Chapter 1 Knowing God Flashcards
Epicureans
if there is a God he is remote & unconerned with us
Stoics
there is a spark of the divine in all of us because nature is itself divine (as in pantheism)
Polytheism
belief in many gods
Pantheism
all is divine (God is the World)
Panentheism
All is within divinity; the divine & worldly principles are mutually dependent
Deism
God created the world but does not intervene miraculously within it
Atheism
God does not exist
Why must God reveal himself?
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
archetpyal
the knowledge that only God possesses. It is original
ectypal
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.
Univocal
words mean the same when applied to God & to us (leads to rationalism)
Equivocal
words have a completely different meaning when applied to God & to us (leads to irrationalism)
Analogical
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)
How is God a stranger?
Ontologically, Ethically, Redemptively
Do we seek God?
No. Rom 1-3. God chooses when to reveal himself to us. Isa 65:1
General Revelation
God’s existence can be known from nature. Ps. 19:1. (Internal)- creation reveals God’s wisdom, righteousness, sovereignty, love and justice
Special Revelation
The Bible, God’s self-revelation to Israel & the Incarnation (Jn. 1)
3 Uses of the Law
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
Incomprehensibility
What is described as God’s radical difference from us qualitatively and quantitatively
Accommodation
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”)
Law/Gospel
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
