Some terms in Early Christianity are interspersed throughout Pages 2 and 3, as they were complied before this page. However, most of the terms regarding Early Christianity can be found here!
Gnosticism A theological (and heretical) movement within the Christina Church during the 2nd century. Gnosticism is essentially the belief the world has been created by a spirit of imperfection, and that the souls of humans are divine, trapped in the physical world.
Codex Sinaiticus Also known as the “Sinai Bible,” the Codex Sinaiticus is a handwritten Greek copy of the Christian Bible, written sometime during the 4th century. The Codex Sinaiticus is one of only four ancient copies of the book in Greek.
Eremetic monasticism A monasticism that involved the complete withdrawal of the individual from society. The name derives from St. Anthony of Egypt, who did exactly that; left civilization to live a solidary life in the Egyptian mountains.
Cenobitic monasticism A monasticism that highlights the importance of the community. This monasticism is newer than Eremetic monasticism, which was the first monasticism. This monasticism began in Egypt in Judaic form in Alexandria.
Miaphysite Those belonging to the doctrine of Miaphysitism, followed by the Oriental Orthodox Church. Miaphysitism rejects the wording of the Council of Chalcedon, they believe Christ is both fully human and fully divine. As time passed however, this difference became less theological and more semantic.
Theotokos Theotokos is the name used for the Mother of God, or Mary, in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Oecumenical Councils A series of meetings over the course of centuries held by leaders of the Christian faith, in order to reach a consensus and unify the Church. The Council of Nicaea was the first Oecumenical Counicl.
Ousia Ousia is the essential being and nature of an individual.
Prosopon Prosopon is an ancient Greek word which means the “self-manifestation of an individual.”
Physis A Greek Term which means nature. In Romans, Physis was used to refer to natural order, and Greek philosophers used the term to distinguish natural law.
Hypostasis The natural and intrinsic reality of a substance or individual.
Apostolic Succession In Christian philosophy and theology, Apostolic Succession refers to the unweathered transfer of authority from the Apostles to the Roman Catholic bishops. Protestants in large part deny this idea.
Confessions The autobiography of Augustine; a collection of 13 books written between 397 and 400AD. From a theological perspective, Augustine writes about his thoughts on the nature of God, and the nature of evil. He also attempts to unify the story of Genesis with the doctrine of Catholicism.
The City of God A book written by Augustine in 426AD. This book covered matters of philosophy and theology, and provided a counter-argument the the rise of Christianity was a major factor in the fall of Rome.
Prevenient Grace This is a theological concept in Christianity that God’s grace precedes the decisions of individuals. This means in effect that God will show grace and love to individuals at a certain point in their time on Earth.
Donation of Constantine The Donation of Constantine refers to the transfer of institutional power in Rome from the city of Rome and Western Rome to the Pope. The papacy used this declaration as precedent to prove political authority over European regions. Historians contest whether or not the official declaration was a forgery, or if it was still real.
Magnificat Also known as the Ode of the Theotokos, the Magnificat is a song prominent in church services of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Magnificat is one of the earliest Christian hymns.
Thecla Saint of the Christian Church during the 1st century. She was a follower of Apostle Paul and was a major actor in the Acts of Paul and Thecla. As a female saint who had to baptize herself and preached to men, something women did not do, she was one of the earliest figures of female empowerment.
Cult of Saints The Cult of Saints was a religious movement that followed the dissolution of the Roman Empire, in which saints were venerated by those who worshipped. The religious movement would eventually lose steam by the time of the Protestant Reformation.
Dyophysite Dyophysites are individuals who subscribe to the doctrine of Dyophysitism: that is the belief that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine.
Charlemagne Charlemagne was Emperor of the Carolingian Empire from 800 to 814 and previously King of the Lombards and King of the Franks. He is perhaps best known for reuniting Western Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire.
False Decretals Collection of Christian legislation, laws, and decrees found in the 9th Century, many of which were found to be forged. The legacy of the False Decretals was not that the were used, but rather they set a precedent later or the Catholic Church to set its own religious and political policy.
Joachim of Fiore Italian theologian and founder of San Giovanni in Fiore, a monastic institution. He is known for his Theory of the Three Ages, in which he relates the Trinity to historical eras. His ideas were inspiration to many subsequent movements, but his theories were argued against by Thomas Aquinas and condemned by the Church.
Summa Theologica The magnum opus of Thomas Aquinas, and is considered one of his most influential and important works. It is an amalgamation of all the Catholic Church’s main theology and teachings. Never finished, it is still one of the most influential works of Western literature.
Foreknowledge The idea that God knows in advance who he will choose for admission into Heaven, therefore directing his grace to those chosen and opening their hearts to him.
Patriarchate Patriarchates are the designated jurisdiction of a Christian Patriarch, which governs where their jurisdiction lied. The five Patriarchs at the Council of Ephesus in 431; Alexandria, Antioch, Rome, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, are known as the pentarchy.
Trinity The Trinity is one of the foundational ideas in Christianity. It is the belief that God is of one being but three essences, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Understanding and interpreting the Trinity has historically been one of the most controversial areas of theological study within the Church.
