Term
The Definition of Theology
• The term “theology” |
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Definition
• Theos – divine beings in general, or the one
true God in particular
• Logos – a very important biblical word, rich
in nuances and associations, including:
– “Word,” something that is spoken
– “Discourse,” study, questioning and discussion
– “Reason,” the rational principle of the universe
– “Revelation,” a word of divine disclosure to man |
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Term
| Theology: a Three-Legged Stool |
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Definition
TRADITION CHURCH &
CULTURE SCRIPTURE |
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Term
The Necessary Attributes of
Good Theology |
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Definition
1. Biblical 2. Systematic 3. Relates to the issues of culture and learning 4. Contempopary 5. Practical |
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Term
| Fides Quaerens Intellectum |
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Definition
| Faith Seeking Understanding |
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Term
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Definition
The prerequisite
for receiving
understanding |
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Term
How have the three main branches of the
Church done theology? |
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Definition
• Eastern Orthodoxy: Theology in the
context of ancient teaching and worship
• Roman Catholicism: Theology in the
context of apostolic authority and
ecclesiastical hierarchy
• Protestantism: Theology in the context of
individualism, activism, and biblicism |
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Term
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Definition
• Greek ex = out and hegeomai =
to lead
• Exegesis is a “drawing out” of a
text’s meaning, rather than
reading a meaning into it.
• Exegetical theology involves
studying the grammar and
syntax of the biblical languages. |
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Term
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Definition
• The study of the theological
themes of particular portions
of the Bible.
• Descriptive: seeks to
understand the biblical
theology in its own context.
• Normative: seeks to apply the
original meaning to us today. |
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Term
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Definition
• The collection of all the
passages of the Bible that
address particular topics.
• Asks the question, “What
does the Bible say about X?”
• Though systematic in its
approach, it is not the same as
“Systematic Theology.” |
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Term
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Definition
• The study of the
development of doctrine
throughout history.
• Can be divided into two
types of study: diachronic
and synchronic. |
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Term
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Definition
• The study of theology in the
context of the creedal system
of a given denomination.
• For many mainline groups
(e.g., Lutheran, Reformed,
Catholic) Dogmatic Theology
is Systematic Theology. |
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Term
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Definition
• The study of theological
questions about which
philosophy also inquires.
• Is there a God? Why does
evil exist? What is the soul?
• The primary emphasis is on a
dialogue with philosophy,
not biblical exegesis. |
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Term
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Definition
• Begins with the data of
Exegetical Theology, Biblical
Theology, and Bible Doctrine;
• Factors in the data of Historical
and Dogmatic Theology;
• Dialogues with Philosophical
Theology; and
• Draws from / expresses itself in
the language of cultural
experience. |
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Term
| Practical (Applied) Theology |
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Definition
• The study of practical issues in
actual ministry settings.
• Examples would range from how to
conduct marriage counseling, to a
theological strategy for dealing
with poverty in the inner city, to
whether polygamy is legitimate.
• Practical Theology is the necessary
fruit of theological reflection. |
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Term
Rational? Right? Meaningful? Attested? Collaborative? Biblical? |
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Definition
• Human reason can have a formative
role in the discovery, arrangement
and evaluation of theological
propositions. • Some theologians hold the
conscience is the primary
source and judge of
theological ideas. • Experience (from the ecstatic to the
intellectual) provides the data for
theological ideas. • The faith of the Church in the
great creeds, and the whole
deposit of historic orthodoxy, can
help us evaluate and express
biblical theology. • Our theology must always be in
dialogue with that of Spirit-filled
believers worldwide. • Scripture is the primary source for
theology and the norm by which we
evaluate theological propositions. However, Scripture is not selfinterpreting. We do need other sources alongside of the Bible. |
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Term
The
“Wesleyan”
Quadrilateral |
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Definition
Scripture Tradition Reason Experience |
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Term
Why Should You “Do Theology”? 5 |
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Definition
1. Everyone is already a theologian! 2. To answer the “big questions” of life 3. To prepare for Christian ministry 4. To live wisely as a Christian should live 5. To worship God as He deserves |
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Term
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Definition
| infinite, eternal and unchangeable |
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Term
| To speak about God, we must use... |
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Definition
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Term
| God’s existence is revealed in: |
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Definition
| General and Special Revelation |
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Term
| The Cosmological Argument |
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Definition
• Every effect has
a cause.
• There cannot be
an infinite
regress of causes.
• There must be an
uncaused Cause.
• This being is
God. |
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Term
| The Teleological Argument |
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Definition
• “Telos” means
purpose or goal.
• The universe
exhibits intentional
design.
• This cannot be
self-produced.
• A Designer must
have made the
universe! |
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Term
| The Anthropological Argument |
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Definition
• Our spiritual aspect
points us to something
beyond ourselves, and
that is God. |
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Term
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Definition
• Everyone has a sense of
“ought,” that is, of right and
wrong.
• For example, most cultures
understand murder is
wrong. Man abhors this
crime.
• Where does this universal
moral sense come from?
• There must be an exterior
Judge. |
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Term
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Definition
• We have the idea of the
“greatest being” in our
minds.
• What attributes would
the “greatest being”
have? Actual existence
would certainly be one.
• Therefore, the greatest
being must exist.
• The greatest being is
called God! |
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Term
1. Communicable/Incommunicable
2. Moral/Non-Moral
3. Transitive/Intransitive
4. Absolute/Relative
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Definition
1. Does Man possess a similar attribute?
EX: Justice vs. Ominpresence Does the attribute fit into the categories of good and evil?
EX: Holiness v. Immutability Does the attribute act upon an object?
