Lutheran glossary
228 church words in plain English. Type a word, or tap a letter.
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Words you’ll hear on a Sunday, in order
- InvocationThe opening words
- ConfessionNear the start
- AbsolutionRight after
- KyrieSung early on
- Prayer of the DayBefore the readings
- AlleluiaBefore the Gospel
- SermonAfter the Gospel
- CreedAfter the sermon
- Sharing of the PeaceBefore communion
- OfferingBefore communion
- Words of InstitutionAt the table
- Agnus DeiAs communion begins
- BenedictionAt the end
A
- Aaronic Blessing The blessing “The Lord bless you and keep you,” spoken at the end of most Lutheran services. Sunday worship
- Absolution ab-so-LOO-shun Words of forgiveness spoken to you in God’s name, usually after confession. Baptism and communion
- Acolyte AK-o-lite A helper in the service, often a young person, who lights the candles and carries the cross. Sunday worship
- Adiaphora ad-ee-AF-or-uh Church practices the Bible neither commands nor forbids, like candles or what the pastor wears. Congregations are free to differ on them. Beliefs
- Advent The four weeks before Christmas, a season of waiting for Jesus. Church year
- Agnus Dei AHN-yoos DAY-ee “Lamb of God,” a song sung just before communion. Sunday worship
- Alien Righteousness Being right with God because of what Christ did, not because of anything good in you. His goodness is counted as yours. Beliefs
- All Creation Sings A 2020 add-on to the ELCA’s worship book, with about two hundred more hymns and services. Sunday worship · also ACS
- All Saints November 1, or the Sunday after, when the church remembers everyone who has died in the faith. Church year
- Alleluia ah-leh-LOO-yah Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.” Sung before the Gospel reading, and left out during Lent. Sunday worship · also Hallelujah
- Altar The table at the front of the church where communion is prepared and given. Sunday worship
- Amen AH-men or AY-men Hebrew for “truly” or “so be it.” Said at the end of a prayer to make it your own. Sunday worship
- Anamnesis an-am-NEE-sis The part of the communion prayer that remembers Jesus’ death and resurrection in a way that makes them present for us now. Baptism and communion
- Anfechtung AHN-fekh-toong Luther’s word for the dark times when God feels absent or against you. He said even strong believers go through it. Beliefs
- Antinomianism an-tee-no-MEE-un-iz-um The mistaken idea that because God forgives us, God’s commandments no longer matter. Beliefs
- Antiphon AN-tih-fon A short verse sung before and after a psalm, to set its tone for the day. Sunday worship
- Apocrypha uh-POK-rih-fuh Old Jewish books in some Bibles but not others. Luther printed them as worth reading but not equal to Scripture. The Bible · also Deuterocanon, Deuterocanonical Books
- Apology of the Augsburg Confession Melanchthon’s 1531 defence of the Augsburg Confession. “Apology” here means a reasoned defence, not saying sorry. Lutheran writings
- Apostle “One who is sent.” The twelve Jesus sent out to tell others about him, and Paul. The Bible
- Apostles' Creed The short, three-part statement of faith most Lutherans say at baptisms and many Sundays. Lutheran writings
- Ascension Forty days after Easter, when the church celebrates Jesus being taken up into heaven. Church year
- Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent, when a cross of ashes is marked on people’s foreheads. Church year
- Athanasian Creed ath-uh-NAY-zhun A long, careful creed about the Trinity, usually read only on Trinity Sunday. Lutheran writings
- Atonement How Jesus’ death puts things right between people and God. Beliefs
- Augsburg Confession OWGS-boorg The 1530 statement of what Lutherans believe. Still the main summary of Lutheran teaching. Lutheran writings
B
- Baptism Washing with water, with God’s promise, that makes someone part of the church. Baptism and communion · also Holy Baptism
- Baptism of Our Lord The Sunday after Epiphany, remembering Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. Church year
- Benediction ben-eh-DIK-shun The blessing at the very end of the service. Sunday worship
- Benedictus beh-neh-DIK-toos The song of Zechariah, sung at morning prayer. Sunday worship
- Bible The book of writings Christians receive as God’s word: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Bible · also Scripture
- Bishop In the ELCA, a pastor elected for a set term to lead a region of churches, called a synod. Church life
- Bondage of the Will Luther’s teaching that we cannot choose God by our own power. Faith is God’s gift. Beliefs
