Key theological terms

Article

The 391 words every Lutheran leader should know — with the same list available in every language on this site

This is the shared vocabulary of the Lutheran Leader's Companion. Every course, article and resource on this site uses these terms consistently, and the same list exists in each of our languages so that a leader in Lusaka, Hanoi or Riga is reading the same idea. Use the language switcher to open this page in your own language and see each term side by side with the English.

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God and his Word

God
Trinity
Triune God
Holy Spirit
Christ
Messiah
Son of God
Son of Man
Word of God
Scripture
Bible
Revelation
Inspiration
Verbal Inspiration
Inerrancy
Old Testament
New Testament
Gospel
Law
Law and Gospel
Covenant
Prophet
Apostle
Attributes of God
Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Omniscience
Immutability
Holiness
Glory of God
Will of God
Providence
Creation
Preservation
Image of God
Angel
Demons
Satan
Kingdom of God
Yahweh
Lord
Immanuel
Godhead
Person of the Trinity
Divine Essence
Divine Nature
Human Nature
God-man
Canon
Apocrypha
Pseudepigrapha
Pentateuch
Torah
Septuagint
Epistle
Prophecy
Type
Antitype
Allegory
Exegesis
Hermeneutics
Textual Criticism
Manuscript
Autographs
Variant Reading
Plenary Inspiration
Infallible
Clarity of Scripture
Sufficiency of Scripture
Scripture Interprets Scripture
General Revelation
Special Revelation
Natural Knowledge of God
Hebrew
Greek
Aramaic
Theology
Systematic Theology
Eschatology
Dogma

Sin and salvation

Sin
Original Sin
Fall of Man
Free Will
Conscience
Wrath of God
Grace
Mercy
Faith
Repentance
Conversion
Regeneration
Justification
Justification by Faith
Objective Justification
Subjective Justification
Sanctification
Good Works
Righteousness
Impute
Forgiveness
Absolution
Redemption
Atonement
Vicarious Atonement
Propitiation
Reconciliation
Salvation
Eternal Life
Election
Predestination
Sola gratia
Sola fide
Sola scriptura
Theology of the Cross
Christian Freedom
Vocation
Two Kingdoms
Actual Sin
Concupiscence
Sinful Nature
Total Depravity
Flesh
Contrition
Condemnation
Death
Eternal Death
Judgment
Declared Righteous
Imputed Righteousness
Justifying Faith
Saving Faith
Justification by Grace through Faith
Active Obedience
Passive Obedience
Civic Righteousness
Self-righteousness
Substitution
Ransom
Sacrifice
Blood of Christ
Intercession
Hope
Obedience
Fruit of the Spirit
Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Life
Temptation
Trial
Fear of God
Idolatry
Idol
Blasphemy
Hypocrite
Foreknowledge
Double Predestination
Irresistible Grace
Limited Atonement
Monergism
Once Saved Always Saved
Decision for Christ
Communion of Saints
Immortality
Soul
Spirit
Paradise
Sheol
Inheritance
Heir

The person and work of Christ

Incarnation
Virgin Birth
Deity of Christ
Humiliation of Christ
Exaltation of Christ
Passion of Christ
Crucifixion
Resurrection
Ascension
Right Hand of God
Mediator
Savior
Lamb of God
Second Coming
Last Judgment
Heaven
Hell
Antichrist
The Anointed One
Offices of Christ
State of Humiliation
State of Exaltation
Descent into Hell
Transfiguration
Passover
Passover Lamb
Day of Atonement
High Priest
Body of Christ
Suffering Servant
Historical Jesus
Great Commission
Day of the Lord
Last Day
Tribulation
Millennium
Resurrection of the Body
Three Ecumenical Creeds

The means of grace

Means of Grace
Sacrament
Baptism
Lord's Supper
Real Presence
Transubstantiation
Close Communion
Office of the Keys
Confession
Word and Sacrament
Infant Baptism
Immersion
Holy Communion
Sacramental Union
In With and Under
Consecration
Mass
Sacrament of Penance
Marks of the Church
Keys of the Kingdom

The Church and the ministry

Church
Invisible Church
Visible Church
Congregation
Church Fellowship
Fellowship
Public Ministry
Pastor
Divine Call
Ordination
Priesthood of All Believers
Elder
Deacon
Synod
Confirmation
Church Discipline
Excommunication
Evangelism
Mission
Missionary
Stewardship
Worship
Liturgy
Sermon
Hymn
Hymnal
Prayer
Lord's Prayer
Ten Commandments
Creed
Apostles' Creed
Nicene Creed
Athanasian Creed
Catechism
Small Catechism
Large Catechism
Sunday School
Devotion
Bible Study
Seminary
Called Worker
Minister
Church Office
Bishop
Priest
Evangelist
Disciple
Saint
Martyr
Preach
Witness
Serve
Dedication
Anoint
Fasting
Incense
Sanctuary
Tabernacle
Temple
Synagogue
Pharisees
Gentiles
Jew
Israel
Zion
Episcopal Government
Ecumenical Church
Ecumenical Movement
Pluralism
WELS
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
CELC
Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
Martin Luther
Northwestern Publishing House
Multi-Language Productions
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

The Lutheran Confessions

Lutheran
Confessional Lutheran
Reformation
Lutheran Confessions
Book of Concord
Augsburg Confession
Apology of the Augsburg Confession
Smalcald Articles
Formula of Concord
Article of Faith
Doctrine
Dogmatics
Adiaphora
Orthodoxy
Heresy
Uses of the Law
Adoration

Church year and practice

Advent
Christmas
Epiphany
Lent
Holy Week
Good Friday
Easter
Pentecost
Trinity Sunday
Reformation Day
Sabbath
Doxology
Benediction

Errors and movements

Pelagianism
Semi-Pelagianism
Arminianism
Synergism
Antinomianism
Legalism
Pietism
Rationalism
Unionism
Syncretism
Universalism
Millennialism
Rapture
Purgatory
Indulgences
Papacy
Ecumenism
Agnosticism
Atheism
Deism
Theism
Pantheism
Polytheism
Monotheism
Monism
Dualism
Animism
Paganism
Spiritism
Superstition
Reincarnation
Soul Sleep
Evolution
Fatalism
Mysticism
Secularism
Fundamentalism
Theological Liberalism
Calvinism
Methodism
Pentecostalism
Charismatic Movement
Speaking in Tongues
Perfectionism
Unitarianism
Arianism
Docetism
Gnosticism
Monarchianism
Monophysitism
Nestorianism
Mariolatry
Papal Infallibility
Celibacy
Theocracy
Roman Catholic
Myth

Translations were prepared from the WELS theological lexicon, the Multi-Language Productions glossaries and the published Book of Concord editions where they exist. If a term in your language sounds wrong to you, tell us — the list is corrected as reviewers report back.