Structure of a Definition
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
7:59 PM
Basic Definition
All terms should be defined in one or two sentences.  Students should use their own words and avoid quotations.  
Place the term in Bold, followed by a dash -- and then the term.  
Example
Catechism--is a topically organized summary of a the content of the Christian faith for a particular religious denominational or denominational family. A catechism may be question and answer form and was originally used as a mode of baptismal preparation instruction but developed to refer to the definitive expression of the Christian Faith  usually built around the Creeds, Decalogue, and Lord's Prayer.
Even with an extended the first one or two sentences of the definition should be a succinct definition of the term.
Extended Definition
The extended definition does not provide alternative definitions of the same term, but rather picks a particular sub-field of knowledge from which to define the term.  For example 1. Biblical identify key texts that serve as touchstones for a concept or term.   You may even one to split the Biblical definition into Hebrew Bible and New Testament.  2.  Historical developments of the term.  You should not want to try to address each era.  However, the standard division of eras would be a. Apostolic (30-100), b. Patristic (100-451); c. Medieval (451-1517); d. Reformation (1517-1648); and e. Modern (1648-Present); it's possible that you might want to argue for a Postmodern era (1946-Present). 3.  You may want to define the term as it functions within your denomination or denominational family (e.g., Orthodox, Catholic, Wesleyan, Reformed).  4. You may want to focus on a particular theological method (Liberal, Ecumenical, Neo-Orthodox, Narrative, Liberation, Feminist, Womanist, Process Theology, Queer).  An extended definition would not try to touch on all these different fields, but would want to cover at least three.  
Here's an example:
Catechism--is a topically organized summary of a the content of the Christian faith for a particular religious denominational or denominational family. A catechism may be question and answer form and was originally used as a mode of baptismal preparation instruction but developed to refer to the definitive expression of the Christian Faith  usually built around the Creeds, Decalogue, and Lord's Prayer. (1) Several references in the Hebrew Bible suggest that parental instruction of the content of Hebrew faith was common.  The Shema (Dt. 6:4-9) emphasizes the recitation of the words to children; similar themes are repeated in wisdom literature (Pr. 4:1-2). It is unclear if Ancient Hebrews had a set of propositions to which believers must ascent as the admonitions in the Hebrew Bible tend to take the form of sharing narratives rather than propositions (see Joshua 4:5-7; Ps. 105:1).  The possible exception is the declaration of the Lord's compassion, patience and justice introduced in Exodus 34:5-7 and repeated in part throughout the Hebrew Bible (Nm. 14:17-19; NH 9:15; Is 54:9-10).  (2) Similarly, the New Testament lacks specific clarity about the content of doctrine which a person must ascent in order to be baptized; however, verbalizing a confession of faith was clearly important to the earliest Christians (Mt. 10:32-33; Rm. 10:9-11; Hb. 10:23). 3. During the Reformation both Luther and Calvin developed catechisms  It is used as an introduction to the Christian faith or as the definitive expression of theological concepts.  4. While Catechisms had been used in the West by Catholic Bishops to instruct priests, the Catechism of the Council of Trent also called the Roman Catechism was offered as a means of responding to the developing Protestant catechisms.  It serves as the basis for the current Catechism of the Catholic Church.  However, several other Christian traditions and even individual pastors have composed formal and informal catechisms.  