- Book of Concord The 1580 book that collects the main Lutheran statements of faith, including the catechisms. Lutheran writings
C
- Call A congregation’s formal invitation to a pastor to serve there. Also the sense that God is calling you. Church life
- Canon The official list of books that belong in the Bible. The Bible
- Canticle KAN-tih-kul A song taken from the Bible (not a psalm) and sung in worship. Sunday worship
- Catechism KAT-uh-kiz-um A short book of the basics of the faith. Luther wrote one for families. Lutheran writings
- Chancel CHAN-sul The raised area at the front of the church around the altar. Sunday worship
- Cheap Grace Bonhoeffer’s phrase for forgiveness taken for granted, with no change of life and no following Jesus. Beliefs
- Christ the King The last Sunday of the church year, celebrating Jesus as king of all. Church year · also Reign of Christ
- Christian Freedom Freedom to differ on things the Bible doesn’t command or forbid, and freedom to serve others. Beliefs
- Christmas The twelve days from December 25 to January 5, celebrating Jesus’ birth. Church year
- Christology kris-TOL-uh-jee Teaching about who Jesus is: fully God and fully human, one person. Beliefs
- Church Year The yearly cycle of seasons, from Advent to Christ the King, that tells the story of Jesus. Church year
- Collect KAH-lekt A short prayer for the day, said by the pastor before the readings. Sunday worship
- Communicatio Idiomatum ko-moo-nee-KAH-tsee-oh id-ee-OH-mah-toom Because Jesus is one person, what is true of God is true of the man Jesus, and the reverse. So we can say God died. Beliefs
- Compline KOM-plin Night prayer, the last short service of the day, prayed before sleep. Sunday worship · also Night Prayer
- Confession Telling God, and sometimes a pastor, what you have done wrong, and hearing that you are forgiven. Baptism and communion
- Confirmation A time of learning the faith, usually as a young teenager, ending with a public yes to your baptism. Baptism and communion
- Congregation A local church: the people who gather to hear God’s word and share the sacraments. Church life
- Conscience Your inner sense of right and wrong, which can accuse you or be at peace. Beliefs
- Consubstantiation kon-sub-stan-shee-AY-shun A label often given to the Lutheran view of communion. Lutherans don’t use it themselves; they say Christ is truly present, without explaining how. Baptism and communion
- Covenant A binding promise between God and people. Jesus spoke of a new covenant at the Last Supper. The Bible
- Creed A short summary of what Christians believe, said together in church. Lutheran writings
D
- Daily Office Short prayer services for morning, evening and night that anyone can pray, alone or together. Sunday worship · also Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours
- Deus absconditus / Deus revelatus DAY-oos ab-SKON-dih-toos, DAY-oos ray-veh-LAH-toos God hidden in what we can’t explain, and God shown to us in Jesus. Luther said: look to Jesus. Beliefs
- Diet of Worms DEE-et of VORMS The 1521 meeting where Luther refused to take back what he had written. History
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer DEE-trikh BON-huh-fer A German Lutheran pastor who resisted the Nazis and was executed in 1945. History
- Disciple A follower who learns from a teacher. Jesus’ closest followers, and now any Christian. The Bible
- Doxology dok-SOL-uh-jee A short song or line of praise to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sunday worship
E
- Easter The day Christians celebrate Jesus rising from death, and the fifty days that follow. Church year · also Resurrection of Our Lord
- Easter Vigil The night service before Easter, with new fire, Bible stories and often baptisms. Church year
- ELCA The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran church in the United States. Church life · also Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Emergency Baptism When someone is close to death, any Christian may baptize them with water and the words of the Trinity. Baptism and communion
- Enthusiasm Luther’s word for claiming to hear God directly, apart from the Bible and the sacraments. Beliefs
- Epiclesis ep-ih-KLEE-sis The prayer asking the Holy Spirit to come on the bread and wine and on the people. Baptism and communion
- Epiphany ih-PIF-uh-nee January 6, when the wise men came to Jesus, and the weeks after it. Church year
- Epistle ih-PIS-ul A letter. Many New Testament books are letters to early churches, most of them from Paul. The Bible
- Eschatology es-kuh-TOL-uh-jee Teaching about the end: death, resurrection, judgement and the world to come. Beliefs
