Exam 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of “Doctrine” according to Grudem as it appears on the outline notes?
A doctrine is what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular subject
What are the six ways that make up the section on “How We Should Study Theology”?
Prayerfully, Humbly, Reasonably, Cooperatively, Contextually, and Passionately
WHat are the three reasons which make up “The Importance of Theology” and what does each mean?
- The Relational Reason-Correct doctrine is essential to the relationship between the believer and God 2. The Experiential Reason-There is a connection between truth and experience. 3. The Apologetical Reason- theology helps us counter competing truth claims today.
What are four possible “sources” for doing theology?
Tradition, Reason, Experience, and Scripture
What are the two ways (forms of revelation) that God has revealed Himself?
General and Special Revelation
What are the three ways or modes of General Revelation?
Through Nature, History, and the Religious nature within all Humanity
What is the primary biblical passage we looked at in class that supports the doctrine of General Revelation?
Psalm 19:1-4
Define “Natural Theology.” Who was the leading proponent of this view?
A school of thought that says it is possible to gain a knowledge of God apart from the Bible. Medieval Theologian Thomas Aquinas
What are the four main classical arguments for the existence of God and what do they state?
- Cosmological Argument- based on cause and affect 2.Teleological Argument- based on God’s meticulous design and order in the universe 3. Anthropological Argument- based in man’s innate inner concept of God or gods 4. Ontological Argument- based on pure reason alone
What is Special Revelation?
God’s manifestation of himself to particular persons at definite times and places, enabling those persons to enter into a redemptive relationship with him
What is the one big limitation to General Revelation?
SIN
What are the three key aspects to “The Nature of Special Revelation?” and what does each one basically mean?
- It is personal in nature (A personal God reveals himself to persons!) 2. It is anthropic in nature (God reveals himself to us in ways we as people can understand and relate to) 3. It is analogical in nature (When God acts, we have the same meaning in mind as when we say a human acts)
What are the three means or modes of Special Revelation?
Historical Events, Divine Speech, and the Incarnation (Jesus)
What do we mean when we say revelation is “progressive”?
Later/newer revelation (NT) builds upon earlier revelation (OT); it complements and supplements the previous but it never contradicts it
What does the word “inspiration” literally mean?
God-Breathed
What two biblical passages refer to the inspiration of the Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:20-21
What does “inerrancy” mean?
The Bible is “without errors”
What are the five “Important Qualifiers to Inerrancy”?
- Inerrancy pertains to what is affirmed in scripture, not what is merely reported in scripture. 2 You must consider what statements mean in their cultural context 3. You must consider the Importance of the purpose of what is written 4. Some things in the Bible are in “Phenomenal” rather than scientific or technical language 5. “Difficulties” in the text do not necessarily mean “errors” in the text
What are the two words Erickson used to describe the doctrines of Special and General Revelation that we used in class?
Special- God’s Particular Revelation General- God’s Universal Revelation
What chapter headings does Erickson use to introduce the doctrines of Inspiration, Inerrancy, and Authority of God’s Revelation? What does the Authority of the Bible mean?
Inspiration- The Preservation of the Revelation
Inerrancy- The dependability of God’s Word
Authority- The Power of God’s Word
Authority of the Bible means: God’s right to command our beliefs and our actions
