form of prayer, consisting of a series of different supplications said by the clergy, to which the choir or people repeat the same response

liturgy:

A collection of prescribed forms for public worship

Logos:

The creative Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, incarnate as Jesus Christ, identified with cosmic reason

Lucifer:

Satan, especially as the leader of the revolt of the angels before his fall from heaven

Manicheism:

A dualistic religious philosophy developed by the Persian Manes and his followers in which goodness, typified as light, God, or the soul, is represented as in conflict with evil, typified by darkness, Satan, or the body: taught from the 3rd to the 7th century

Mariology:

The whole body of religious belief and dogma relating to the Virgin Mary

materialism:

The doctrine that the facts of experience are all to be explained by reference to the reality, activities, and laws of physical or material substance

meditation:

Contemplation

megilloth:

* Scrolls, in regard to the Old Testament canon (TWDB, p. 388)

Messiah:

The Anointed One; the Christ: the name for the promised deliverer of the Hebrews, assumed by Jesus, and given to Him by Christians

millenium:

The thousand years of the kingdom of Christ on earth

miracle:

An event in the natural world, but out of its established order, possible only by the intervention of divine power

missal:

The book containing the service for the celebration of mass throughout the year

missions:

Regularly organized churches and congregations not having the status of parishes in canon law

modernism:

The humanistic tendency in religious thought to supplement old theological creeds and dogmas by new scientific and philosophical learning and thus to place emphasis on practical ethics and world-wide social justice: distinguished from fundamentalism

Molinism:

* A doctrine that it is man’s free cooperation which makes it possible for him to perform a good act with God’s helping grace (WTNID, p. 1455)

Monophysite churches:

Christian sects originating in the 5th century which affirms that Christ had but one nature, the divine alone or a single compounded nature, and not two natures so united as to preserve their distinctness

morality:

The doctrine of man’s moral duties

mysticism:

The belief that knowledge of divine truth or the soul’s union with the divine is attainable by spiritual insight or ecstatic contemplation without the medium of the senses or reason

Nativity:

The birth of Jesus

Neoplatonism:

An Alexandrian system of philosophy of the third century, commingling Jewish and Christian ideas with doctrines of Plato and other Greek philosophers and Oriental mysticism

Nestorian churches:

Churches having the doctrine that Christ had two distinct natures, the divine and human, subsisting independently

New Testament:

That portion of the Bible containing the life and teachings of Christ, including the gospels, the Epistles, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Revelation of St. John the Divine

novenas:

In the Roman Catholic Church, a devotion consisting of prayer said on nine successive days, asking for some spiritual blessing

Old Testament:

The first of the two main divisions of the Bible, containing the books of the old or Mosaic covenant, and including the historical books, the prophets, and the books of wisdom

omnipotence:

Unlimited and universal power, as a divine attribute

omnipresence:

The quality of being everywhere present at the same time

omniscience:

Infinite knowledge: an attribute of God

order:

Any of the various grades or degrees of the Christian ministry

ordination:

The rite of consecration to the ministry

pagan:

One who is neither a Christian, a Jew, or a Moslem

parable:

Simile; specifically, a short narrative making a moral or religious point by comparison with natural or homely things

paralipomena:

* Things passed over but added as a supplement (WTNID, p. 1637) [capitalized, the Chronicles, in some versions of the Bible]

parish:

In the Anglican, Roman Catholic, and some other churches, a district, usually part of a diocese, with its own church, and in charge of a priest or other clergyman

Passion:

The sufferings of Christ, especially in the agony of the garden and on the cross

pastoral:

Pertaining to a pastor and his work

Pelagianism:

The body of doctrines held by the followers of Pelagius, who denied original sin, confined grace to forgiveness, and affirmed that man’s unaided will is capable of spiritual good

penance:

A sacramental rite involving contrition, confession to a priest, the acceptance of penalties, and absolution

penitence:

Sorrow for sin, with desire to amend and atone

Pentateuch:

The first five books of the Bible taken collectively

pentecostalism:

* The doctrines and practices of Pentecostal religious bodies; especially, religious excitement or emotionalism accompanied by ecstatic utterances interpreted as the gift of tongues (WTNID, p. 1673)

Pietism:

A movement in the Lutheran Church in Germany during the latter 17th century, advocating a revival of the devotional ideal

piety:

Reverence toward God or the gods; religious devoutness

pilgrimage:

A long journey, especially one made to a shrine or sacred place

polemics:

The art or practice of disputation; especially, the use of aggressive argument to refute errors of doctrine

prayer:

The act of offering reverent petitions, especially to God

prayer meeting:

* A meeting or gathering for prayer to God; especially, a Protestant Christian service of worship usually held regularly on a week night and frequently highlighted by evangelistic or revivalistic preaching (WTNID2, p. 1782)

predestination:

The foreordination of all things by God, including the future bliss or sorrow of men

presbyterian:

One who believes in the government of the church by presbyters (elders)

prophecy:

