Terminology Tuesday: Purgatory

Purgatory: In Catholic theology, the place of purification and maturation that one may need to enter after death before the perfected soul attains the "beatific vision"—that is, perfectly "seeing" and "knowing" the triune God. Protestants have generally rejected the concept as having no basis in Scripture and as denying the significance and finality of mortal life on earth.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 97.

Terminology Tuesday: Plenary Inspiration

Plenary Inspiration: A late-Reformation view of biblical inspiration that holds that God is the ultimate author of the Bible in its entirety. That is, God's superintending work in inspiration extends to the whole Bible and to each part of the Bible. Plenary inspiration guarantees that all that the church has come to affirm as Scripture is both authoritative and helpful for Christian belief and practice.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), pp. 91-92.

Westminster Larger & Shorter Catechism Podcasts

This is an audio version of The Westminster Larger Catechism and Shorter Catechism. Each episode is a section of ten questions. The question is read followed by the answer. They can be downloaded via iTunes at these links:

• The Westminster Shorter Catechism in iTunes
• The Westminster Larger Catechism in iTunes

Enjoy.

PDF Download: Westminster Confession

Here is a PDF booklet version of the Westminster Confession. The Christian apologist who is unfamiliar with the various confessions of faith throughout Church history will be lacking foundation. I encourage you to get familiar with this confession of faith and others.

Theopedia has a great page with links to notable creeds and confessions of Church history.