Essential Terms and Definitions
06
B Baptism the act of being immersed in water to enact one’s faith in Jesus
C Calvinism a theological framework associated with John Calvin that emphasizes humanity’s total depravity and God’s unconditional election of certain individuals for salvation
Catholic a word meaning “universal” that is often associated with the Roman Catholic Church
Chiasm a literary device in which words or concepts are stated and then similar words or concepts are stated in reverse order (e.g. ABCBA)
Christology the study of the person and work of Christ
Christus Victor the belief that Christ’s death on the cross defeated the powers of evil
Circumcision the practice of cutting off the male foreskin as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel
Complementarianism the view that men and women are equal in value and have distinct but complementary roles, with men serving as primary leaders in marriage, family, and the church
Cosmology the study of the origin, nature, and purpose of the universe
Covenant an agreement in which two parties become obligated toward one another in certain ways, often referring to God’s promises to his people
Creation ex nihilo the belief that God created the universe without any pre-existing materials (from a Latin phrase meaning “out of nothing”)