Theological Terms and Resources

A list works—whether selective or comprehensive—that is complied based on a common principle such as: subject or author. Bibliographies can appear at the end of a book, journal, encyclopedia or dictionary article, or as a separate publication (a bibliography of bibliographies). These can be annotated with a brief summary of each work, or simply list the works with the required information (author, title, publication data, etc.) Most bibliographies are located in the Reference section starting with the call number “Z.”

An abstract summarizes the content of a written resource, usually academic articles or books. Most abstracts describe but do not evaluate the resource. In addition to hard copy indexes with abstracts, Allison Library subscribes to several electronic abstract databases, namely New Testament Abstracts, and Old Testament Abstracts.An abstract summarizes the content of a written resource, usually academic articles or books. Most abstracts describe but do not evaluate the resource. In addition to hard copy indexes with abstracts, Allison Library subscribes to several electronic abstract databases, namely New Testament Abstracts, Old Testament Abstracts, and Religious and Theological Abstracts.

Agnosticism is defined literally as “no knowledge” and is taken from two Greek terms, a (no) and gnosis (knowledge). In a more formal sense agnosticism refers to a system of belief in which personal opinion about religious statements (e.g., “God exists”) is suspended because it is assumed that they can be neither proven nor disproven or because such statements are seen as irrelevant (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Anthropology is derived from the Greek words (human) and logos (word), that is, words about, or teaching concerning, humankind. Anthropology in general refers to any study of the status, habits, customs, relationships and culture of humankind. In a more specific and theological sense, anthropology sets forth the scriptural teachings about humans as God’s creatures (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Bibliology is a topic in systematic theology that deals with issues of the nature and character of the Bible. Bibliology attempts to understand what kind of book the Bible is, how it is authoritative for Christian faith and practice, and to what extent and in what manner the Bible is to be understood as divine revelation (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Literally meaning “standard” or “rule,” the term is most closely associated with the collection of books that the church has recognized as the written Word of God (Scripture) and that functions as the rule or standard of faith and practice in the church. Although the various Christian traditions are not in full agreement as to which books should comprise the collection of Scripture, at the very least all agree that the sixty-six books of the Protestant Bible are canonical and therefore authoritative (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Circumincession is a theological concept, also referred to as perichoresis, that affirms that the divine essence is shared by each of the three persons of the Trinity in a manner that avoids blurring the distinctions among them. By extension, this idea suggests that any essential characteristic that belongs to one of the three is shared by the others (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A commentary is a work that provides a series of explanations or interpretations and supporting arguments on a particular text, often with an accompanying translation if the text is in a foreign language. Commentaries range from technical exegetical treatments to popular applications of texts. Biblical commentaries can often be classified as technical, background, homiletical, or pastoral.

Technical commentary: A technical commentary usually presents a verse by verse explanation of a biblical text based on the original languages, academic research, and historical background.

Bible background commentary: A background commentary presents historical background believed to be pertinent for interpreting specific Biblical texts, usually in a verse-by-verse format.

Homiletical commentary: Homiletical commentaries often present sermon’s or applications on segments of a biblical text in order to aid a preacher in the preparation of his or her sermon.

   

Pastoral Commentary: Pastoral commentaries are non-technical treatments of a text, usually based on an accessible translation, that focus on the application of a text to a believer’s life.

A Bible concordance presents a list of every occurrence of a word in the Scriptures, often with a segment of the immediate context. Concordances are tailored to specific translations or the original languages.

Examples:

Cosmology is derived from the Greek word kosmos (world) and refers to the attempt to understand the origin, nature and subsequent history of the universe. Cosmology is an area where theology and science intersect, insofar as both are interested in understanding whether or not there is a first cause to the universe and whether or not there is purposeful direction and design in the universe (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A database is a structured electronic system for indexing and storing information from journal articles. Databases are sometimes called indexes.

