A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
- Amillennialism
- The belief that there will be no literal thousand-year reign by Jesus Christ upon earth. This belief expresses the view that the millennium has already begun and is identical with the church age, with the final judgment of sinful mankind by Jesus Christ bringing to end the church age, and establishing a permanent physical reign. (Contrast Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Pretribulationism)
- Anoint
- To consecrate and dedicate to the service of LORD God through His divine election.
- Antediluvian
- Denotes the primitive period before the Flood recorded in Genesis 7.
- Anthropology
- Study of the doctrine of man
- Apostasy
- A total desertion of previous belief.
- Apostate
- One who forsakes his previous belief.
-
- Apostle
- An ambassador of the Gospel that spreads His Word as commissioned by Jesus Christ
- Apostle's Creed
- It begins with "I believe in God the Father Almighty", and is traditionally chanted and widely accepted among Christian churches. The creed dates back to about A.D. 500, which is
traditionally ascribed to Jesus Christ's Apostles
- Apostolate
- The dignified office of an apostle. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Pope heads the Apostolic See, bishops assume mission as apostates in their dioceses, and the laity organize their devotions to the mission of the church.
- Apostolic
- Possessing dignified characteristic of an Apostle commissioned by Jesus Christ as an ambassador to the Gospel.
- Apostolic Age
- The earliest period of Christianity that lasted to the death of the last of the twelve apostles.
- Apostolic Fathers
- The fathers of the early Christian church whose lives overlapped those of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, and the collection of works that are attributed to them.
- Apostolic See
- The Roman Catholic Church which was traditionally founded by the Apostle, Saint Peter
- Apostolic Succession
- (Rom. Cath. Ch.) (Orth. Ch.) (Anglican Ch.) The unbroken line of succession starting with the Twelve Apostles and perpetuated through Bishops, which is considered essential for order and sacraments to be valid.
- Apostolos
- (Gk. Orth. Ch.) A book with parts of the Acts and parts of the Epistles of the Apostles
- Apotheosis
- The elevation, glorification, or exaltation of a person to the rank of a god or a glorified ideal
- Apotropalsm
- The use of ritualistic ceremony and magic spells to anticipate and prevent evil.
- Aramaic
- The trade language of a particular region in the time of Jesus Christ
- Arianism
- The name given to the heresy of Arius (see Arius); believers in this heresy were subjected to great perseuctions by fellow Christians, and the heretical belief died with them. The death toll of Arians killed by fellow Christians was far greater than the number of Christian victims of Roman persecution (Perry, et al).
- Arius
- A Greek priest in Alexandria and leader of a faction that denied the complete divinity of Jesus Christ. He believed that Jesus Christ was more than man and less than God and that the Father and the Son did not possess the same nature or essence, with no permanent union between Them; the Father alone is eternal and truly God. The resulting controversy concerning these arguments resulted in the assembly of the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), the first ecumenical council with bishops from all parts of the Roman world. The coucil condemned Arius and ruled that God and Christ were of the same substance, coequal and coeternal; their position was called the "Nicene Creed," which continues to be an official stance of most Christian churches.
B
- Baptism
- The Baptism of Jesus Christ is a baptism of redemption through immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Baptism of Jesus Christ frees the believer from the control of sin, by bringing death to sin. When the believer arises from the baptismal waters, he is born again, and resurrected into the new life in Christ Jesus. It is an act of obedience of the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead.
- Beatific
- The giving of happiness, bliss or blessings
- Beatification
- (Rom. Cath. Ch.) The official act of the Pope declaring a deceased person has entered Heaven and is enjoying the experience in happiness. His declaration bestows the title of Saint to the person, and makes them subject to religious honor and sometimes public cult.
- Beatific Vision
- (Theol.) A vision of the LORD God in Heaven.
- Beatitude
- Supreme blessedness, promised to specific believers by Jesus Christ in his sermon on the mount
- Benefice
- Position or post granted to ecclesiastics with guarantees of a fixed amount of property or income.
- Bless
- To make or pronounce holy, consecrated, sanctified, protected or glorified.
