Glossary Definitions A - B

Allah

The Arabic word for God. The word Allah is used mainly by Muslims to refer to God in Islam. The word is also used by Arab Christians, followers of Baha’i, Arabic speakers and Christians in Indonesia, Malaysia and Malta. Mizrahi Jews also use the word Allah.

Almsgiving

Giving materially to another as an act of virtue. Almsgiving is associated with being a faithful and right living believer in a number of religions including Christianity.

Angelus

A devotion of the Roman Catholic Church in memory of the Annunciation of the angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Traditionally a bell was tolled in the morning, at noon and in the evening to indicate the time when the Angelus was to be recited.

Annunciation

Celebrates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, marking His Incarnation. The feast day is celebrated on March 25.

Apostles Creed

An early statement of Christian belief. It is widely used by a number of Christian denominations in both worship and educational contexts. Further information

Apostolate

The mission of bishops in their diocese together with the work of clergy, religious and laity who share and participate in the mission of the bishop as successor of the Twelve Apostles.

Apostolic

Having the characteristic of an apostle, those who formed the inner circle of Jesus’ followers and who provided energy and leadership to the early Christian communities following the death of Jesus.

Arianism

The doctrine taught by Arius that Christ the Son was not consubstantial (of the same substance) with God the Father. This doctrine is regarded as being heretical from the point of view of orthodox Christian teaching (i.e. Arianism is not in line with traditional belief).

Ascension

The bodily ascending of Christ from earth to heaven.

Beatitudes

‘Beatitude’ means supreme blessedness or exalted happiness. In a Christian context, the Beatitudes refer to the declarations of blessedness pronounced by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Before the Common Era (BCE)

Common Era (CE) is one of the notation systems for the world's most widely used calendar era – its dating is equivalent to the era referred to as AD (Anno Domini, "the year of the Lord").

The era preceding CE is known as Before the Common Era (BCE) and is equivalent to the era referred to as BC (Before Christ).

Proponents of the Common Era notation assert that the use of BCE/CE shows sensitivity to those who use the same year numbering system as the one that originated with and is currently used by Christians, but who are not themselves Christian.

The terminology is increasingly being used in the academic fields of Theology, Education and History as well as in major museums around the world.

Biblical criticism

The scholarly study and investigation of biblical texts that seeks to make discerning judgements about them utilising a variety of scholarly methods and approaches. Further information

Biblical tools

Online and printed reference items that support study of biblical texts such as biblical dictionaries, biblical search tools, scriptural commentaries and bible concordances.