Deism is a belief that understands God as distant, in that God created the universe but then left it to run its course on its own, following certain “laws of nature” that God had built into the universe (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A dictionary or encyclopedia  of a subject (E.g., Dictionary of the Gospels) present short articles, alphabetically arranged, on key data concerning the subject (such as key figures, words, movements, etc.) along with a bibliography. As a tertiary source, dictionary or encyclopedia articles are good for giving a general overview of a particular research subject and pointing the researcher to key primary and secondary sources for further research.A dictionary or encyclopedia  of a subject (E.g., Dictionary of the Gospels) present short articles, alphabetically arranged, on key data concerning the subject (such as key figures, words, movements, etc.) along with a bibliography. As a tertiary source, dictionary or encyclopedia articles are good for giving a general overview of a particular research subject and pointing the researcher to key primary and secondary sources for further research.

Examples:

Docetism was a teaching in the early church that Jesus was fully God but only appeared to be human (taken from the Greek “to seem or appear”). Docetist theologians emphasized the qualitative difference between God and humans and therefore downplayed the human elements of Jesus’ life in favor of those that pointed to his deity. The early church rejected docetism as an heretical interpretation of the biblical teaching about Jesus (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Ecclesiology is the area of theological study concerned with understanding the church (derived from the Greek word “church”). Ecclesiology seeks to set forth the nature and function of the church. It also investigates issues such as the mission, ministry and structure of the church, as well as its role in the overall plan of God (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Epistemology is the philosophical inquiry into the nature, sources, limits and methods of gaining knowledge. In Western philosophy, epistemology has generally followed two main alternatives: rationalism (knowledge is gained through the mind’s use of reason and logic) and empiricism (knowledge is gained through the gathering of information through the use of the inner and external senses) (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Derived from the Greek term meaning “last,” eschaton refers to the ultimate climax or end of history wherein Christ returns to earth to establish his eternal kingdom of righteousness and justice among all nations. Eschatology, then, is the theological study that seeks to understand the ultimate direction or purpose of history as it moves toward the future, both from an individual perspective (What happens when a person dies?) and from a corporate perspective (Where is history going, and how will it end?) (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

The process or act of interpreting (biblical) texts.

Feminism refers to any movement that attempts to emphasize or recover female perspectives on reality and the world. In theology and biblical studies, feminism in its broadest sense has sought to show both God’s feminine characteristics and how Scripture has often been interpreted with male biases and assumptions (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A book compiled in honour of a scholar, typically at the peak of his/her professional career. Individual chapters may be written by colleagues, former students, and/or academics with similar research interests.

Example:

Gnosticism was an early Greek religious movement of broad proportions that was particularly influential in the second-century church. The word gnosticism comes from the Greek term gnosis, meaning “knowledge.” Gnostics believed that devotees had gained a special kind of spiritual enlightenment, through which they had attained a secret or higher level of knowledge not accessible to the uninitiated (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Usually a general information source which provides quick reference for a given subject area. Some provide longer essay-type entries with bibliographies. Handbooks are generally subject-specific.

Examples:

Hermeneutics is usually used to refer to a theory of or the study of interpretation. In philosophy this can refer to interpretation in general (of texts or reality) but in Biblical studies it refers to the specific study of Biblical interpretation and theories on how to interpret the Bible. Biblical hermeneutics may encompass exegesis, the act or method of interpretation, but is broader.

Homiletics refers to the theological discipline that seeks to understand the purpose and process of preparing and delivering sermons. Homiletics seeks to integrate an understanding of the place of the preacher, the sermon and the audience (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A systematic listing of works that indicates where information is located. For example, the Christian Periodical Index points to citations of articles in magazines, journals, and newspapers which are traditionally Evangelical in content.

Inerrancy is the idea that Scripture is completely free from error. It is generally agreed by all theologians who use the term that inerrancy at least refers to the trustworthy and authoritative nature of Scripture as God’s Word, which informs humankind of the need for and the way to salvation (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

An (English) interlinear Bible presents the original language text (Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek) or foreign language translation (Latin) with its literal English equivalent printed beneath each word. Some interlinear Bibles also provide parsing information and have a proper English translation along the side of the page. A reverse interlinear has the English text with Greek or Hebrew printed beneath.

Example:

A journal is a periodical for scholarly research. Journals often contain technical articles and book reviews. The intended audience is often other scholars or experts in the field of the publication. Magazines are, on the other hand, non-technical periodicals intended for a more general audience.