- Blessed
- Made or pronounced holy, consecrated, sanctified, protected or glorified. 2. Worthy of adoration, worship or reverence: "the Blessed Trinity. 3. (Rom. Cath. Ch.) The body of a deceased person who has received beatification, and thus "blessed in Heaven".
- Blessed Event
- The birth of a child.
- Blessed Sacrament
- The consecrated Host
- Blessing
- Favor of the LORD GOD bestowed upon a person, resulting in supreme
happiness. 2. Invoking the favor of the LORD God upon a person.
- Born Again
- Being Born Again, or Regeneration, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus at the moment a faithful believer is resurrected out of the Baptismal waters. The Baptism of Jesus Christ brings death to sin, and becomes the grave to which faithful believers in Jesus Christ's own Resurrection, are Born Again as they come up out of the waters. This regenerative process brings a change of heart and a new life able to receive and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Bug-bear
- An false idol causing needless fear, dread and horror to come upon a person
- Bull
- A formal papal document with a bulla attached.
- Bulla
- A seal attached to an official papal document
C
- Cairn
- A heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument or memorial.
- Catechism
- Theology set within a scheme of questions and answers
- Chancel
- The altar of a church that is usually an enclosed space for use by clergy and other officials
- Chancellor
- The Priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery; also, the chief administrative officer in certain American Universities.
- Chancery
- A Department of the Curia Romania of the Roman Catholic Curch that is responsible for issuing bulls to establish new benefices, dioceses, etc.
- Consecrate
- To set apart and make sacred and dedicated to the service of the LORD God.
- Consecration
- The dedication to the service of the LORD God. 2. (Rom. Cath. Ch.) The act of giving the sacramental nature to the
Eucharistic elements of bread and wine. 3. Ordination to a sacred office
- Creation
- The making of all things by the LORD God, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. (See Theistic Evolutionism)
- Curea Romana
- The body of congregations and offices of the Roman Catholic Church that assist the pope in governmental administrative duties
- Cult
- A religious sect that has a false or inadequate basis of salvation, and a false basis of authority.
D
- Dedicate
- To set apart and consecrate to the LORD God for a holy work
- Dedication
- The religious ceremony announcing the intent of the parents to raise a child in accordance with their beliefs, and involving the church community in playing a part in the child's spiritual upbringing. It is often mistaken for infant baptism because water is sprinkled upon the infant in the ceremony.
- Devil
- The fallen angel Lucifer (Satan) who is at enmity with the LORD God, and has the power to afflict man with spiritual corruption which brings death, and separates men from God through false witness and spiritual misleading.
- Devils Advocate
- (Rom. Cath. Ch.) An official appointed to present critical arguments against proposed beatification or canonization.
- Devils Mark
- (Witchcraft) A blemish, scar or mark on the body of a person who has made a compact with a devil.
- Dispensationalism
- Belief in a historical progression of revelation by the LORD God about His Being, Works and Will through His covenanted Word.
- Diocese
- An ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiciton of a bishop
- Divination
- A soothsayers attempt to foretell future events or discover hidden mysteries by occult or supernatural means.
- Divine
- Pertaining to the LORD God that which is religious and sacred and befitting Him.
- Divine Healing
- A healing as a result of divine intervention of the LORD God, in response to prayer, faith or hope.
- Divine Right of Kings
- The right to rule established directly by the LORD God, and not from the consent of the people.
- Divining Rod
- A forked branch from a hazel tree used to locate underground water. Also called a dowsing rod.
- Divini Redemptoris
- (Latin for Divine Redemption) The opening words and title of the encyclical of Pope Pius XI issued in 1937 on Communism
- Divine
- Possessing the nature of the LORD God, with His righteous character and supreme excellence
- Divinity School
- A Protestant seminary
- Doctrine
- The principles of a belief system that are taught. The study of God that arises from the Bible only.
- Doctrine of Jesus Christ
- The six principles of sin, faith, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, resurrection and judgment taught by Jesus Christ to his followers to establish a solid foundation to prepare for deeper growth and learning about the LORD God, and His Will and Ways.
