Reformation Final Flashcards
What were the 3 basic goals of the Reformed confessions?
- Provided a framework for Reformed Theology to flourish by standardizing a set of theological beliefs.
- Served as a platform to refute false teaching and respond to controversies.
- Provided a basis for summarizing major doctrinal developments.
- also, ensured that Biblical teaching was handed down from generation to the next.
What are the different views of tradition and Scripture?
Two source: scripture is equal with tradition.
Single source: tradition is subordinate to scripture.
No source: tradition is irrelevant to scripture.
Tradition infinity: scripture is relativized by tradition.
What are the three forms of unity?
The Belgic Confession
The Heidelberg Catechism
The Synod of Dort
What is the Belgic Confession?
It is a defense of the reformed faith amidst a season of persecution in the Netherlands.
King Phillip II of Spain was persecuting Protestants.
Guido De Bres sends a copy of the confession to King Phillip to show that the reformed were loyal subjects, but their allegiance is to Christ first.
De Bres admits they would die before denying the truths of the confession.
What is the Heidelberg Catechism?
It is a Q&A format divided into 52 sections.
- one section for each Lord’s day of the year.
It is intended to teach lay people the essence of the faith.
- it follows the basic outline of Romans and focuses on the three things:
1. Guilt of our sin
2. Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
3. Our gratitude
What was the Synod of Dort?
This was an international gathering of delegates to refute the teachings of Jacob Arminius and his followers.
Refuted the five Articles of Remonstrance.
Responded with the five Points of Calvinism.
What was the Primary point of the Five Articles of Remonstrance?
God’s prevenient Grace foreknew those who would believe and those who would not “believe and persevere.”
Jean-Alphonse Turretin and the enlightenment
- Was son of Francis. Both were theology professors at the Academy of Geneva founded by Jean Calvin.
- 1) led a movement to abolish the creedal formulation of the Helvetic Formula Consensus.
2) questioned much of the scholasticism of reformed orthodoxy.
- pointless to speculate on order of things like supra or infralapsatianism.
- also rejects Calvin’s argument on the internal witness of the HS.
3) wanted to wed Christian theology with the methods of the enlightenment.
- reason, not revelation is the foundation for all theology and epistemology.
The Radical Enlightenment
Written by Jonathan Israel
- Israel comes up with the phrase “crisis of the European mind.”
> in this work he states that from the mid 17th century there was a general process of secularization in which theologies hegemony over the world was overthrown.
> the shift from revelation to reason as basic foundation of knowledge was due to:
1) religious upheaval in the history of Christendom, pre and post reformation.
2) constant state of war in the west.
3) spirit of capitalism and democracy gaining force
How did Capitalism and Democracy help shift to secularization over religion?
According to Jonathan Israel:
Theology becomes just a category among others such as science.
From the 17th century on we see major developments in math and science.
4 individuals who are integral in this shift:
- Nicolaus Copernicus
- Johannes Kepler
- Galileo Galilei
- sir Isaac Newton
Nicolaus Copernicus
1473 - 1543
Outlined a theory that the sun, not the earth was the center of the universe.
Johannes Kepler
1571 - 1630
An astronomer
Concluded that the sun emitted a magnetic force that moved the planets in their courses.
Galileo Galilei
1564-1642
Carried forward the work of Copernicus and Kepler to develop a complete heliocentric cosmology.
Early pioneer of telescopic technology.
Sir Isaac Newton
1642-1727
Argued that the planets are kept in order by gravity.
Developed law of gravity in his mathematical principles of natural theology.
Sets in motion ideas that explain reality without reference to God and providence.
4 Basic characteristics of the modern world based on political and scientific changes:
- ) modern ideal holds that the universe is an impersonal phenomenon, governed by natural laws, and understandable in only physical and mathematical laws. ( as opposed to created and sustained by God)
- ) stresses the supremacy of material and concrete world over the spiritual and transcendent.
- ) science replaces religion as the source of authority. (Reason and empiricism replace doctrine and revelation)
- ) radical autonomy and independence of the self. (As opposed to dependence on God)
Definition of rationalism
Is the pursuit of knowledge through the pathway of reason.
Renee Descartes
1596-1650 (know this date)
Father of Modern Philosophy.
Crisis of knowledge: “can believe nothing too certainly of which I had only been convinced by example or custom.”
Set out on a quest for intellectual certainty based on his own reason through a process of intuition and deduction.
Discourse on Method (1637)
Discourse on Method
Written by Descartes and published in 1637.
Sets out 4 rules in the quest for knowledge:
1) principle of certainty - never accept anything to be true which I did not clearly know to be such.
2) Rule of division - divide each of the difficulties under examination into as many parts as possible for adequate solution.
3) principle of ascension - order of thought that ascends from the simple to the complex.
4) principle of universality - to make details so complete and reviews so general to be assured nothing was omitted.
What is Descartes’ one certainty that makes knowledge possible?
Cogito Ergo Sum - I think therefore I am.
Descartes’ proof of God’s existence:
working out from the rational of his own existence he acknowledges that he lacks certainty.
To lack certainty is to discern the existence of something imperfect.
If something is imperfect then something external to you must be perfect. (Only a perfect being can cause the idea of perfection in an imperfect being)
(Similar to Anselm’s “being of which nothing greater can be thought.”
Baruch Spinoza
1632-1677
A rationalist
Rejected the idea of God as a personal being who exists over and above the world and of which the world depends on.
Deus Sive Natura -“God or nature.”
- God and nature are the same entity.
- nothing can exist apart from God. He is in all things. (Not the cause of all things but IS all things)
Wrote “The Theological Political Treatise”
The Theological Political Treatise
Written by Spinoza (1670)
Paved the way for the modern understanding of the world and also Biblical criticism.
Rejected Biblical authority for the universal laws of science and nature.
(Instead of order of salvation now we are talking about the laws of science and nature).
God would never act against his nature. Therefore miracles are impossible.
John Locke
Wrote “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
Tabula Rasa (blank slate) - what can be known is what can be empirically verified.
To Locke reason is what the mind arrives at by deduction, which it gains as a result of sense perception.
Definition of Empiricism
We have no source knowledge of anything other than through sense experience.
Experience becomes the foundation for knowledge.
David Hume
1771-1776
The ultimate skeptic of the enlightenment.
Wrote; An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
What did David Wells have to say about the Enlightenment?
- we made ourselves the center of the world.
- we leaned on our own goodness and reason.
- allowed us to perceive illusion as reality.
- “the real outcome of the enlightenment, has not been the preservation of noble values but their collapse into complete relativism.”
* the promises of the enlightenment are dead, however, the premises of freedom from God, authority, the past, from evil … simply refuse to die.
When was the beginning of American Colonization?
The colonial period in America began in 1607, in Jamestown, VA.
13 colonies
Colonization lasted until mid 18th century, and just prior to the Revolutionary War in 1776.
Describe diversity in early American Colonization.
Congregational Puritanism provided the most influential formal theology in the colonies.
- all other traditions were stamped by their old world origins. That is, they inherited traditions from their homeland.
*This variety created necessary and mutual toleration which contributed to full religious liberty.
*Christianity in America took on a more pluralistic form.
- America becomes an experiment of religious toleration.
- People groups congregated in certain regions.
Catholicism and the New World:
Columbus brought Roman Catholicism to the Americas in 1492, 100 years before the Puritans.
Catholicism was strong in Central and South America as well as Quebec ( New France).
Catholicism was outlawed in the British colonies.
Despite a more stable religious foundation than that of the British colonies, Catholicism never takes hold in North America.
The Church of England and the New World:
Anglicanism was officially transplanted to Virginia through the founding of Jamestown (1607).
Growth and success was limited due to little ecclesiastical oversight with the Bishop in London.
• only Bishop could confirm membership, ordain ministers, etc.
Puritans and Congregationalists and the New World:
The Puritan Congregationalists in New England had the most influence in the New World.
First major wave came in Mayflower in 1620.
Originally planned on being part of the Colony in Virginia, but bad weather landed them in Cape Cod and settling in Plymouth.
• 50 of 101 survived the 66 day journey.
What is the Mayflower Compact?
The survivors of the Mayflower recognized the political authority of King James. (Not insurrectionists)
However, they did organize their colony in order to govern themselves.
Written in 1620.
Established Plymouth colony
They desired a form of religious freedom.
• built a society based on a mutually held covenant before God and each other.
Massachusetts Bay colony:
A new wave of Puritans in 1630.
Becomes the center of the Puritan experience.
This group fled largely in response to William Laude.
Baptists and the New World:
(Know date)
The first Baptist church was founded in Providence, RI in 1639 by Roger Williams.
Two types of Baptists:
- General baptists: believed Christs death was effective for all.
- Particular Baptists: believed Christ died for the elect.
Baptists believed that the state should have no role in the formation of the local church.
Williams would leave after only a few months due to his own radical beliefs.
• he believed that no congregation could represent the true apostolic church.
5 religious groups resulting from European migration to America. (According to Knoll)
- Colonies of Spain in Mexico which are predominately Roman Catholic.
