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C - D

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C.E.
     Common Era.  Another designation for dates.  It replaces A.D.  Hence, "I was born in 1960 C.E."

Caesar
    
A title used for a Roman emperor from about 30 B.C. to 70 C.E., derived from the line of Julian.  There were several Caesars:  Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius I, and Nero.  The word then became the title to designate the Ruler of the Roman Empire.  References to Caesar in the Bible can be found in Matt. 22:17; Luke 2:1; John 19:12; Acts 25:11-12; etc.

Calvary
    
Calvary is the site of the crucifixion of Jesus.  The word derives from the translation of word in calvaria in the Latin Vulgate.  Calvary was know in the New Testament as Golgotha which means "Place of the Skull" (Matt. 27:33).  It was located outside the city of Jerusalem.  

Calvinism
     
Calvinism is a general approach to Christian theology advanced by a group of sixteenth-century reformers, the most famous of whom was John Calvin. Originally, the Reformed tradition was advanced by stallwarts such as Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and Peter Martyr Vermigli and even influenced English reformers such as Thomas Cranmer and John Jewel. However, because of Calvin's great influence, and due to confessional and ecclesiastical debates throughout the seventeenth century, this Reformed movement generally became known as Calvinism. Today, this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches, of which Calvin was an early leader. Though it is often over-emphasized by its detractors, Calvinism is perhaps best known for its doctrines of predestination and election..

Canon
      This is another word for scripture. The Canon consists of the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible and the 27 books of the New. The Canon is closed which means there is no more revelation to become Scripture.

Capital punishment
The death penalty.  The execution of a prisoner for a capital crime.  In the Bible, capital punishment was the punishment for murder (Num. 35:16), adultery (Lev. 20:10), incest (Lev. 20:11), bestiality (Lev. 20:15), homosexuality (Num. 18:22), etc. Today, there is a strong and growing body of belief within most churches that capital punishment is contrary to the ethics and teaching of Jesus.

Capital sins
     In Catholicism, the seven causes of all sin: pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth

Catholic
     
  Universal, the entire Christian Church.  Often applied to the Roman Catholic Church.  Actually, the word simply means universal.

Causality
     The relationship between cause and effect.  The principle that all events have sufficient causes.

Chakra
    
In Yoga, an alleged focal point of energy in the human body with its own frequency.  It is a Hindi term.  Supposedly, there are seven chakras located in the head, throat, chest, abdomen, groin, etc.  Chakras are often utilized in New Age practices.  See also, Aura.

Channeling
     A new age practice where a person goes into an altered state of consciousness and allows another spirit or entity to enter him/her in order to communicate to us.  According to New Age teaching, this spirit or entity can be from another dimension, the spirit realm, or from another part of the galaxy or universe.

Charismatic Gifts
      The special spiritual gifts given to the church. They are for edifying and building up the church. They are mentioned in
Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, and 1 Cor. 14: Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.

Charity
     An archaic English form of the Greek word "agape" which means love.  The King James Version translated the Greek word for love as "charity."  See 1 Cor. 13:8-13 in the KJV for examples of this.

Cherub/Cherubim
    
A type of angel usually involved in sacred work before God.  They are generally described as winged creatures with feet and hands.  The word(s) occurs over 90 times in the Hebrew Bible and once in the New Testament at Heb. 9:5, "And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail."  Apparently, there are different kinds of Cherubim.  Two golden Cherubim are on the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:18).  They were put in Eden "to guard the way of the tree of life," (Gen. 3:24).  An interested description of them is given in Ezek. 1:5-11,13,14.

Chiliasm
     
Also known as millennialism.  The belief that there is a future 1000 year reign of Christ where perfect peace will reign and the Lord Jesus will be King on earth.

Christ
     Christ is a title. It is the N.T. equivalent of the O.T. term "messiah" and means "anointed one." It is applied to Jesus as the anointed one who delivers from sin. As the Christ He has three offices: Prophet, Priest, and King. As Prophet He is the mouthpiece of God (
Matt. 5:27-28) and represents God to humanity. As Priest He represents humanity to God and restores fellowship between them. As King He rules over His kingdom. For more about Jesus.
     

Christian
      The word "Christian" comes from the Greek word christianos which is derived from the word christos, or Christ, which means "anointed one." A Christian, then, is someone who is a follower of Christ. The first use of the word "Christian" in the Bible is found in
Acts 11:26, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." It is found only twice more in Acts 26:28 and 1 Pet. 4:16.

