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About This Quiz
Do you know Advent from the Eucharist? How about the Trinity from transubstantiation? Take our quiz to find out just how well you know your Christian lingo!
What elements make up the Trinity?
Moses, Elijah, and Jesus
Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
The early Church hotly debated exactly how Jesus was related to God. For example, some viewed Jesus as a man who had been adopted as God's son, while others viewed Jesus as subordinate to God. These views were eventually deemed heretical, and the Church settled on the view that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit comprised a Trinity: One God in three "persons."
What is an epistle?
A passionate defense
A letter
An epistle is simply a letter. While Paul's epistles are perhaps the best known and most influential, the term is used in secular contexts as well, such as the literary genre of epistolary novels.
An itinerary
When do you become "Born Again"?
After accepting Jesus
"Born again" was originally a play on words, since it could also mean "born from above." Jesus said that his followers would have to experience this second birth, which is usually associated either with baptism, conversion or feeling a personal connection with him.
After dying and entering Heaven
After having kids
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Adam, Noah and Abraham were all:
Judges
Patriarchs
Abraham is considered the father of Israel, so he and his ancestors are collectively called the Patriarchs. Jews still consider themselves descendants of Abraham, while Muslims also consider Abraham the father of all prophets, including Muhammad.
Pontiffs
What is the Eucharist?
Jesus' existence before the incarnation
The bread and wine used during Mass.
The term Eucharist comes from the Greek for "thanksgiving." It can refer to the bread used during Mass, or to the bread and wine collectively, or to the ceremony as a whole.
Another word for Antichrist.
What does the term "papacy" refer to?
Leaving the church
Abstaining from marriage.
The office of the pope.
The papacy refers to the office of the pope and comes from the Latin word for "father." In the early church, "pope" was simply the title used by bishops, but it was eventually reserved for the bishop of Rome.
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What do Christians mean by "Rapture"?
Being visited by the Holy Spirit
Ascending to Heaven
The Rapture is a future event in which the dead will be resurrected, and believers among both the dead and living will ascend into heaven before the world ends. Despite a common misconception, this is never described in the book of Revelation. Instead, it's mentioned in Matthew and 1 Thessalonians.
Forming a new Church
Who are the laity?
Fallen angels.
Jewish opponents of Jesus.
Average church members.
The laity are the average members of a church - that is, everyone except the priests, pastors, etc. This term has also been extended to mean "laypersons" in secular contexts.
What would you call someone who has been canonized?
A priest
A saint
Canonization is the final step in the Catholic church's process of declaring someone a saint. In order for someone to be canonized, they must have died as a martyr for the faith, or there must be a miracle associated with them.
The pope
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Who is the Madonna?
Mary, mother of Jesus
Madonna is Latin for "Our Lady" and is often used as a title for Mary in Roman Catholicism. Since Mary is often seen as embodying virtue, the term has also found use in other contexts, such as Freud's infamous "Madonna-Whore Complex."
Mary Magdalene
Any Catholic nun
A church that wants to find common ground with other denominations is:
Ecumenical
"Ecumenical" comes from the Greek word for "inhabited," meaning the whole of human civilization. These days, it refers to the trend of churches seeking common ground with other churches, rather than focusing on disagreements and schisms.
Monophysite
Heterodox
What does a Christian mean by "Catechism"?
The divide between Orthodox and Catholic churches.
The gulf between God and man after the Fall.
Instruction in Christian beliefs.
The Catechism is a set of questions and answers designed to teach the faith. While this was originally a Catholic technique, Martin Luther expanded the concept by creating two Protestant versions: a Small Catechism for children and a Large Catechism for adults. Since then, many other Protestant churches have created their own.
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Baptism, communion and marriage are examples of what?
Sacraments
Sacraments are rituals that demonstrate God's grace, although different churches disagree on what the sacraments are. Nearly all churches consider baptism and communion to be sacraments, while others include confession, confirmation, church blessings and anointing the sick.
Missals
Ordinations
What distinguishes a Red Letter Bible?
It's written for children or young adults.
It only contains the New Testament.
It displays Jesus' words in red ink.
A Red Letter Bible is a popular variant that shows Jesus' words in red. The popularity of this type of Bible has led to spinoffs that highlight specific themes in different colors, as well as the "Red Letter Christian" movement, which seeks to de-emphasize issues Jesus didn't directly address.
What are the Beatitudes?
The blessings in the Sermon on the Mount.
The Beatitudes are the eight blessings in the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus praises the poor, meek and hungry. In the Sermon on the Plain, four of these blessings are replaced with "woes" directed at those who have wealth here on Earth.
The prayers said while using a Rosary.
A couple's marriage vows.
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What is "witnessing"?
Giving a sermon in church
Swearing an oath to God.
Demonstrating your faith.