EX: Love vs. Divine Oneness Is the attribute manifested in relation to something else?
EX: Infinity vs. Eternality |
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Term
The Attributes of God God is Infinite with respect to: Time Place Knowledge Power |
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Definition
Time: Eternality Place: Omnipresence Knowledge: Omniscience Power: Omnipotence |
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Term
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Definition
Immutable Holy Righteous Just True Loving Wrathful Sovereign |
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Term
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Definition
• Elohim
– Generic name for God
– Emphasis on his divine being
– Plural of majesty
• Adonai
– Emphasis on his rule: “Lord” or “Master”
• Yahweh
– The Tetragrammaton: YHWH
– God’s covenant name (Gen. 12:8, Ex. 6:6)
– Means “I AM” (Ex. 3:14) • Compound with El
– El Shaddai = God Almighty (Gen. 17:1)
– El Elyon = God Most High (Gen. 14:18-22)
– El Olam = God Everlasting (Gen. 21:33)
• Compound with YHWH
– YHWH-yireh = “The LORD will provide” (Gen. 22:14)
– YHWH-shalom = “The LORD is peace” (Judges 6:24)
– YHWH-sabbaoth = “The LORD of hosts” (I Sam 1:3)
– YHWH-tsidkenu = “the LORD our righteousness” (Jer. 23:6) |
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Term
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Definition
– Change can only occur
by natural processes in a
closed system
– Evaluation: evolution
does occur in our world;
however, this view is
unacceptable for those
who hold to supernatural
creation. |
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Term
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Definition
– In God’s plan, macroevolution
occurs
through natural
processes.
– Evaluation: It is
controversial, but the
view is held by some
Christian scientists. |
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Term
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Definition
– The literal meaning of day
can refer to long ages.
– God’s creation occurred over
a long time: he created
forerunner species.
– Adam was specially created
by God, and is not a hominid!
– Evaluation: A valid view for
conservative scholars. |
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Term
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Definition
– Suggests a long period of
time between “In the
beginning,” and “The
earth was formless and
void…”
– Evaluation: a conservative
view, but not widely held
by scholars today. |
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Term
| Literary Framework Theory |
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Definition
– Genesis employs the literary
device of six “days” as a
logical grouping.
– It is not intended to convey
science or chronology.
– Evaluation: conservative
scholars hold this view, but
it might undercut literalism. |
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Term
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Definition
– Life is too complex to have
self-assembled.
– Life requires all systems to
be in place at once.
– An outside entity must have
designed nature.
– Evaluation: The view is
embraced by 6-day and
progressive creationists. |
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Term
| Six-Day or Fiat Creationism |
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Definition
– The “days” of Genesis
are 24-hour periods.
– All of creation occurred a
few thousand years ago.
– “Appearance of age”
– Evaluation: this is the
most conservative of the
various views. |
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Term
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Definition
• God created.
–All that exists comes from him.
• Creatio ex nihilo
–God created “out of nothing.”
• Creation is good.
–As Christians, we respect nature as being
sourced in God. |
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Term
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Definition
dispensation, management of household Definition: “a distinguishable economy in the
outworking of God’s purpose.” (Ryrie) |
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Term
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Definition
Classical:
1. Innocence
2. Conscience
3. Government
4. Promise/Patriarchs
5. Law
6. Grace
7. Millennial Kingdom
Progressive:
1. Patriarchal
2. Mosaic
3. Ecclesial
4. Zionic
a) Millennial Kingdom
b) Eternal State |
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Term
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Definition
• The term “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible.
• Trinitas was first used by the church father Tertullian
around AD 200.
• Nevertheless, the doctrine is certainly taught in the
Scriptures.
• At the same time, the biblical doctrine of the Trinity
cannot be understood apart from historical arguments,
formulations, and creeds. |
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Term
Monarchism Modalism Tritheism Arianism |
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Definition
Emphasizes unity
of God but not
the diversity of
persons God
revealed in
different modes There are three
separate gods The Son is not
“of the same
substance” as
God. He is a
created being |
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Term
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Definition
One in Essence/Substance Three in Person |
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Term
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Definition
Only the Father
is Unoriginate. He
is not begotten nor
does he proceed! The Father generates the Son The Son is
Eternally
Begotten The Spirit
eternally
proceeds from
Father and Son. |
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Term
• The Immanent Trinity • The Economic Trinity • “The Immanent Trinity is the Economic Trinity.” |
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Definition
– Describes the inner workings of the Godhead: Father
as unoriginate, Son as begotten, Spirit as proceeding.
– Describes the relationships of the Trinity as they exist
for the sake of creation.
– Scripture reveals that God as He is “in Himself” is a
God who is steadfastly “for us”! |
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Term
| Implications of the Trinity |
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Definition
The Father wills
to seek us out
for relationship.
The Son
obediently
becomes the
instrument for
relationship.
The Spirit
empowers us
for relationship.
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Term
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Definition
• A theophany is an appearance
of God in the Old Testament.
• Usually, the appearance is
described as the “Angel of
the Lord.” This may be the |
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Term
| The Virgin Birth: OT Prediction |
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Definition
• The Protoevangelium: “And
I will put enmity between you
and the woman, and between
your seed and her seed; He
shall bruise you on the head,
and you shall bruise him on the
heel.” Gen. 3:15
• The Sign of the Birth: “The
Lord Himself will give you a
sign: Behold, a virgin will be
with child and bear a son.” Is.
7:14
• The Place of the Birth: From
Bethlehem “One will go forth
for Me to be ruler in Israel.” |
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Term
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Definition
our Example our Righteousness |
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