Christology
      The study or systematic thinking about Christ (Jesus) as opposed to the more general study or reasoning about God.

Church
      The word is used in two senses: the visible and the invisible church. The visible church consists of all the people that claim to be Christians and are part of organized Christianity. The invisible church is the actual body of Christians; those who actually live in keeping with the life, teachiing, and spirit of Jesus, whether they are part of the visible church or not.
  

Circumcision
      An operation (note the shedding of blood) that entered one into the covenant in O.T. times. It was instituted by God (
Gen. 17:10-14) and performed on the eighth day after birth (Luke 1:59). It was a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham (Gen. 17:12; Rom. 4:11). In the N.T. the physical operation is not practiced. Instead, a circumcision of the heart of the Christian is taught (Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11-12). This is the true circumcision (Rom. 2:29).

Cities of refuge
     Six cities that were designated by Moses at the command of God as locations to which Israelites could flee in order to be safe from retribution of other Israelites for offenses committed against others.  Num. 35:9-16 gives a description of their purpose.  In that culture the responsibility of retribution against a family member who had been killed or seriously injured rested on the "goel," the next of kin.  The person was required to stay in the city until the death of the High Priest of that city (Num. 35:25-28).  Then he was free to return to his home and retribution was not allowed upon him.  Note they typology here.  When the high priest dies, the offender is set free.  In other words, when Jesus our High Priest died on the cross, we sinners were set free from sin.

Clergy
     Clergy are the body of people ordained to perform religious tasks.  Laity are those who are members of a religion but not of the clergy.

Codex
     An early book form made from papyri leaves cut, folded, and sewn together in the middle to make a book. First used in the 2nd century.

Common Grace
      The grace of God given to the creation as a whole. God still allows the sun to shine upon the unsaved. God feeds them, allows them to work, and have joy. It is in special grace that salvation is given to the Christians.

Communicatio idiomatum
    
The Lutheran position that the union of the human and divine natures in the body of Christ involves the sharing of the humanity with some aspects of the divine nature. 

Communion
      The Lord's Supper (
Matt. 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 1:23-26). It is the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42,46) and a time to give thanks (Luke 22:17,19). It was originally instituted by Jesus (Matt. 26:26-29) on the night of the Passover meal which was an annual occurrence celebrating the "passing over" of the angel of death that claimed the firstborn of every house in Egypt (Exodus 12). The Lord's Supper, or communion, replaces the Passover meal with the "body and blood" (Mark 14:22-24) of Jesus. It is to be taken only by believers (1 Cor. 11:23-28). For more about communion.

Conditional immortality
    
The view that immortality is given only to those Christians who believe in Christ. 

Confession
     The act of disclosing one's sins. 

Confessional
     In Catholicism, a small compartment where the priest hears the confessed sins of a sinner.

Confirmation
     A ceremony, most often conducted in denominations that practice infant baptism, in which the declarations of faith made on behalf of the infant, are reaffirmed by the nearly adult child. This is a crucial "coming of age ceremony on many churches. In some churches it is associated with one's "first communion."

Congregation
    
A gathering of people, usually of believers, in a common religious faith.  

Consubstantiation
    
It means an inclusion of one substance in another where the body and blood of Christ co-exist in the elements of the Eucharist.  It suggests that a third substance is formed.  The body and blood of Christ are "in, with, and under" the elements. There is no permanent relationship with the elements.  Instead, the association is limited to the sacramental action. 

Contrition
     Extreme sorrow for having sinned with a deep repentance concerning that sin.  

Conversion
      Turning from evil to God. God converts (
Acts 21:19) the unsaved into the saved, from the unregenerate to the regenerate. It is produced through the preaching of the gospel (Rom. 10:14; 1 Cor. 15:1-4) and results in repentance (Acts 26:20) and a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). The fruits of conversion are listed in Gal. 5:22-23.

Conviction
      The work of the
Holy Spirit where a person is able to see him or herself, as it were, throught God's eyes as a "sinner saved by grace." Conviction is produced by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), the Gospel (Acts 2:37), the conscience (Rom. 2:15), and the Law (James 2:9).

Coptic
     The Afro-Asiatic language of the Copts, which survives only as a liturgical language of the Coptic Church.

