Chapter 1 Knowing God

Question 1

Epicureans

Answer 1

if there is a God he is remote & unconerned with us

Question 2

Stoics

Answer 2

there is a spark of the divine in all of us because nature is itself divine (as in pantheism)

Question 3

Polytheism

Answer 3

belief in many gods

Question 4

Pantheism

Answer 4

all is divine (God is the World)

Question 5

Panentheism

Answer 5

All is within divinity; the divine & worldly principles are mutually dependent

Question 6

Deism

Answer 6

God created the world but does not intervene miraculously within it

Question 7

Atheism

Answer 7

God does not exist

Question 8

Why must God reveal himself?

Answer 8

So we cannot know how to study God until we know something about God’s nature
But we cannot know God’s nature until we study him; we are thus helpless to get started
This is why revelation is necessary; God must take the initiative if we are to know him This is why we have to begin from God’s self-revelation in Jesus
Christ
God is qualitatively different

Question 9

archetpyal

Answer 9

the knowledge that only God possesses. It is original

Question 10

ectypal

Answer 10

Creaturely knowledge that is revealed by God and accommodated to our finite capacities. Creaturely knowledge is always imperfect, incomplete, and dependent on God’s perfect and complete knowledge.

Question 11

Univocal

Answer 11

words mean the same when applied to God & to us (leads to rationalism)

Question 12

Equivocal

Answer 12

words have a completely different meaning when applied to God & to us (leads to irrationalism)

Question 13

Analogical

Answer 13

words have something in common when applied to God & to us but there is more difference than similarity (honours reason but does not worship it; avoids both rationalism & irrationalism)

Question 14

How is God a stranger?

Answer 14

Ontologically, Ethically, Redemptively

Question 15

Do we seek God?

Answer 15

No. Rom 1-3. God chooses when to reveal himself to us. Isa 65:1

Question 16

General Revelation

Answer 16

God’s existence can be known from nature. Ps. 19:1. (Internal)- creation reveals God’s wisdom, righteousness, sovereignty, love and justice

Question 17

Special Revelation

Answer 17

The Bible, God’s self-revelation to Israel & the Incarnation (Jn. 1)

Question 18

3 Uses of the Law

Answer 18

To show us our guilt & drive us to Christ
To restrain public vice & help maintain law & order
To guide Christians in the nature of the Christian life

Question 19

Incomprehensibility

Answer 19

What is described as God’s radical difference from us qualitatively and quantitatively

Question 20

Accommodation

Answer 20

We can not ascend to the incomprehensible God (transcendent), but he freely condescends speak to us in a way in which we can understand.= (like baby talk) - (“not according to his essence, but according to his works”)

Question 21

Law/Gospel

Answer 21

God’s Word is made up of the Gospel and the Law
Law commands (Do), law gives (Done) (Every promise based on the grace to us in Christ)
We are saved apart from the Law