- French Catholics in Quebec
- Anglicans in southern British colonies (especially Virginia)
- Puritans in New England (especially MA)
- Religious pluralism in the middle colonies. (Especially PA)
William Bradford
• a leader in the migration to New England colony, served as governor for 30 years.
• wrote Of Plymouth Plantation.
- gives a firsthand look at the early years of the Plymouth colony.
• Bradford very much sees America as a Christian nation.
John Winthrop
- Elected governor of Massachusetts colony prior to arrival in America.
- His sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” gave a vision of New England as a covenanted community and a city on a hill.
- he says “if we deal falsely with our God in this work, and so cause him to withdraw his present help, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world.”
William Penn
- A Quaker
- founder of Pennsylvania.
- “Holy Experiment”: Penn’s legacy is he opened the door to nonconformists to religious liberty in the New World.
Cotton Mather
• Published over 400 works, accounting for nearly 1/3 of all religious works in the colonies.
• well known for his work “Magnalia Christi Americana” in 1702.
- means “The Glorious works of Christ in America.”
• played key role in Salem witch trials:
- argued against “spectral evidence” which is based on dreams and testimonies.
- claimed it is not verifiable and should not be admissible in court.
Salem Witch Trials
1692
200 people were accused of witchcraft.
- 30 people found guilty
- 20 people executed
- empty accusations by a group of young women claiming to be bewitched.
- for approximately 1600 years people assumed the reality of unseen forces. And that we could become possessed by demons and supernatural realities.
- the trials exposed superstition. This way of thinking begins to be questioned in the New World and is eventually seen as obsolete.
What is the “Halfway covenant”?
Puritans in New England seeing their children failing to follow Christ and having a desire to foster a covenant community created this covenant.
- baptized individuals of good behavior could present their children for baptism, even if the parent did not possess faith in Christ.
- neither the parent or child could take part in the Lords Supper unless they made a profession of faith in Christ.
- this enabled a baptized person to be a member of a covenantal church/society.
What was the purpose of the “Half-Way Covenant”?
It was intended to preserve the local congregation and to ensure wider participation in the covenant community and a Godly society in New England.
What is the “Holy Experiment”?
In 1681 William Penn received a large tract of land from Charles II.
- later to be called Pennsylvania.
- Penn would use this as a “Holy experiment” as he called it, which would allow unprecedented freedom of religion for all who believed in God.
- Quakers and Presbyterians would make their home in PA.
- this challenged the Church of England and Puritanism (city on a hill).
Penn’s experiment would win the day in the New World, upholding religious toleration and liberty.
How can Jonathan Edwards theology be qualified?
Edwards religion is experiential.
His conversion is described in terms of a “sweet sense of glorious things.”
It is not simply an intellectual awakening.
John Piper is Edwardsian when he says, “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.”
Edwards 70 resolutions
1: resolved to do whatever I think to be most to Gods glory and my own good profit and pleasure.
Reflecting on his personal mission in life, Edwards writes 70 resolutions in his late teens to twenties.
These represent Edwards’ personal philosophy; his own personal mission statement.
First revival period of the Great Awakening:
1734-1737
Revival breaks out in New England.
Edwards captures the heart of this period in his work called, “ A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God.”
In real revival the Spirit is poured out through an extraordinary way through the ordinary means of grace.
What are the ordinary means of grace in Edwards’ “Surprising Work of God.”
*** “A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God.”
God uses the means he has ordained in order to build up the church to the glory of his name.
That is:
• the spirit does not work apart from the work he inspires.
• it is done through preaching, praying, and administration of the sacraments.
It is “surprising” because it is ordinary. And happens only from time to time and maybe when least expected.
Second revival and Sinners in the hands of an angry God.
1740-1742
This is the height of the Great Awakening.
During this time, Edwards preaches his famous sermon “Sinners in the hands of an angry God.”
Based on Deuteronomy 32:35
-“Their foot shall slide in due time.”
What was the purpose of Edwards’ work “Distinguishing Marks of a work of the Spirit of God.”?
Edwards gives practical guidance on how to distinguish between true and false revival. (Based on 1 John 4:1)
- the work of the Spirit cannot be judged simply on the effects of religion on the body or appearance.
- Scripture is the norm for evaluating revivals.
Gives 5 signs of the true work of the Spirit.
Edwards’ 5 signs of the true work of the Spirit and of genuine revival.
Based on 1 John 4:1
- Christ is exalted
- Sin is diminished
- People hold up scripture
- Truth and error are clearly delineated
- The Spirit operates as a Spirit of love.
What was the “Holy Club”?
Student gatherings organized by Charles Wesley at Oxford which were modeled after German pietism (Spener).
The gatherings were marked by intense Bible reading, book study, prayer, attention to the poor and more.