Witnessing is an evangelical term for showing people the influence Christianity has had on your life, similar to being a character witness in a courtroom.
What is the new relationship Jesus established between God and man?
New Apotheosis
New Testament
New Covenant
Relationships between God and man are called covenants. The Old Testament describes covenants with Abraham and Moses, but Jesus' sacrifice eventually supersedes them.
Which books of the Bible are called the Synoptics?
Matthew, Mark and Luke
Matthew, Mark and Luke are often called the Synoptic Gospels, from a Greek word meaning "same sight." The term is used because these Gospels largely describe the same events from a similar perspective, while John focuses more on philosophy and includes events not mentioned in the other three.
Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians
Psalms, Proverbs and Eccelsiastes
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What would you call someone who's not a Gentile?
Jewish
"Gentile" was a Jewish term for anyone non-Jewish. Even though Jesus fulfilled Jewish prophecies, Paul extensively argued that Gentiles did not need to convert to Judaism in order to follow him.
Christian
Atheist
When is Advent?
The month before Christmas
Advent is the season leading up to Christmas, which commemorates Jesus' birth. The season itself is meant to serve a dual purpose: honoring Jesus' first coming while preparing for his second.
The week before Easter
The weeks between Easter and Pentecost
What is the Great Commission?
A religious movement in the 19th century.
The group that elects a new Pope
Jesus' call to spread the Gospel.
After his resurrection, Jesus called on his followers to spread the Gospel around the world. Since this is the Great Commission, the earlier mission to the Jews during Jesus' lifetime is sometimes called the Little Commission instead.
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What is the eschaton?
Satan's rebellion against God.
The end of the world.
The eschaton is the end of the world, and eschatology is the study of everything the Bible says on the topic. Different denominations have very different interpretations of what the end times will look like and when they'll begin, since the prophecies and writings in question are heavily symbolic.
The Great Flood.
If you're studying "theodicy," what topic are you interested in?
The spread of Christianity to different cultures.
The philosophical problem of evil.
If God is all loving and all powerful, how can we account for the suffering we experience? This problem, called theodicy, has been around long before Christianity. Christian responses often focus on the role of free will, Satan, and the Fall to explain why the world looks the way it does, or attempt to find a greater purpose in seemingly cruel events.
The hierarchy of the Catholic church.
What do Universalists believe?
Everyone will make it to Heaven.
Universalism is the belief that everyone, regardless of religion, will eventually be reconciled with God and enter Heaven. Universalists don't necessarily deny that Hell exists, but they do reject the idea of eternal damnation.
God is present everywhere in the universe.
There is one objective, universal moral code.
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Transubstantiation refers to Jesus' body in what context?
In the womb.
During his resurrection.
During Mass.
The term refers to the bread and wine used during Mass. Some denominations simply treat the bread and wine as symbolic of Jesus' flesh and blood, or even replace wine with grape juice. Catholics, however, believe in transubstantiation: that the bread and wine become Jesus' flesh and blood in an actual, not symbolic, sense.
If someone prays to remove a demon's influence, they probably believe in what?
Contrition.
Spiritual warfare.
Spiritual warfare is the idea that demonic forces actively interfere in human affairs and set up obstacles between ourselves and God. This view of the human soul as a battleground between spiritual forces is especially popular in Pentecostalism, but by no means exclusive to it.
Metempsychosis.
If someone is studying apocrypha, what are they reading?
Holy books of other religions, like the Quran.
Second-hand biographies of saints.
Books that are in Catholic Bibles but not Protestant ones.
In Catholic Bibles, the Old Testament includes "apocrypha," such as Maccabees, Tobit and Sirach. These books were written by Jews, but are not considered canonical within Judaism, leading many Christians to doubt their authority. In most Protestant Bibles, these books are either moved to an appendix or left out.
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What are members of the Reformed Church usually called?
Methodists
Anglicans
Calvinists
The Reformed Church is the name followers gave themselves when they broke away from Lutheranism. Lutherans in turn gave them the derogatory name Calvinists, which stuck. Despite this name, the movement arguably predates John Calvin, whose writings nonetheless had an enormous influence on its theology.
Who is in charge of a diocese?
Priest
Bishop
In Catholicism, a diocese is overseen by a bishop. In turn, a diocese is divided into parishes, administered by individual priests, and multiple bishops are under an archdiocese.
Deacon
Who does the term "Immaculate Conception" apply to?
Jesus
Mary
Although the term is often confused with Jesus' virgin birth, it actually refers to the Catholic doctrine that Mary was born free of original sin. This doctrine, which is highly controversial among Protestants, was only officially declared in the mid-1800s by Pope Pius IX.
John the Baptist
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What does legalism mean?
Following the Old Testament Law will let you enter Heaven.
