Hades
New Testament term for the Hebrew “sheol,” which is the abode of the conscious dead. It is apparently a place (Acts ). In Revelation it is referred to as a creature on a horse (Rev. 6:8). In Rev. 1:18, it says that Christ holds the keys to death and Hades.
Hamartiology
The study of the doctrine of sin.
Heaven
Heaven is the dwelling place of God and for those who go there a place of everlasting bliss.
Scripture implies three heavens, since "the third heaven" is revealed to exist (2 Cor. 12:2). It is logical that a third heaven cannot exist without a first and second. Scripture does not describe specifically the first and second heaven. The first, however, apparently refers to the atmospheric heavens of the fowl (Hosea ) and clouds (Dan. ). The second heaven may be the area of the stars and planets (Gen. 1:14-18). It is the abode of all supernatural angelic beings. The third heaven is the abode of the triune God. Its location is unrevealed. (See Matt. 23:34-37; Luke 10:20; and Rev. 22:2, 20-27).
Hedonism
The teaching that pleasure is the principle good and proper goal of all action. Self indulgence.
Hell
Hell is the future place of eternal punishment of the damned including the devil and his fallen angels. There are several words rendered as Hell: Hades - A Greek word. It is the place of the dead, the location of the person between death and resurrection. (See Matt. ; ; Acts 11:27; 1 Cor. 15:55; Rev. 1:18; 6:8). Gehenna - A Greek word. It was the place where dead bodies were dumped and burned (2 Kings -14). Jesus used the word to designate the place of eternal torment (Matt. ,29,30; Mark ; Luke 12:5). Sheol - A Hebrew word. It is the place of the dead, not necessarily the grave, but the place the dead go to. It is used of both the righteous (Psalm ; 30:3; Isaiah 38:10) and the wicked (Num. 16:33; Job. 24:19; Psalm ). Hell is a place of eternal fire (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 19:20). It was prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41) and will be the abode of the wicked (Rev. 22:8) and the fallen angels (2 Pet. 2:4).
Henotheism
The teaching that there are many gods but that only one of them must be honored and worshipped.
Heresy
A doctrinal view that deviates from the truth, a false teaching. We are warned against it in Acts 20:29-32 and Phil. 3:2. Heresies include teachings that Jesus is not God and that the Holy Spirit is not a person (Jehovah's Witnesses, Christadelphians, The Way International), that men may become gods (Mormonism), that there is more than one God (Mormonism), that Jesus lost His divinity in hell and finished the atonement there, and that good works are necessary for salvation (all cults say this), to name a few.
Heterodoxy
A set of beliefs or opinions that are not in agreement with accepted doctrinal beliefs of a church. See orthodoxy.
Higher Self
A New Age term used to signify the divine part of each person that is capable of attaining the knowledge of perfection and "ultimate truth."
Homiletics
That branch of theology concerned with preaching and sermons and the proper way in which to deliver them.
Holy, Holiness
A quality of perfection, sinlessness, and inability to sin that is possessed by God alone. As Christians we are called to be holy (1 Pet. ). But this does not refer to our nature. Instead, it is a command of our practice and thought. We are to be holy in obedience (1 Pet. ). God has made us holy through His Son Jesus (Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:9).
Holy Orders
In Catholicism, one of the seven sacraments by which men, bishop, deacons, and priests, are given the power and authority by a bishop to offer sacrifice and forgive sins.
Holy Spirit, The
The third person of the Godhead. He is completely God. He is called God (Acts 5:3-4), has a will (1 Cor. ), speaks (Acts ; 13:2), and knows all things (John ). He is not an "active force" as the Jehovah's Witnesses mistakenly teach. The Holy Spirit is alive and is fully and completely God. He is called the Spirit of God (Gen. 1:2), Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:1), the Helper (John ,26), and Eternal Spirit (Heb. ). He knows all things (1 Cor. -11), is all powerful (Luke ), and is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-13). (See Trinity and Holy Spirit.)
Holy Water
In Catholicism, special water that has been blessed by a priest, bishop, etc. or a liturgical ceremony. It is used to bring a blessing to a person when applied.
Humanism
A philosophical system of thought that focuses on human value, thought, and actions. Humans are considered basically good and rationale creatures who can improve themselves and others through natural human abilities of reason and action. Secular Humanism is a late development emphasizing objectivity, human reason, and human standards that govern art, economics, ethics, and belief. As such, no deity is acknowledged.
Humility
The attitude of the Christian that teaches us not to "...think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment..." (Rom. 12:3). It teaches us to prefer others over ourselves (Rom. ). It is knowing our true position before God. It is not self-abasement or demeaning one's self. "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). Humility is necessary to be a disciple of Jesus (Matt. 18:3-4). The humility of Jesus is described in Philippians 2:5-8, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (NIV).
Hypostatic
This is the union of the two natures (Divine and human) in the person of Jesus. Jesus is God in flesh (John 1:1,14; -33; ; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8). He is fully God and fully man (Col. 2:9); thus, He has two natures: God and man. He is not half God and half man. He is 100% God and 100% man. He never lost his divinity.1 He continued to exist as God when He became a man and added human nature to Himself (Phil. 2:5-11). Therefore, there is a "union in one person of a full human nature and a full divine nature."2 Right now in heaven there is a man, Jesus, who is our Mediator between us and God the Father (1 Tim. 2:5). (For related information on Jesus and His two natures, see Incarnation, and the errors concerning His natures known as Eutychianism, Monophycitism, and Nestorianism.)
Jesus as God |
| Jesus as Man |
He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; ). |
| He worshiped the Father (John 17). |
He is prayed to (Acts ). |
| He prayed to the Father (John 17). |
He is sinless (1 Pet. ; Heb. ). |
| He was tempted (Matt. 4:1). |
He knows all things (John ). |
| He grew in wisdom (Luke ). |
He gives eternal life (John ). |
| He died (Rom. 5:8). |
All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9). |
| He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). |
