Test 2 Flashcards
What is Theology?
“Theology is the queen of the sciences”
What is theology proper?
The study of God, with special attention to the first person of the Trinity
Intuition
Knowing without learning
Tradition
Universal acceptance
Reason
Obvious intelligent design, effects demand causes
The official answer of God himself (Does God exist?)
God does not argue for His own existence
Its self-evident nature makes it foolish to deny the
existence of God
Has He communicated with us?
General and Special Revelation
General Revelation - history
Shows that there is a divine ruler and a divine plan
General Revelation - nature
Creation points to a creator
General Revelation - conscience
Man’s inherent sense of right and wrong points to a morality outside of Himself
Special Revelation
God’s revelation of Himself through specific information to specific people at specific times
It is not learned on one’s owned
It is accepted by faith
It is required for salvation
God is Unity
There is only ONE GOD
God is Trinity
God exists in THREE PERSONS
Clearly taught in the NT
Trinity is consistent with “God” in the OT
NT teachings on the Trinity (5)
Father, Son, and Spirit are all called “God”
These three are considered one
All are present at the baptist of Christ
The Great Commission is given in the name of the three persons
NT writers often reference all three persons together
Trinity in the OT (3)
It is consistent with the plural name for God
It is consistent with the plural references to God
All three persons are mentioned at various times
God is a Spirit
He is not limited to a physical body
God is a person
He is a rational, self-conscious, and self-determinate moral being
The “Personhood” of God
Is shown by His names
Is revealed through the use of personal pronouns
Is demonstrated by personal characteristics
Natural attribute of God (Definition)
Reflect the nature of God; they are unique to Him
Natural attributes of God (8)
Transcendent Immanent Eternal Infinite Immutable Omniscient Omnipotent Omnipresent
Transcendent
God is separate from and above His creation
Immanent
God is actively involved in His creation
Eternal
God has no beginning and no ending
Infinite
God has no limits in either space or attributes
Immutable
God is absolutely consistent in His divine nature
Omniscient
God knows all He wills to know
Omnipotent
God can do all He wills to do
Omnipresent
God is everywhere He wills to be
Moral attribute of God (Definition)
Reflect the character of God; man made in God’s image, and thus is expected to reflect these
Moral attributes of God (8)
Holy Just Righteous Love Merciful Gracious Good Truth
Holy
Perfect and total purity; complete separation from sin
Just
God perfectly carries out the laws He has established
Righteous
God always does what is right
Love
God has a self-sacrificing concern for the welfare of others
Merciful
God acts with compassion, withholding deserved judgement
Gracious
God acts with unmerited favor, giving people what they do not derserve
Good
God deals bountifully with mankind, always seeking their best interest
Truth
God cannot lie or tolerate untruth
Biblical use of the Fatherhood of God
- Express the relationship within the Trinity
2. Expresses the relationship of God with man
Ontological Trinity
distinction of order within the Godhead
Economic Trinity
distinction of function within the Godhead
The sovereignty of God
Expresses His ownership
Expresses His authority
Expresses His will
God’s will (2)
God has desires and plans that will be accomplished
God’s sovereignty, however, does not result in “fatalism”
God’s sovereignty…(4)
There are some things God will do because of His plans
and purposes
There are other things He won’t do unless we ask
Gods will does not negate man’s will, He allows us to
choose whether or not to cooperate with His divine
plans
Deuteronomy 6:4
There is one God
Psalm 14:1
Acknowledgement of the existence of God is intuitive and reasonable
Psalm 90:2
God is eternal
Romans 10:17
Special revelation is necessary for salvation
1 John 5:7
God is three “persons”
John 4:24
God is a spirit
