Chanukah (Term) Defined
Explore the meaning of Chanukah, the eight-day Jewish festival that offers historical insight and context to the New Testament era.
The Christian Ministry Terms and Theological Definitions Explained section provides clear, concise explanations of key terms commonly used in ministry, theology, and biblical studies. It is designed as a reference resource to help ministers, teachers, students, and church leaders understand and use theological language accurately and responsibly.
Christian ministry relies heavily on shared vocabulary. Words such as justification, sanctification, covenant, ecclesiology, and discipleship carry deep biblical and theological meaning. When these terms are misunderstood, teaching becomes unclear and doctrine becomes distorted. This section exists to reduce confusion by defining terms according to their biblical usage and theological context.
Entries in this section explain how specific terms are used in Scripture, how they have been understood historically within Christian theology, and how they function in contemporary ministry practice. Definitions are not intended to replace careful study of Scripture, but to serve as guardrails that keep interpretation anchored in sound doctrine rather than personal assumption or popular usage.
This section is especially useful for sermon preparation, teaching, counseling, ordination training, and theological discussion. It equips those in ministry to speak with precision, teach with confidence, and engage questions thoughtfully. Clear definitions do not limit faith. They strengthen it by ensuring that what is taught aligns with what Scripture actually affirms.
Use this section as a reference library for ministry language and theological terminology, helping to ensure clarity, consistency, and faithfulness in teaching and service within the Church.
Explore the meaning of Chanukah, the eight-day Jewish festival that offers historical insight and context to the New Testament era.
Essential Terms in Christian Theology Christian theology terms provide a framework for understanding the most important doctrines of the Christian faith, helping ministers, teachers, and students navigate the depth of biblical truth. Christian theology has developed through centuries of prayer, worship, reflection, and scriptural study. This guide …
Definition and Canonical Identity of the Epistle An epistle is a formal written communication preserved in the New Testament and addressed to individuals, churches, or broader Christian audiences for the purpose of instruction, correction, encouragement, and doctrinal clarification. Within evangelical Protestant theology, the epistles are recognized …
An angel is a created, personal, spiritual being who serves as a messenger and minister of God within the divine administration of creation. The term “angel” derives from the Greek word angelos, meaning messenger, which reflects the primary biblical function of these beings as agents who …
Conditional Election Conditional Election refers to the theological view that God’s choice of individuals for salvation is conditioned upon His foreknowledge of their faith in Jesus Christ. According to this doctrine, God elects those whom He foresees will freely respond to the gospel in repentance and …
By Michael Mooney, NACM Exec. Elder Approximately 2000 years ago a man named Jesus of Nazareth was born in the Middle Eastern part of our world. Jesus was an Israelite, from a Jewish, blended family which was not one of any elite social class. In fact, …
Casting Lots, Purim Casting Lots refers to an ancient method used in biblical times to determine decisions, reveal divine guidance, or assign roles by means of marked objects such as stones, sticks, or tablets. The practice functioned as a way of entrusting a decision to God’s …
Election Election refers to the sovereign and gracious act of God by which He chooses certain individuals for salvation according to His divine purpose and will. In Evangelical theology, election is rooted in God’s eternal decree and reflects His initiative in redemption rather than human merit …
Anthropomorphism, Definition and Scope Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human form, human bodily features, or distinctly human capacities to God in order to speak about him in ways that finite creatures can grasp. The term comes from two Greek roots that mean “human” and “form,” and …
Cessationist A Cessationist is a Christian who believes that the miraculous sign gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and miraculous healings, ceased with the apostolic era and are not normative for the church today. According to this view, these gifts served …