E
- Ecclesiastic
- A person in a religious order
- Essnes
- A Jewish social-religious sect whose members, like the Sadducees, considered themselves to be the true descendants of Sadok, the high priest of Solomon. They rejected the temple priests as corrupt; only priests affiliated with their sect were deemed pure. Founded by a man they refer to as the "Teacher of Righteousness," they established a semimonastic community near the Dead Sea. In 1947, leather scrolls sealed in hermetically sealed jars, in the Essene community of Qumran were discovered by a shepherd boy. The Wady Qumran Manuscripts, known as the "Dead Sea Scrolls", dated between c. 200 B.C. and A.D. 66-70, contain the oldest extant Hebrew manuscripts as well as documents unique to the Essene sect. The Essenes belief in the immediate coming of God's Kingdom was connected to their confidence in the physical resurrection of the body. They were preocuupied with the end-of-days, the nearness of God and the need for repentence. The Essenes thought they were the first generation of God's people, preparing to meet the prophesized Jewish Messiah in their lifetime.
- Eternity
- The reality that one can begin at any given point and go outward and yet never arrive. (Contrast - Infinity)
- Evangelical
- A focus on the authority of the four Gospels with emphasis on salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, and the spreading of this message throughout the world, according to the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.
- Evolution
- (See Theistic Evolutionism)
- Exorcise
- Expelling an evil spirit through the invoking of the name and authority of Jesus Christ and his command to leave the possessed body.
- Exorcist
- A strong and faithful Christian who commands evil spirits to leave the body of the possessed. 2) The second rank of four minor orders in the Roman Catholic Church.
F
- Fasting
- An abstinence of eating in discipline to know God better
- Father God
- The LORD God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through the Spirit of Adoption by their faith in Jesus Christ.
- Font
- A symbol of a water fountain, it is a receptacle in a church that contains the water used in sprinkled baptism or holds the blessed holy water used in religious ceremony.
G
- Glorification
- Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
- Grace
- The unmerited, unearned favor of the LORD God, given to the elect for His purposes, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
- Greek
- The official language of the Roman world in the time of Jesus Christ
H
- Hallel
- A chant of praise derived from Psalms 113-118 and used in the celebration of Jewish holidays such as Passover, Shabuoth, Sukkoth, Hanukkah, and Rosh Hodesh. The priests chanted these Praises in the temple while the Passover lamb was being slain, which is sometimes called the "Egyptian Hallel." The praise songs were also sung by the Levite priests in chanted verse by verse, and the worshippers would respoeat the verses or sing Hallelujahs in response. “This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24 av) is a Hallel of Christian tradition of celebration and praise, especially during the beginning of Holy Week on Palm Sunday, as the Faithful remember Jesus Christ's Messianic entrance into Jerusalem as our King.
- Harmartiology
- The study of the doctrine of sin
- Hebrew
- The religious and sanctified language of God in the time of Jesus Christ
- Herodians
- A Jewish sect and political party who embraced the worldly life and social customs of Roman occupation in Israel, supported the Herodian rulers in their government. Orthodox Jews thought them to be compromisers because they recognized the rights of Rome and cooperated with Roman authorities, a stance shared with the Sadducees.
- Holocaust
- A great devastation and destruction, especially by fire, regrettably witnessed in our lifetime when European Jews were systematically exterminated in mass within the Nazi concentration camps prior to and during World War II. May we never forget.
- Holy Ghost
- The Holy Spirit is the fully divine Spirit of the LORD GOD, sent to comfort believers when Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination, He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve the LORD God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service.
- Humanism
- A philosophy or attitude that human beings achivements and interests of natural life are more important than a spiritual life directed by the LORD God. Humanists place mankind at the center of the universe, bestowing supreme value to the human being and their potential to solve all problems of life.
- Hypothesis
- (See Theory) A proposed unverified law.
I
- Idol
- Worship, adoration or devotion given to a material object or image that represents a false deity.
- Idolater
- A worshiper of idols.
- Idols of the Cave
- Fallacies derived from prejudice and personal biased thought.
- Idols of the Market Place
- Fallacies derived from culture customs. (Also called Idols of the Forum)
- Idols of the Theater
- Fallacies resulting from traditional beliefs and techniques.
- Idols of the Tribe
- Fallacies derived from the nature of man and his social organization.
- Impiety
- Lack of respect and reverence for the LORD God and His sacred things.
- Imprecatory (Prayer, Psalm)
- To call down a curse with vivid words of judgment upon an enemy in prayer or song in desire for justice.
- Infinity
- The reality that one can begin at any given point and go inward and yet never arrive. (Contrast - Eternity)
- Insipid
- Boring, pointless, dull, indistinctive, and bland.
- Insipience
- Foolish and without wisdom.
- Irascible
- Easily provoked to anger.
J
- Jack-leg
- Unskilled and untrained to the accepted standards of one's profession
- Jack-Mormon
- A non-Mormon living amicably among active Mormons 2. A Mormon who is not active in the church or is not adhering to the principles of Mormon belief and lifestyle.
- Jacobite
- A member of the Syrian Monotheistic church, which was governed by the patriarch of Antioch in the 6th century A.D.
- Jacob's Ladder
- The ladder which reached from earth to Heaven that was seen by Jacob in a dream (Gen 28:12)
- Jesus Christ
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who was expressed by His Word and begotten before the creation of the World. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary and walked this earth in human form from 4 B.C. - c. A.D. 29. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the Will of God, taking upon Himself common human nature but without sin. He honored the LORD God's divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross, He became the redeemer of of men from their sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body through his Resurrection, and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator which effects the reconciliation between the LORD God and His people. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to usher in a new life to come, within a new Heaven and earth.
- Justification
- The LORD God's gracious and full acquittal based upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
K
- King James Authorized Bible
- Published in 1611 after the English Bishops' Bible was revised under the orders of King James I, this Bible is widely used and defended as the truest translation of the Word of God into the English language by Fundamental and Conservative Protestant faithful.
L
- Latin
- The governmental language of the world in the time of Jesus Christ
- Life
- Energy, power of intellect, affection and will emanating from the LORD God.
- LORD God
- There is one and only one living and true LORD GOD. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, praise and obedience
M
- Miracle
- A supernatural interruption of nature.
N
- Narthax
- A passage between the main entrance and the nave of a church that is enclosed
- Nativity
- Represents the birth of Jesus Christ in human form
- Natural Life
- The carnal life of nature that all human beings live
- Nature Worship
- The deitification of the things of nature leading to the worship of a false god
- Nave
- Extends from the main entrance or narthax to the chancel of a church with aisles normally used by only the congregation
- Nicene Creed
- Ecumenical Christian statement of faith accepted by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant churches that was drafted at the Council of Nicaea (See Arius)
O
- Obedience
- Willing compliance, submission, and conformance to the rule of authority.
- Obeisance
- A bow or curtsy before a superior to reflect deep respect.
- Obelisk
- A four-sided pillar of stone that usually tapers to a pyramidal top.
- Obelus
- A mark (- or +) used in ancient manuscripts to point out corrupted or superfolours words or passages.
- Oblate
- A person giving servuce within a monastery, but without taking monastic vows or submitting to full monastic rule.
- Oblation
- The offering to the LORD God of the elements of bread and wine in the Eucharist.
P
- Person (Personality)
- The identitifier of life that is composed of intellect, emotion, will, self-awareness and self-determination.
- Pharisees
- A Jewish social-religious sect whose liberal, hypocritical, self righteous members flourished in the first century B.C. Supported by most of the Jewish people at that time, there party was the beginnings for the development of all later forms of Judaism. The Pharisees challenged the aristocratic Sadducees sect in allowing varying discussions of the law, and gave authority to oral traditions. They believed in personal immortality with the existance of life after death, and emphasized prophetic ideals and the afterlife.
- Philistines
- The Philistines were a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a primitive race which spread over the whole district of Lebanon, the valley of Jordan, Crete and other Mediterranean islands. In the time of Abraham, they inhabited the south-west of Judea and Abimelech of Gerar was their king. They were a powerful tribe and made frequent incursions against the Hebrews, and there was almost always a war going on between them. They were not subdued until the time of King Hezekiah, however, they continued to occupy their territory and show hatred toward Israel. The Philistines are called Fulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments and the land of the Philistines (Philistia) was termed Palastu and Pilista in Assyrian inscriptions. From Philistia, the name of the land of the Philistines came to eventually be known as “Palestine.”
