Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

By James D. Quiggle

This revised and update edition has added words, clarified definitions, and contains many useful words and terms not usually found in theological dictionaries.

Lexicons and theological dictionaries often discuss a word without ever giving a succinct definition of how the word is used in the Scripture. In my years of writing commentaries and doctrinal works, I have had occasion to construct those succinct definitions. The Bible doesn’t define, but through careful observation of how a word is used, one may construct a useful definition. I have defined many important biblical and theological words and terms both doctrinally and in practical terms.

The theological basis for this work is both Reformed and Dispensational. My doctrinal statement is included at the end of the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James D. Quiggle
• Release date: Aug 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463987681

James D. Quiggle

James D. Quiggle was born in 1952 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He grew up in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. In the early 1970s he joined the United States Air Force. At his first permanent assignment in Indian Springs, Nevada in a small Baptist church, the pastor introduced him to Jesus and soon after he was saved. Over the next ten years those he met in churches from the East Coast to the West Coast, mature Christian men, poured themselves into mentoring him. In the 1970s he was gifted with the Scofield Bible Course from Moody Bible Institute. As he completed his studies his spiritual gift of teaching became even more apparent. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Bible College during the 1980s while still in the Air Force. Between 2006–2008, after his career in the Air Force and with his children grown up, he decided to continue his education. He enrolled in Bethany Divinity College and Seminary and earned a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theological Studies.As an extension of his spiritual gift of teaching, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin writing books. James Quiggle is now a Christian author with over fifty commentaries on Bible books and doctrines. He is an editor for the Evangelical Dispensational Quarterly Journal published by Scofield Biblical Institute and Theological Seminary.He continues to write and has a vibrant teaching ministry through social media.

Book preview

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

BOOKS BY JAMES D. QUIGGLE

DOCTRINAL SERIES

Biblical History

Adam and Eve, a Biography and Theology

Angelology, a True History of Angels

Essays

Biblical Essays

Biblical Essays II

Biblical Essays III

Biblical Essays IV

Marriage and Family

Marriage and Family: A Biblical Perspective

Biblical Homosexuality

A Biblical Response to Same-gender Marriage

Doctrinal and Practical Christianity

First Steps, Becoming a Follower of Jesus Christ

A Christian Catechism (with Christopher McCuin)

Why and How to do Bible Study

Thirty-Six Essentials of the Christian Faith

The Literal Hermeneutic, Explained and Illustrated

The Old Ten In the New Covenant

Christian Living and Doctrine

Spiritual Gifts

Why Christians Should Not Tithe

Dispensational Theology

A Primer On Dispensationalism

Understanding Dispensational Theology

Covenants and Dispensations in the Scripture

Dispensational Eschatology, An Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine

Dispensational Soteriology

Rapture: A Bible Study on the Rapture of the New Testament Church

Antichrist, His Genealogy, Kingdom, and Religion

God and Man

God’s Choices, Doctrines of Foreordination, Election, Predestination

God Became Incarnate

Life, Death, Eternity

Did Jesus Go To Hell?

Small Group Bible Studies

Elementary Bible Principles (with Linda M. Quiggle)

Counted Worthy (with Linda M. Quiggle)

COMMENTARY SERIES

The Old Testament

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges

A Private Commentary on the Book of Ruth

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Esther

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Song of Solomon

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Daniel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jonah

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Habakkuk

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Haggai

The New Testament

The Gospels and Acts

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Matthew’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Mark’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Luke 1–12

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Luke 13–24

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 1–12

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 13–21

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Acts 1-14

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Acts 15-28

Four Voices, One Testimony

Jesus Said I Am

The Parables and Miracles of Jesus Christ

The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ

The Christmas Story, As Told By God

James Quiggle Translation New Testament

Pauline Letters

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Galatians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Ephesians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Colossians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Thessalonians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Pastoral Letters

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philemon

General Letters

A Private Commentary on the Book of Hebrews

A Private Commentary on the Bible: James

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 1 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 2 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John’s Epistles

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jude

Revelation

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Revelation 1–7

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Revelation 8–16

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Revelation 17–22

REFERENCE SERIES

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

Old and New Testament Chronology (With David Hollingsworth)

(Also in individual volumes: Old Testament Chronology; New Testament Chronology)

James Quiggle Translation New Testament

TRACTS

A Human Person: Is the Unborn Life a Person?

Biblical Marriage

How Can I Know I am A Christian?

Now That I am A Christian

Thirty-Six Essentials of the Christian Faith

What is a Pastor? / Why is My Pastor Eating the Sheep?

Principles and Precepts of the Literal Hermeneutic

(All tracts are in digital format and cost $0.99)

Formats

Print, Digital, Epub, PDF. Search James D. Quiggle or book title.

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

Explanatory and Practical Definitions

Of Select

Biblical, Theological, and Doctrinal Terms

Revision Eight, 2024

James D. Quiggle

Copyright Page

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words. Copyright James D. Quiggle, 2018. All Rights Reserved.

Version 8. Revised 2023, published January 2024.

Not more than five hundred (500) words may be reproduced without permission from the author. Use must include proper attribution.

For permissions Contact the author at [e-mail].

This digital edition contains the same information as the print edition.

Contents

Preface

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Doctrines Defined

Preface

The Dictionary of Doctrinal Words was developed by the author for his personal use and is shared with the hope others may find it equally useful.

There are any number of lexicons and theological dictionaries that define or explain biblical terms. Often lexicons and theological dictionaries discuss a word without ever giving a succinct definition. In my years of writing, I have found that frustrating. So, in the course of writing commentaries and doctrinal works, I have had occasion to construct definitions for many words.

