Jargon Buster
In any field of study you will find 'Jargon'. These are the technical terms that apply to the particular subject being studied. In Computing you will hear of HTML, Gigabyte, Modem and so on. For the beginner the jargon always seems strange.
Christianity is no different. Much as we might like to get rid of all the jargon it is usually there for a purpose, describing essential aspects of the our faith.
This page aims to identify some of the Christian jargon and 'bust it' with short, clear, explanations.
At the bottom of the page is a form. Enter the word or phrase you would like busted and click 'Please Explain'. We will add the word to this page in due course.
Click on one of the words here to go directly to it's explanation. Words are being added to this page all the time so please return regularly to see the latest explanations.
Atone; Atonement; Born again; Breaking of Bread; Christ; Communion; devil; Eucharist; Faith; God; Gospel; Jesus; Justification; Justify; Lord's Supper; Lord's Table; Mass; New Testament; Old Testament; Redeem; Redemption; Repent; Resurrection; satan; Sin; Trinity;
Atone, Atonement
To atone means to 'reconcile'; to 'appease'; to 'bring to harmony'.
It is a composite word, to be AT+ONE.
It refers to being reconciled to and at-one with God. In the Old Testament the word meant 'to cover' - especially to have your sins covered by the blood of the sacrifice, and therefore forgiven. Atonement especially applies to the whole plan of God to put us right with himself by the sacrificial death of Jesus (Romans 5 v 11).
Born Again
In the popular press some people are described as 'born again Christians'. This has taken on the idea of a particular type of religious person and a certain style of Christianity or church experience. In fact it has nothing to do with church styles or worship culture.
The phrase originates with Jesus. Jesus said in reply to a man who came to him asking questions, "You must be born again". It is worth noticing that the word Jesus used for 'you' is plural, ie. 'You all must be born again'. The man, called Nicodemus, asked how this is possible. Jesus went on to describe a new beginning initiated by the Spirit of God. It takes place when a person repents of their sin and yields their life to Christ, putting their whole faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. This is so radical it is the start of a new life - being born again.
Notice too that Jesus said 'You must be born again'. Elsewhere he added 'No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again'. So, you are either a 'born again' Christian, or you are not a Christian at all! Which is it?
See the passages above in context (John 3).
Breaking of Bread
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine.
See Communion;. (1 Cor. 11 v 23-24; Matt 26 v 26; Mark 14 v 22; Luke 22 v 19;).
Christ
One of the titles of Jesus. From the Greek 'Kristos' meaning 'The Lords Anointed'.
Communion
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine.
Communion has it's root meaning in "sharing" and "participation". In 1 Cor. 10 v 16 Paul asks "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?". The context expects the answer to be Yes!
devil
The devil is another word for the chief enemy of God (see satan).
satan also controls an army of lesser spiritual beings called 'devils' who do his work. Whenever Jesus encountered these beings he threw them out! (Matt 8 v 16; Mark 5 v 8, 13)
Eucharist
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine.
Originates from 'giving of thanks'. See Communion;
In writing about communion Paul says "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ?". 1 Cor. 10 v 16. Part of this celebration feast is the giving of thanks for what God has done in Jesus.
Faith
Trust; Belief; Loyalty; Christian faith is the complete and unreserved trust in God as the fulfiller of his word and in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
To have faith is to believe what God says and has done - to trust him and especially to trust Jesus and his death and resurrection as the means by which our sins are forgiven - to be loyal in following Jesus in lives of service and faithfulness to him.
The Bible knows nothing of Blind Faith. Biblical faith is always firmly rooted in the character and actions of God who has revealed himself in solid evidence.
God
God is the name given, in English, to the supreme being. The name may be different in other languages, eg. Gott (German), Dieu (French) or Allah (Arabic) yet all refer to the supreme being. However, not all cultures and religions make the same claims or statements about what this supreme being is like. What people mean by the word 'God' varies considerably.
The Bible is quite clear that there is only one God; that He is personal; and that He is a social God - revealing himself as three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (see Trinity).
The Bible also reveals God as one whose chief characteristic is Love. He cares for us and sent Jesus to pay the price of our sin and enable us to have a relationship with this wonderful God. Do you know Him?
Gospel
Means "Good News" and is composed of two Anglo-Saxon words which have these meanings. It is also used in the New Testament to translate a greek word meaning 'Good Message'.
The Gospel is the message of Good News given by Jesus to his followers - for them to pass on to the rest of the world - which is well summarised in John's Gospel chapter 3 and verse 16.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The word Gospel is also applied (as above) to each of the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell the narrative of Jesus life, work, words, actions, death and resurrection. They explain fully what the one verse above does in summary. That Jesus is the Son of God and how God sent him into the world because he loves us. As we believe and trust in Jesus we inherit God's new life - eternal life. Have you responded to this love?
Jesus
The name of the founder of Christianity. A derivative of the hebrew name Joshua which means 'Jehovah is Salvation', or God saves.
Before his birth the angel visited Mary his mother and told her "you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1 v 21
Justification, Justify
This is a legal term. It comes form the law courts. The dictionary defines it as
To prove right; to show to be free from blame or guilt
If you are taken to court and the Judge says (for whatever reason) that you are "not guilty" and you are acquitted then you are legally justified. It is the same as righteousness. The God who judges us considers us righteous and acquits us, and declares us justified when we believe in his son Jesus. The justified believer has been in court, only to learn that nothing is charged against him because Jesus has already paid the debt in full. It is God's free gift - given out of His grace.