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship The ELCA’s main worship book (2006), with services, psalms and over six hundred hymns. Sunday worship · also ELW
- Ex Opere Operato ex OH-peh-ray oh-peh-RAH-toh The idea that a sacrament works just by being done. Lutherans say it must be received in faith. Baptism and communion
- Exegesis ex-uh-JEE-sis Reading a Bible passage carefully to find what it actually says and meant. The Bible
- Extra Calvinisticum EX-trah kal-vin-IS-tih-koom A Reformed teaching about Christ’s divine nature that Lutherans reject, at the root of disagreement over communion. Beliefs
F
- Faith Trust in God. Lutherans say it is a gift God gives, not something you work up. Beliefs
- Finitum capax infiniti fih-NEE-toom KAH-pahks in-fih-NEE-tee Ordinary things like bread, water and a human body can truly carry God. Beliefs
- Font The basin that holds the water for baptism, often near the church entrance. Sunday worship · also Baptismal Font
- Forgiveness God letting go of what we did wrong, for Jesus’ sake. Given as a gift, not earned. Beliefs
- Formula of Concord A 1577 document that settled arguments among Lutherans after Luther died. Lutheran writings
- Freedom of a Christian Luther’s 1520 essay: a Christian is free from earning God’s love, and so free to serve others. Beliefs
- Full Communion When two churches recognise each other’s sacraments and pastors, without merging. Church life
G
- Gloria in Excelsis GLOR-ee-uh in ek-SHEL-sis “Glory to God in the highest,” a song of praise near the start of the service. Sunday worship
- Good Friday The Friday before Easter, remembering the day Jesus was crucified. Church year
- Good Works Acts of love toward other people. They matter, but they don’t earn God’s love. Beliefs
- Gospel The good news that God forgives and saves us in Jesus. Also one of the four books about Jesus’ life. Beliefs
- Grace God’s love that you don’t have to earn. Beliefs
H
- Heaven Life with God. Christians hope for the resurrection and a world made new. Beliefs
- Hell Separation from God. Lutherans speak of it soberly, never to frighten people into faith. Beliefs
- Hermeneutics her-meh-NOO-tiks The rules or approach you use to interpret the Bible. The Bible
- Hidden God God in what we can’t understand, like suffering. Luther said to look instead at God shown in Jesus. Beliefs · also Deus absconditus
- Historical-Critical Method Studying the Bible in its history and languages: who wrote it, when, and for whom. The Bible
- Holy Spirit God present and at work in people now, giving faith and comfort. Beliefs
- Holy Week The week before Easter, from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday. Church year
- Homebound Communion Communion brought to someone at home or in hospital who can’t come to church. Church life
- Hymn A song the whole congregation sings together in worship. Sunday worship
I
- Imputation im-pyoo-TAY-shun God counting Jesus’ goodness as yours. Beliefs
- Incarnation God becoming a human being in Jesus. Beliefs
- Indulgence A paper sold in Luther’s day promising less punishment for sin. His protest against them began the Reformation. Beliefs
- Inerrancy The belief that the Bible has no errors of any kind. Some Lutheran churches hold it; the ELCA does not. The Bible
- Invocation The opening words of the service: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Sunday worship
- Invocation of Saints Praying to saints. Lutherans honour the saints but pray only to God, through Christ. Beliefs
J
- Johann Sebastian Bach The great Lutheran composer (1685–1750), who wrote music for nearly every Sunday of the church year. History
- Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification A 1999 agreement in which Lutherans and Catholics said they share a basic understanding of grace and faith. Church life
- Justification Being made right with God as a gift, for Jesus’ sake, received through faith. Beliefs
- Justification by Faith We are made right with God through trust in Jesus, not by being good enough. Beliefs
K
L
- Large Catechism Luther’s longer explanation of the basics of the faith, written for pastors and adults. Lutheran writings
- Law and Gospel Two ways God speaks: the law shows what we should do and that we fall short; the gospel tells what God has done for us. Beliefs
- Lectern LEK-tern The stand from which the Bible is read aloud in worship. Sunday worship
- Lectionary LEK-shun-air-ee The schedule of Bible readings for each Sunday, shared by many churches. Sunday worship
- Lent The forty days before Easter, a season of turning back to God. Church year
- Liturgical Colours The colours of the church year, like purple in Lent, white at Easter and green most of the year. Sunday worship · also Liturgical Colors
