Glossary
Theological terms
Every term this site uses, explained from Scripture. Where a teaching is an error, its page says what is wrong with it, what truth it undermines, and how it can harm a church.
These pages describe teachings, not the faith of any person who holds them.
A
AdoptionismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that Jesus was an ordinary man whom God adopted as his Son, usually at his baptism or resurrection, rather than the eternal Son who became man.
ArianismOutside historic orthodoxy
The ancient teaching that the Son of God is the first and greatest created being, not eternal and not fully God.
C
Christological heresiesOutside historic orthodoxy
Teachings about Christ that deny his full deity, his full humanity, or the union of the two in one person.
D
DocetismOutside historic orthodoxy
The ancient teaching that Christ only seemed to have a human body and only appeared to suffer and die.
F
Full preterismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that all biblical prophecy, including Christ's second coming and the resurrection of the dead, was fulfilled in AD 70, so there is no future bodily return or resurrection.
J
Justification by faith and worksOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that a person is made right with God by faith together with his own good works, obedience, or participation in sacraments.
M
ModalismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that God is one person who appears in three modes or roles, as Father, Son, and Spirit, rather than three distinct persons.
N
Non-TrinitarianismOutside historic orthodoxy
Any teaching that denies the one God exists eternally as three persons, usually by denying that the Son or the Spirit is fully God.
P
PelagianismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that Adam's sin harmed only himself, and that people are born able to obey God and earn salvation without inward grace.
U
Universal reconciliationOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that every person, and in some versions even the devil, will eventually be reconciled to God through Christ, so that hell is temporary.
UniversalismOutside historic orthodoxy
The teaching that all people will be saved, whatever they believe, so that faith in Christ is not necessary for salvation.
W
Word of FaithOutside historic orthodoxy
A movement teaching that faith is a force and words have creative power, so believers can speak health and wealth into being; some of its teachers also deny creedal truths about God and Christ.