- Phoenicia
- Today's Lebanon, north of Israel
- Pluralism
- The belief that salvation can come from a variety of religious traditions.
- Postmillennialism
- The belief that Jesus Christ's second coming will be after the 1,000 years of Christian peace, prosperity and dominance in a "Golden Age" of Christianity on earth. (Contrast Premillennialism, Amillennialism, Pretribulaionism)
- Prayer
- Dialogue and communion with the LORD God through a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ which leads to the fulfillment of His Will.
- Presupposition
- A self-evident truth. Attitudes that form an assumption of belief.
- Premillennialism
- The belief that there will be a seven-year period of great tribulation before the 1,000 year if earthly reign of peace by Jesus Christ. This belief maintains that the current age of mankind exists prior to the establishment of the Kingdom of God upon earth, which is after the Battle of Armageddon (where Jesus Christ and His armies from Heaven defeat the kings, beast, and false prophet). (Contrast Postmillennialism, Amillennialism, Pretribulationism )
- Pretribulationism
- The belief that Christians will be raptured before the beginning of the seven years of tribulation brought to the world prior to the Battle of Armegeddon and the resulting 1,000 year earthly reign by Jesus Christ. This view was introduced to the modern church by John Nelson Darby from is dispensationalism views. (Contrast Postmillennialism, Amillennialism, Premillennialism)
- Primitivism
- The belief that less technologically dependent cultures and ways of living are inherently better than more technologically dependent ones
- Prolegomena
- "To go before" Comes first in study and gives direction to the formation one's presupposition of belief
- Publican
- Backslidden Jewish businessman
Q
- Quicken
- Manifestation of life
- Quirinal
- One of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built which denotes the Italian civil authority and government.
- Quirinus
- The ancient Roman god of war identified with deified Romulus, an embodiment of the Roman nation.
- Quirites
- Ancient roman citizens acting in civil capacity
- Quodlibet
- A theological point of debate with subtle or elaborate arugment.
- Quran
- Koran
R
- Reaching People
- Making contact with unsaved people and motivating them to listen to the Gospel with honest ears
- Repentance
- Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of the Grace of the LORD God.
- Regeneration
- Regeneration, or New Birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus at the moment a faithful believer is resurrected out of the Baptismal waters. The Baptism of Jesus Christ brings death to sin, and becomes the grave to which faithful believers in Jesus Christ's own Resurrection, are Born Again as they come up out of the waters. This regenerative process brings a change of heart, and a new life able to receive and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Revival
- The LORD God outpouring His Presence amongst people
S
- Sadducees
- A Jewish social-religious sect whose religiouly conservative, aristocratic members believed they were descendants of Sadok, the high priest of Solomon. Their interpretation of Scripture was literal, and they strived to maintain the ancient Hebrew teachings concerning the Torah. They rejected the concepts of the hidden mysteries of the LORD God, as well as the concepts of the resurrection of the dead and of an afterlife. They believed that the LORD God meted out reward and punishment on earth, and upon death, life quit existing.
- Salvation
- Deliverance from the effects and power and of sin and judgment of death. It involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Risen Lord and Saviour.
- Sanctification
- Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.
- Sanhedrin
- Highest court of the ancient Jews during the Second Temple Period. They ruled on administrative, judicial, and religious issues concerning the Israelites.
- Secular
- Not substantially influenced by Christianity
- Sign
- Miracle with a message
- Sin
- Failing to live up to or violating the laws of the LORD God through transgression, unrighteousnessness, omission of known duty, faithlessness, or foolishness in
act, thought or state.
- Summum Bonum
- (Latin) The highest or chief good (spoken of in Ecclesiasties)
- Systematic Theology
- Summarizes biblical and historical theology, and seeks to build an organic, consistent and truthful system with our knowledge of God and His relationship with the universe revealed in both Scripture and nature
- Syro-Phoenican
- A Syrian living in Phenicia
T
- Theology
- The study of God from all sources including both the Bible and the physical world of God. It is the science of the LORD God's essential being and His relationship to the universe according to His Word.
- Theologian
- Establishes an acceptable system of consistent interrelated facts through forming coherent patterns of truth from fragments revealed in the Word of God and nature.