Legalism is the idea that the way to be saved is by diligently following the law. While few Christians would call themselves legalists, it's a common criticism for Christians to levy on each other (such as Protestants criticizing Catholics).
Christians should put secular laws above their religious beliefs.
The Bible is the only source of objective morality.
What does Total Depravity mean?
Nobody will enter heaven.
We're incapable of discerning right from wrong.
People can't choose to avoid sin.
Total depravity is similar to arguments made by Augustine and Aquinas, but its extreme form is generally associated with Martin Luther and John Calvin. According to this belief, the Fall has so thoroughly damaged us that we are incapable of avoiding sin. Luther argued that people aren't truly Christian if they believe we can choose to be good.
If something was "prelapsarian," it happened before what event?
The Great Flood
The Crucifixion
The Fall of Man
Prelapsarian refers to the time before the Fall, when humanity and nature were in their original, sinless states. The term is sometimes extended to refer to innocence in general, and is commonly used to discuss the impact of sin.
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What does the name "Tetragrammaton" refer to?
A collective term for the four Gospels.
The Hebrew name of God.
The Tetragrammaton is the Hebrew name of God, often rendered YHWH and transliterated as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah." Pronouncing this name is a taboo within Judaism, and Christian Bibles often replace it with the word "Lord" in small capitals.
An archangel who serves as God's messenger.
Which English phrase means the same thing as "sola fide"?
Salvation by Faith Alone
To differentiate his view of Christianity from the Catholic Church, Martin Luther defined tenets called the five "solae." Among these are "sola scriptura", which holds that the Bible is the sole source of religious authority, and "sola fide", which says faith is the sole criteria for salvation.
Once Saved, Always Saved
Monogamy
What does the word "Catholic" actually mean?
Universal
"Catholic" means universal. As the Roman Catholic church has split into Orthodox and Protestant denominations, many now use the word "catholic" (uncapitalized) to refer to a broader sense of universality, while "Catholic" refers to Roman Catholicism. Many Protestant groups consider themselves "catholic" in this sense.
Infallible
Original
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What are you doing if you engage in apologetics?
Seeking forgiveness for sins.
Teaching a moral lesson.
Arguing for the Christian faith.
The word "apologetics" comes from the original Greek meaning of "apology," which refers to a legal defense. In modern usage, an apologist is someone who defends the faith through reason and argument.
What do Catholics call sins that don't lead to damnation?
Temporal Sin
Venial Sin
In Catholicism, there are two kinds of sin: mortal and venial. Mortal sins result in separation from God and damnation in Hell if the person who committed them doesn't repent, while venial sins are forgivable even without repentance. In general, if someone sins unwillingly, that sin will be considered venial.
Internal Sin
What is the Annuciation?
The process of electing a new pope.
The original announcement of Jesus' birth.
The Annunciation was Gabriel's announcement that Mary would give birth to Jesus. Catholics celebrate this event near the Vernal Equinox, nine months before Christmas.
A final prayer for someone who's dying.
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Often translated as "the Word", what does John 1:1 call Jesus?
Logos
Logos was a Greek term for the logic of an argument, but it is now best known from John's famous opening sentence: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Dogma
Syzygy
What is Doxology?
The study of sin.
A short prayer.
A doxology is a short hymn, especially one used by Catholics. The term is sometimes used simply to describe the most famous doxology: "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," which is recited during Mass.
Shunning someone who has left the church.
What is exegesis?
Visiting Jerusalem.
Interpreting the Bible.
Exegesis is the interpretation of scripture. The proper way to read the Bible has been debated since at least the Reformation, when Martin Luther vehemently argued against Catholics interpretations. Modern debates include whether the Bible should be read as inerrant revelation or primarily as a human book.
Serving as a missionary.
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Being forgiven by God and absolved of sin is called what?
Justification.
Justification is the process of God absolving you of sin, allowing access into heaven. Protestants split off from the Catholic Church largely due to disagreement on what was necessary for justification. In particular, the two sides argued over whether good works were necessary to be saved, and to what extent the church could act on God's behalf.
Veneration.
Catharsis.
Which term refers to Jesus' second coming?
Pentecost
Parousia
The Parousia (Greek for "arrival") is Jesus' second coming. The larger term "delay of the Parousia" refers to the mistaken belief that Jesus would return before any of his followers died, and the disappointment when this didn't come to pass. Several epistles address this disappointment.
Transfiguration
What term means that your decisions have no impact on whether you enter Heaven?
Unconditional Election
Unconditional Election is a Calvinist doctrine that says God has already chosen who will be saved. This salvation is "unconditional" in that it doesn't depend on anything in your control, such as whether you join the church or your morality. Calvinists often argue that people who are predestined to enter Heaven will also tend to be faithful and moral people, but they don't believe God saves them because of those traits.
Irresistible Grace
Imputed Righteousness
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