Christianity

Question 1

Advent

Answer 1

season of the Christian church year before the

celebration of Christmas

Question 2

Apostles’ Creed

Answer 2

statement of faith dating from the second

century c.E., universally accepted by Christians

Question 3

atonement

Answer 3

doctrine of how humans are forgiven and rec­onciled to God through Christ’s work

Question 4

baptism

Answer 4

ritual of initiation into the Christian church

through washing of water, viewed as a sacrament by many

Question 5

canon

Answer 5

a standard; refers to the accepted writings that make up the Bible and to other church standards such as canon law

Question 6

Christ

Answer 6

Greek title meaning “anointed one” from Hebrew

“messiah,” applied to Jesus of Nazareth by his followers

Question 7

Christology

Answer 7

doctrine about the nature and role of Christ

Question 8

confirmation

Answer 8

ritual of reaffirming vows taken in baptism;

considered a sacrament by some

Question 9

denomination

Answer 9

church organization consisting of a num­ber of congregations, having autonomous structure and usually distinctive teachings, especially within Protestantism

Question 10

ecumenical movement

Answer 10

modern movement to achieve un­derstanding, cooperation, and some form of unity between the various branches of Christianity

Question 11

Epiphany

Answer 11

season after Christmas emphasizing the “showing
forth” of Christ to the world; some Eastern Orthodox
churches celebrate the nativity of Christ during this time

Question 12

eschatology

Answer 12

doctrine about the last things: the end of the

world, judgment day, consummation of God’s plan

Question 13

Eucharist

Answer 13

principal Christian sacrament, using bread and wine as a reenactment or remembrance of Christ’s last supper; also called Mass, Lord’s Supper, Divine Liturgy, and Holy Communion

Question 14

Fundamentalism

Answer 14

in Christianity, a movement by conser­vative Protestants to reject modernity in Christianity, advocating the literal inerrancy of scripture and strict adherence to traditional doctrine and morality

Question 15

gospels

Answer 15

writings compiled in the early church proclaiming the story of Jesus’ life and death; the four canonical gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

Question 16

incarnation

Answer 16

“becoming flesh”; especially the Christian

teaching that the eternal Son of God became human in the womb of his mother Mary

Question 17

justification by faith

Answer 17

doctrine that justification before
God comes by faith, not by good works; a central
emphasis of Martin Luther

Question 18

Kingdom of God

Answer 18

the rule of God; proclaimed by Jesus as

a present reality, yet to be fully manifested in the future

Question 19

original sin

Answer 19

teaching that all humans share a basic condi­tion of sinfulness

Question 20

passion story

Answer 20

the climax of each of the four Gospels,

telling of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus

Question 21

Pentecost

Answer 21

festival approximately seven weeks after Easter, celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the early Christians

Question 22

plan of salvation

Answer 22

God’s design for the salvation of the world, foretold through prophets and accomplished through Jesus Christ

Question 23

sacraments

Answer 23

rituals that convey God’s grace, such as baptism and the Eucharist

Question 24

Trinity

Answer 24

the doctrine that the one God is revealed in three “persons”-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit