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Systematic Theology I > Midterm > Flashcards

Midterm Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 7 minimal requirements of an Evangelical Systematic Theology?

A
  1. A knowledge of sources, being the Scriptures.
  2. A commitment to the inerrancy of the Scriptures.
  3. Skill in theological method.
  4. Humility concerning human limitations due to creation and the Fall.
  5. Obedience to the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit.
  6. Commitment to study as hard work and a ministry to Christ for the Church.
  7. Completeness because Systematic Theology is by nature unabridged.
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2
Q

Define Systematic Theology.

A

Systematic Theology is the science of God in His works which lends itself to producing doctrines from the facts of the Bible and interrelates them into a coherent and consistent system.

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3
Q

What are the 4 basic presuppositions of Systematic Theology?

A
  1. A belief in the veracity of the Bible.
  2. A normal, inductive approach to hermeneutics: That is, historical, grammatical, literal, and literary.
  3. A text rightly understood in its context is a sufficient basis for doctrine.
  4. The study of the Bible gives the Christian basic presuppositions and enough data to make a coherent theological system.
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4
Q

What are the 5 factors that apply in seeing if the Bible is being studied in a normal way?

A
  1. Proper grammatical, historical, and theological contexts of each passage considered.
  2. Basis of a passage’s interpretation is in the text itself, not primarily in the subjective experiences of the interpreter.
  3. Symbolic language and figures of speech are to be acknowledged in the Bible in the same way as they are in everyday communication; Not a “hidden meaning” license.
  4. Allegorical interpretation is rejected.
  5. Typological interpretation only used when the Bible itself affirms them or are self-evident.
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5
Q

Name the 4 implications of a literal interpretation of the Bible.

A
  1. OT promises cannot be deleted, replaced, or changed by some “deeper meaning” in the NT, although the NT can enhance or add to these promises.
  2. There is a distinction between Israel and the Church in their divergent plans, although they share some common blessings.
  3. The literal Second coming of Jesus Christ before a literal and political millennial kingdom on earth.
  4. The doctrine of pre-tribulation rapture of the Church is in harmony with the literal interpretation and with the distinction between Israel and the Church.
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6
Q

What are the 8 distinctions between Biblical and Systematic Theology?

A
  1. Bible is the only source (BT) v. using Bible as filter for sources even outside the Bible (ST).
  2. Categories from text (BT) v. categories from text, and inferences, and correlation (ST).
  3. Emphasizes distinctions (BT) v. harmony (ST).
  4. Immediate context prime (BT) v. overall context of whole Bible (ST).
  5. Foundation is exegesis and hermeneutics (BT) v. Biblical Theology and sound Theological Method (ST).
  6. Perspective is Biblical principles (BT) v. today’s world. (ST).
  7. Does not emphasize present-day application of Biblical principles (BT) v. doing so (ST).
  8. Purely historical (BT) v. Historical Philosophical (ST).
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7
Q

What are the 10 categories in Systematic Theology and their definitions?

A
  1. Bibliology: Study of the biblical teachings about the Bible.
  2. Theology Proper: Study of the biblical teachings about the work, nature, and decrees of God.
  3. Christology: The study of the biblical teachings about the person of Christ.
  4. Pneumatology: The study of the biblical teachings about the person of the Holy Spirit.
  5. Angelology: The study of the biblical teachings about angels and fallen angels.
  6. Anthropology: The study of the biblical teachings about creation and the nature of man.
  7. Harmartiology: The study of the biblical teachings about sin, the fall of man and angels.
  8. Soteriology: The study of the biblical teachings about the work of Christ and how it’s applied to the believer.
  9. Ecclesiology: The study of the biblical teachings about the nature of the universal and local church.
  10. Eschatology: The study of the biblical teachings about the last, being future, things.
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8
Q

What are Erickson’s 10 steps to developing an adequate theology?

A
  1. Collection of Biblical materials.
  2. Unification of Biblical materials.
  3. Analysis of the meaning Biblical teachings.
  4. Examination of historical treatments.
  5. Consultation of other cultural perspectives.
  6. Identification of the essence of the doctrine.
  7. Illumination from extrabiblical sources.
  8. Contemporary expression of the doctrine.
  9. Development of a central interpretive motif.
  10. Stratification of the topics.
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9
Q

Name 4 reasons people frequently reject Systematic Theology as a valid discipline.

A
  1. Enlightened suspicion of tradition and dogmatic theologies.
  2. Critical approach to Bible combined with evolutionary theory lead to view that there is no unity in the Bible.
  3. Irrelevant to today’s issues.
  4. Past abuse of proof texting.
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10
Q

What is the 4 purposes of Systematic Theology?

A
  1. Provides a theological interpretation of Scripture.
  2. Provides a unified understanding of Scripture.
  3. Provides doctrinal material for the church.
  4. Provides application in the life of the church.
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11
Q

What are the 4 general principles for “doing” Systematic Theology?

A
  1. Emphasize what the Bible emphasizes.
  2. Distinguish between the prescriptive versus the descriptive.
  3. Study in a balance way which unifies the Bible.
  4. When developing central doctrines, do 1 & 2 above, and assign the greatest weight of authority to (in this order): Direct statements, direct implications, inferences, inductive conclusions, deductive conclusions.
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12
Q

Discuss the 4 kinds of revelation as act.

A
  1. The appearances of God.
  2. Acts of verbal communication.
  3. Acts of God in creation and providence.
  4. Acts of God in history.
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13
Q

As far as revelation as act, name 4 types of “The appearances of God”.

A
  1. Theophanies, being visible indication of God’s presence.
  2. Visions.
  3. Incarnation (of Christ).
  4. Second coming of Christ.
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14
Q

How did Aquinas influence revelation?

A

Reason can lead a person to the knowledge of God, but not salvation, which is based on faith. Good in that it considered classic arguments and emphasized the infallibility of Scripture. Problem was that this did not account for man’s fallen state and its effect on reason and reason only led people to a god, not Christ specifically.

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15
Q

How did Hume influence revelation?

A

The Bible is useless and there is no special or general revelation.

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16
Q

How did Kant influence revelation?

A

No direct revelation of God, no actual way of knowing because we only know things through the preorganized structures in our mind.

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17
Q

How did Barth influence revelation?

A

No general revelation and Bible is NOT revelation, but only a record of revelation.

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18
Q

What are the 5 models of revelation?

A
  1. Propositional, revelation as doctrine.
  2. Historical, revelation as history.
  3. Encounter, revelation as dialectic.
  4. Encounter, revelation as inner experience.
  5. Encounter, revelation as new awareness.
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19
Q

Define revelation.

A

Both the act of God by which he has made known to men a knowledge of Himself, His works, and His will and the resultant content of that knowledge.

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20
Q

Define general revelation.

A

The active manifestations of God to the perception and consciousness of all men which come to them in the constitution of the human mind and conscience, the whole frame work of the created order, and in the course of God’s providential government.

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21
Q

Define special revelation.

A

The acts of God by which he has disclosed to various men in history a propositional and personal knowledge of Himself, His works, His will through various means and the resultant content of that knowledge which now constitutes the Scripture.

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22
Q

What are the two main categories of Post-Enlightenment theories of revelation?

A

Theories that emphasize the source of inspiration and ones that emphasize the result of inspiration.

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23
Q

What are the 3 main post-enlightenment theories of revelation that focus on the source of inspiration?

A
  1. Natural inspiration: Bible comes from human insight, making it fine literature…
  2. Mystical inspiration: Bible can be used to experience revelation, illuminated by a religious consciousness.
  3. Functional inspiration: Bible functions in an inspired way, but is not actually inspired in its content.
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24
Q

What are the 6 main post-enlightenment theories of revelation that focus on the result of inspiration?

A
  1. Mechanical dictation: God dictates, men write.
  2. Partial inspiration: Some content is inspired, some not, some more, some less.
  3. Conceptual inspiration: Concepts and ideas are inspired, but not the actual words.
  4. Limited inerrancy: All is inspired, but not necessarily true and error-free.
  5. Verbal inspiration: When the word of man encounters the Word of God, it can sometimes become the Word of God.
  6. Verbal plenary inspiration: Bible is both and wholly a human and a divine book.
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25
Q

Functionally, what are the 4 views of the Bible?

A
  1. Wholly human book
  2. Wholly divine book
  3. Partially divine book.
  4. Both and wholly a human and a divine book.
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26
Q

Name and explain 3 passages in the Bible that address its own inspiration.

A
  1. 2 Timothy 3:14-17: All of Scripture is from God.
  2. 2 Peter 1:16-21: Prophecy in Scripture is spoken by men but still from God and controlled by the Holy Spirit.
  3. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13: Revelation has come from the Holy Spirit through the Apostles.
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27
Q

Define verbal plenary inspiration.

A

Inspiration extends to the very words of Scripture and to all of Scripture equally.

28
Q

Define inspiration.

A

The act by which God the Holy Spirit superintended the human authors of the 66 books of the Bible so that using their own individual personalities they composed and recorded without error God’s revelation to humanity in the words of the original manuscripts.

29
Q

What is the main problem with a mechanical dictation theory?

A

Many places in the Bible use the first person, such as Luke and John, which counters a pure mechanical dictation. Also in Luke and Chronicles, there’s evidence that human authors actually did research in their writing.

30
Q

How can we infer inerrancy from biblical teachings on inspiration, in 6 steps?

A
  1. John 1:14: God IS truth.
  2. 2 Timothy 3:14-16: God is the source of all Scripture.
  3. Titus 1:1-2: God never lies.
  4. John 17:14-17: God’s words are truth.
  5. John 10:33-36: Scripture is God’s word.
  6. Psalm 119: Scripture is truth.
31
Q

How can we infer inerrancy from Christ’s use of Scripture?

A
  1. Jesus’ obedience to its commands. (Hebrews 10:5-7).
  2. Jesus’ understanding of Himself according to the Scripture. (John 5:39).
  3. Jesus’ use of Scripture to defend Himself against opponents. (Matthew 22:29-32).
  4. Jesus exhorted others to know and obey the Scriptures. (Matthew 19:16-19).
32
Q

Define inerrancy.

A

Scripture is wholly true, without error in the original manuscripts; without falsehood in everything it affirms, whether it has to do with matters of salvation, doctrine, or with sociology, physical or life sciences.

33
Q

Name the 4 main objections to inerracy and respond to them.

A
  1. Humans are fallible, and since humans wrote the Bible, it’s fallible. (But it’s dually authored by God, who is infallible).
  2. Evangelicals say the Bible is inerrant before critical scholarship is applied to it, seeing if it is really true. (All operate with presuppositions. We start with the Bible presupposing it is from God. Critics start with the presupposition that it is not. Tests can proceed from both presuppositions, therefore not invalidating such tests per se).
  3. There ARE errors is the Bible, so it’s not inerrant. (We could say the same in reverse, and what are these error you’re talking about anyways?)
  4. If inerrancy is only for the original manuscripts and we don’t have those but only copies, you’re asserting nothing! (But what we do have is still from God, even if different from the original manuscript, what we have is still inerrant and inspired).
34
Q

What are the 9 important dates in the formation of the OT canon?

A
  1. 425 BC - Ezra collects remaining books after Babylonian exile.
  2. 130 BC - “Prologue of the Ecclesiasticus” refers to the Law, Prophets, and Writing.
  3. 100 BC - Dead Sea Scrolls contains all OT books except for Esther.
  4. 40-90 AD - Both Philo and the NT refer to 2 and 3-fold canon of OT.
  5. 90 AD - Josephus cites 22 OT books.
  6. 90-100 AD - Council of Jamnia has only canonical books.
  7. 170 AD - Bishop Melito went to the Jews and recorded many books of OT canon.
  8. 250 AD - Origen had noted 22 OT books.
  9. 400 AD - Baba Bathra, a Babylonian Tlamud has whole OT canon.
35
Q

Name 6 reasons for rejecting the Apocrypha.

