• The Creeds
• The Apostles' Creed (Apostolicum)
• The Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople
• The New Apostolic Creed
• The Ten Commandments
• The Lord’s Prayer
• Glossary
• Index of Bible references
• Index

Appendix

The Creeds Back to top

The Apostles' Creed (Apostolicum) Back to top

"I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal [catholic] church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

The Creed of Nicaea-Constantinople Back to top

"We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the virgin Mary, and was made man; He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy universal [catholic] and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."

The New Apostolic Creed Back to top

The First Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth.

The Second Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, entered the realm of the dead, rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from where He will return.

The Third Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church, the community of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting.

The Fourth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that the Lord Jesus rules His church and thereto sent His Apostles, and until His return still sends them with the commission to teach, to forgive sins in His name, and to baptise with water and Holy Spirit.

The Fifth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that those designated by God for a ministry are ordained only by Apostles, and that authority, blessing, and sanctification for their ministration come forth out of the Apostle ministry.

The Sixth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that the Holy Baptism with water is the first step to a renewal of a human being in the Holy Spirit, and that the person baptised is adopted into the fellowship of those who believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him as their Lord.

The Seventh Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that Holy Communion was instituted by the Lord Himself in memory of the once brought, fully valid sacrifice, and bitter suffering and death of Christ. The worthy partaking of Holy Communion establishes our fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is celebrated with unleavened bread and wine; both must be consecrated and dispensed by a minister authorised by an Apostle.

The Eighth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that those baptised with water must, through an Apostle, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit to attain the childhood in God and thereby the prerequisite for becoming a firstling.

The Ninth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that the Lord Jesus will return as surely as He ascended into heaven and that He will take to Himself the firstfruits of the dead and living who have hoped for and were prepared for His coming; that after the marriage in heaven He will return to earth with them to establish His kingdom of peace, and that they will reign with Him as a royal priesthood. After the conclusion of the kingdom of peace, He will hold the Last Judgement. Then God will create a new heaven and a new earth and dwell with His people.

The Tenth Article of Faith: Back to top

I believe that I am obliged to obey the worldly authorities provided no godly laws are thereby transgressed.

The Ten Commandments Back to top

The First Commandment Back to top

I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods before Me.

The Second Commandment Back to top

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

The Third Commandment Back to top

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

The Fourth Commandment Back to top

Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

The Fifth Commandment Back to top

You shall not murder.

The Sixth Commandment Back to top

You shall not commit adultery.

The Seventh Commandment Back to top

You shall not steal.

The Eighth Commandment Back to top

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

The Ninth Commandment Back to top

You shall not covet your neighbour's house.

The Tenth Commandment Back to top

You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour's.

The Lord’s Prayer Back to top

(according to Matthew 6: 9-13)

"Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen."

Glossary Back to top

Aaronic blessing Back to top

"Aaronic"–derived from the name of the first high priest, Aaron

Three-part blessing formulation recorded in Numbers 6: 24-26

accidence Back to top

From Latin: accidere = "to occur"

The term "accidence" refers to the outward manifestation: e.g. at Holy Communion, the wafer is the outward manifestation of the elements of Communion.

antitype Back to top

From 1 Peter 3: 21 in the New King James Version of the Bible. In this context, the term refers to an example or foreshadowing of baptism.

apostolicity Back to top

One of the four distinguishing features of the church (notae ecclesiae)

On the one hand, apostolicity incorporates apostolic doctrine, and on the other hand, the activity of the Apostles.

canon, canonical (adj.) Back to top

From Greek: kanón, Latin canon = "standard", "guideline"

Today this term refers to the binding compilation of the writings of the Old and New Testaments.

channelling Back to top

A practice in which a medium permits his mind to be controlled by "spirit guides" (often purported to be those of the dead) for the purpose of communicating with them and/or asking them for guidance.

concupiscence Back to top

From Latin: concupiscere = "to ardently desire", "to crave", "to seek after"

Technical theological term describing the human inclination to sin

confession Back to top

From Latin confessio = "profession"

Creed, church affiliation (originally only in reference to the Christian denominations)

consubstantiation Back to top

The doctrine that the substances of Christ’s body and blood are joined to the substances of bread and wine during the consecration of Holy Communion.

creatorship Back to top

The status of being the Creator. This term applies to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, since each of the three divine persons share in the creation of all things.

denomination Back to top

From Latin denominatio = "identification", "designation"

A non-judgemental term used to denote a religious community

Didache Back to top

Title assigned to a document that came into being in Syria in approximately AD 100, which contains the oldest description of how the Christian church was organised

divine Sonship Back to top

The Lord Jesus’ status as the Son of God.