- Theistic Evolutionism
- Belief that God used evolution as one pattern for His Creation. There is a fixed point in time when the Creation was "very good" and perfect in God's eyes and was finished. Any changes that occur after the fallen condition are a result of devolution that has had to deteriorate progressively from the first perfect creation for adaptation to the fallen world. Every mutation makes a gene-based sequence progressively deterioriate, making the life worse off than the perfect Creation once was, and cannot be restored to perfectness once again without the touch of God. (See The Creation of Light, Heavens and Earth, Seas, Sun, Moon and Stars and The Evolution, Making and Creation of Man)
- Theory
- A hypothesis that has not been proven as fact. The establishment of a theory as fact requires the properties of data, oberservation and repeatability.
- Trinity
- God the Father, His only begotten son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit. One and equal in nature, two subordinate and submissive in duties, three distinct and separate in person.
U
- Ubiquitarian
- The doctrine espoused by Martin Luther, that the body of Christ is omnipresent and therefore exists in the Eucharistic bread.
- Ubiquitous
- Present everywhere at the same time in an omnipresent state.
- Ultramontanism
- The policy of adherents within the Roman Catholic Church that favor increasing the power and authority of the Pope.
V
- Va'ad
- A Jewish council that maintains control and gives advice over certain community affairs.
- Vade Mecum
- A book that a person carries for frequent and regular reference.
- Valid
- A well-founded, just, sound, effective, binding and sustainable result.
- Valley of the Kings
- A valley on the west bank of the Nile near the site of Thebes which was the necropolis of many of the kings and queens of ancient Egypt (c1350-c1200 B.C.). (Also called the Valley of the Tombs)
- Vatic
- The characteristics of a prophet
- Vatican
- The authority and government of the Roman Catholic Pope. Also the name given to the Pope's chief residence, which includes a library, archives, art museum, apartments and administrative offices.
- Vatican City
- An independent state of 109 acres within the city of Rome, ruled by the Pope. Sitting ont he right bank of the the Tiber, it was established in 1929 and includes St. Peter's Church and the Vatican.
- Vatican Council
- The ecumenical council convoked in Rome by Pope Pius IX that declared the dogma of papal infalibility. (1869-70)
- Vaticanism
- A derogatory term used to describe the docrine of the absolute supremacy of the pope.
- Vaticanus
- The Greek uncial code that contains most of the text of the Bible. The 4th century A.D. manuscript is housed at the Vatican Museum.
W
- Word of God
- The inerrant and infallible Word of God is Jesus Christ expressed. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
X
- Xerophagy
- A strict Lenten fast observed during the Holy Week by the Eastern Church
- XP
- A Christian monagram made from the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ.
Y
- Yahrzeit
- A Jewish tradition and ceremony of lighting memorial lamps or candles while reciting the Kaddish to commemorate the anniversary of the death of a close relative.
- YAHWEH
- The holy name of the LORD God which is also rendered JEHOVAH.
- Yahwism
- The religous system based on the worship of YAHWEH.
- Yahwist
- The writer of the earliest major source of the Hexateuch, in which the LORD God is caracteristically referred to as YAHWEH rather than Elohim.
- Yarmulke
- A Jewish skullcap worn during prayer and religous study by coservative and orthodox males.
- Year of Confusion
- The year of 445 days in ancient Rome in 46 B.C. of the Julian calendar which was lengthened to compensate for cumulative errors of the Roman calendar.
- Year's Mind
- A Requiem Mass said one year after a person's death or burial
- Yeshiva
- An orthodox Jewish school for the religous and secular education of elementary and higher instructions in learning.
- Yiddish
- A combined vocabulary of Hebrew and Slavic (hight German dialects), written in Hebrew letters, and spoken mainly by Jews in countries E. of Germany and by Jewish emigrants from that region.
- Yigdal
- A liturgical prayer sung responsiviely by the Jewish cantor and congreation at the close of the evening service on the Sabbath.
Z
- Zealots
- A Jewish social-religious sect whose members demanded that the Jews deny the authority of the Roman emperor and to avoid paying taxes to Rome. They were devoted patriots who engaged in active resistance to Rome. They were a conquered people who yearned for a Messiah who would liberate them from Roman rule and establish the LORD God's reign.
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