The Bible doesn’t define, but through careful observation of how a word is used, one may construct a useful definition. By combining lexicon, theological dictionary, and observation of use, I have defined some biblical terms. Because these definitions and explanations were developed while writing various books on various topics, some have multiple definitions or explanations.

A

Abide. To remain or continue. A term used to describe the believer’s continuing righteous state with Christ. To abide is to obey with a willing heart, so as to live a righteous life, and to practice immediate confession and repentance for every act of sin. To abide is to live righteously as a steady state or condition that defines the practice of one’s faith in general and one’s relationship with fellow-believers in particular. To abide is to continue in active fellowship with Christ. The believer continues in a state of spiritual life and fellowship with Christ. God abides (dwells, remains, continues) in the midst of his people. The anointing the Holy Spirit gives abides with the believer. The unbeliever abides (remains, continues) in a state of spiritual death unless he or she exercises saving faith before physical death.

Adoption. Adoption is that spiritual state in which God places the believer as an adult son and heir of God, making them sons of God. God has one natural child, the Son, who is heir of all things. God takes those who are not his natural children, sinners, saves them by his grace through their faith, and adopts them into the position of a natural born child (Ephesians 1:5). Adoption and son-ship are not gender-specific terms but a position of relationship and inheritance applicable to every believer. See Sons of.

Adult. A person who is able to consistently, responsibly, and independently perform the legal, civil, social, and financial functions required of an adult by their society, so as to be responsible for themselves and their behavior.

Aeviternity. The state that logically lies between the timeless state of God and the temporal state of the things and creatures God created. God’s pre-creation decisions as to what kind of universe to create were made in aeviternity.

Scripture teaches God is eternal and Scripture teaches God's acts are successive; otherwise God could not act within the time and space he created and to which his creation is subject.

Time is a tool, a mechanism God created to govern the universe he created. God is not subject to time, but he acts within time—he uses time as a tool for his interaction with his creation. There is, then, a succession of moments in God’s works.

The works of God before he created time cannot be wholly understood, but surely the way God’s describes his acts in Scripture are a tool for us to use to understand God’s pre-creation decisions and works. The orthodox doctrines of the church assume this pov.

On the one hand God’s decision to create, God’s choices as to what kind of creation would be created, and God’s act of creation are one and the same decision and action without time or succession.

On the other hand, there is a rational progression to those actions, e.g., what kind of universe to create naturally succeeds a decision to create a universe. Recognizing that rational progression of decision and action in God is not a contradiction, but conforms to how Scripture explains God's works.

The term aeviternity is used to describe the state that logically lies between the timeless state of God and the temporal state of the things and creatures God created.

Annihilationism. The doctrine those human beings not receiving immortality after physical death and resurrection will be sent to the lake of fire, endure an indefinite time of punishment, and then cease to exist. See Conditional immortality.

Apostate. An unsaved person who has mentally subscribed to the doctrines of the Christian faith and who then rejects those doctrines while still remaining within the visible church and posing as a Christian (Wuest). Apostates remain within the visible church teaching false doctrine with the goal of converting others to their false doctrines. Apostates are great pretenders, mixing a little truth with substantial error. Compare: Heretic.

Apostate, characteristics (1). There is an objective, well-understood, and previously believed standard of truth from which the apostates depart. The departure is willful. The very word implies it and the actions and life of apostates show it (particularly 1 Timothy 4). Thus, apostasy involves both the mind and the will (C. C. Ryrie).

Apostate, characteristics (2). Apostates start out looking like believers. They use the correct language, recite Scripture, may even preach and teach in the church, and are careful to be seen to perform good works. On the outside they resemble the true wheat of the believer, but they are really tares, false wheat (Matthew 13:24–30), working to separate the believer from his faith.

Apostate, characteristics (3). An apostate was never saved, despite any seemingly outward evidences. This does not mean an apostate cannot be saved. Unbelief, not sin, disqualifies a person from salvation. Should an apostate reject his false doctrines and believe the testimony of Scripture concerning the risen Jesus Christ as Savior, then he or she will be saved. Only salvation reveals who has been called to salvation, therefore, continue to witness to an apostate.

Apostle. The office of apostle and the spiritual gift of apostle are often confused and combined, so that some think one cannot have the gift without occupying the office. However, the apostolic office and the spiritual gift of special messenger (apostle) are linked in only one specific circumstance, which is to that specific group of believers known as the Twelve, and the apostle Paul: Acts 1:21–26; 6:2; 9:15–16; 1 Corinthians 15:5, 8–9; Revelation 21:14.

These certain men were appointed to the office and then gifted with the spiritual gift of special messenger. Their particular work was authoritatively proclaiming revelation, establishing the New Testament church, and judging the behavior of believers.

There were others in the New Testament who had the gift of special messenger, but did not hold the apostolic office: Barnabas, Acts 14:14; James the Lord’s brother, Galatians 1:19; perhaps Apollos, 1 Corinthians 4:6, 9; Silvanus, 1 Thessalonians 1:1 with 2:6; Titus, 2 Corinthians 8:23; Epaphroditus, Philippians 2:25; possibly Adronicus and Junia, Romans 16:7. In reference to the spiritual gift of special messenger, the word apostle is a broadly used term that indicates the messenger, his ministry, and the message he was responsible to deliver. For example, apostle is used in this sense to indicate those sent out by the church on a specific mission, e.g., Acts 14:14. The spiritual gift apostle indicates a functioning spiritual gift, not the apostolic office.

Arminianism. A gospel that teaches Christ by suffering on the cross restored to all human beings what was lost in Adam, resulting in God dispersing a measure of prevenient grace to all human beings so they are not pre-disposed by sin to rebel against God. Any unsaved sinner, through this universal prevenient grace, can now hear the gospel, evaluate and examine its claims, and make a decision based on their