The club was given the name Holy Club as a term of derision by their peers.
They were also called Methodists for their methodical approach to holy living.
John Wesley’s conversion experience:
During his trip back to England a mast breaks off the ship. Where the English were panicked, the Moravians continued singing psalms.
Impressed by their inner strength, piety, and peace he seeks out Moravians.
After breaking with Von Zinzendorf and the Moravians Wesley reads Edwards’ “Surprising Work of God.”
Edwards book had an immediate impact on Wesley.
John Wesley’s contribution:
- Preached over 3,000 open air sermons.
- believed in prevenient grace.
- God gives grace to all humanity that enables to respond freely to the gospel.
- can be rejected
At the time of his death there were over 70,000 Methodists in Britain and over 40,000 in America.
Three types of grace according to John Wesley?
1) Prevenient: grace given to all people from birth and works in them until conversion, if any.
2) justifying grace: we are saved from the guilt of sin.
- this restores us to the favor of God.
3) sanctifying grace: we are saved from the power and root of sin.
- this restores us to the image of God.
Because of this view Wesley emphasizes sanctification and personal holiness.
Who was Francis Makemie?
- The first major Presbyterian figure/celebrity.
- the Father of American Presbyterianism.
- was a church planter and organizer, founding churches in MD, VA, NY, and NC.
- Forms the first Presbytery in Philadelphia, PA. (1706)
- even in death helps build the American Presbyterian church leaving the land of his home for the building of a Presbyterian congregation.
What two basic commitments is Presbyterianism predicated?
1) Representation
Elders and Pastors represent the church that they oversee.
A Presbytery is a regional gathering of the church through the elders and ministers of each respective congregation.
2) Connectionalism
To be a Presbyterian you have to be connected to other Presbyterians.
(I.e the Presbytery meetings)
This provides support and accountability for ministers and propagates Christianity.
What is a synod and describe the first Presbyterian Synod:
• 1716
• the Philadelphia Presbytery decides to create a synod comprised of three Presbytery’s.
- Philadelphia, New Castle (MD, DE), and Long Island.
- A synod is a regional gathering of Presbyteries.
- the synod oversees the Presbytery which oversees the congregations and elders which oversee the individuals in the congregation.
What was the Cross affair and how was it important to the Presbyterian church?
Robert Cross, a minister in New Castle Presbyteries was accused of fornication.
After confessing he is barred from pulpit for 4 weeks.
The case brings the question, how does a lower court respond when justice fails the church.
Who was George Gillespie?
- a ministerial colleague of Robert Cross who was concerned with the Presbyterian church’s response to the Cross affair.
- Writes a letter to a pastor is Scotland reporting over 200 Scottish and irish families have migrated to the New World and joined newly formed Presbyterian churches.
- He reports that of the no more than 30 ministers and probationer preachers in the synod, 6 have been grossly scandalous with no discipline.
John Thomson:
Joined Gillespie in concern for the Presbyterian church.
• argued for confessional subscription for ministerial candidates as a way to maintain moral and theological integrity.
• he stated, “A church without confession is like a city without walls.”
- no defense against false teaching.
- 1727 the New Castle Presbytery under Thomson’s leadership sends a request to Act to pass ordinance to subscribe to the Westminster Standards.
- opposed by Jonathan Dickinson.
Jonathan Dickinson:
Argued against John Thomson and confessional subscription.
- Affirmed the Westminster standards, however he believed a man’s conscience should be bound by the Bible alone.
- believed creeds and confessions undermined the sufficiency of scripture.
• believed a more helpful test was to explore a persons religious experience.
- believed experience more important than theology. (Emphasized morality, experience, and piety)
Adopting Act
- 1729
- Tweeddale calls this possibly the most important moment in Presbyterian history, because it defines Presbyterianism.
- the Act distinguishes between essential and non essential elements within the Westminster Confession of faith.
- candidates must affirm the standards as representing the system of doctrine represented in scripture, and indicate where he cannot affirm belief within the standards.
- ordaining body is to determine whether any scruple is essential or nonessential.
- the Act does not ultimately decide essential and non essential elements are.
What was Log College and why was it instituted?
In addition to confessional subscription, the Presbyterian church faced the question how should ministers be trained?
- Log College was started by William Tennent Sr.
- Tennent used his home to train 21 ministers, including his 4 sons.
Log college provided a template for Pro-Awakening Presbyterians and emphasized:
- ) Reformed Theology
- ) Biblical languages
- ) True piety
Gilbert Tennent and the “New Side.”
Preaches famous sermon called, “Danger of an unconverted Ministry.”
- in this sermon he attacks old side ministers for failing to embrace the awakening.
