16th century priest, theologian and scholar who translated the Bible into an early form of “modern” English. He was the first person to take advantage of Gutenberg’s movable-type press for the purpose of printing the Scriptures in the English language. Although some English translations had been previously made, Tyndale’s was the first English translation to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts, and the first to take advantage of the new medium of print, which allowed for a wider distribution. Besides translating the Bible, Tyndale also held and published views which were considered heretical, first by the Catholic Church, and later by the Church of England which was established by Henry VIII. His Bible translation also included notes and commentary promoting these views. Tyndale’s translation was banned by the authorities, and Tyndale himself was burned at the stake in 1536.

For more on Tyndale, visit a site devoted to him (here).

Refers to the Protestant understanding that justification comes from a source that is external to the recipient. This “alien righteousness” comes by way of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to one who has faith. It is “outside ourselves” in that the believer does not contribute anything to his or her justification.

The belief that the thoughts and/or actions of a person are born out of the necessity of his or her nature. People act according to who they are, they cannot act according to who they are not. People will choose according to their greatest desire and this desire is in accordance with their nature which they cannot change. This is a common belief among reformed Christians who believe that people are at enmity with God by nature and, therefore, cannot out of this nature produce even a desire to be reconciled to Him. This is often referred to as the “bondage of the will.”

Read a short reader on Martin Luther’s Bondage of the Will

An action that is produced not by the agency of a “free will” decision, but by forces that exist outside a person which cause them to make a decision. A necessitas coactionis destroys the ability of a person to make a choice which is not coerced. When it is believed that all actions are forced out of necessity, this becomes fatalism. Such a belief is outside the Christian worldview.

The Latin phrase Anno Domini designates the usage of a calendar system which counts years from the traditional date of the birth of Christ (i.e. “year of our Lord”). This calendar system is the most common and accepted method of dating in the world today, even being used by the United Nations. It is from the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The Anno Domini system was devised by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in A.D. 525. Years before the birth of Christ are often abbreviated B.C. (”before Christ”). Most modern scholars would place the birth of Christ somewhere between 3 and 6 B.C. The designation A.D. is often mistakenly identified as having reference to Christ’s death (i.e. “After Death”). Modern usage has attempted to neutralize the centrality of the incarnation by substituting A.D. and B.C. with C.E. (”common era”) and B.C.E. (”before the common era”).

Scholasticism was a school of thought which sought to reconcile the established Christian belief within a body of reason or rational thought, especially that of Greek philosophy. The “scholastic period” primarily refers to the period during the late middle ages (eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth centuries) in the West when Christianity was experiencing a renaissance of learning and education and was being challenged by the rational thought of Islam. Early Christian scholastics include Anselm, Peter Abelard, Albertus Magnus, Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Thomas Aquinas. The term can also refer to any system of thought which seeks a reconciliation of their beliefs with rationality and philosophical inquiry (i.e., Protestant scholaticism).

A phrase used in recognition that all of life, sustenance, power, and hope are found in God’s unmerited bestowal of favor upon the undeserving. This phrase in used on the official coins of Britain and Canada with the abbreviation D.G.

Merry Christmas to all from all of us at Reclaiming the Mind Ministries

(Latin in, “in” + carn, “flesh”)

A theological term describing the union of the second person of the Trinity with human nature. Christ became “incarnate” in that he took on flesh or human nature (John 1:14). The incarnation was a necessity for Christ to secure salvation and act as the mediator between God and man. Without the incarnation, man would be hopelessly unable to find representation that might serve as a substitute and an advocate on his behalf. In Christianity the incarnation is celebrated each year at Christmas.

(Greek pneuma, “spirit,” “breath,” or “wind” + Greek -logia, “speaking”)

The study of the doctrine of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Pneumatology deals with the work of the Spirit in the lives of people, both believers and unbelievers. Included within this study is the regeneration, baptism of the Spirit, fruits of the Spirit, gifts of the Spirit, and, often, sanctification.