Lecture 3: The Purpose, Principles, and Place of Theology

Question 1

The Purpose of Theology

Answer 1

To learn who God is and to learn how to live in light of God

Question 2

The Twofold Purpose of theology (objective)

Answer 2

1. Theology seeks to learn who God is
2. Theology seeks to determine how we live in the world
   (WHO IS GOD AND WHAT DOES GOD EXPECT OF US?)

Question 3

Subsidiary Purpose of Theology

Answer 3

theology is the process by which Christians find answers to the Big Questions (why do we exist, why is there suffering, what is the meaning, what happens to us after we die?) subjective purpose. why people feel the need to do theology.

Question 4

Apologetics is not Theology. Apologetics:

Answer 4

the reasoned defense of the truth of Christianity.
- the purpose of apologetics is neither to learn more about God, nor to learn how to live out God’s will.

Question 5

Some principles of Theology

Answer 5

1. Theology contains certain presuppositions
2. Theology begins with divine revelation
3. Natural theology plays a limited role
4. Theology uses many academic disciplines
5. Theology requires intellectual humility
6. Theology requires prayer

Question 6

Natural theology

Answer 6

knowledge of God based on observed facts and experience apart from divine revelation. it isnt separate from God, still the result of God revealing himself through creation, it is just less direct than other forms of revelation. The created world reveals things about God’s nature
Definition: knowledge of God based on observed facts and experience, apart from divine revelation

Question 7

The Place of Theology

Answer 7

• Answer: the Church
• With the church
• For the church
• In the church
• With sufficient intellectual rigor
• With an overriding commitment to Truth