Author: Richard

  • Sacraments

    Richard

    The word sacrament does not appear in the Bible. Rather, the Bible uses the Greek word mustérion (μυστήριον) which means a mystery or a secret doctrine. Jerome translated this into the Latin word sacramentum for the Vulgate, which literally means an oath. The English use of sacrament is derived from the Latin rather than the original Greek. Nevertheless, the Read more

  • Canon Formation

    Richard

    Canon formation refers to the historical process that resulted in the selection and ordering of the specific books that now constitute the Bible. This can be further divided into Old Testament (OT) canon formation and New Testament (NT) canon formation. The OT is also referred to as the Hebrew Bible. The books contained in the Read more

  • Baptism

    Richard

    Baptism is translated from the Greek word baptizō (βαπτίζω), which most often means to immerse or submerge, but can also mean to cleanse. The formal act of baptism does not occur in the OT, but there are many instances of water being associated with purification. Baptism is first seen in the Bible with John the Baptist. “John the Read more

  • The Lord’s Supper

    Richard

    The Lord’s Supper has been universally practiced by all Christians for all time. This involves the communal eating of bread and drinking of wine (or grape juice) to, at a bare minimum, remember the death of Christ with the breaking of the bread symbolizing the breaking of Christ’s body and the wine symbolizing His blood. Unlike Read more

  • Church Governance

    Richard

    This post is provided primarily for reference. It first discusses church governance as described in the NT, and then gives a short summary of the major church governance practices that exist today. Church Governance in the NT. The Churches in the NT all seem to have had a governing group of individuals most commonly called elders. Read more

  • Prayer

    Richard

    Corporate prayer (also called prayers of the people[i]) is a core function of the church. Therefore, prayer as it relates to the doctrine of the church is now discussed. But the topic of prayer includes more than just corporate prayer. Therefore, this section will address prayer in general, including corporate prayer, even though some of Read more

  • Bible Versions

    Richard

    The first NT Bible translation based solely on Greek manuscripts was the Latin Vulgate. The translations were done by the scholar Jerome, who was commissioned to do so in 382 by Pope Damasus I. This happened shortly after the Council of Trent in 382, which affirmed the specific books that made up the canon. Jerome’s translations Read more

  • Eastern Orthodox Theology

    Richard

    Eastern Orthodoxy begins with the understanding that the people and practices closest in time to Christ and early Christianity are the most reliable sources of correct theology and correct church practices. Eastern Orthodoxy therefore seeks to preserve these traditions and to not let them be corrupted by modern inventions. The importance of staying true to Read more

  • Anglican/Episcopal Theology

    Richard

    The Anglican denomination derives from the Church of England. Churches that began as part of the Church of England tend to be called Anglican and those that formed outside of the Church of England but held to the same doctrine and liturgy tend to be called Episcopal. Care must be taken to distinguish between a Read more

  • Baptist Theology

    Richard

    There are an estimated 170 million people in the world who identify as Baptist. The defining belief of Baptists is that infants should not be baptized. Baptism requires the full immersion of a confessed believer. This is referred to as a believer’s baptism. Although the Anabaptist movement also rejected infant baptism, its influence on the Read more