Doctrine: Topics Flashcards
3 basic kinds of religious authority
human reason,
the Church,
God’s Word
Other than in the Bible, what else does God use to speak through?
creation and conscience
(His general, or natural, revelation)
Who sends people to hell?
It is not God who sends people to hell. It is people who demand that God leave them alone so they may go their own way and attempt to fulfill their own desires who send themselves to hell.
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What is different about God’s revelation in the Bible than His revelation in creation & conscience?
Bible has a special revelation - the wonderful news that God has invaded the human situation, acted to redeem us, and offered us a way by which we can enter into that redemption.
Nature and conscience do not disclose this.
Greek word most nearly equivalent to our word “inspiration” - what is the Greek word? English word? Where is it found?
theopneustos
God-breathed
2 Tim 3:16
What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?
By divine breath and power the Holy Spirit moved the (human) authors of the Bible with such precision that the product accurately reflects the intention of God Himself.
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define mechanical dictation.
is it right or wrong?
God spoke through humans to the extent that their individual personalities were suppressed.
wrong
Are both thought and language inspired, or only one?
both
define dynamic inspiration
is it right or wrong?
what’s another name for it?
the Bible is not intended to convey propositional truth about God Himself; it only discloses truth about how we ought to live (nothing about what God is - only His work)
“functional interpretation of inspiration”
wrong
What is plenary verbal inspiration?
plenary (full) verbal (extending even to the words)
it’s the very word of God
what does it mean that the Bible is infallible?
incapable of error and therefore not capable of misleading, deceiving, or disappointing us
Do we still have the autographs of the Bible?
no, they were probably worn out by frequent use and repeated copying
In the 4th century, which 2 people or groups affirmed the 27 books we have in the NT today?
Athanasius
a church council
4 tests to determine if a book could be included in the NT canon
1) apostolicity
2) universality
3) contents
4) inspiration
how many ancient hand-written copies of the NT are there in Greek?
over 5,300
What was God’s purpose in calling Abraham and choosing Israel as His servant?
to prepare the way to bring blessing to all the nations of the earth
What was the Septuagint and when was it created?
250 to 150 BC
the Greek translation of the OT
often used by early Christians after Pentecost! (seen in the NT usage)
What are Oneness?
they believe you have to be baptized in Jesus’ name only;
they declare there is one Person in the Godhead: Jesus, who filled the offices or modes of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as needed
they called it “the new issue”
what affect did oneness have on AG?
AG was formed in 1914. Some began to spread oneness doctrine. in 1916, AG created a section defining the Godhead in the Fundamental Truths
the ontological argument for God’s existence
the conception of a Perfect Being requires that Being to have a real existence, since if the idea of a Perfect Being does not have a genuine manifestation in actuality, it is less than perfect.
the cosmological argument for God’s existence
the universe is not self-existent. All events of which we are aware are dependent on some cause beyond the events themselves. If you push the causes back far enough, you will eventually come to a First Cause, a self-existent Being not dependent on anything else at all
teleological argument (aka argument from design)
scientific inquiry discloses a remarkable orderliness in nature. the mathetical improbability of the marvels of these structures just having occurred by chance leads the thinking person to awe at the designer responsible
moral argument for God’s existence
the innate sense of right and wrong in people. the existence of a great Lawgiver in the universe is the logical consequence of the awareness of morality
aesthetics or beauty argument for God’s existence
that people have a conception of relative values regarding beauty and an appreciation of it points in the direction of One who Himself is the giver of beauty and is lovely
does the Bible seek to prove the existence of God?
no. it assumes God exists.
what can you know via general revelation versus via special revelation (Bible)?
general rev - the existence of God
special rev - the nature of God
‘El
emphasizes the idea of strength
‘Elohim
God’s creative power and providential care of the universe and humankind;
plurality in the Godhead
Yahweh
Lord
God’s covenant-keeping name
“He will [actively] continue to be.”
El Shaddai
“God Almighty”
‘El Elyon
“God Most High”
‘El Ro’i
“the God who sees me”
‘El ‘Olam
“the Eternal God”
‘El ‘Elohe Yisra’el
“God, the God of Israel
Yahweh-ropheka
“The Lord your [personal] Physician”
Yahweh-Nissi
“The Lord my Banner
Yahweh-shalom
“the Lord is Peace”
Yahweh-ro’i
“the Lord my Shepherd”
Yahweh-tsidkenu
“the Lord our Righteousness
the ONe who forgives
Yahweh-Shammah
the name of the New Jerusalem
“The Lord is there”
Yahweh-sabaoth
God’s heavenly name
“the Lord of Hosts”
‘Adonai’ ‘Kurios”
“Lord”
‘Attiq Yomin
“The Ancient of Days”
His judging and ruling over the kingdoms of this world
Qedosh Yisra’el
“the Holy One of Israel
Tsur
“Rock
‘Ab
Father!