"Whoever believes .. will not be condemned" John 5 v 24
"Righteousness ... comes through faith ... to all who believe ... justified freely by his grace" Romans 3 v 22 - 24
Lord's Supper
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine.
See Communion;. 1 Cor. 11 v 20
Lord's Table
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine.
See Communion;. 1 Cor. 10 v 21
Mass
One of several names for the way Jesus told us to remember his death by a simple meal consisting of eating bread and drinking wine. See Communion;.
Mass originates from the Latin meaning "dismiss" or "send away" and refers to the dismissal of the worshippers and the end of the Latin service. Mass often refers to the whole service, including sung worship, in which the bread and wine form a part.
New Testament
The Bible is divided into two main parts - the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The New Testament is the last one-third of the Bible. It consists of 27 books starting with Matthew and ending with Revelation.
The New Testament starts with the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These were men who undertook to write accounts of who Jesus was, what he said and did, and the events of his ministry. While we have some detail of Jesus birth, most of these narratives cover just the last three years of Jesus life. John tells us in his gospel that his purpose in writing it is that "you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that you may have life in his name". Jesus and our relationship to him is the central theme of the whole New Testament.
After Jesus death, resurrection and ascension the book of Acts describes the beginning of the church and the spread of Christianity in the early years. The apostle Paul figures prominently.
Most of the rest of the New Testament is composed of letters - many of them written by Paul to various churches and individuals. These explain the faith in more detail; encourage the reader to remain faithful; or correct faults and misunderstandings.
The New Testament closes with the book of Revelation - a handbook for the church regarding the end of the world and Jesus' return.
Old Testament
The Bible is divided into two main parts - the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The Old Testament is the first two-thirds of the Bible. It consists of 39 books starting with Genesis and ending with Malachi. Written by various authors over about a 1500 year period, the last of the Old Testament was completed about 400 BC (before Christ).
After the account of the creation of the cosmos, it concerns itself mainly with the history of the Jewish nation and God's dealings with them. It continues to be the Jewish Scriptures (Holy Book) to this day. The Old Testament contains God's laws for how his people should live. God's dealings with his people are described by reference to accounts of great and small people; national and private successes and failures and the ups and downs of their relationship with God.
Through it all runs the theme of God's purpose and desire to save his people, especially through one great King, Leader, Saviour - the Messiah - who God would send. In the New Testament we see that the promises of this one who was to come are fulfilled in Jesus.
Redeem, Redemption
Redemption can carry either of two similar meanings or explanations.
- It is the setting free of a prisoner by paying his ransom in full
- The buying back of something that has been sold by paying the full price
When used spiritually this refers to the delivering of a sinner from slavery to Satan and sin and death, by the death of Jesus in our place. Jesus death is the ransom price, He is therefore both the Redeemer and the ransom itself.
Jesus says he came to be "a ransom for many" Mark 10 v 45
"... He bought [us] with His own blood" Acts 20 v 28
"Christ Jesus who has become ... our redemption" 1 Cor 1 v 30
Repent; Repentance
This is the Bible's word for change. Repentance is more than being sorry for our sin. Remorse alone, even when accompanied by penance, is not enough. To truly repent involves a radical change of attitude and action towards God and towards our sin. It is genuine sorrow accompanied by a complete change of mind and action. It is not emotional (though our emotions may be involved) but practical.
The story of Zacchaeus is a perfect example of real repentance (Luke 19)
Jesus called people to repent (Matt 4 v 17; 9 v 13)
Peter and the disciples preached repentance (Acts 2 v 38)
Paul preached repentance as turning to God and proving it by actions (Acts 26 v 20)
Resurrection
Resurrection means return to life, or coming back from the dead.
In the Bible it is used primarily for the foundational truth and doctrine of the coming back of the Lord Jesus Christ from death after his crucifixion. This event above all establishes that he is truly the Son of God, and has power. Romans 1 v 4.
Jesus resurrection also adds certainty to the believer's faith in our own resurrection and eternal life after death, and to the promise of Jesus to return a second time.
The resurrection of Jesus and the supporting evidence for it are covered in detail elsehwere on this site. Click HERE to go to those pages.
satan
This name applies to the chief enemy of God, also called the devil. He is a personal being (not just a 'force' or 'influence').
The word comes from the Hebrew word meaning 'adversary' or 'hater' or 'to plot against' - all of which describe him well.
While most religions recognise evil in the world, only the Bible reveals his true identity. He is the ultimate source of all evil, the initiator of the fall of mankind, and is always hostile to God and his people.
Although still very active in the world he is ultimately defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus. As Christians we are to wear God's armour against him (Eph 6 v 10-18) and to resist him (James 4 v 7)
When satan reminds you of your past - remind him of his future (and make sure you don't share it with him (Rev 20 v 2-10).
Sin
Rebellion against God, breaking his law, wrong doing, offence against God and others. Sin is demonstrated in three ways - by act; by attitude and by state.
- Stealing is one example of an act of sin
- Hypocrisy is an attitude of sin
- being unsaved is a state of sin.
The Bible tells us that we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". Romans 3 v 23. Therefore sin is universal.
God provides the remedy for sin - the death and resurrection of Jesus. Since he provides the remedy this shows the he hates what is evil and also shows how he longs for us to be free from sin.
Trinity
While the Bible makes it quite clear that there is only one God it also reveals that He exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The word 'Trinity' while not itself occurring in the Bible is used to describe him, a Tri-Unity, three in one.