Corban
    
An offering dedicated to God.  It is referenced in Mark 7:11 and is alluded to in Lev. 1:2.  

Cosmological argument
      An attempt to prove that God exists by appealing to the principle that all things have causes.  There cannot be an infinite regress of causes, therefore, there must be an uncaused cause:  God.

Cosmology
     The study of the origin and structure of the universe.

Covenant
      An agreement between two parties. The agreement, according to Ancient Near East custom, consists of five parts: 1) Identification of parties, 2) Historical prologue where the deeds establishing the worthiness of the dominant party is established, 3) Conditions of the agreement, 4) Rewards and punishments in regard to keeping the conditions, and 5) Disposition of the documents where each party receives a copy of the agreement (e.g. the two tablets of stone of the 10 Commandments).
      Ultimately, the covenants God has made with humanity result in our benefit. We receive eternal blessings from the covenant of grace. (For further study see
Gen. 2:16-17; 9:1-17; 15:18; Gen. 26:3-5; Gal. 3:16-18; Luke 1:68-79; Heb. 13:20).

Covenant Theology
      A system of theology that views God's dealings with humanity in respect of covenants rather than dispensations (periods of time). It represents the whole of scripture as covenantal in structure and theme.  Some believe there is one Covenant and others believe two and still others believe in more. 

Creation
      Everything that exists except God. This includes material as well as immaterial things and time. God is the creator, (
Heb. 11:3) we are the creatures.      

Creationism
    
A reactionary view that arose during the late twentieth century among those who see a conflict between the theory of evolution and belief in God as Creator. So called, "young earth creationists" generally believe that God created the Universe, the earth, and living things on the earth and that the Hebrew Bible literally describes six, 24 hour periods.  Therefore, they maintain that the universe is, more or less, anywhere from 6,000 to 10,000 years old.  Old earth creationists still maintain that the universe, the earth, and all living things were created by God, but that the Universe is very old. On the other hand, a growing number of Christians understand that the theory of evolution and God's standing as Creator are not in conflict. For further study see: The Christian case for evolution.

Cross
    
As relates to Christianity, it is the instrument of crucifixion.  It is a single vertical stake with a cross member near or at the top by which a person is either nailed and/or tied with outstretched arms.  It is one of the central symbols of Christianity.   

Cult
      The word cult is a derogatory term used to express disapproval or those who hold beliefs other than one's own. More genarally, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and new religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream

Damnation
     The righteous judgment of God upon those who have acted consciously and systematically in ways that are contrary to the love and justice of God.

Deacons
    
Biblically, this designates a servant in the church but not someone who is a slave since the latter refers to a slave/master relationship.  It has become an office of the church where individuals are designated to help in the ministry, sometimes serving communion, sometimes by taking care of such needs as church welfare, feeding the homeless, taking care of the sick in the church, etc.  It comes from the Greek word diakonos and is translated as "servant" in John 6:25; 12:26, "minister" in Rom. 13:4.

Death
      The word "death" is used in two main ways in the Bible. First, it is used to describe the cessation of life. Second, death is used in reference to the lost. This refers to their eternal separation from God as a result of sin (
Isaiah 59:2), in a conscious state of damnation without hope (1 Thess. 4:13; Rev. 20:10,14,15).
      Death to humans is unnatural. When God created Adam and Eve, death was not part of the created order. It was not until they sinned that death entered the scene (Rom. 5:12; 6:23). Death will be destroyed when Christ returns and the believers receive their resurrected bodies.

Decalogue
     The Ten Commandments found in
Exodus 20.  Deca means ten in Latin.  Logue comes from "logos" which means "word."

Deduction
     A system of logic, inference and conclusion drawn from examination of facts.  Conclusions drawn from the general down to the specific.

Depravity
     Moral corruption, a state of corruption or sinfulness. Total depravity is the teaching that sin has touched all aspects of the human: body, soul, spirit, emotions, mind, etc.

Deism
      The belief that God exists but is not involved in the world. It maintains that God created all things and set the universe in motion and is no longer involved in its operation. (Compare to Atheism, Agnosticism, and Theism.)

Deity
 
    That quality possessed by God alone that distinguishes God from every other thing.  It is the essential nature that makes God divine.

