Linguistics & Languages

The Glossary

The technical words of theology, each in its own language: its script form, its literal meaning, and the theological work it does. A term belongs to a language before it belongs to an argument.

Arabic

ذكر dhikr Remembrance; mention. Islamic إيمان iman Faith; belief; security. Islamic جهاد jihad Striving; exertion. Islamic شرك shirk Association; assigning partners. Islamic تقوى taqwa God-consciousness; protective fear. Islamic توحيد tawhid Declaring (God) one; unity. Islamic

Greek

ἀποφατικός apophatic apophatikos By denial or negation. Orthodox, Catholic καταφατικός cataphatic kataphatikos By affirmation. Orthodox, Catholic ὁμοούσιος homoousios Of the same essence or substance. Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant ὑπόστασις hypostasis That which stands under; a subsistence. Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant κένωσις kenosis An emptying. Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant οἰκονομία oikonomia Household management; the stewardship of a house. Orthodox, Catholic οὐσία ousia Being; essence; substance. Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant περιχώρησις perichoresis A going around together; mutual indwelling. Orthodox, Catholic θεολογία theologia Speech about God; discourse concerning divine things. Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant θέωσις theosis Deification; being made god. Orthodox

Hebrew

אֱמֶת emet Firmness; faithfulness; truth. Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant חֶסֶד hesed chesed Steadfast love; covenant loyalty; mercy. Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant מָשִׁיחַ mashiach Anointed one. Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant מִצְו‍ֹת mitzvot Commandments. Jewish רוּחַ ruach Breath; wind; spirit. Jewish, Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant שְׁכִינָה shekinah shekhinah Dwelling; settling. Jewish תּוֹרָה torah Instruction; direction; law. Jewish

Latin

analogia entis analogia entis The analogy of being. Catholic, Protestant analogia fidei analogia fidei The analogy of faith. Protestant, Catholic ancilla theologiae ancilla theologiae The handmaid of theology. Catholic, Protestant gratia gratia Favour; thanks; a free gift. Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox iustificatio iustificatio A making righteous; justification. Catholic, Protestant persona persona A mask; a character; an individual. Catholic, Protestant sacramentum sacramentum A sacred sign; an oath. Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox sanctificatio sanctificatio A making holy; sanctification. Catholic, Protestant substantia substantia That which stands under; substance. Catholic, Protestant trinitas trinitas Trinity; a triad. Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox

Sanskrit

आत्मन् atman Self. Hindu, Jain भक्ति bhakti Devotion; participation; sharing. Hindu, Sikh ब्रह्मन् brahman The expansive; the great. Hindu धर्म dharma That which is upheld; order; duty. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain कर्म karma Action; deed. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh माया maya Illusion; measure; magic. Hindu मोक्ष moksha Release; liberation. Hindu, Jain संसार samsara Wandering; the flowing-on. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh