Midterm Flashcards
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
Deuteronomy 6:4
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: (Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV)
Mark 12:29
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (Mark 12:29 KJV)
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1 KJV)
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 KJV)
John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24 KJV)
What does Epistemology mean?
The study of knowledge. How we know what we know.
How is God revealed to us?
- He is self-revealed.
* Through OT.
What defines what we can say about God as Christians?
The Bible
Because humanity is fallen, where must revelation start?
Scripture
When we consider how God revealed Himself in scripture, what is a proper Christian response to it?
Accepting what the Scripture says.
What must a Christian say about the OT?
Lays out the true revelation of God.
What does the NT revelation build on?
Further revelation of God building on the OT
According to Berkoff’s better hermeneutical approach to God’s revelation in scripture is what?
Let the OT speak to the NT and let that inform later philosophy.
What is biblically appropriate in speaking of God?
We must say what scripture says.
What is the belief in one God called?
Monotheism
What is an atheist?
Denies the existence of God
What is agnostic?
The existence of God is unknown.
What is pantheistic?
God is equal to nature.
What is polytheist?
Believe in more than one god.
What is Ditheism?
The belief in two gods.
What is tritheism?
Belief in three gods.
What religions are monotheistic?
Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
What constitutes as trinitarianism?
3 different persons, but 1 God.
What are the two extreme tendencies in trinitarian thought?
- Some emphasize the unity of God without having a carefully developed understanding of what is meant by 3 distinct persons
- Others emphasize the 3ness of the trinity to the point they believe in 3 self-conscious beings, and their view is essentially tritheistic
What makes Binitarianism unique?
Does not classify the Holy Ghost as a separate person but asserts belief in 2 person in the Godhead
Many monotheists have pointed out that both trinitarianism and Binitarianism do what?
Weakens the strict monotheism teaching in the Bible
Which of the following represents strict monotheism?
They insist the Godhead cannot be divided into persons and that God is absolutely one
Who represents strict monotheism and yet rejects the full divinity of Christ?
Dynamic monarchians such as Paul of Samosata and some say by the Arians, led by Arius
Which of the following represents the second class of true monotheists?
- Believe the fullness of the Godhead is manifested in Jesus Christ
- Believe the Father, Son, and Spirit are manifestations, modes, offices, or relationships the one God as displayed to man
What is the term Church historians have used for this second class of strict monotheists?
Modalism and modalistic monarchianism
Who are some of these strict monotheists from history?
Noetus, Praxeas, and Sabellius
What term in the 20th century is used by those who believe in both the indivisible oneness of God and the full deity of Jesus Christ to describe themselves?
Oneness
What has been and still is the major stumbling block for Jewish people in terms of accepting Christianity?
The distortion of the monotheistic message.
What does the OT reveal about God’s nature?
He is a jealous God
Is there a place for a trinity in the OT?
No.
How many times does the OT refer to God being a trinity?
0
How many verses are there that people infer a trinity into the text?
4
How many times does the OT say God is one?
2,346
Why does Genesis 1:26 use a plural pronoun for God?
Before we answer this, let us note the Bible uses singular pronouns to refer to God 100s of times
In our approach to understanding God, what is the best starting point?
Let OT speak to NT.
Which of the following shows why the plural in Genesis 1:26 cannot refer to the Son of God?
If “us” refers to the Son of God, how can this be when the Bible shows the Son was not born until at least 4000 years later in Bethlehem?
What must Genesis 1:26 be reconciled with?
With the singular in 1:27 and 2:7
Which of these shows why some believe Genesis 1:26 to refer to angels?
- On at least one other occasion God talked to angels and requested their opinions in formulating His plans
- We know the angels were present during creation
Which reason shows why some believe God was counseling with His own will in Genesis 1:26?
a. Ephesians 1:11 supports this view, saying God works all things “after the counsel of his own will”
b. Its similar to a man saying “Let’s see” even when he is planning by himself
- Which shows support for Genesis 1:26 speaking of Plural Majesty or emphasis like Elohim?
a. Daniel told the King, “We will tell the interpretation thereof before the king” even though Daniel alone proceeded to give the interpretation to the king
b. King Artaxerxes alternated referred to himself in the singular and plural
c. Denoting the greatness and majesty of God or multiple attributes of God
- Which of the following is support for Genesis 1:26 referring to God speaking of the future Son in prophetic foreknowledge?
a. Describes God’s foreknowledge of the future arrival of the Son, much like prophetic passages in the Psalms
- How did God make the worlds by the Son?
a. When God created man he had the future arrival of the Son in mind
b. Without the Son, God’s whole purpose in creating man would have failed
- A uni-plural noun means one or more than one
T/F
True
- A uni-plural noun means “one” exclusively when used with singular verbs or modifiers
T/F
True
- Like the English language, the plural form of a Hebrew word always signifies more than one
T/F
False
- Overwhelmingly Elohim or “God” is used in a plural way signifying more than one, with only a small amount of times it refers to only one God
T/F
False
- In Genesis 1:1 God (Elohim) is shown to be plural because “created” is a plural modifier
T/F
False
- Whenever Elohim refers to the one true God, it is always accompanied by singular verbs
T/F
True
- Whenever Elohim refers to more than one false god, it is accompanied by plural verbs
T/F
True
- If the intention of Elohim is to indicate more than one, either singular or plural verbs can be used
T/F
False
- If the intention of Elohim is to indicate one only, singular verbs are used
T/F
True
- When the Greek NT quotes from an OT reference where Elohim is used the one true God, the Greek theos (God) is always singular
T/F
True
- The Greek language does not use plurals in the same way as the Hebrew
T/F
True
- Since both the Hebrew and the Greek are inspired, if Elohim was used to indicate God is more than one, the Greek NT would use the plural form of the noun
T/F
True