Demon
      A fallen angel that assists Satan in the opposition of God. Demons are evil (Luke 10:17,18), powerful (Luke 8:29), and under the power of Satan (Matt. 12:24-30). They recognized Christ (Mark 1:23,24) and can possess non-Christians (Matt. 8:29).

Deontology
     The study of moral obligation.

Determinism
     The teaching that every event in the universe is caused and controlled by natural law; that there is
no free will in humans and that all events are merely the result of natural and physical laws.

Devil
    
Greek is "diabolos," which means accuser.  The greatest of all the fallen angels.  He opposes God and is completely evil.  He is often called Lucifer which is a Latin translation of "light bearer" found in Isaiah 14:12, and also the accuser of the brethren in (Rev. 12:10), dragon (Rev. 12:9), the devil (Matt. 4:1), the tempter (Matt. 4:3), the accuser (Rev. 12:10), the prince of demons (Luke 11:15), the ruler of this world (John 12:31),  See Isaiah 14:12-15 for a description of the fall of the devil. 

Dialectic
     The practice of examining ideas and beliefs using reason and logic.  It is often accomplished by question and answer.

Diaspora
    
Dispersion. Biblically, it refers to the dispersion of the Jews outside of Israel from the time of the Babylonian Captivity until now.  It has also been applied to the dispersion of Christians after 70 C.E. when Rome sacked Jerusalem and thousands of Christians fled and dispersed throughout the Mediterranean area.

Dichotomy
      The teaching that a human consists of two parts: body and soul. Sometimes the soul is also referred to as spirit. (See Trichotomy)

Didache
    
From the Greek "didoskolos" meaning "teacher."  The Didache (pronounced did-a-kay).  It was possibly written around 65-80 C.E. and is supposed to be what the twelve apostles taught to the Gentiles concerning life and death, church order, fasting, baptism, prayer, etc.  There is debate as to its authenticity.  The work is cited by Eusebius who lived from 260-341 and Athanasius (293-373). 

Didactics 
     The branch of education dealing with teaching.

Diocese
     In Catholicism, an area of many parishes presided over by a bishop. 

Disciple
      A pupil or follower of a religion, a person, or a movement. As Christians we are to be disciples of Jesus (Luke 14:26,27). We follow in the teaching and example of what He said and did. A disciple is a convert but not all converts are disciples. As disciples we are to bear our cross daily (Matt. 16:24). This means to live and die for Him if necessary (Matt. 16:25).

Dispensation, dispensationalism
      In the Scofield Reference Bible a dispensation is "a period of time during which humanity is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God" Dispensationalism says that God uses different means of administering His will and grace to His people. These different means coincide with different periods of time. Scofield says there are seven dispensations: of innocence, of conscience, of civil government, of promise, of law, of grace, and of the kingdom. Dispensationalists interpret the scriptures in light of these (or other perceived) dispensations.

Divination
     The practice of predicting the future and/or securing for a person the services of supernatural powers.  It is also used as a means to gain knowledge.   

Divinity
      The nature or quality of being God. It belongs to God alone. Jesus was divine in nature (
Col. 2:9) as well as being human.

Docetism
     Docetism was a view of the nature of Christ condemned as heresy by the early church. Generally, it taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body, that he was not fully human, (Greek, "dokeo" = "to seem"). This error developed out of the dualistic philosophy which viewed matter as inherently evil, that God could not be associated with matter, and that God, being perfect and infinite, could not suffer. 

Doctrine
     A set of accepted beliefs held by a group.  In religion, it is the set of beliefs that define the parameters of that belief system. Hence, there is true doctrine and false doctrine relative to each belief set.  In Christianity, for example, a true biblical doctrine is that there is only one God (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8).  A false doctrine is that there is more than one. 

Dogma
     A generally held set of formulated beliefs.

Donatism
     Donatism was the idea taught by Donatus, bishop of Casae Nigrae that the effectiveness of the sacraments depends on the moral character of the minister. In other words, if a minister who was involved in a serious enough sin were to baptize a person, that baptism would be considered invalid.

Dowsing
     A form of divination using a forked rod or bent wire often used to find objects, people, or things.  A person holds the dowsing instrument and is "lead" around by it until the object is, allegedly, found.

Dualism
     In theology, the concept that the world is controlled by two opposing forces, i.e., good and bad, God and Satan. In Philosophy the idea that the world consists of two main components: thought and matter.


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