A
  1. Lack of decisive evidence for their inclusion in canon.
  2. Evidence from Jews and early church limiting the OT canon to what it is today.
  3. Lack of truthfulness for its contents.
  4. Lack of claim to be the word of God.
  5. Has immoral and sub-biblical elements in it.
  6. Suspicious history behind its adoption by the Roman church.
36
Q

Has God preserved His word? How? (3 ways)

A

Yes, God has preserved His word through:

  1. Canonization: Israel and the early church, under the Holy Spirit’s supervision, gathered the OT and NT books.
  2. Textual transmission: The copying and passing down of the manuscripts prior to printing press.
  3. Translations: Conversion of the Bible from its original language into other languages.
37
Q

Name 4 guidelines for canonicty.

A
  1. Apostolicity (basic)
  2. Universality (confirmatory) - Widespread use in church worship.
  3. Veracity (confirmatory) - Truthfulness
  4. Antiquity (confirmatory)
38
Q

How does the analogy of faith assist us in interpreting the entire canon?

A

It serves as a system of checks and balances as no single obscure text will overturn or contradict doctrine present in other, multiple passages. Therefore it helps in establishing an unity and harmony within Scripture.

39
Q

Name 3 early church councils, when they occurred, and explain what happened.

A
  1. Council of Laodicea (363 AD) - Local gathering where all NT books were accepted except Revelation.
  2. Council of Carthage (397) - All 27 NT books accepted.
  3. Council of Hippo (419 AD) - Again, all 27 NT books accepted as canon.
40
Q

History of NT canon formation. Give people with their dates and what they did.

A
  1. Marcion (140 AD) Beginnings of a canon, but only had Luke and Paul’s letters. He was a heretic, anti-semitic.
  2. Irenaeus (130-202 AD) Established 21 books in NT canon.
  3. Muratorian canon (170-180 AD) 22 book canon, named after historian Muratori who found list.
  4. Tertullian (16-220 AD) - Again, 22 books, emphasized antiquity.
  5. Origen (185- 254AD) - Set OT & NT together as Scripture and rejected apocryphal and heretical writings as false.
41
Q

Can any translation claim inerrancy?

A

Not by itself to the exclusion of other translations.

42
Q

Do we have inerrant Bibles? Why?

A

When we examine the process of canonicty throughout history by the early church and the nation of Israel, together with both the transmission and translation of the Bible, all under the Holy Spirit’s superintending, we can be trust in its inerrancy.

43
Q

How do we know that the early church “got it right” in choosing the NT canon books?

A

Because of the integrity of the continuous chain from the OT to Jesus’ teaching to apostolic writing to the early church recognizing such writings by both individuals and councils in securing the canon.

44
Q

Are there lost books of the Bible?

A

No, because “lost” implies books not within the modern canon, and since God determines the canon (not men who simply discover it), the canon is also from God and complete.

45
Q

What is the “parting of the Ways”?

A

This describes the second century Christians and the fact that they would have lost much contact and association with Jewish Christians, not understanding Hebrew or having the cultural and religious background of Jews, since many new converts were formerly pagans and not Jews.

46
Q

How did Justin Martyr and Athenagoras view Christianity and Greek philosophy?

A

They viewed Greek philosophy as preparation for the Gospel, almost elevating it to that of the OT. they were sympathetic to Greek philosophy.

47
Q

Who is Plotinus and what did he found?

A

Plotinus was around in the early to mid 3rd century and founded Neo-Platonism, which was a philosophy key in the early intellectual formation of leading Christian theologians. To a large extent, Neo-Platonism was an adaptation of Platonism in response to Christianity.

