Nicene: Having to do with the Council of Nicaea 325 or the trinitarian
theology that stems from it. Nicene theology is the orthodox theology of
the Trinity on which Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants agree. What is
commonly called the “Nicene Creed” was actually formulated at the Council
of Constantinople 381, incorporating key elements of the original creed
promulgated by the Council of Nicaea, including the famous homoousios
clause. (For a listing of these councils, see the timeline.)
Nonconformist: Originally a term for Puritan ministers who did not conform
to the church practices and ceremonies mandated by the Act of Uniformity
under the Elizabethan Settlement. It was later a label for all Protestants who
were dissenters.
oikonomia: (See economy.)
ontology: From a Greek term meaning “theory of being,” a branch of
metaphysics or philosophy that is concerned with the nature of being. Hence,
for example, Augustine’s teaching that all being is good can be labeled
“ontological optimism.”
original sin: The doctrine, advocated most powerfully by Augustine, that
every human being is born not only with a corrupt and sinful nature but
guilty of Adam’s sin and deserving damnation.
orthodox: From a Greek term meaning both “right belief” and also “right
worship.” When capitalized, it refers to Eastern Orthodoxy, the mainstream
of the Christian tradition in the East, rooted in the Greek speaking half of
the ancient Roman Empire, developing in the Byzantine Empire, and later
spreading to the Slavic peoples (thus including not only Greek Orthodox
but Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, etc.). When not capitalized, the
term typically includes Catholics and Protestants as well as Orthodox. The
opposite of “orthodox” is “heretical.”
ousia: (See essence and homoousios.)