Entries Categorized as 'C'

Cessationism

Date June 26, 2008

[seh-say‘-shun-iz’-um]
(Latin cessare, “to stop”)
The theological position which asserts the gifts of the Spirit have ceased after the apostolic era; gifts such as miraculous healings, tongues, and prophetic revelations. It is to be contrasted with continuationsim (i.e., the gifts are operative after the apostolic age). Though there are some variations in modern views,  the consensus agrees […]

Complementarianism

Date June 15, 2008

[cawm’-pluh-mehn-tayr‘-ee-uh-niz’-um]
(Latin complere, “to fill out”)
Theological position held by many Christians (contra egalitarianism) believing the Bible teaches that men and women are of equal worth, dignity, and responsibility before God (ontological equality), but that men and women have different roles to play in society, the family, and the church (relational distinct roles). For the complementarian, these […]

credo ut intelligum

Date June 12, 2008

(Latin, “I believe to understand”)
This phrase was popularized by St. Anselm and describes the Christian’s endeavor to understand what he or she already believes. It is a good concise definition of what Christian theology truly is. This phase was originally based on Augustine of Hippo’s maxim crede ut intelligas, “believe so that you may understand.” […]

Council of Chalcedon

Date May 30, 2008

This council was the fourth of seven ecumenical councils. It was held from October 8th to November 1st, 451 at Chalcedon (a city of Bithynia in Asia Minor),which rejected the Eutychian doctrine of monophysitism (Christ having only one nature). It ended up setting forth the Chalcedonian Creed, which describes the full humanity and full divinity […]

Christology

Date May 10, 2008

[kris-taw’-luh-jee]
The discipline within Christian theology that deals with the nature of Jesus Christ, particularly focusing on how the human and divine co-exist in one person. Christology also seeks to explain the saving work of Christ, though is generally less concerned with the details of Jesus’ life. In systematic theology it logically precedes soteriology (the doctrine […]

Calvinism

Date May 8, 2008

[kal‘-vih-niz’-um]
Also, “Reformed theology,” “the Reformed faith,” or “the Reformed tradition.”
A theological framework based on the teachings of 16th century French Protestant reformer John Calvin. The emphasis of this system is on the sovereignty of God over all things, with specific reference to soteriology (the doctrine of salvation). Though the distinctives of Calvinist theology may be […]

Creatio Ex Nihilo

Date April 24, 2008

[kray-aw’-tsee-o eks nee’-uh-lo]
(Latin, “creation out of nothing”)
Describes the shared theistic worldview which believes all of creation was created by God out of non-existent matter. This belief is extremely important and foundational to the Christian belief in a transcendent God. God’s nature transcends time, space, and matter. Therefore, all that exists outside of God is dependent […]

Anselm of Canterbury

Date April 23, 2008

or, Saint Anselm (1033–1109)
He was a Roman Catholic philosopher and clergyman best known for his work Cur Deus Homo [Why the God-man?], 1098. Called the founder of scholasticism, he is considered the father of the ontological argument for the existence of God. He also openly opposed the Crusades.
Read more on Anselm here.
…and here.

Cataphatic Theology

Date April 3, 2008

[cat-uh-fat’-ik thee-aw’-luh-jee]
(Greek kata- <as an affirmative> + Greek phanai, “speak” = kataphasis, “affirmation”)
Often called “positive theology,” cataphatic theology describes the theological methodology of those who focus on God’s self-revelation as a coherent avenue of God’s communication. While finite men cannot understand an infinite God completely, they can understand him truly.

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