Covenant Theology
A system of theology that views God's dealings with man in respect of covenants rather than dispensations (periods of time). It represents the whole of scripture as covenantal in structure and theme. Some believe there is one Covenant and others believe ... read more
Creation
Everything that exists except God himself. This includes material as well as immaterial things and time. God is the creator, (Heb. 11:3) we are the creatures. The creator/creature distinction must be maintained to properly remain in humble relationship wi ... read more
Creationism
The position that God created the universe. Young earth creationists generally believe that God created the universe, the earth, and living things on the earth and that the Old Testament literally describes six, 24 hour periods. Therefore, they maintain ... read more
Cross
As relates to Christianity, it is the instrument of crucifixion. It is a single vertical stake with a cross member near or at the top by which a person is either nailed and/or tied with outstretched arms. Jesus was nailed on a cross, not a stake since i ... read more
Cult
A religious group that follows a particular theological system. In the context of Christianity, and in particular, CARM, it is a group that uses the Bible but distorts the doctrines that affect salvation sufficiently to cause salvation to be unattainable. ... read more
Damnation
The righteous judgment of God upon a sinner where the sinner is cast out of the presence of God into Hell for ever.
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Deacons
Biblically, this designates a servant in the church but not someone who is a slave since the latter refers to a slave/master relationship. It has become an office of the church where individuals are designated to help in the ministry, sometimes serving c ... read more
Death
The word "death" is used in two main ways in the Bible. First, it is used to describe the cessation of life. Second, death is used in reference to the lost. This refers to their eternal separation from God as a result of sin (Isaiah 59:2), in a conscio ... read more
Decalogue
The Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. Deca means ten in Latin. Logue comes from "logos" which means "word." ... read more
Decrees, of God
The Decrees of God is His eternal purpose, according to His will, whereby He has foreordained whatever comes to pass. His Decrees do not negate the responsibility of people for their sins nor does it mean that God is responsible for sin. But, it necessa ... read more
Deduction
A system of logic, inference and conclusion drawn from examination of facts. Conclusions drawn from the general down to the specific.
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Deism
The belief that God exists but is not involved in the world. It maintains that God created all things and set the universe in motion and is no longer involved in its operation. ... read more
Deity
That quality possessed by God alone that distinguishes Him from every other thing. It is the essential nature that makes God what He is.
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Demon
A fallen angel that assists Satan in the opposition of God. Demons are evil (Luke 10:17,18), powerful (Luke 8:29), and under the power of Satan (Matt. 12:24-30). They recognized Christ (Mark 1:23,24) and can possess non-Christians (Matt. 8:29).
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Deontology
The study of moral obligation.
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Depravity
Moral corruption, a state of corruption or sinfulness. Total depravity is the teaching that sin has touched all aspects of the human: body, soul, spirit, emotions, mind, etc.
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Determinism
The teaching that every event in the universe is caused and controlled by natural law; that there is no free will in humans and that all events are merely the result of natural and physical laws.
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Devil
Greek is "diabolos," which means accuser. The greatest of all the fallen angels. He opposes God and is completely evil. He is often called Lucifer which is a Latin translation of "light bearer" found in Isaiah 14:12, and also the accuser of the bre ... read more
Dialectic
The practice of examining ideas and beliefs using reason and logic. It is often accomplished by question and answer.
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Diaspora
Dispersion. Biblically, it refers to the dispersion of the Jews outside of Israel from the time of the Babylonian Captivity until now. It has also been applied to the dispersion of Christians after 70 A.D. when Rome sacked Jerusalem and thousands of Chri ... read more
Dichotomy
The teaching that a human consists of two parts: body and soul. Sometimes the soul is also referred to as spirit. ... read more
Didache
From the Greek "didoskolos" meaning "teacher." The Didache (pronounced did-a-kay). It was possibly written around 65-80 A.D. and is supposed to be what the twelve apostles taught to the Gentiles concerning life and death, church order, fasting, bapt ... read more
Didactics
The branch of education dealing with teaching.
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Diocese
In Catholicism, an area of many parishes presided over by a bishop. ... read more
Disciple
A pupil or follower of a religion, a person, or a movement. As Christians we are to be disciples of Jesus (Luke 14:26,27). We follow in the teaching and example of what He said and did. A disciple is a convert but not all converts are disciples. As discip ... read more
Dispensation, dispensationalism
In the Scofield Reference Bible a dispensation is "a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God" Dispensationalism says that God uses different means of administering His will and gra ... read more
Divination
The practice of predicting the future and/or securing for a person the services of supernatural powers. It is also used as a means to gain knowledge.
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Divinity
The nature or quality of being God. It belongs to God alone. Jesus was divine in nature (Col. 2:9) as well as being a man. ... read more
Docetism
Docetism was an error with several variations concerning the nature of Christ. Generally, it taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body, that he was not really incarnate, (Greek, "dokeo" = "to seem"). This error developed out of the dualistic phi ... read more
Doctrine
A set of accepted beliefs held by a group. In religion, it is the set of true beliefs that define the parameters of that belief system. Hence, there is true doctrine and false doctrine relative to each belief set. In Christianity, for example, a true bi ... read more
Dogma
A generally held set of formulated beliefs.
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Donatism
Donatism was the error taught by Donatus, bishop of Casae Nigrae that the effectiveness of the sacraments depends on the moral character of the minister. In other words, if a minister who was involved in a serious enough sin were to baptize a person, that ... read more
Dowsing
A form of divination using a forked rod or bent wire often used to find objects, people, or things. A person holds the dowsing instrument and is "lead" around by it until the object is, allegedly, found. ... read more
Dualism
In theology, the concept that the world is controlled by two opposing forces, i.e., good and bad, God and Satan. In Philosophy the idea that the world consists of two main components: thought and matter.
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Ecclesiology
The study of the Christian church, its structure, order, practices, and hierarchy.
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Edify
To build up. In the Christian context it means to strengthen someone, or be strengthened, in relationship to God, the Christian walk, and holiness. As Christians, we are to "let all things be done for edification" (1 Cor. 14:26). We are edified by the W ... read more
Efficacy
Producing a result. Christ's atonement was efficacious; it produced the result of forgiveness of sins for the elect. The atonement is efficacious grace in action.
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Eisegesis
Eisegesis is when a person interprets and reads information into the text that is not there. An example would be in viewing 1 Cor. 8:5 which says, "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lord ... read more
Elect, Election
The elect are those called by God to salvation. This election occurs before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4) and is according to God's will not man's (Rom. 8:29-30; 9:6-23) because God is sovereign (Rom. 9:11-16). The view of election is especiall ... read more
Empiricism
The proposition that the only source of true knowledge is experience. It is the search for knowledge through experiment and observation. Denial that knowledge can be obtained a priori.
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Epistemology
The branch of philosophy that deals with the area of knowledge, its source, criteria, kinds, and the relationship between what is known and the one who is knowing it.
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Eschatology
The study of the teachings in the Bible concerning the end times, or of the period of time dealing with the return of Christ and the events that follow. Eschatological subjects include the Resurrection, Resurrection, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Mill ... read more
Eternal life
Life everlasting in the presence of God. "This is eternal life, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent" (John 17:3).
There are two senses in which this is used. First, as Christians we possess eternal life ... read more
Eternal Security
The doctrine that salvation cannot be lost. Since it is not gained by anything we do, it cannot be lost by anything we do. This does not mean that we can sin all we want (Rom. 6:1-2) because we have been freed from sin and are set apart for holy use (1 Th ... read more
Ethics
The study of right and wrong, good and bad, moral judgment, etc.
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Eucharist
The elements of the communion supper in Christian Churches where the bread and wine are consumed as a representation of the sacrifice of Christ. They correspond, representatively, to the body and blood of Christ.
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Eunuch
A male who has been castrated; that is, had the testes removed. Eunuchs were often used as guards of harems. In Acts 8:27, a Eunuch was "a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure." Biblically, some pe ... read more
Eutychianism
This is similar to Monophycitism. It states that Christ's natures were so thoroughly combined -- in a sense scrambled together -- that the result was that Christ was not really truly able to relate to us as humans. The problem is this implies that Jesus ... read more
Evil
Moral rebellion against God. It is contrary to the will of God. There is natural evil (floods, storms, famines, etc.) and moral evil (adultery, murder, idolatry, etc.). Natural evil is a result of moral evil. Adam's sin resulted in sin entering the world ... read more
Evolution
The theory that all living things on earth evolved from a single source and driven by genetic mutation and natural selection gave rise to all the various life forms on earth. This evolutionary process was without the intervention of a divine being or bei ... read more
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