Anonymous Theologian

They do not know that they are theologians.  In this case theology is any reflection on questions of life that point toward God.

What is the meaning of the term “Credo, ut intelligam”, and what does this statement say about the relationship between faith and understanding?

(I believe that I might understand) demonstrates his beliefs that one must first believe that (and only then) seek rational reason for his/her faith

believer should think deeply about his/her beliefs to assure they are consistent, viable & biblical

unreflective believing based on blind faith in a tradition of some kind” ; i.e. bumper stickers, clichés, ‘christian urban legends’ etc.

results when Christians generally reject the simplicity of Folk theology and begin to seek answers to life’s ultimate questions

“reflective faith as practiced by trained ministers and teachers in Christian churches”  This is theology “…that stands somewhere between the beginning-level reflectiveness of the maturing lay Christian thinker and the more sophosticated and sustained reflectiveness of the professional theologian”

a.       The professional theologian should fulfill a servant role by training pastors and other ministers in the Bible college, Christian college, and seminary contexts.  Often the professional theologian is called upon to study theology in far grater depth than even the Ministerial theologian does, and certainly more than the lay theologian

A highly speculative, cirtually philosophical theology aimed primarily at other theologians

study of God

is hostility towards and mistrust of intellect, intellectuals, and intellectual pursuits, usually expressed as the derision of education, philosophy, literature, art, and science, as impractical and contemptible. Alternately, self-described intellectuals who are alleged to fail to adhere to rigorous standards of scholarship may be described as anti-intellectuals.   “Simple people” and more honest and real than the “intelligent”

A religion based primarily upon emotional experiences or subjective feelings.

a lack of translation oftheological ideas, dense jargon, and simply poor interactions between the rank and file and theologians

Theology examines truth to death and turns a warm, loving relationship into an academic exercise

theologians are often accused of engaging in fruitless speculation about unimportant issues

the accusation that, while the first few centuries of the church were beneficial in theological discussion and inquiry, ever since then theology has basically been critical, and has not achieved progress through solutions to problems

to examine beliefs and teachings about God, ourselves and the world and categorize them as Dogma, doctrine or opinion.

Constructive taks oftheology

to set forth the unity and coherence of the Bible’s teachings

Without heresy (false teaching) there would be no theology or orthodoxy (right teaching).  In the NT we see evidence that the apostles wrote to correct wrong ideas and practices that arose in early Christian churches

beliefs that cannot be compromised; essential to the gospel  -   One God, Jesus was fully God and Man, Virgin birth & conception, bodily resurrection, 2^nd coming, Jesus was the Son of God

denominational distinctive; important, but not seen as essential   -  Origin in 6 days, eternal security, divorce, role of women, pacifism, tithing, homosexuality

Individually and/or corporately held beliefs that are of relative inconsequence  -  Tattoos, hair, drinking, music, dancing,

Evidence of God as found in God’s creation

A direct, personal communication of God to humanity. It is also a propositional statement.

The Bible emphasizes a whole series of divine events by which God has made himself known. 

It may be audible or silent.  The spoken word of God was the interpretation of an event.  There were times when it preceded an event

The contention here is that Jesus’ life and speech were a special revelation of God.  Revelation took place in Jesus’ character. 

A meta-narrative is an overarching story that encompasses everything. Postmodernism is an aversion to this because it says that there is not one big story, but rather than any story can be true and defining.

It is statements of fact about God, who he is, and what his plan of redemption is, and thus it can be equated with Scripture

What does it mean for Special Revelation to be personal

It is a confrontation of “the finite subject before the infinite Subject”

makes inspiration largely a high degree of insight.  Inspiration is the functioning of a special gift, perhaps almost like an artistic ability, but nonetheless a natural endowment, a permanent possession.

maintains that there was an influence of the Holy Spirit upon the authors of Scripture, but that it involved only a heightening  of their normal powers, an increased sensitivity and perceptivity with regard to spiritual matters.

emphasizes the combination of divine and human elements in the process of inspiration and of the writing of the Bible.

God’s inspiration extends to the choice of the words by the Biblical writers, without in any way violating their personalities.  It also means that the totality of Scripture is inspired by God.

the Bible is fully truthful in all of its teachings.

holds that the Bible, which includes rather detailed treatment of matters both scientific and historical, is fully true. 

Holds that the Bible is completely true. 

regards the Bible as inerrant and infallible in its salvific doctrinal references.  A sharp distinction is drawn between empirical and nonempirical.

What basis do most Protestants use for rejecting the Apocrypha as inspired Scripture?  

The Apocrypha was never used by Jesus or Apostles as the word of God

What reasons were given for accepting a writing as Scripture?

Who forced the church to draw up a list of books recognized as Scripture?

What two schools of Greek thought were most often joined to Christianity? 

 Who came up with the system of penance as a way to readmit those who had “lapsed” into serious sin?

Who strongly opposed any attempt to wed Greek philosophy with Christian thought?

What three classes of sin brought exclusion from the church?

Who forced the church to affirm as authoritative the apostolic teaching in the epistles in opposition to supposed revelations from the Spirit?