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Easter Controversy
[History]The Easter controversy is a dispute within the church, dating back to the second century, over when Easter should be observed. The term encompasses the Quartodeciman controversy in Asia Minor, the decision of the Council of Nicaea, and the calendar differences between the Western and Eastern churches.
Romans 5:12
[Bible Verses]Romans 5:12 states that sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin, so that death passed upon all people. It is the principal scriptural basis for the Western church's doctrine of original sin, and the Eastern, Western, and various Protestant traditions differ on how Adam's sin is passed on to his descendants.
Hebrews 2:3-4
[Bible Verses]A passage in which the author of Hebrews warns readers not to neglect "so great salvation." It states that this salvation was first spoken by the Lord, confirmed by those who heard him, and attested by God through signs and gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is frequently cited in discussions of whether spiritual gifts continue and of the authorship of Hebrews.
Trinity
[Doctrine & Theology]The Trinity is the central Christian doctrine that God is one in essence and exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is confessed in common by Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Ecumenical Movement
[History]The ecumenical movement, also called the church unity movement, is an effort by Christian churches divided into many denominations to cooperate and seek unity while acknowledging their differences. Its leading international body is the World Council of Churches (WCC); in South Korea, its leading body is the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK).
Joint Easter Service
[Worship & Rites]A joint Easter service is a worship service held on Easter at which multiple denominations and churches gather together, often at dawn. In Korea, the first such service is reported to have been held in 1947 on Namsan in Seoul.
Council of Nicaea
[History]The First Council of Nicaea was the first ecumenical council, convened at Nicaea in 325 by the Roman emperor Constantine I. It adopted a creed confessing that the Son is consubstantial with the Father and condemned the teaching of Arius.
1 John 1:9
[Bible Verses]"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse is a leading text on the repentance and forgiveness of believers. It figures in discussions of the sacrament of penance, the Protestant practice of direct confession to God, and the question of whether saved believers must repent repeatedly.
1 John 4:7–8
[Bible Verses]A passage of Scripture that begins "Beloved, let us love one another" and concludes "for God is love." Widely cherished as a rare expression that describes the nature of God in a single word, it has also prompted theological discussion about the relationship among God's love, justice, and judgment.
1 Peter 1:1–2
[Bible Verses]The opening greeting of 1 Peter addresses Christians scattered across five regions of Asia Minor as "elect" strangers and brings together the work of the Father, the Spirit, and the Son in a single sentence. The passage is frequently cited in discussions of predestination, election, and the Trinity.
1 John 4:16
[Bible Verses]First John 4:16 confesses that believers have known and believed the love of God, declares that "God is love," and teaches that God and the one who dwells in love dwell in each other. It is widely quoted as a concise summary of the character of God.
Maranatha
[Bible]Maranatha is an Aramaic expression found in 1 Corinthians 16:22, meaning "Our Lord, come" or "Our Lord is coming." It is known as a phrase the early church used while awaiting the Lord's return.
Prison Epistles
[Bible]The Prison Epistles is the collective name for Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, the four letters in which the apostle Paul indicates that he is writing while in confinement.
Silvanus
[People]Silvanus was a first-century coworker who preached the gospel alongside the apostle Paul. He is named in the Pauline Epistles and in 1 Peter and is generally identified with the Silas of the Book of Acts.
Theology of the Cross
[Doctrine & Theology]The theology of the cross is a theological perspective holding that God reveals himself not in glory and power but in the suffering and weakness of the cross. Martin Luther set it forth in contrast to the "theology of glory."
Adult Baptism
[Christian Life]Adult baptism is baptism received by a person who was not baptized in childhood and who personally professes faith. The term distinguishes it from infant baptism, which is administered to infants on the basis of their parents' faith.
Homoousios
[Doctrine & Theology]Homoousios is a Greek theological term affirming that the Son is true God, "of the same essence" as the Father. Adopted into the creed of the Council of Nicaea in 325, it became the standard for the doctrine of the Trinity.
Apostles' Creed
[Worship & Rites]The Apostles' Creed is a confession of faith of the Western church that briefly summarizes belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Korea, many Protestant churches recite it together in Sunday worship.
Prayer
[Christian Life]Prayer is an act of faith in which believers offer praise, thanksgiving, confession, and petition to God; Protestants commonly describe it as "conversation with God." Korean Protestant churches are known for their active prayer gatherings, such as early morning prayer meetings and praying aloud together (tongseong gido).
Salvation
[Doctrine & Theology]In Christianity, salvation is the deliverance of human beings from sin and its consequences—death and separation from God—so that they are reconciled to God and receive eternal life.