Theological Term of the Week

I was surprised to find that in the six years or so that I’ve been posting weekly theological term posts, I’ve never defined this term. 

Arminianism
A system of belief based on the teachings of Dutch theologian Jacob Arminius regarding salvation, developed as a reaction against Calvinism, and summed up by his followers in the Five Articles of Remonstrance, which deny the unconditionality of election and the particularity of redemption.

• As evidence that election is conditioned on foreseen faith, the Articles of Remonstrance uses this verse:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36, ESV)

• As evidence that redemption was universally obtained, these two verses are included:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, ESV)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2, ESV)

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Theological Term of the Week

theological prolegomena
“The issues of theology that need to be learned before one can learn anything further”;1 an introductory section discussing the presuppositions of a theological work; an introduction to systematic theology. Since Christian theology is based on God’s revelation, a theological prolegomena often contains a treatise on the doctrine of revelation; consequently, the term prolegomena is also sometimes used to refer to the doctrine of revelation (example).

• From Francis Turretin on Theological Prolegomena by J. V. Fesko:

What is [theological prolegomena] and to what does it refer? The first term, theological, is made up of the two Greek words, theos (God) and logos (word), and refers to the study of God. The second, prolegomena, is made up of two Greek words, pro (before) and legomena, the participle form of the word lego (I say). Hence prolegomena literally means “before words,” or “sayings.”
 Within the context of theology, then, theological prolegomena is the term that refers to “the introductory section of a treatise or system of thought in which basic principles and premises are enunciated.” Stated simply, theological prolegomena is the section in a theological work where a theologian’s presuppositions are laid out. For example, What is theology? What is the relationship between God’s knowledge and our knowledge? How does human reason relate to theology?

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Theological Term of the Week

coram Deo
Literally, “before the face of God”; the Christian conviction that every person is responsible before God for all they think and do, because all of life is lived in the the presence of God, under his authority, and everything should be done to the honor and glory of God;1

• From scripture:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men … .  (Colossians 3:23 ESV)

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

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