Adoptionism
false teaching that the man Jesus was not always the incarnate God. Instead he was “adopted” as the Son of God at some time during his earthly life.
apollinarianism
Christological heresy that taught that Christ took on a human body and soul but not a human mind
arianism
heretical teaching that the son of god was not fully god in the same sense that the father is god, but was instead the first thing that god created.
docetism
heretical teaching that claimed that Christ did not truly become human but only appeared to have a human body
ebionism
early Christological heresy that taught that Christ was merely a prophet and not true God. They believed that Jesus was anointed by God at his baptism because of his perfect obedience to God’s law.
eutychianism
confuses the divine and human natures of Christ. taught that the divine nature of Christ absorbed the humanity into itself
gnosticism
Jesus becomes human only for awhile, but escapes.
material is bad, escape from physical world and get to spirituality
nestorianism
completely separate 2 natures, together but no shring of characteristics
subordinationism
Son and holy spirit are generally seen as subordinate or less than the father
universalism
non-biblical teaching that asserts that all humans will be saved, regardless of their belief
council of chalcedon
discussed the 2 natures of Christ
council of constantinople
expanded the text of the confession, becoming what is commonly known today as the Nicene creed
council of nicea
condemned Arianism and produced most of what is commonly known as the Nicene creed
apotelesmatic genus
divine nature + human nature –> salvation
necessity of both natures to humanity’s salvation
idiomatic genus
human nature & divine nature –> person
both natures possess their own unique attributes and properties which are then communicated to the entire person of Christ
majestic genus
divine nature –> human nature
the divine nature communicates its attributes and prerogatives to the human nature of Jesus in the personal union
exaltation
after the saving work of Christ was complete, he resumed the full and constant use of the divine powers and prerogatives that he had voluntarily limited in his state of humiliation (in human nature no longer hides divine nature) uses full divine power
humiliation
Jesus Christ possessed the attributes and abilities that were his as true God, but for the sake of human redemption, he did not always or fully use these attributes (set divine characteristics aside in his human nature)
immaculate conception
Mary was born without the stain of sin
impeccable
because of his divine nature, Jesus Christ was incapable of sinning
incarnation
God’s assumption of human nature in the person of Jesus Christ
quickening
making alive or giving life to a lifeless body
theotokos
“God-bearer”. Refers to Mary and affirms that Jesus was truly God, eve while in her womb. rendered as “mother of God”
personal union
doctrine of the union of a human nature and a divine nature in the one person of Christ (hypostatic union)
virgin conception
work of the holy spirit whereby Mary miraculously conceived and bore Jesus while she was a virgin
active obedience
Christ’s complete fulfilling of the entire law of god for the rest of humanity
atonement
work of Christ in dealing with the problem of human sinfulness and reconciling humanity to God
christus victor
theory of the atonement that stresses Christ’s victory over sin, Satan, death, and hell. this victory brings freedom to human beings
kingdom of glory
Christ’s current and eternal rule in heaven
kingdom of grace
Christ’s rule in and over his church through the means of grace
kingdom of power
Christ’s rule over all creation by his almighty power
melchizedek
Jesus can be a priest without being from the levitical line
messiah
Hebrew word meaning anointed one
moral influence theory
depicts the purpose of Christ’s work as primarily a demonstration of God’s love for humanity. Seeing this great love, we are moved to love God and others
office
a particular calling in which a person is officially authorized and obligated to perform certain tasks
passive obedience
Christ’s redemptive work of suffering and dying for the sins of humanity
priestly office
portion of Christ’s work in which he offered himself as a sacrifice for humanity’s sin and in which he continues to intercede between God and humanity
prophetic office
portion of Christ’s work in which he reveals God’s truth to humanity
royal office
portion of Christ’s work in which he reigns over all creation, over believers, and over heaven
vicarious
substitutionary. usually used as part of a description of Christ’s atonement
alien righteousness
righteousness of Christ that is imputed to sinful humans from outside of themselves. They are declare righteous, but the righteousness belongs to Christ alone
forensic justification
description of Christ’s work as a legal or forensic act. For Christ’s sake, God declares human beings righteous in his sight, apart from any merit of our own.
imputation
God imputes or credits us with Christ’s righteousness
indulgences
a person could be delivered from purgatory by the purchase of indulgences
infused righteousness
God transforms a person and makes them holy so that he can love them and save them
limited atonement
Christ died only for the elect or for those who would eventually believe in him
objective justification
Christ’s work of reconciliation in which he justified the entire world by his death and resurrection
subjective justification
application of Christ’s work of justification of the whole world to an individual person. A person who is subjectively justified receives the benefits that Christ won in objective justification
purgatory
a place where person who are saved by Christ are able and required to pay for the debt of their sin and receive final purification for these sins before they enter heaven
Grace
God’s undeserved favor, love, and mercy towards humanity because of the work of Christ