Christianity Subject Specific Vocab

• Agape

  The Greek word for ‘unconditional love’, and the basis for the Golden Rule for Christians, and of Jesus’ sacrificial crucifixion.
• Allegorical

  A means of reading the Bible in a non-literal way, or in other words that the Bible is not to be taken as absolutely factual, but rather that Christians should read the Bible for the deeper meaning hidden within its texts and stories.
• Anglican

  A member of the Anglican Church, or the adjective used to describe Anglican practices or beliefs. The Church of England is one part of the Anglican Communion.
• Anointing of the Sick

  One of the seven sacraments for Roman Catholics (and some Anglo-Catholics, or Church of England Christians who use the seven sacraments as part of their worship), where the priest will use oil to anoint the head (and/or hands) of a person who is sick or suffering. Can accompany the laying on of hands, where the priest physically touches the head (or shoulder) of the person and prays for them.
• Apostle

  From the Greek word meaning ‘emissary’, usually used to refer to the Twelve Disciples.
• Apostolic Succession

  A Roman Catholic belief, shared by Anglo-Catholics, that those who are ordained as deacons, priests, and bishops share a physical link back to the first apostles through the laying on of hands which occurs during ordination (being made a deacon or priest) or consecration (being made a bishop).
• Arianism

  The belief of Arius that Jesus was not fully divine, nor co-eternal with God the Father, but rather was created or made by God the Father at some point before the creation of the world.
• Atonement

  Making amends for sin, usually referring to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross which Christians believe was the ultimate act of atonement, to remove all of humanity’s sin.
• Baptism

  The rite of initiation for Christians, in which water is used to symbolise the washing away of sin and to welcome the person into the Christian church. For some Christians (such as Roman Catholics), this is usually paedobaptism, which is the baptising of a baby or child usually by pouring a small amount of water over their head, at a font, three times in the name of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Other Christians (such as Baptists) prefer adult baptism, or believer’s baptism, which usually involves full immersion of the person into a baptistery or pool.
• Bible

  The holy book for Christianity, made up of the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament is found in Judaism and Islam in various formats, whereas the New Testament focuses on the life and works of Jesus, and various letters (or Epistles) written by early Christians about the new Christian faith.
• Biblical Criticism

  The academic exercise of examining the authorship of different aspects of the Bible to identify any potential bias or context from the writer(s).
• Bishop

  The most senior order of ordination (above deacons and priests), who are a focal point of unity for their diocese, and are able to perform confirmations and ordinations.
• Calvinism

  The doctrine of Christianity which follows the teachings of Calvin, including predestination and sola scriptura.
• Canon

  The texts which are found in authorised versions of the Bible.
• Catechism

  The Roman Catholic Church’s summary of its doctrine and moral code.
• Catholic

  If spelt with a small ‘c’, catholic means universal, and can refer to the worldwide church. With a capital ‘C’, Catholic refers to an adherent to Roman Catholicism, or the adjective used to describe Roman Catholic practice and doctrine.
• Celibacy

  Refraining from sexual intercourse or other sexual activity, for example to fulfil a vow made as a religious monk, nun, or Roman Catholic priest.
• Christology

  The study of the identity of Jesus Christ, and his status as divine, human, the Messiah, and/or the Son of God for Christians.
• Confession

  One of the seven sacraments for Roman Catholics (and some Anglo-Catholics, or Church of England Christians who use the seven sacraments as part of their worship), where a Christian will tell the priest their sins, will receive advice and/or a penance (something to do to make amends). The priest will usually absolve their sins by pronouncing absolution.
• Covenant


  An agreement between God and humans.
• Creatio ex nihilo

  The Latin for ‘creation from nothing’, referring to the belief that God created the universe from nothing as an act of omnipotence and grace (love).
• Creationism

  The belief that God created the world according to Gen accounts. Progressive creationism (also known as old earth creationism) is the belief that the ‘days’ in the first Genesis account might refer to ‘epochs’ and not 24 hour segments of time. Six day creationism (also known as young earth creationism) is the more conservative Christian belief that the ‘days’ in Genesis refer to actual 24 hour segments, and that the earth’s timespan since creation can be traced through Old Testament ages of humans all the way to the time of Jesus, making the earth between 6000 and 7000 years old.
• Deism

  The belief, prevalent in Process Theology, that God is not fully omnipotent, but rather is confined by the laws of the universe and must act in accordance with them.
• Denomination

  A branch of Christianity, for example Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism, or the various Orthodox churches.
• Ecumenism

  Also known as inter-denominational dialogue, this refers to different denominations of Christians trying to find common ground and unity.
• Epistle

  One of the letters in the New Testament from a writer to one of the early groups of ‘Christians’ with guidance on how to live in line with the new teachings of Jesus.
• Eschatology

  The study of the ‘end times’, or of the end of the world, which Christians believe will occur, and which is depicted in the book of Revelation (also known as the book of the Apocalypse).
• Eucharist

  From the Greek for ‘thanksgiving’, it is another word for Holy Communion or mass, the central practice of most Christian worship, involving the eating of bread (and, for some Christians, the drinking of wine).
• Fundamentalism

  The belief that the Bible is inerrant and contains the exact truth of God. Fundamentalist Christians will, for example, be against homosexuality due to its outlawing in the book of Leviticus, which must be the infallible word of God.
• Gospel

  An account of the life of Jesus Christ, meaning ‘good news’. In the (canonical) Bible, there are four gospels, three of which are similar and known as the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The fourth Gospel, John, is written in a more poetic style and is believed by most biblical critics to have been written later than the other three gospels.
• Immanent

  The belief that God intervenes and is active in the world, for example by performing miracles or through the Incarnation of God, Jesus, for Christians.
• Immortality of the Soul

  The belief that, when a person dies, the immaterial soul will continue to exist, either within or outside of a body.
• Incarnation

  ‘God becoming flesh’, for Christians this refers to the birth of Jesus as the incarnation of God, being both fully divine and fully human.
• Inter-faith dialogue

  Different religions (rather than different Christian denominations) coming together to discuss matters and to potentially find common ground between them.
• Ius ad bellum

  A part of St Thomas Aquinas’ ‘Just War Theory’, ius ad bellum refers to the criteria that must be satisfied before a war can be declared and be considered justified and moral (for example, it must be declared by a legitimate authority).
• Ius in bello

  The second aspect of St Thomas Aquinas’ ‘Just War Theory’, ius in bello refers to the criteria that must be followed during warfare in order for it to continue being justified and moral (for example, trying to avoid harming innocent civilians).
• Justification by faith

  The belief that Christians achieve salvation and can enter heaven through their faith in Jesus and God, rather than due to their actions. This relates to the doctrine of sola fides.
• Justification by works

  A member of the Anglican Church, or the adjective used to describe Anglican practices or beliefs. The Church of England is one part of the Anglican Communion.
• Literalism

  A way of reading the Bible as the exact words of God, rather than symbolically as a more representative or analogical text.
• Liturgy

  The form in which Christians worship, usually in a Church, and which can follow a set structure and wording.