• Peer-Reviewed refers to journals that employ a process of review by qualified individuals (usually with a PhD and extensive experience) from the field covered by the Publication.
• Open-source refers to journals that are freely available online. Though there are peer-reviewed open-source journals, some are not peer-reviewed.

A lexicon, often a synonym for a dictionary, is the regular term used for Greek – English or Hebrew – English (that is, Greek/Hebrew words with English definitions) dictionaries. Greek and Hebrew Lexicons presuppose some knowledge of their respective language.

Examples:

The main database for searching items in the Allison Library’s collection (books, theses, audio/video recordings, etc.).

Monotheism is the belief in one God (mono-theos) as opposed to belief in many gods (polytheism). Although monotheists may acknowledge the reality of other supernatural powers (such as angels and demons), they believe that all such powers are ultimately under the control or authority of the one God who alone is supreme. Monotheism in its various forms is the teaching of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Mysticism is the belief and practice that seeks a personal, experiential (sometimes referred to as contemplative) knowledge of God by means of a direct, nonabstract and loving encounter or union with God. Although a psychophysical dimension (including visions, dreams or special revelation) may be part of the mystical experience, this dimension is not necessary. Instead, Christian mystics generally teach that the true test of the experience is the resulting fruit of the Spirit in the mystic’s life (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Ontology is the branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature of being. To speak of something as ontological is to refer to its essential nature, as opposed to its epistemological aspects. Ontology, therefore, focuses on being and essence, in contrast to epistemology, which speaks about how humans come to know something (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Ordinance is defined literally as an authoritative decree or law. Certain free-church groups (such as the Baptists) refer to baptism and the Lord’s Supper as ordinances rather than sacraments. In so doing they highlight the voluntary nature of these rites as having been ordained (commanded) by Christ (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Orthodoxy is defined as “right praise” or “right belief ” (as opposed to heresy). Being orthodox implies being characterized by consistency in belief and worship with the Christian faith (in the Catholic tradition, consistency with the church) as witnessed to in Scripture, the early Christian writers and the official teachings, creeds and liturgy of the church. Orthodoxy is sometimes used in a narrower sense to refer to the Eastern Orthodox tradition (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A Parallel Bible shows several translations side-by-side for comparison.

Example:

Originally the culmination of the OT Feast of Weeks, the church celebrates Pentecost as the anniversary of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection. Pentecostalism is a movement that began in the early twentieth century that emphasizes a postconversion “baptism in the Holy Spirit” for all believers, with glossolalia (speaking in tongues) as the initial evidence of such baptism (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Phenomenology is a philosophical movement of the twentieth century associated with Edmund Husserl and his followers. Phenomenology initially focused on epistemology, that is, how we gain knowledge of essences or the essential features of the world (abstract properties) on the basis of our perceptions of concrete realities (particular instances of those properties). Phenomenologists later turned their attention to the essences of human mental acts (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Pietism is a Bible-oriented, experiential approach to Christian life that emphasizes personal appropriation of faith and a lifestyle of holiness as more important than the formal structures of theology (doctrine) and church order (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Puritanism was a reform movement that originally sought to “purify” the Church of England after the English Reformation. Eventually Puritanism focused on purification of both individuals and society through the reform of church and state according to biblical principles. The Puritans held to a covenantal theology and the conviction that Scripture was authoritative for personal behavior and church organization (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

To learn more about studying Puritanism in the Allison Library, see our Research Guide.

Reformation is the general term for the period of massive ecclesial and theological change in Western Christianity that had its roots as early as the fourteenth century and lasted into the seventeenth century. The Reformation refers more specifically to the break with medieval Roman Catholicism launched in the sixteenth century by such luminaries as Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, who protested against what they perceived as the overall degeneracy of the Roman Church and its departure from what the Reformers saw as the faith of the apostles and early church fathers (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

Soteriology is literally defined as “the study of salvation.” This topic within the corpus of systematic theology deals with the work of the triune God in bringing creation, and especially humans, to enjoy the divine purpose for existence (Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms).

A guide to formatting various parts of a research paper including the footnotes and bibliography. Common style manuals include:

Library of Congress Subject Headings is a system of preferred terms which are applied to books, etc. and used in most North American academic library catalogues (and many electronic databases) as a systematic way to describe the content of an item.