A question that seeks a precise and accurate wording of a theological concept or practice.
5
votes
1answer
67 views
What were the Nephilim, and what role did they play in the Bible beyond just being mentioned?
Did the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4) do anything beyond just existing?
5
votes
2answers
64 views
What is the difference between a dogma, a doctrine, an infallible statement, an ex cathedra statement, etc.?
There are a variety of terms used in the Catholic Church to refer to particular statements or beliefs. Here are a number of some such terms:
Dogma
Doctrine
Infallible statement
Infallible papal ...
6
votes
2answers
410 views
What is meant by “God is Omnipotent”?
I'm questioning my own understanding of the term "Omnipotence" in response so a comment on one of my answers.
In the comment, the poster included a definition of Omnipotence taken from the Wikipeda ...
5
votes
1answer
40 views
Do Catholics have an “Apocrypha” or just a “Bible”?
Pardon my ignorance here, but I am just wondering if the Apocrypha is labeled as such by Catholics?
To clarify, a Protestant would refer to the 66 books of Protestant Scripture as "the Bible", and to ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
What is the Biblical definition of “prophecy”?
In common parlance, prophecy is often considered to be "predicting the future." For some, it conjures up images of telephone psychics and the like. Others might envision a crystal ball, or a Jamaican ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
What significance did the “heart” possess in the ancient cultures contemporary with the biblical era?
I've had as hard a time with the concept of the heart as I've had with the concept of the soul. Currently I am thinking the heart is a reference to what your goals are and what you direct your ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
What does “amen” mean?
One of the most common responses that Christians make is to say the word "amen". Here's an example from a Mass:
Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
...
2
votes
5answers
140 views
What is the opposite of sin?
We have:
Good - Evil
Love - Hate
Virtue - Vice
Bless - Curse
Righteous - Wicked
Obedience - Disobedience
_____? - Sin
I don't mean sin as a general disposition, or original sin. I mean a deed ...
6
votes
2answers
95 views
What is the “eschatological tension”
I was listening to a recorded sermon on my way to work today and the preacher mentioned the eschatological tension. Is there a good definition of what the eschatological tension is?
If it makes a ...
13
votes
3answers
440 views
What is the difference between Evangelical and Protestant?
Just the other day, I heard somebody talking politics and contrasted the Roman Catholic church's political influence with "the Evangelical vote". In this sense, as is often done in US media, the word ...
1
vote
3answers
272 views
What is the Christian definition of “The Messiah”?
Christianity is the religion of people who consider Jesus to be "The Messiah".
But what is the Christian definition of "The Messiah"?
Since Christian theology is based on the notion of "The ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
When did “tithing” come to mean “giving 10% of your gross income to the Church”?
I know the word "tithe" has "tenth" built into it, and so some Christians assume that every usage of the word "tithe" in Scripture is referring to "giving 10% of your gross income to the church." But ...
5
votes
5answers
965 views
What is God's definition of forgiveness?
I have wrestled with this topic for years and have come to all sorts of conclusions along the way. Please, I'm searching for what others perceive is God's definition of forgiveness.
If we are ...
6
votes
4answers
211 views
You might be a “fundamentalist” if ___
What sources could one appeal to if trying to argue if a doctrine was or was not consistent with fundamentalism?
The question What is fundamentalism? identifies the historical source and some of the ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between a covenant and a contract?
Specifically as used by the Reformed theological tradition, what is meant by the term "covenant"? How is this different than other forms of agreements under assorted names in English like contract, ...
6
votes
4answers
358 views
What is the significance of the Bible to Christianity?
What exactly is the significance of the Bible to Christianity?
Is Christianity defined by the Bible?
If so, is belief in the Bible the most important (or foundational) belief in Christianity? Is ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
What is Lordship Salvation?
I have heard the term "Lordship Salvation" several times now, including in an answer I read recently.
Can anyone explain to me what this is?
Is this the official position of any major churches?
Is ...
7
votes
4answers
123 views
What is “heresy”?
I have seen the word "heresy" used on this site a lot recently (and have used it myself a couple of times in jest) but I was wondering if someone could explain the meaning of this term as it is used ...
5
votes
4answers
162 views
Catholic view of Biblical saints
Saints are present throughout the Bible. In my understanding, Protestant use of this word applies to all believers, which I understand is the New Testament (and OT?) meaning of the word.
In my ...
3
votes
5answers
123 views
Is Christianity the sum of the actions and beliefs of its adherents or a set of actions and beliefs defined by the Bible? [closed]
This question is closely related to those regarding the definition of a Christian that was also discussed on the meta site here and here. While I consider that question answered and outside the scope ...
10
votes
3answers
260 views
What are the reasons for calling oneself a “follower of Jesus” rather than a Christian?
In the last several years, I've noticed a trend of people who reject the label "Christian," and instead prefer to use terms like "Christ follower" or "follower of Jesus." (Not to be confused with ...
5
votes
1answer
179 views
Who is Ba'al from the Old Testament?
Judges 6:31 NIV
But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to
plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him
shall be put to death by morning! If ...
7
votes
4answers
521 views
Is it fair to say that Baptists have a liturgy?
One distinctive of Baptists and many other congregational churches is that they have no proscribed method of worship. Unlike, say, an Episcopalian or a Roman Catholic, there is no prayer book and no ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between Natural Law and Divine Law?
In Catholic understanding, there is a divine law and a natural law. Based on my reading, it seems like Divine Law = Revelation (as a Protestant would call it) and Natural Law = what you could deduce ...
6
votes
3answers
13k views
What is the difference between a pastor, a priest, and a minister?
No, this is not the start of a joke about a bunch of people walking into a bar. Rather, I thought it would be helpful to clarify various terms that people use to describe a church's leadership.
5
votes
2answers
124 views
How to define an independent interference by God?
The most clear evidence when people state their belief is experience.
The reasons vary:
logical expressions of belief is somewhat inverted (read this paragraph)
experience is connected to intimate ...
10
votes
5answers
533 views
What does it mean to be “weak in faith”?
There have been some questions and answers which discuss the strength of one's faith such as Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
There is also a question which asks ...
3
votes
1answer
601 views
What are the “evangelical counsels”?
The question Was "love your enemies" ever included among the evangelical counsels? mentions evangelical counsels. In the question James T mentions that they are something to be kept by ...
2
votes
2answers
305 views
Is there any specific difference between a “Christian” and a 'true' disciple of Christ?
What is the Biblical definition of "disciple"?
Can you be "merely" a 'follower of Christ' or a 'Christian' and not be a 'disciple'?
15
votes
4answers
188 views
What is “faith?”
The Bible and Christians talk about faith a lot. Matthew 12:32 talks about "faith as a mustard seed" for instance.
I've heard many Christians say things like "I don't have enough faith," or "I want ...
7
votes
5answers
514 views
How does the New Testament define a Christian and a non-Christian, a brother in Christ and not a brother in Christ?
How does the New Testament define a brother in Christ? According to the New Testament, what makes a human a brother in Christ? And also, according to the New Testament, which people are definitely not ...
1
vote
2answers
454 views
How do you define a Christian or a brother in Christ? [closed]
How do you define a Christian? How do you define what kind of person is your brother in Christ and what kind of person is not?
11
votes
2answers
109 views
Can Christianity be objectively defined?
Orthodox Christianity is considered to be what comes from the Old and New Testament but many denominations/religions call themselves Christians without adhering strictly to the Bible as we know it ...
11
votes
3answers
199 views
What does it mean to “be saved”
It seems common in Christian communities (and in questions on this site) for people to say they have been saved. What does someone mean by this when they say it? How would I know that I have been ...