- Liturgy LIT-er-jee The shape of a worship service: gathering, word, meal and sending. Sunday worship
- Lord's Supper The meal of bread and wine that Jesus gave his followers to share. Baptism and communion · also Holy Communion, Communion, Eucharist, Sacrament of the Altar
- Lutheran A Christian church that follows the teaching of the Reformation led by Martin Luther, centred on God’s grace. Church life
- Lutheran World Federation A worldwide fellowship of Lutheran churches, founded in 1947. Church life · also LWF
M
- Magnificat mag-NIF-ih-kaht Mary’s song of praise, sung at evening prayer. Sunday worship
- Marburg Colloquy MAR-boorg KOL-uh-kwee The 1529 meeting where Luther and Zwingli agreed on almost everything except communion. History
- Marks of the Church How to recognise the true church: the gospel rightly preached and the sacraments rightly given. Church life
- Martin Luther The German monk and teacher (1483–1546) whose protest in 1517 began the Reformation. History
- Matins MAT-inz Morning prayer, a short service to begin the day. Sunday worship · also Morning Prayer
- Maundy Thursday MAWN-dee The Thursday before Easter, remembering the Last Supper and Jesus washing his friends’ feet. Church year · also Holy Thursday
- Means of Grace The ordinary ways God gives grace: the spoken and written word, baptism and communion. Baptism and communion
- Mercy Kindness that isn’t deserved. “Lord, have mercy” is one of the church’s oldest prayers. Beliefs
- Messiah meh-SY-uh The king God promised to send. “Christ” is the Greek word for the same thing. The Bible · also Christ
- Minister of Word and Sacrament A pastor: a church leader who preaches, teaches and leads baptism and communion. Church life · also Pastor
- Minister of Word and Service A deacon in the ELCA, called to serve where church and world meet, like teaching, health care or advocacy. Church life · also Deacon
- Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, a more conservative Lutheran church separate from the ELCA. Church life · also LCMS
- Monergism MON-er-jiz-um The teaching that God alone brings a person to faith. Beliefs
N
- Narthex NAR-thex The entry room or lobby of a church, where you usually pick up a bulletin. Sunday worship
- Nave NAYV The main part of the church, where the congregation sits. Sunday worship
- New Testament The second part of the Bible: 27 books about Jesus and the first churches. The Bible
- Nicene Creed NY-seen An ancient statement of faith, often said on Sundays with communion. Lutheran writings
- Ninety-Five Theses Luther’s 1517 list of objections to selling forgiveness, which began the Reformation. History
- NRSVue A modern English Bible translation (2021) that the ELCA uses in worship. The Bible
- Nunc Dimittis noonk dih-MIT-is The song of old Simeon who held the baby Jesus, sung at night prayer and funerals. Sunday worship
O
- Offering The gifts collected during worship. A thank-you, not a fee, and visitors aren’t expected to give. Sunday worship
- Office of the Keys The authority Jesus gave the church to forgive sins in his name. Baptism and communion
- Old Testament The first part of the Bible, written before Jesus: the Law, the Prophets and the Writings, such as the Psalms. The Bible · also Hebrew Bible
- Open Communion Inviting all baptized Christians to communion, whatever church they belong to. Most ELCA churches do this. Baptism and communion
- Order of Salvation A list of steps in how a person is saved. Lutherans use the words but don’t treat it as a checklist. Beliefs · also Ordo Salutis
- Ordinary The parts of the service that are the same every week, like the Kyrie and the Creed. Sunday worship
- Ordinary Time The weeks between the big seasons. Lutherans usually say “time after Pentecost.” Church year
- Ordination The service in which someone is set apart to be a pastor, with prayer and laying on of hands. Church life
- Original Sin Everyone is born turned away from God and can’t fix that by their own effort. Beliefs
P
- Palm Sunday The Sunday before Easter, remembering Jesus riding into Jerusalem as people waved palms. Church year · also Passion Sunday
- Parable A short story Jesus told to teach something. The Bible
- Paraments PAIR-uh-ments The coloured cloths on the altar and pulpit that change with the church seasons. Sunday worship
- Paul Gerhardt GAIR-hart A seventeenth-century Lutheran pastor who wrote many loved hymns. History
- Pauline Epistles The New Testament letters written by or credited to Paul, such as Romans and Galatians. The Bible
- Peace of Augsburg The 1555 agreement that let each German ruler choose whether their land was Lutheran or Catholic. History
- Pentateuch PEN-tuh-took The first five books of the Bible, called the Torah in Jewish tradition. The Bible · also Torah
- Pentecost Fifty days after Easter, when the Holy Spirit came on Jesus’ followers. Its colour is red. Church year
- Pericope peh-RIK-uh-pee A short passage of the Bible chosen to be read aloud. The Bible
- Perspicuity of Scripture per-spih-KYOO-ih-tee The teaching that the Bible is clear enough for ordinary people to understand what matters most. The Bible
- Philip Melanchthon meh-LANK-thon Luther’s colleague who wrote the Augsburg Confession. History
- Pneumatology noo-muh-TOL-uh-jee Teaching about the Holy Spirit. Beliefs
- Prayer Talking with God: asking, thanking, complaining or simply being quiet with God. Sunday worship
- Prayer of the Day The short prayer for each Sunday, said before the readings. Sunday worship
- Predestination God choosing to save those who believe. Lutherans reject the idea that God chooses anyone for damnation. Beliefs
- Priesthood of All Believers Every baptized person can come to God directly and is called to serve others. Beliefs
- Proper A numbered set of Bible readings for a Sunday after Pentecost, tied to the calendar date. Church year
- Propers The parts of the service that change each week: the readings, psalm, prayer and colour. Sunday worship
- Prophet Someone God sends to speak his word to the people, often calling them back to justice. The Bible
- Psalm SAHM One of the 150 prayers and songs in the Bible’s book of Psalms. The Bible
- Psalmody SAH-muh-dee Singing or saying the psalms as part of regular prayer. Sunday worship
- Pulpit PUL-pit The raised stand where the pastor preaches the sermon. Sunday worship
- Purgatory A Catholic teaching about a place of cleansing after death. Lutherans don’t teach it. Beliefs
R
- Real Presence Lutherans believe Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine of communion, not just remembered. Baptism and communion
- Reformation The 1500s movement, begun by Martin Luther in 1517, to reform the church around God’s grace. History
- Reformation Sunday The last Sunday in October, remembering the Reformation. Its colour is red. Church year
- Repentance Turning around: being sorry for sin and trusting God’s forgiveness. Beliefs
- Resurrection Jesus rising from death to new life on the third day, and the hope of new life for all. Beliefs
- Revised Common Lectionary The three-year schedule of Sunday Bible readings used by the ELCA and many other churches. The Bible · also RCL
- Rostered Minister Someone officially approved to serve as a pastor or deacon in the ELCA. Church life
- Rubric ROO-brik An instruction in a worship book telling you what to do, like “Stand” or “Sit.” Sunday worship
S
- Sabbath The weekly day of rest God gave his people. The Bible
- Sacerdotalism sas-er-DOH-tul-iz-um The view that priests are needed to bring God’s grace to people. The Reformation rejected it. Beliefs
- Sacrament A holy act Jesus commanded that joins God’s promise to something physical. Lutherans usually count two: baptism and communion. Baptism and communion
- Sacramental Union Christ’s body and blood are truly present in, with and under the bread and wine, which stay bread and wine. Baptism and communion
- Saint In the Bible, any member of the church. Lutherans also remember famous saints, but don’t pray to them. Beliefs
- Salvation Being rescued by God from sin and death and brought into life with God, as a gift. Beliefs
- Sanctification The Holy Spirit slowly making a forgiven person more loving and holy over a lifetime. Beliefs
- Sanctoral Cycle sank-TOR-ul The calendar of saints’ days on fixed dates through the year. Church year
- Sanctuary The main room of a church where people gather for worship. Sunday worship
- Sanctus SAHNK-toos “Holy, holy, holy,” sung just before the communion prayer. Sunday worship
- Septuagint SEP-too-uh-jint An ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, the one most New Testament writers quoted. The Bible · also LXX
- Sermon The talk in the service that explains the Bible readings for today. Sunday worship
- Sharing of the Peace The moment people greet those near them with “Peace be with you.” A nod or smile is enough. Sunday worship · also The Peace
- Simul Justus et Peccator SEE-mool YOOS-toos et peh-KAH-tor A Christian is completely forgiven and still a sinner, both at once. Beliefs
- Sin Anything that turns us away from God and from loving other people. Beliefs
- Smalcald Articles SHMAHL-kahlt Luther’s 1537 list of the beliefs he would not give up. Lutheran writings
- Small Catechism Luther’s short 1529 book on the basics of the faith, for families. Still the starting point. Lutheran writings
