Systematic Final

Question 1

What are the five common errors in hermeneutics?

Answer 1

allegorical; traditionalism; rationalism; subjectivism; perspectivism

Question 2

Where did the allegorical method interpretation begin?

Answer 2

Alexandrian schools of Jewish interpretation under Philo and Christian through Clement, Origen, and became dominant from the time of Augustine through Reformation.

Question 3

Which interpretative method is of necessity extremely subjective and results a Bible that can mean many things to many people?

Answer 3

Allegorism

Question 4

Which interpretive method is rooted in authoritarian methods that claim their view is the only right one based simply on the claim?

Answer 4

Traditionalism

Question 5

Which method of hermeneutics did the early catholic church use by seeking agreement of doctrine & interpretation in unity of bishops & churches?

Answer 5

Traditionalism

Question 6

Do reformed writers and even Apostolic’s fall into the same interpretive trap as early Catholics? Explain.

Answer 6

Yes, by quoting certain people as if they were the Bible (the canon).

Question 7

Which method did J. Gresham Machen fight?

Answer 7

Rationalism

Question 8

Which method did the faculty at Fuller Theological Seminary use in 1960’s, when it moved away from inerrancy?

Answer 8

Rationalism

Question 9

Which approach in hermeneutics looks only for a present “blessing” in one’s personal life while disregarding the context & original intent of the passage?

Answer 9

Subjectivism

Question 10

What two forms does Subjectivism as an interpretive method take?

Answer 10

Extreme devotionalism;

Existential theology

Question 11

List some examples of subjectivism and briefly describe them. (two examples)

Answer 11

Feminist Theology: seeks to eliminate gender hierarchy and patriarchy

Liberation Theology: theology along Marxist lines, Jesus as a social liberator

Question 12

At which point does Subjectivism fail?

Answer 12

Places the reader over Scripture

Question 13

In what ways can a reader get into the error of Excessive Literalism? (four examples)

Answer 13

overuse of etymology;
overuse of English words;
overuse of grammar;
finding multiple meanings

Question 14

Define absolute attributes.

Answer 14

Those attributes of God which He has in Himself

Question 15

What is the aseity of God?

Answer 15

Self-existence, the simplicity of God

Question 16

What law of science justifies the aseity of God?

Answer 16

The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Question 17

Define the simplicity of God.

Answer 17

He is not composed of diverse elements.

His attributes cannot be separated from His substance. (He’s One)

Question 18

Is there an arguable difference between God’s presence and His locale?

Answer 18

His locale is in Christ the man.

His omnipresence is the ever-present Spirit of God.

Question 19

In the OT, where is the primary place of God’s abode?

Answer 19

Heaven

Question 20

What implications do the questions: “Is God in the devil? Is God in unbelievers before salvation? How much of God was in Christ? Third?” have for the notion of God as “cloud”?

Answer 20

You can’t believe it and believe in God’s omnipresence.

Question 21

How does our definition of omnipresence (cloud/force vs. person) affect prayer?

Answer 21

We ask God for help, we don’t try to tap into some type of energy.

Question 22

What does God’s immutability point to?

Answer 22

His unchangeableness.

Question 23

What modern theological school views God as changing over time?

Answer 23

Process theology or openness

Question 24

What passages, which speak of God changing his mind or “repenting” (as Gen 6:6-7 [creating man]; 1 Sam 15:10-11 [making Saul king]; Jer 18:8-10 [judging a nation which repents, and vice versa]; Jonah 3:10 [destroying Nineveh), must be interpreted in harmony with?

Answer 24

The rest of Scripture.

Question 25

What actually changes in the above verses and what remains the same?

Answer 25

Changes: their relationship to God
Same: God’s character

Question 26

What is the version of process thought that has made its way into conservative circles?

Answer 26

Openness

Question 27

How many verses does Ware show support the classical notion of God’s foreknowledge and how many do openness falsely use to justify their claims?

Answer 27

Support: around 4500
Against: 105

Question 28

Can Open Theism use Gen. 18 “…now I know…” against traditional claims of God’s foreknowledge? Explain.

Answer 28

No, because open theism can’t claim this because God already knew this on transient, He knew the potential.

Question 29

Can Open theism use Jer. 19:5, “Never entered my mind.” consistently to push their claims? Explain.

Answer 29

No, it can’t be literal for them either.

Question 30

What are some verses to answer the charge of the Open theist that “You don’t take the Bible Literally.”

Answer 30

Gen. 3:9, 22:19

God doesn’t know?… then God isn’t omniscient!

Question 31

Why did God go to Moses and tell Jonah to preach?

Answer 31

To elicit change.

Question 32

What are the 2 Choices on the theodicy issue regarding God’s foreknowledge and creating people who ultimately will end up in hell?

Answer 32

1. God sees individual choices and takes that into account.

2. God doesn’t know the future and just knows the possibilities. Prophecy is God causing things to happen.

Question 33

Does God force salvation? Explain.

Answer 33

No, He sees individuals and puts them in the best place in history to be saved.

Question 34

If God makes the future happen what poignant question shows the lesser god of Open theism isn’t good?

Answer 34

How could God force people to do things He knows will send them to Hell?