Martin Luther's Basic Theological Writings:

Glossary

511 gLossary abbess the female head of a monastery abbot the male head of an abbey absolve (absolution) the announcement of forgiveness of sins, usually as part of a penitential rite accidents in Greek and medieval metaphysics, the nonessential , changeable parts of an object anathema A denunciation formally pronounced by a church body (see condemnation) Antichrist (Anti-Christian) a figure opposed to Christ, who is ultimately vanquished by Christ apocalypse the end of the world in which Christ and Christians are vindicated; a writing that envisions such an end apostate a person who utterly denies central Christian teaching apostolic (apostle) going back to the time of the earliest followers chosen by Jesus to preach the gospel apostolic see a bishop’s jurisdiction in a church that traces itself to New Testament times articulo mortis at the time of or in imminent danger of death auricular confession the private confessing of one’s sins verbally to another (presumably seeking forgiveness) ban a formal exclusion of a person from a church body (see excommunication) baptism the Christian sacramental rite that combines the use of water with the pronouncement of God’s Word as a means of grace beatified (beatification) a Roman Catholic practice of declaring a person blessed—a step toward declaring a person a Saint benefice a church office that includes an endowment or income 512 Glossary blasphemy a heretical statement about or action toward God (see heresy and anathema) bull (papal) a decree or pronouncement from the pope (from the Latin word for the official lead seal [a bullum] on such) canons (canonical) regulations or decrees from church councils catechism a course of basic religious instruction, often in question and answer form chastity sexual purity or abstinence concupiscence sinful desire or lust consecrates (consecration) a Roman Catholic ritual, understood to sanctify a person or thing (e.g., a bishop, a church, eucharistic bread) for holy functions contrition remorse, regret, or sorrow for one’s sins covenant a pact or agreement, as between persons or between God and humans creed a short, formal statement of belief adopted by a church body Christ “The Anointed One,” the Second person of the Holy Trinity, God incarnate, Savior damnation punishment in hell for one’s sins (see anathema) ecclesiastic(al) having to do with the church Eucharist the sacrament of the mass or Lord’s Supper, from the Greek word for “thanksgiving” ex opere operato a Latin phrase,“by the work worked,” used to indicate the validity of the sacrament, apart from the worthiness of the celebrant excommunication formal exclusion from the church body (see also ban) exegesis interpretation, especially of biblical texts expiated (expiation) making satisfaction for wrongs extreme unction anointing of the sick,especially those in danger of death; in Roman Catholicism, a sacrament faith trust or belief, given by God’s grace, in the saving power of Christ Glossary 513 foreknowledge God’s knowledge of events before they happen gospel the Christian message or “good news”; an early account of the life of Jesus grace Divine favor or help; the unmerited, redemptive love of God that engenders saving faith in humans heretic one professing beliefs contradictory to the gospel of Jesus Christ Holy Spirit the third person of the Holy Trinity; God homily a sermon preached on a biblical text humanist (humanism) the tradition of centering value on the human being, reviving classical values, sometimes rejecting theism idolatry worshiping false gods impute (imputation) to attribute or assign credit to someone incarnate (incarnation) enfleshed, made human; the doctrine that God became human in Jesus Christ indulgences Roman Catholic pietistic practices that would merit the removal of punishment for sins infusion direct gift of grace or favor from God iniquity sin, guilt intercession prayer or request to God on someone else’s behalf invocation calling on God or a saint justified (justification) being deemed righteous or whole by God; being put in right relationship with God keys (power of) the power of Christians to pronounce the forgiveness of one another’s sins kingdom of God the New Testament notion of God’s reign or power; where God’s reign is effective mass A Roman Catholic sacramental reenactment of the Last Supper and crucifixion of Jesus mendicant a religious order (e.g.,Franciscan,Dominican) in which persons originally had no property or fixed residence 514 Glossary merit worthy of divine favor or reward congruous merit a late Medieval doctrine that held that...