- Sola Fide SOH-lah FEE-day “Faith alone.” We are made right with God through trust in Jesus, not by good deeds. Beliefs
- Sola Gratia SOH-lah GRAH-tsee-ah “Grace alone.” Salvation is God’s gift, not something we earn. Beliefs
- Sola Scriptura SOH-lah skrip-TOO-rah “Scripture alone.” The Bible is the final authority for what the church teaches. Beliefs
- Solus Christus SOH-loos KRIS-toos “Christ alone.” Jesus is the only one who brings us to God. Beliefs
- Supersessionism soo-per-SESH-un-iz-um The idea that the church replaced Israel as God’s people. The ELCA rejects it. The Bible
- Synergism SIN-er-jiz-um The idea that people cooperate with God to be saved. Lutherans reject it. Beliefs
- Synod SIN-ud A region of ELCA churches led by a bishop. There are sixty-five. Church life
- Synoptic Gospels sih-NOP-tik Matthew, Mark and Luke, three Gospels that tell many of the same stories. The Bible
T
- Temporal Cycle The part of the church year that follows Jesus’ life, from Advent to Christ the King. Church year
- Tetragrammaton tet-ruh-GRAM-uh-ton The four Hebrew letters of God’s name, YHWH, printed as “the LORD” in most Bibles. The Bible
- The Happy Exchange Luther’s picture of faith as a marriage: Christ takes our sin, and we receive his goodness. Beliefs
- Theodicy thee-OD-ih-see The question of how a good God can allow suffering. Beliefs
- Theology of Glory Looking for God in success and power. Luther said that is the wrong place to look. Beliefs
- Theology of the Cross Finding God where we least expect: in weakness, suffering and Jesus’ cross. Beliefs
- Third Use of the Law God’s commandments also guide Christians in how to live, not only show them their sin. Beliefs
- Time after Pentecost The long green season from Pentecost to Advent, about everyday life with God. Church year
- Transfiguration The Sunday before Lent, remembering Jesus shining with light on a mountain. Church year
- Transubstantiation tran-sub-stan-shee-AY-shun The Catholic teaching that bread and wine become Christ’s body and blood and stop being bread and wine. Baptism and communion
- Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope Melanchthon’s 1537 argument that the pope’s claims of authority are not found in the Bible. Lutheran writings
- Triduum TRID-oo-um The three holy days from Maundy Thursday evening to Easter, kept as one long service. Church year · also Three Days
- Trinity The Christian word for one God, known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Beliefs
- Trinity Sunday The Sunday after Pentecost, celebrating God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Church year
- Two Kingdoms God rules in two ways: through the gospel in the church, and through laws and government in the world. Beliefs
- Typology ty-POL-uh-jee Reading Old Testament people or events as pointing ahead to Jesus. The Bible
U
V
- Verbal Inspiration The belief that God gave the Bible’s exact words, not only its message. The Bible
- Versicle VER-sih-kul A short line sung or said by a leader, answered by the people. Sunday worship
- Vespers VES-perz Evening prayer, a short service as the day ends. Sunday worship · also Evening Prayer
- Vestments The robes and stoles worn by those who lead worship, often in the colour of the season. Sunday worship
- Viaticum vy-AT-ih-kum Communion given to someone who is dying. Baptism and communion
- Vocation Your calling: the everyday places God puts you to serve other people. Beliefs
- Vulgate VUL-gayt The Latin Bible used in the Western church for a thousand years. The Bible
W
- Was Christum treibet vahs KRIS-toom TRY-bet Luther’s test for reading the Bible: what points most clearly to Christ matters most. The Bible
- Words of Institution Jesus’ words over the bread and wine, “This is my body…,” said at every communion. Baptism and communion
- World English Bible A modern English Bible translation that is free for anyone to use. The Bible · also WEB
About this glossary
Written by Digital Lutheran Church in the tradition of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Each word has one plain sentence and a fuller definition. Where Lutherans differ from other churches, the entry says so. Where a teaching has a clear home (a Bible passage, the Small Catechism, the Augsburg Confession), the word’s page names it. How we check what we publish.
Try it: matching, 2 min or 20 Practise these words with Word match A plain line and three words to choose from. Start with the 14 a newcomer meets first. Match some wordsThe whole glossary is free to reuse as open data: glossary.json (public domain, CC0).
Practise these words in crosswords and word searches on Luther’s World