Dictionary of Vital Theological Terms

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Agathology — the inquiry into the nature of the good.

Annihilationism — the doctrine or view that the souls of the wicked are not everlastingly punished in Hell but instead are destroyed or annihilated. This doctrine provides a compromise for those who felt, on the one hand, that eternal damnation was a blot on God’s love, and on the other, that universalism did not allow for human freedom of choice. In considering its adoption, you may want to know that this doctrine was condemned by the Fifth Lateran Council in 1513.

Antelapsarianism — the doctrine that God willed the salvation of some humans even before the “Fall” (lapsus). This doctrine has another name that is at least as impressive — supralapsarianism. In staunch opposition stands Infralapsarianism (or sub or postlapsarianism), whose supporters contend that a merciful God did not and would not make such a decision before a person was even born. The Supras respond that the Infras’ position is illogical because it does not take into account God’s omnipotence or omniscience. A related concern is whether God, in either case, wills both salvation and damnation. Is there some relief in this difficult matter in the fact that there are alternate names for each position?

Anhypostasis — christological theory that claims that the divine Logos took on human nature in general and was not incarnate in a real, individual person. This view has been considered a heresy since 381 C.E.

Apocatastasis — the final and complete salvation of all beings.

The editors offer this knowledge to assist the reader in theological arguments that he or she may encounter. We also acknowledge our debt to Van A. Harvey, A Handbook of Theological Terms.