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Page Gehenna
Originally, a location southwest of
Jerusalem where children were burned as sacrifices to the god Molech. It later
became a garbage dump with a continuous burning of trash. Therefore, it was used
biblically, to illustrate the abode of the damned in Christian and Jewish theology.
Gehenna is mentioned in Mark 9:43ff
and Matt. 10:28
as the place of punishment of unquenchable fire where both the body and soul of
the wicked go after death. It is apparently the future abode of Satan and his
angels (Matt. 25:41). This
term was critical in the development of notions of hell both within and outside
of the Bible. For more on hell. Gentile
Those who are not Jews. Gentiles
were used by God to punish apostate Judea (Deut. 28:49;
1 Kings 8:33) and
often included in blessings by God upon the Jewish people. "Gentiles" is
often used biblically in reference to nations. Gifts,
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual abilities given by God
for the purpose of building up the church. Every Christian has at least one (1
Cor. 7:7). They are listed and discussed in different places in the N.T. (Rom.
12:6-8; 1 Cor.
12:4-11, 28-30; Eph. 4:7-12). Following
is a list of the gifts arranged in two groups. The first are gifts that require
supernatural intervention and are possessed only by true Christians. The second
are gifts that do not require supernatural intervention. Even non-Christians can
have the second group of gifts. A further issue is whether or not the gifts are
still in use today. Some believe they ceased with the apostles and the closing
of the Canon (the completion of the writings of the Bible) and they are no longer
needed for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12). Others
believe the gifts are still in use but not in the pure apostolic sense. In other
words, they are still in use but not in the same way possessed by the apostles.
Instead, they are available to the believer if and when God decides it is beneficial
to use them.
Gnosticism
A theological
view prevalent around the time of Christ. Generally speaking, Gnosticism taught
that salvation is achieved through special knowledge (gnosis). This knowledge
usually dealt with the individual's relationship to the transcendent Being. It
denies the incarnation of God as the Son. In so doing, it denies the true efficacy
of the atonement since, if Jesus is not God, He could not atone for all of humanity
and we would still be lost in our sins. For more information. God
The supreme being of the
universe. He/She is the creator of all things (Isaiah 44:24).
God alone is Holy (Isaiah 45:e21,22;
46:9; 47:8). There
have never been any other Gods, nor will there be any other in the future (Isaiah
43:10). God is God from all eternity (Psalm 90:2). In
Exodus 3:14, the name of
God is revealed. The name commonly known in English is Jehovah or, more accurately,
Yahweh. This comes from the four Hebrew consonants that spell the name of God.
(See Tetragrammaton.)
God is
a Trinity, knows all things (1
John 3:20), can do all things (Jer. 32:17,27
- except those things against the divine nature. For
more on the Trinity. Gods, False
Gods other than the just and loving God of the Bible. Some
of the false gods mentioned in the Bible are Adrammelech and Anammelech (2 Kings 17:31),
Asherah (1 Kings 15:13;
18:19),
Ashtoreth (1 Kings 11:5,33), Baal
(1 Kings 14:23;
2 Kings 23:7),
Baalzebub (2 Kings 1:1-16);
Luke 11:19-23),
Dagon (Judges 16:23-30),
Molech/Moloch (Lev. 18:21; 20:1-5), Rimmon
(2 Kings 5:18,
and Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14). Gospel
The Gospel is the good news of
God's saving activity in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
The
gospel comes from God (Gal.
1:10-12), is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16),
is a mystery (Eph. 6:19), and
is a source of hope (Col. 1:23), faith
(Acts 15:7), life
(1 Cor. 4:15),
and peace (Eph. 6:15).
Grace
Grace is unmerited
favor. It is God's free action for the benefit of all. Grace is the product of
God that is given by God, because of who God is not because of who we are. It
is the means of salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). Guilt
Being responsible for and accountable
for an offense. Biblically, it is the state of being under a present or pending
consequence due to a sin against God’s Law. It is also an emotional state as well
as legal condition. Guilt feelings are used by the Holy Spirit to inform the sinner
of broken fellowship with God (Isaiah 59:2;
John 16:8). Because
of our guilt before God, we need reconciliation (Rom. 5:6-9). Hades
New Testament term for the Hebrew
“sheol,” which is the abode of the conscious dead. In some contexts it is described
as a place (Acts 2:31).
In Revelation it is referred to as a creature on a horse (Rev. 6:8). In Rev. 1:18, Christ holds
the keys to death and Hades. For more on the related notion
of Hell. Hamartiology
The study of the doctrine of sin. Heaven
Heaven is the state
of being at one with God. For more on heaven and how the
notion evolved from biblical to modern times.
Hedonism
The teaching that pleasure is the principle good and proper goal of all action.
Self indulgence. Hell
The word "hell"
rarely appears in the Bible, and when it does, the context makes it clear that
the metaphorical elements of the term are foremost. There are several biblical
words that feed into contemporary notions of hell, but when most people imagine
"hell," their thinking is influenced by fanciful images drawn by artists
rather than Scripture. For a full discussion of the biblical
background. Henotheism
The teaching that there are many
gods but that only one of them must be honored and worshipped. Heresy
An idea, point of
view or teaching officially condemned by various authories in the church. Heterodoxy
A
set of beliefs or opinions that are not in agreement with accepted doctrinal beliefs
of a church. See orthodoxy. Higher Self
A New Age term used to signify the divine part of each person that is capable
of attaining the knowledge of perfection and "ultimate truth." Homiletics
That branch of theology concerned
with preaching and sermons and the proper way in which to deliver them. Holy,
Holiness
A quality
or condition of being at one with God. Holy Orders
In Catholicism, one of the seven sacraments
by which men, bishop, deacons, and priests, are given the power and authority
to administer the sacraments. In the Anglican
communion, women also are ordained. Holy Spirit, The
The third person of the Trinity.
She/He is completely God. The Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3-4), has
a will (1 Cor. 12:11),
speaks (Acts 8:29; 13:2), and knows
all things (John 14:17).
She/He is called the Spirit of God (Gen. 1:2), Holy
Spirit (Psalm 51:1),
the Helper (John 14:16,26), and Eternal
Spirit (Heb. 9:14). She/He
knows all things (1 Cor. 2:10-11),
is all powerful (Luke 1:35),
and is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13).
(See Trinity and Holy Spirit.) Holy Water
In Catholicism, special water that
has been blessed by a priest, bishop, etc. for a liturgical ceremony. Humanism
A philosophical
system of thought that focuses on human value, thought, and actions. Humans are
considered basically good and rationale creatures who can improve themselves and
others through natural human abilities of reason and action. Many Christians consider
themselves "humanists;" while some see humanism as involving a rejection
of religion, including Christianity. Humility
The attitude
of the Christian that suggest one should not"...think more highly of himself
than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment..." (Rom. 12:3).
It is knowing our true position before God. It is not self-abasement or demeaning
one's self. "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble"
(James 4:6).
Humility is necessary to be a disciple of Jesus (Matt. 18:3-4).
The humility of Jesus is described in Philippians 2:5-8,
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient
to death - even death on a cross!" Hypostatic
Union
This
is the union of the two natures (Divine and human) in the person of Jesus. Jesus
is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8). He is fully
God and fully human(Col. 2:9); thus, He
has two natures: divine and human. He is not half God and half man. Therefore,
there is a "union in one person of a full human nature and a full divine nature." (For related information
on Jesus.) Return
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