- a four year debate 1741 ensues after the Philadelphia synod censures Tennent.
• Followers of Gilbert withdraw and form the Synod of New York.
- “New Side” Synod
• College of New Jersey is created in 1746. (Later Princeton University)
Describe the basic issues between old side and new side Presbyterians.
The split is basically about one’s attitude toward the Great Awakening.
- The Great Awakening was approximately 1740.
- Old side - complained about Whitfield and Tennant and the awakening.
- issues included a low view of scripture since the “New Side” said you didn’t need formal education. Your experience is what mattered.
- also, old sliders feared congregational takeovers as new side preachers would preach in churches that didn’t have a pastor to spread their message.
New side - characterized by:
- pro awakening
- pro Log College
- anti subscription
New Side College: Background/context
• 1746
1) both sides viewed the Great Awakening as a work of God.
2) both sides raised questions about what standards should be used to ordain ministers.
- differed on utmost importance: confessional standards or personal piety.
3) Training: old side wanted established colleges such as Harvard or Yale.
New side desired orthodoxy but also a focus on piety, character and holiness.
( Harvard and Yale exposed to Deism and anti-revivalism)
*** College of New Jersey erected.
College of New Jersey
Erected to train Presbyterian pastors for ministry, “committed to promoting ‘warm hearted godliness,’ and the principles of the awakening and the reformation.
- patterned after Tennent’s Log College
- first President was Jonathan Dickinson who trained in his home.
- struggling without an established place of operation; the College is later planted in Princeton New Jersey.
What 3 ways did John Witherspoon shape Presbyterianism and evangelical identity in America.
1) Revolutionizes the College of New Jersey.
2) brings Scottish Common Sense realism to American Presbyterianism.
3) becomes major influencer in formation of the first General Assembly in America.
How did John Witherspoon revolutionize the College of New Jersey?
- College had little money, morale, and a small library.
- turns the college into a full educational institution instead of just a training ground for ministers.
- Now rivaled Harvard and Yale.
John Witherspoon and Scottish Common Sense Realism:
- Realism was a reaction to skepticism of enlightenment based on philosophy of Thomas Reid.
- realism affirmed the basic reliability of the senses for the discernment of the existence of God, the self, and the external world.
- it also affirms a universal morality intuitive to all.
A National Presbyterian church:
- The church faced a crisis that saw the church no longer be organized at a local level.
- 1788 - a National church was established.
- divided into 16 Presbyteries and 4 Synods.
- NY and NJ
- Philadelphia
- Virginia
- Carolinas
• Westminster Confession of faith is reworked to remove the establish principle.
- establishment principle connects church and state.
- removed claim Pope is the Antichrist.
Plan of Union:
1801
Presbyterians and Congregationalists had several interests in common.
• evangelizing newcomers
• reformed theology
• puritan piety
(Difference primarily governmental)
Agree to join forces to evangelize the Northwest.
•Dawn of 19th century saw a wave of Scottish and Irish Presbyterians immigrants.
• See 4 concrete provisions
Four concrete provisions of the Plan of Union?
- Joint missionary endeavors
- Pastoral service and accountability
• pastors from both denominations could serve in either congregation. - Congregational polity
• governance would be according to majority of the specific congregation. - Principle of reciprocity
• congregational leaders would have the same right to sit and act in the presbytery as a ruling elder of a Presbyterian church.
Problems with Plan of Union?
1) local churches had no real identity.
2) who was ultimately responsible for church discipline, financial matters, strategy, etc.
3) pragmatics over symbolically
( minimizes confessional theology)
- “let’s just do what works” undermines distinctives of both religions.
*** by 1837 plan would fall apart
Cane Ridge Revival:
- 1801
- this period is often Referred to as the Second Great Awakening (1801 ~ 1835)
- Cane Ridge church opened up the communion season to neighboring churches.
- preachers would give tokens to those deemed worthy of participating in the Lord’s Supper.
• abnormal results as a extreme emotional strain and physical reactions to the preaching of the gospel.
-shaking, barking, jerking
• Many believe this resulted in spurious religious excitement rather than real revival and conversion.
Charles Finney:
A revivalist who became the most famous and important figure of the Second Great Awakening.
- revival was about creating an environment that would guarantee results.
- “New Measures”
- Lectures on Revivals of Religion (1835)
- in this book we see a theology of revivalism rather than revivals.
- religion is after all a work of man, so revival is not a miracle but a work of man.
Old Measures v New Measures
Old measures: first great awakening.
• God pours out his blessing on his people through the ordinary means of grace.
• Preaching, prayer, sacraments, etc.
New Measures: Second Great Awakening.