The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

doxology Back to top

Glorification of God

For example, the concluding words of the Lord’s Prayer–"For Yours is the kingdom ..."–are designated as a doxology.

Ecumenical Councils Back to top

In general, the seven gatherings of Bishops convened in the period between AD 325 and AD 787 are designated as the "Ecumenical Councils", for example the first Council of Nicaea (AD 325), the first Council of Constantinople (AD 381), and the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451).

Enlightenment, the Back to top

Designation for an era (in the eighteenth century) which spread from Europe, in which rational thought was accorded the highest level of priority. Associated with it was a devaluation of the revealed religions in favour of a faith based solely on human reason.

eschatology, eschatological (adj.) Back to top

Doctrine of the last things

This refers both to the future of the individual human being (personal eschatology) as well as to the completion of world history

Eucharistic prayer Back to top

The prayer of thanksgiving in response to God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice, which is spoken by the officiant after the absolution is pronounced. The term "Eucharist" is derived from the Greek word eucharistein, which means "to give thanks".

historicity Back to top

The fact that a particular biblical personage or event is also rooted in the reality of acknowledged world history.

hypostasis Back to top

From the Greek: "foundation", "entity"

A manifestation of the divine being, today a term designating "person" in the context of the Trinity; the three divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Hypostatic Union, doctrine of Back to top

The teaching that Jesus Christ is both true God and true Man. This understanding is derived from Holy Scripture and enshrined in the creeds of the early church. This is also known as the teaching of the dual nature of Christ.

inaugural vision Back to top

First vision associated with a divine calling, for example Isaiah, when he was called to be a prophet (Isaiah 6: 1-8)

logia Back to top

"Words of the Lord"

This technical term denotes compilations in which the words of Jesus Christ are summarised.

logos Back to top

Greek: logos = "word"

According to the prologue in the gospel of John–"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1: 1)–the logos is the manifestation of God in His Son Jesus Christ. Christ is thus the logos. In His person He Himself is the eternal Word of God.

Magnificat Back to top

Designation for Mary’s song of praise as recorded in Luke 1: 46-55, corresponding to the first few words in the Latin translation of the Bible: "Magnificat anima mea Dominum" ("My soul magnifies the Lord")

Messiahship Back to top

The affirmation that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah–He is the Redeemer sent by God.

necromancy Back to top

Derived from the ancient Greek words nekrós (dead body) and manteía ("prophecy", "divination"); this term refers to the practice of conjuring and communicating with the spirits of the dead. This practice is prohibited by God.

office of Peter / Petrine office Back to top

This term refers to the special status conferred upon Simon Peter by Jesus Christ, when the latter referred to him as the rock upon which He would build His church. This special status also brings with it the authority of the keys to the kingdom of heaven (i.e. the authority to bind and to loose; cf. Matthew 16: 18-19). In the New Apostolic Church, this office is exercised by the Chief Apostle.

original sin Back to top

The doctrine that all human beings are born into a state of remoteness and separation from God, owing to Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Romans 5: 12-21). Mankind is sinful by nature, and because of this inclination to sin (concupiscence), is necessarily distant from God. This state of remoteness is eliminated through baptism.