Discourse delivered by a prophet under divine inspiration: the common Biblical sense

Protestantism:

The principles and common system of doctrines taught by Luther, and by the evangelical churches since

Providence:

God; the Deity

psalter:

The psalms appointed to be read or sung at any given service

pseudepigrapha:

Spurious writing; especially spurious religious writings, falsely ascribed to Scriptural characters or times and not considered as canonical by any branch of the Christian church

purgatory:

In Roman Catholic theology, a state or place where the soul of those who have died penitent are made fit for paradise by expiating venial sins and undergoing any punishment remaining for previously forgiven sins

Qoheloth:

* The Hebrew title of the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes (TIDOTB, K-Q, p. 973.)

rapture:

The act of transferring a person from one place to another

rationalist:

One who forms opinions by relying upon reason alone, independently of authority or of revelation: opposed to supernaturalism

reconciliation:

Atonement

Redeemer:

Jesus Christ

redemption:

Salvation from sin through the atonement of Christ

regeneration:

The impartation of spiritual life by divine grace

reincarnation:

A rebirth of the soul in successive bodies; specifically, in Vedic religions, the becoming of an avatar again

repentance:

A turning with sorrow from a past course or action

requiem:

Any musical hymn, composition, or service for the dead

resurrection:

The rising of Christ from the dead; the rising again of all the dead at the day of the final judgment

retreat:

A place of religious retirement

revelation:

The act of revealing or communicating divine truth, especially by divine agency or supernatural means

revival:

A renewal of special interest in and attention to religious services and duties and the subject of personal salvation

ritual:

A prescribed form or method for the performance of a religious or solemn ceremony

Rogation days:

The three days immediately preceding Ascension Day, observed as days of special supplication by litanies, processions, etc.

rubric:

A direction or rule printed in devotional or liturgical office, as in a prayer book, missal, or breviary

Sabbath:

The seventh day of the week, appointed in the decalog as a day of rest to be observed by the Jews; now, Saturday

sacrament:

A rite ordained by Christ or by the church as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace

saints:

Holy, godly, or sanctified persons

salvation:

Deliverance from sin and penalty, realized in a future state

sanctification:

Purification or the making holy

sanctity:

Holiness

Satan:

In the Bible, the great adversary of God and the tempter of mankind

schism:

A division of a church into factions

sect:

A body of persons distinguished by peculiarities of faith and practice from other bodies adhering to the same general system

seraphim:

Angels of the highest order

sermon:

A discourse based on a passage or text of the Bible, delivered as part of a church service

service:

A formal and public exercise of worship

sin:

A lack of conformity to, or a transgression, especially when deliberate, of a law, precept, or principle regarded as having divine authority

….., mortal:

That incurring the penalty of eternal death

….., original:

The natural corruption and depravity inherent in all mankind as a consequence of Adam’s first sinful disobedience

….., venial:

A pardonable offence, or an unpremeditated one

Socinianism:

The teachings of the [two] Italian theologians named Socinus, as the denial of the Trinity, of the depravity of man, of vicarious atonement, and the efficacy of sacraments

soteriology:

The branch of theology that treats of salvation by Jesus Christ

soul:

The moral or spiritual part of man as related to God, considered as surviving death and liable to joy or misery in a future state

spirit:

In the Bible, the creative, animating power or divine influence of God

stewardship:

The management of estates or affairs not his own

stigmata:

The wounds that Christ received during the Passion and Crucifixion

Sunday School:

A school, generally attached to some church, in which religious instruction is given on Sunday, especially to the young

temptation:

A state of mental conflict between heavenly and infernal influences

theodicy:

The branch of philosophy that treats of the being, perfections, and government of God and the immortality of the soul

theology:

The study of religion, culminating in a synthesis or philosophy of religion; also a critical survey of religion, especially of the Christian religion

Torah:

The Mosaic law; the Pentateuch

transcendent:

Pertaining to God as exalted above the universe

transfiguration:

The supernatural transformation of Christ on the mount as recorded in the gospels

tribulation:

A condition of affliction and distress

Trinitarian:

Holding or professing belief in the Trinity

Unitarianism:

The doctrine of a Protestant denomination which rejects the Trinity, but accepts the ethical teachings of Jesus and emphasizes complete freedom of religious opinion, the importance of personal character, and the independence of each local congregation

vesper:

An evening service, prayer, or song

viaticum:

The Eucharist, as given on the verge of death

virtue:

The disposition to conform to the law of right

Waldensianism:

Pertaining to, or a member of, a sect of religious dissenters founded about 1170 by Peter Waldo

witness:

Give testimony to

worship:

The paying of religious reverence, as in prayer, praise, etc.

Bibliography

1. Davis, John D. The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1944.
2. Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of the English Language. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1958.
3. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, E-J, K-Q, R-Z. New York: Abingdon Press, 1962.
4. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language, Volume II. Springfield, MA., G. & C. Merriam Company, 1976.
5. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary of the English Language. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1981.