GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED FREQUENTLY ON THIS LIST
The following are intended to be brief, basic and broad definitions.
Usage in specific contexts may take on far more subtlety and nuance. In such
cases, the articles in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
or The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology may be useful. For
etymology, we recommend and unabridged edition of Webster, Random
House, or the OED
ADIAPHORA
Adiaphora are practices which are neither mandated nor forbidden by scripture.
For example, Lutherans may use incense, but are not compelled to do so because
the use of incense is an adiaphoron. Adiaphoron is the singular.
BOC
BOC is an abbreviation for The Book of Concord, which is the
collection of
authoritative Lutheran doctrine compiled in the late 16th century. It
contains the three historic creeds, the Augsburg Confession, The Apology of
the Augsburg Confession, The Smalcald Articles, The Small Catechism, The
Large Catechism, The Formula of Concord, The Catalog of Testimonies, and
Torgau Articles.
CA
CA is an abbreviation from the Latin title for the Augsburg Confession. It
is the basic Lutheran statement of faith.
CONVENTICLE
Conventicle refers to regular small gatherings of Christians. The term came
into general English usage with the passage of the 1664 Conventicle Act in
England, which forbade meetings in households for worship other than
prescribed in the Book of Common Prayer.
DISPENSATIONALISM
see PREMILLENNIALISM
EXEGESIS
Exegesis is the practice of explaining a text.
HERMENEUTICS
Hermeneutics is the study of the methods and assumptions involved in biblical
EXEGESIS.
MILLENNIALISM
Millennialism is the belief that Christ will return again to reign in the
world. The term derives from the Latin for 1000 because some who held this
belief in the 10th century expected the return in the year 1000 A.D. Most
millennialists believe that th
e second coming is near at hand.
PIETISM
Pietism began in the Seventeen century as a reaction to systematic and
scholastic Lutheran orthodoxy. The Pietists sought a "religion of the
heart" rather than of the mind to give practical guidance for life and
faith.
POSTMILLENNIALISM
Postmillennialism is the belief that the present age will be gradually
transformed into the Gold Age of Christ's return partially through human
agency, such as revivals and reform movements.
PREMILLENNIALISM
Premillennialism is the belief that the present age will be disposed with in
God's time and will be swept away. We will then experience the "Rapture of
the Church," the Antichrist will be revealed, and those who are not the
redeemed will undergo a period of great tribulation.
QUATENUS SUBSCRIPTION
Quatenus subscription to the Confessions means
subscription to them to the extent that the are a correct exposition of
scripture.
QUIA SUBSCRIPTION
Quia subscription to the Confessions means subscription to them
because they are a correct exposition of Scripture
THEODICY
Theodicy is the concern for maintaining both the goodness and omnipotence of
God in the face of the reality of evil.
THEONOMY
Theonomy is the position that the source of authority for moral law is God,
in contradistinction to the self as the authority, or autonomy.