Paraclete Back to top

From Greek: paráklçtos = "He who has been summoned to help"

This is how the Holy Spirit is described in the gospel of John (John 14: 16, 26; 15: 26). He is the Support, Intercessor, Helper, and Comforter.

personhood Back to top

The status of being a person. This term is applied both to human beings and to the individual hypostases of the triune God.

pre-existence Back to top

The existence of Christ before time, during time, and forever

propitiation Back to top

From Latin propitiâre ("to appease"); the act of appeasing a deity to incur divine favour and/or avoid divine displeasure. In Christian teaching, this was accomplished through Jesus’ sinless sacrifice on the cross, whereby He took the displeasure, wrath, and indignation of God, which resulted from the sinfulness of mankind, upon Himself (Hebrews 2: 14-18).

rapture, the Back to top

The moment when Jesus Christ will return and take His bride unto Himself. Both the living bridal congregation and the dead in Christ will be caught up to God at this moment (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17).

real presence Back to top

The doctrine that the body and blood of Jesus Christ are truly present in Holy Communion (as contrasted with "spiritual presence", i.e. presence in the spirit)

salvation history Back to top

The past, present, and future account of God’s activity to save mankind. Also known as the "history of salvation", this term is used in reference to the works of God in human history as opposed to the accounts of secular human history.

salvific Back to top

Of, for, or pertaining to, salvation.

-salvific activity Back to top

-works of salvation; saving actions; used in reference to the works of God upon mankind for their salvation

-salvific effect Back to top

-effect for salvation; saving effect (e.g. the salvific effect of the sacraments)

-salvific power Back to top

-capacity for salvation; ability or means to save; the power of God for salvation contained in the sacraments, the word, etc.

self-abasement (of Christ) Back to top

The abased and humbled state of the Son of God (Philippians 2: 5-11). This term refers to the fact that Christ left the glory of the Godhead and "made Himself of no reputation", thus lowering (or abasing) Himself to the level of "bondservant" (i.e. a slave) for the salvation of mankind. This humbled state already began at His birth (for example, He was born in a manger in a stable), but progressed even further, in that He ultimately allowed Himself to be degraded to the level of a criminal, at which time He was scourged, mocked, spit upon, given a crown of thorns, etc., however He remained humble and obedient to God even to the point of death on the cross.

self-revelation Back to top

The manner in which God made Himself (i.e. His nature, essence, and will) known to human beings. Examples of God’s self-revelation include the creation, His intervention in history, and the sending of His Son. God reveals Himself as a triune God, namely as God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit.

transcendence (noun) Back to top

That aspect of God’s nature and power which is completely beyond, and independent of, the physical creation

transcendent (adj.) Back to top

Above and beyond this world; having an ongoing and uninterrupted existence beyond the physical creation; free from the constraints of the physical creation

transubstantiation Back to top

According to Catholic doctrine, the transformation of the substances of bread and wine into the true body and the true blood of Jesus Christ during the Lord’s Supper

World Council of Churches (WCC) Back to top

Largest worldwide association of Christian churches, established in Amsterdam in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva

Currently there are approximately 340 churches of Orthodox, Anglican, Reformed, and Free Church tradition–but not the Roman Catholic Church–that belong to this organisation.

Index of Bible references Back to top

Genesis Back to top

Exodus Back to top

Leviticus Back to top

Numbers Back to top

Deuteronomy Back to top

Joshua Back to top

Judges Back to top

1 Samuel Back to top

1 Kings Back to top

2 Kings Back to top

1 Chronicles Back to top

Job Back to top

Psalm Back to top

Proverbs Back to top

Ecclesiastes Back to top

Isaiah Back to top

Jeremiah Back to top

Ezekiel Back to top

Daniel Back to top

Hosea Back to top

Joel Back to top

Amos Back to top

Micah Back to top

Habakkuk Back to top

Zechariah Back to top

Malachi Back to top

Tobit Back to top

Wisdom of Solomon Back to top

Ecclesiasticus Back to top

The Song of the Three Children Back to top

2 Maccabees Back to top

Matthew Back to top

Mark Back to top

Luke Back to top

John Back to top

Acts Back to top

Romans Back to top

1 Corinthians Back to top

2 Corinthians Back to top

Galatians Back to top

Ephesians Back to top

Philippians Back to top

Colossians Back to top

1 Thessalonians Back to top

2 Thessalonians Back to top

1 Timothy Back to top

2 Timothy Back to top

Titus Back to top

Hebrews Back to top

James Back to top

1 Peter Back to top

2 Peter Back to top

1 John Back to top

Jude Back to top

Revelation Back to top

Index Back to top