• revival can take place under certain conditions.
• 4 conditions
What are the 4 conditions of the New Measures?
Charles Finney emphasized 4 conditions for revivalism.
- ) direct address - particularizing the message, such as using names, gains a captive audience.
- ) hold protracted meetings: week long campaigns and prayer meetings until revival would break out.
- ) anxious bench: person would be called forward to give account/testimony.
- person might even be “healed.”
4.) inquiry meetings: person coming forward would be shuttled to private rooms for counseling and talked to about personal salvation.
What are the distinctives between the Old School and New School Presbyterianism?
Old School - tied to:
• European denominations
• confessions
New School - pro methods of the awakening
• freedom of the will
• individual experience
• unhinged from denominational trappings
Old School/ New School schism
- 1837
- 3 primary issues in the Split:
- ) Adopting Act of 1729
- ) 19th century was an age of benevolence.
- ) issue of slavery
How did the “age of benevolence” add to the Old School/ New School split.
Increase in voluntary societies and temperance or abstinence movement.
• old school and new school Presbyterians supported these, however, over time Old School distanced themselves from these due to lack of doctrinal and government insight.
• old school believed the church, not voluntary society was responsible for spiritual matters.
How did the issue of slavery contribute to the Old School/New School split?
General Assembly in 1818 declared slavery a sin, however did not stipulate guidelines for discipline.
• some argued for abolition, some for slavery, and others for a gradual colonization.
Schism of 1837:
• The Act and Testimony ( old school)
(Anti-abolition conservatives)
- Excise Act of 1837 (old school)
- Auburn Declaration (new school)
- General Assembly of 1838
What was The Act and Testimony?
This contributed to Old School/New school split.
- old school conservatives hold a pre assembly gathering (General Assembly of 1838), to form a document.
- document discussed:
- the validity of voluntary societies
- doctrinal broadening of the new school
- strategized to take control of denomination (Presbyterian) back from influence of Finney
*** Charles Hodge believed the gathering to be divisive.
What was the Excising Act of 1837
• Old school votes the Plan of Union of 1801 to be unconstitutional
- the Plan was voted by General Assembly but not approved by Presbyteries.
- this Act discharged all churches, Presbyteries, and Synods formed under the plan.
• this leaves 60,000 churchless
What is the Auburn Declaration?
New School meets in 1837
- meeting is in response to Excising Act
- affirmed new school orthodoxy with 16 points of declaration.
- unconditional election
- original sin
- atonement
- also affirmed contributions of Edwards and Witherspoon
General Assembly of 1838
This followed excise act and Auburn Declarations of 1837.
- New Schoolers call a constitutional assembly of its own members, quickly adjourning.
- this essentially forms two bodies of Presbyterian churches in America.
What are the two primary types of epistemology?
Rationalism:
• at the center of knowledge is the individuals ideas.
Empiricism:
• human senses; experience is the foundation for human knowledge.
Immanuel Kant
- Referred to as the “Philosopher of the enlightenment.”
- reading Hume woke him from his “dogmatic slumber.”
- Hume called into question the foundation of philosophy, theology, and science.
- Reduce everything to what can be known through the five senses.
- Responds to Hume in his work The Critique of Pure Reason.
- with Kant we begin to see the rise of the human subject as the centerpiece of knowledge.
How did the enlightenment affect religion in the New World?
There is a struggle between orthodoxy and modernity.
- pietism (Germany), Awakening (America), Evangelicalism (England), are all expressions in the new world which now center on individual piety and experience.
- Enlightenment displaces revelation as the foundation for knowledge with reason.
What is Kant’s response to Hume in the Critique of Pure Reason?
Hume said, “if the only thing we know is through sense perception, how can we know what we think corresponds to the external world?”
• Kant calls it scandalous that we have to accept the external world on faith.
• he asserts that like the Copernican Revolution, the human mind is central to epistemology.
- not divine revelation.
• To Kant rather than the mind confirming to the external world (Aquinas), the external world conforms to the categories of the mind.
*** the mind gives shape to the external world . (Nash’s jar and jelly)
Kants innate categories:
To Kant our impression of the world begins with experience, but there is knowledge that transcends our experience.
• the mind has 12 innate categories:
- time and space
- cause and effect
- etc.
The Kantian Wall:
Knowledge is possible only of the empirical world.
- a separation of the noumea (world as it really is) and the phenomena (world as we experience it).
- the noumena (as a category of understanding) allows us to apprehend and interpret phenomenological reality.
- we assume things like God, the soul, etc. to make sense of reality.
Kants view of faith?
Since we can only know the world we experience, the phenomenal world:
• noumena is the realm of faith
• he says it is necessary to deny knowledge to make room for faith.