48
Q

What was Aquinas’ response to Aristoteliansim?

A

Aquinas accepted the scientific method proposed by Aristotelianism, but added the dimension of grace and the principle of analogy, which showed that we could see some correspondence, although not perfectly, between the earthly and the heavenly. (e.g., Father-Son relationship within God, we can see on earth analogously but not perfectly).

49
Q

What doctrine returned during the Reformation?

A

The doctrine of Immanence, versus a heavier, previous emphasis on the transcendence of God.

50
Q

As far as God’s transcendence and immanence, what’s the deal with Barth, Bultma, and Tilich?

A

Barth liked transcendence, Bultman liked immanence, and Tilich who ONLY liked immanence.

51
Q

List 5 parts of the argument that God MUST disclose Himself for true knowledge to occur.

A
  1. Knowledge of God is innate in people.
  2. Spiritually speaking, people are aware of the majestic Godhead of deity.
  3. Even though people innately know God, knowledge of the truth is suppressed by unrighteousness.
  4. True knowledge of God not possible by UNAIDED reason.
  5. God must therefore disclose Himself. (AID)
52
Q

What id the theological definition of God?

A

God is the infinite, personal, perfect Spirit in whom all things have their source, support, and end.

53
Q

List 4 scriptural references that define God.

A
  1. John 4:24 “God is Spirit.”
  2. 1 John 1:15 “God is Light.”
  3. 1 John 4:16 “God is Love”
  4. Hebrews 12:29 “God is a Consuming Fire.”
54
Q

List the 7 main non-Christian views on God.

A
  1. Atheism - No God
  2. Agnostic - Can’t prove or know that there is a god.
  3. Dualistic - There are 2 forces in life (mind and matter, good and evil, etc.)
  4. Deistic - Transcendence of God only, he gone…
  5. Pantheistic - Everything is God and God is in everything.
  6. Panentheism - Universe is God’s body, so God is in the universe as a mind is in a body.
  7. Polytheistic - Multiple gods.
55
Q

What is classical theism?

A

It’s a traditional Christian view of God that is characterized by a belief in a person, infinite, eternal, and immutable God who created the world out of nothing and has intervened in the world from time-to-time.

56
Q

What are the 3 basic ways one can argue for the existence of God?

A
  1. Conception of God as a being is so awesome that for it not to be true is inconceivable.
  2. Look at the world and the way things work: There must be a God to explain all of this.
  3. People have had direct experiences with God.
57
Q

What is the cosmological argument for the existence of God?

A

Something never came from nothing, so there must be a “first mover”, and there is either a self-existent God or a self-existent universe, and the universe does not behave as if it is self-existent.

58
Q

What is the ontological argument for the existence of God?

A

It’s not possible for people to conceive of a perfect God that ends up being not true or real.

59
Q

What is the teleological argument for the existence of God?

A

“If the watch points to a watchmaker, then the universe must point to its creator” because it is likewise designed.

60
Q

What is the moral argument for the existence of God?

A

Morality and ethics point to a personal Creator.

61
Q

Define attribute as related to God.

A

Those distinguishing characteristics of the divine nature which are inseparable from the idea of God and which constitute the basis and ground for his various manifestations to his creatures.

62
Q

Do God’s attributes add anything to His character?

A

No, they simply reveal His nature.

63
Q

What 3 methods were used to derive the divine attributes and what do they mean?

A
  1. Via negationis - By negation, God is not ___.
  2. Via eminentiae - By analogy, God is like ___.
  3. Via causalitatis - By world phenomena.
64
Q

Define “love” as an attribute of God.

A

Love means that God delights in his own perfections and in man as the reflection of his image.

65
Q

What are the 7 primary names of God in Scripture?

A
  1. Elohim
  2. Yahweh
  3. Adonia
  4. Theos (God)
  5. Kurios (Lord)
  6. Despotes (Master)
  7. Abba (Father)

Systematic Theology I (2 decks)

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