Theology B (Chappell/Meek)

Question 1

Define and distinguish “general revelation” and “special revelation.”

Answer 1

General revelation: Truth about God that is available to everyone through:
1. Nature
2. History
3. God’s image in man
It renders man without excuse with respect to knowledge of God but does not reveal the way of salvation (Ps. 19:1–2; Rom. 1:19–20).

Special revelation: Truth about God which he has revealed to his people through:
1. Special messengers (angels, prophets, etc.)
2. Jesus Christ
3. Scripture
It reveals the way of salvation (John 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:15).

Question 2

Define and defend (including Scripture proofs) the “inspiration” of Scripture.

Answer 2

Inspiration: Supernatural, providential influence of God’s Spirit on human authors which caused them to write what he wanted them to write to communicate revealed truth to others (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).

Question 3

Define and defend the “necessity” of Scripture.

Answer 3

Necessity: Indispensability of Scripture in revealing the will of God for salvation (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 2:11).

Question 4

What is the “canon”? Defend it scripturally.

Answer 4

Canon: The set of books held to be inspired by God’s people as the rule of faith and practice.

Internal evidence:
1. Jesus’ affirmation of the Old Testament canon (Matt. 5:17)
2. Old Testament quotations of the Old Testament as authoritative and Scriptural (Matt. 1:22–23; 1 Pet. 2:6)
3. Peter’s affirmation of Paul’s letters (2 Pet. 2:15–16)

External evidence:
1. Clement’s affirmation of apostolic authorship and compilation (1 Clement 42.1)
2. Muratorian Fragment’s affirmation of canon sans Hebrews and James (c. 190 AD)
3. Athansius’ affirmation of complete list in his Easter Letter (367 AD)
4. Councils of Hippo (393 AD) and Carthage (397 AD)

Question 5

Define and defend the “authority” of Scripture.

Answer 5

Authority: Scripture’s status as the only rule of faith and practice because it is God’s very word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Question 6

Define and defend the “sufficiency” of Scripture.

Answer 6

Sufficiency: Scripture’s independence from interpreters or additions in order to reveal the way of salvation (Gal. 1:8–9; 2 Tim. 3:16–17).

Question 7

Define and defend the “perspicuity” of Scripture.

Answer 7

Perspicuity: Scripture’s clarity and simplicity for anyone seeking the way of salvation in it (Deut. 29:29; Ps. 119:105)

Question 8

What is distinctive about Reformed interpretation of Scripture?

Answer 8

The Reformed interpretation of Scripture maintains:
1. Continuity between the Old and New Testaments
2. The right of an individual to interpret Scripture without the help of an ‘expert’

Question 9

What principles should guide our interpretation of Scripture?

Answer 9

1. Infallibility: Scripture’s trustworthiness and inability to err
2. Allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture

Question 10

Define and defend (including Scripture proofs) the “inerrancy” of Scripture?

Answer 10

Inerrancy: Scripture’s freedom from error and untruth in everything that it teaches (Num. 23:19; Rev. 21:5).

Question 11

What do the Scriptures principally teach?

Answer 11

The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man (John 5:39; 20:31).