- compartmentalizes faith and knowledge.
• you cannot know God, you can only believe in him.
What is enlightenment according to Kant?
Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity.
Immaturity is defined as one’s inability to think for yourself.
Motto of the enlightenment:
“Have courage to use your own understanding!”
(I.e. don’t be shackled by your church, community, upbringing, etc.)
Kants categorical imperative:
- duty is the principle of ethic.
- “You must act only by that maxim that you would will at the same time be a universal law.”
- we assume God because without him our moral experience doesn’t make sense.
- God is practical as well since he ensures ultimate good is realized.
*** Critique of Practical Reason
Friedrich Schleiermacher compared to other philosophers:
Descartes put the individual mind at the center of the world.
Hume put experience at center
Kant attempted to fuse the two together
Schleiermacher puts feelings at the center of the world.
Friedrich Schleiermacher:
• considered the father of modern theological liberalism.
• Schleiermacher sees Christianity as relating to the redemption accomplished by Jesus Christ.
- he redefines redemption.
• redemption is just a metaphor representing the passage from an evil condition.
- can be moral, sociological, or psychological.
- can also refer to help given by another person.
• sin is a loss of God consciousness. (Dependence)
- (also a redefinition of sin)
Is Christianity the only way to God for Schleiermacher?
- Christianity is not the only true religion, it is simply the best expression of religion.
- the superiority of Christianity is Christs followers become aware of redemption through Christ.
- God awakens us to our dependence on God.
- faith is an experience of Christ in your heart. (Feelings)
- what matters is what Christ means to you.
- doctrine is less important than experience.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel:
Hegel changed the way we view history.
- denies the premise of Western logic; the law of noncontradiction.
- develops “The Phenomenology of the Mind.”
- the capacity of the mind to apprehend existence in the phenomenal world.
- for this he looks to history as the forum for knowledge.
•devises three-fold logic:
- history moves from thesis to antithesis to synthesis.
Tubingen School:
- Ferdinand Christian Bauer
- adopts Hegelian logic to interpret Christianity.
- thesis: Peter wants everyone to become messianic Jew.
- antithesis: gentile Christianity where Paul takes Christianity to the world.
- synthesis: fuses works and faith where Christianity is a progressive development through the second century.
*** this leads to radical reinterpretation of New Testament.
In what ways is the New Testament reinterpreted through Bauer’s Tubingen School?
His synthesizing of Peter and Paul into an incomplete work in the first century leads him to assume several things:
- Mark is dated in late second century since it is an attempt to reconcile Peter and Paul.
- books such as 1 & 2 Timothy are not authentic since they make no attempt to reflect tension with Judaistic Christianity.
Kernel and husk:
- husk is the things that do not date to Jesus life.
- you have to peel back the husk ( such as miracles, etc.) to get to the real Christianity which is the real life morality of Jesus.
David Friedrich Strauss:
- Wrote Life of Jesus
- in Life of Jesus he applies myth theory to the life of Jesus.
- denies any historical value to the gospels.
- since we know miracles aren’t real then the Gospel of John is an example of mythology.
- church created myths to fill gaps between the death of Christ and writings of gospels in second century.
• a myth is an idea clothed in history.
- love your neighbor is the principle and feeding five thousand is the myth.
• to Strauss we need to distinguish between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.
Adolf Von Harnack:
• Wrote “What is Christianity?”
• main concern was to discover the pure message of Jesus that comes in a simple gospel.
- the synthesis (Hegelian)of this becomes Hellenized Christianity.
• in his book he claims Christianity is a way of life not a doctrine.
• his simple gospel has 3 components.
(See note card)
Von Harnack’s 3 components of the “Simple message of Jesus.”
1.) an emphasis on the kingdom of God.
• kingdom is not just future.
• two forms: external kingdom and internal.
2.) Christianity underscores the fatherhood of God, infinite value of the human soul, and brotherhood of man.
• he sees this in the Lord’s prayer.
3.) emphasis on love
• it is through the cross of Christ that we gain an experience the power of purity and love.
• we are building the kingdom of God as we spread the message of love.
What is Neo-orthodoxy?
- also known as dialectical theology.
- it is a revision of orthodoxy, and therefore no orthodoxy at all (Sproul would say).
- possibly the most significant theological movement of the 20th century.
- in many ways it is easier to say what it stands against.
- against simple repetition of old scholasticism of 17th century.
- against the revisions of 19th century German, Protestant liberalism.
- scholasticism was seen as outdated method in light of Kant, Hegel, and others.
- liberal Christianity was wrong for its moralizing Christianity into a way of life and not a system of doctrine.