Melek
“King”
Go’el
“Redeemer”
Despotes
“Lord” “Master” “Owner
Rishon wa-‘acharon
“The First and the Last”
His rule over the entire course of history
“chesed” meaning
faithful, steadfast, covenant-keeping love
‘emeth meaning
reliability, permanence, continuance, fidelity, truth
define communicable attributes
attributes of God that can be found (to a much lesser degree) in human nature
2 types: natural and moral
2 important aspects of God’s holiness
1) He is separated from and elevated above all that is transient, impermanent, finite, imperfect, as well as all that is evil, sinful, and wrong.
2) He is separated to and dedicated to the carrying out of His great plan of redemption, the bringing in of the coming Kingdom, and ultimately, setting up the new heavens and the new earth.
Where do God’s wrath and love flow together?
at the cross of Christ
Sabellianism
heresy
there is one God with one personality but He manifests Himself in 3 different modes.
Arianism
denied the eternality of Jesus
a subordination not only in relationship but also in nature
Father above Son above Holy Spirit (Father first, created Son, created Holy Spirit)
trinity
3 personalities are one in fellowship, purpose, and substance.
a subordination in relationship but not in nature
the existence of Jesus prior to His virgin birth
His coexistence in time and eternity with the Father and the Holy Spirit…
eternally in existence, functioning as the Revealer of God
who is Jesus now (human, divine)?
He remains the God-Man in heaven now and he will return the same (fully human and fully divine)
2 main aspects of Jesus’ humanity
human body and a rational soul
Where does the name “Jesus” come from?
the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “the Lord [Yahweh] is salvation”
Christianity is anchored in historic ____ and a historic ____
events; Person
Where does the term “Christ” come from?
Hebrew Mashiach
Anointed One
Jesus’ 3 divine offices & what they emphasize
Prophet, Priest, King
each emphasizes the mediatorship of Christ between the Father of heaven and the people of earth
Where does the term “prophet” come from? and what does it imply?
How did Jesus fulfill this?
Greek prophetes, “one who speaks forth”
preaching, proclamation, informing
Jesus taught much about the events to come.
What does “priest” mean?
How is Jesus a priest?
a specially consecrated individual who represents God to people, and people to God
In Jesus, He is a perfect representative from among the people and became the perfect sacrifice.
What is kenosis?
Jesus’ “self-emptying”
Jesus emptied Himself of the glory and privileges He enjoyed with the Father
the central reason for Jesus’ incarnation
His death
What is the central event of all history?
the cross (Jesus’ death)
What does Christ’s Passion refer to?
His sufferings between the Last Supper and His death on the cross
When was Jesus’ work for our redemption complete?
when He said “It is finished” and died
What happened after the Resurrection?
40 days of appearances and then His ascension
What did Jesus’ ascension inaugurate?
the beginning of a reign of exaltation
What are the 2 important and simultaneously held views of humankind?
one that sees us as a special object of God’s creative interest,
one that sees us dependent on God’s sustaining power
What do trichotomists emphasize?
humans as having a material body, an immaterial soul, and an immaterial spirit
What are dichotomists?
humans as having the body and the inner person
3 functions of the human nature:
- body, world-conscious aspect, sensory, awareness of our physical surroundings & ability to communicate with our environment (bodily appetites are not evil in themselves)
- soul - self, conscious life here and now, self-consciousness, genuine unique personality, intellect/emotions/will, links the spirit and body
- spirit - the body houses spirit, the aspect which bears relationship to the unseen spiritual world whether good or evil; God-consciousness; dead when not believing
spirit and soul are intimately linked and virtually inseparable
What does being created in the image & likeness of God imply, that also applied to Adam and Eve?
further development of the human being is possible
What is the image of God in us?
a natural and moral image - not physical.
- natural: elements of personality that are appropriate to all persons, human and divine - intellect, sensibility, will (clear line between animals and humans); the potential for culture and civilization
- moral: the will and sphere of freedom in which we can exercise our powers of self-determination; makes possible fellowship with God
Where did sin originate?
in an abuse of the freedom given to created beings equipped with a will
(not by God)
( in the free choice of God’s creatures)
What does sin disregard?
it disregards the glory of God, the will of God, and the Word of God.
What is an important corollary of rational personality?
freedom of the will
What is original sin and what does it lead to?
Adam and Eve’s sin, which led to all humans being born with a natural inclination to sin … this original sin would lead to overt personal sin in all
2 key elements in Adam and Eve’s sin
unbelief and the desire to exalt self
What does the book say about the age of accountability?
the Bible gives no specific age. Some children come to a point where they understand sooner than others.
basic understanding of sin as…
the exaltation of self and the transgression of divine law
are evil thoughts or desires sin?
no, in themselves they are not sin; they can be interjected into our thoughts by the world around us.
But we must reject them; otherwise if we hold onto them and dwell on them, they will lead to desire to sin to death.
Is there a distinction in judging sins/
only between sins that are unintentional and sins that are deliberate and defiant
When was God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ started?
before the creation, it was built into His plan
Why is shedding of blood important for sacrifices?
the wages of sin is death,
and the blood represents the life poured out in death