Conditionalists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who advocate for or believe in the principles of conditionalism, particularly in relation to salvation and eternal punishment
2. Those who hold that certain conditions must be met for salvation or eternal life, distinguishing them from unconditional believers
3. Persons who emphasize that the consequences of one's actions affect the fate of the soul, rejecting absolute and unqualified doctrines regarding salvation

Etymology: "Conditionalists" is the plural of "conditionalist," a noun for a believer in conditional salvation, the doctrine that eternal life is granted only to those who meet certain conditions, usually faith in Christ, rather than being guaranteed to all. The word is built from "conditional," which comes from Latin "conditionalis," meaning relating to a condition, with the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who holds or practises a particular belief or system. The pattern is a straightforward one: English has long attached "-ist" to adjectives and nouns to name adherents of a doctrine, as with "Calvinist" or "universalist." Here the suffix attaches to "conditional," so the word names people defined by the conditional terms of their faith.