Who influenced Karl Barth’s outlook?
Trained at the finest universities in the world, steeped in liberalism.
• university of Berlin
• university of Berne
• Tubingen
• U of Marburg
(All centers of learning in Germany)
Greatly impacted by Kant and Schleiermacher.
Studied under Adolf Von Harnack, in Berlin.
Barth’s pastorate at Safenwil:
• Fully liberal in his theology, had little time for key doctrine (Tubingen school of thought)
Until the impact of WW I.
• realized his liberal training could not sustain his congregation in Safenwil.
• human optimism found in “Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man” ideals could not sustain confidence in times of war.
Barth on Romans:
Barth turns to Romans after human optimism fails.
• Barth’s first major work is his commentary, The Epistle to The Romans.
- it is said to have “fell like a bombshell on the playground of theologians.”
- in this he states his writing is written with “ a joyful sense of discovery” and “the mighty voice of Paul was new to me.”
- Barth now believed scripture was a theology from “above” and liberalism could only give a theology from “below.”
- See also Barth’s response to Kant, Schleiermacher.
How did Barth ultimately respond to the thinking of Kant and Schleiermacher?
Kant said we could only know the phenomenal world.
Schleiermacher says Christianity is a religion among religions.
• Barth says, Christianity is not a religion but a revelation.
- he is asserting the single priority of revelation from God.
Remember: Barth comes to see scripture as theology from “above” and liberalism could only give a theology from “below.”
- Furthermore, Barth now sees Christianity as a doctrine and not a way of life (liberalism).
The “Infinite Qualitative Distinction.”
This is Kierkegaards philosophy between God and man.
• Barth is greatly influenced by Kierkegaard.
- There is a distinction between time and eternity.
- “God is in heaven, thou art on earth”
- Barth agrees there is an infinite chasm between God and man. (What comes from above and what comes from below)
- Barth tries to overcome this chasm:
- this is why we have the gospel and why we must have revelation.
- God cannot be known apart from his disclosure of himself in his gospel.
( no natural theology)
Barth’s view on natural theology:
• No natural theology.
- God cannot be known apart from his disclosure of himself in scripture.
• As humans we cannot know God.
- we need God to know God and we cannot know God because we are not God.
- the problem, to him, is not that we are fallen, but we are finite.
- this denies basic teachings of Imago Dei, general revelation, human conscience.
Church Dogmatics:
• written by Karl Barth.
• His most important work.
- “it is the most impressive work of modern times to be written by a single author.” - unknown quote
- made up of 4 sections and is about 10,000 pages.
- Represents Barth’s dialectical theology. ( see slide)
• theology is a church endeavor. It is not simply an academic enterprise.
( this is why Barth wrote this- emphasis on church)
Barth’s dialectical theology:
- He ultimately proposes an alternative to liberalism of his youth and reformed orthodoxy.
- becomes neo-orthodoxy
- centers on what is called “theology of the word (Deus Dixit).
Barth’s “theology of the word”:
• Scripture is not the word of God, it points to the word of God.
- to liberals the Bible is not necessarily the word of God. (The word of God is to be listened to within the Bible)
• we know nothing of God except what we have in his word.
• theology is merely human expression to the revelation of God and therefore is always subject to revision.
- our conclusions are always provisional and inadequate.
• comes up with 3 ways we can distinguish the word of God.
How is Barth’s view of the word of God as revelation unique?
- Revelation is not propositional truth. It is an event, an encounter.
- revelation is an event that takes place in Jesus and still takes place in Jesus.
- through whom God is known.
- in Christ God manifests grace and therefore can be experienced.
• knowing God is about a relationship not religion.
*** who knows what any of this means.
3 Ways we can distinguish the word of God according to Barth:
This is part of Barth’s theology of the Word.
- ) the word of God in Christ.
- Jesus is the word of God and is therefore the primary form of God’s revelation. - ) scripture:
- scripture is a witness to God’s divine revelation in Christ.
- he says we are equivocating when we call scripture the word of God. - ) preaching:
- found only in the context of the church’s worship.
According to Barth, what is the relationship of Jesus as “The Word” and the Bible as the “Word.”?
• Scripture is the church’s normative witness.
- it is not objective truth.
- when someone preaches the church listens and then the word of God in Christ (God’s “yes”) and then the individual rejects the world’s evil (world’s “no.”)
- the word seizes the individual and then becomes the word of God to you.
• the Bible becomes the word of God through revelation.
- it is God’s “event” that makes it his word.
- the word “is” in the statement The Bible is the word of God represents the event or being.
• Barth basically believes in a fallible text that God used to bring about a supernatural encounter with Christ.
