Theology I (Chappell/Meek) Flashcards
What is the universal or catholic church?
The universal or catholic church is comprised of the elect for all time.
What is the visible church?
The visible church is comprised of all those who profess true religion and their children.
What are the attributes of the church? Prove from Scripture.
The attributes of the church are:
1. Holy: Set apart from unbelief and sin (1 Pet. 2)
2. Catholic: Comprised of all those, throughout the world, who profess true religion (Eph. 4)
3. Apostolic: Founded on the authority and teaching of the apostles (Eph. 2)
What are the marks of the church? Prove from Scripture.
The marks of the church are:
1. Word (Acts 6:4)
2. Sacraments (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11)
3. Discipline (Gal. 6:1)
Who is the head of the church? Prove from Scripture.
Jesus Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 1:22; Col. 1:18).
Define three basic forms of church government.
- Presbyterian: Congregants vest power in representative officers. These officers are subservient to higher courts which are comprised of other elected officers.
- Congregational: Congregants vest power in themselves. Each church remains autonomous.
- Episcopalian: Officers vest power in themselves as successors of the apostles. The church provides top-down, hierarchical leadership to all congregations under its purview.
What are the principles of Presbyterian church government? Support them from Scripture.
- Christ is the King and Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22).
- Officers are chosen by the people (Acts 1).
- Offices of bishop and elder are identical (Titus 1:5–7).
- Each church has a plurality of elders (Acts 20:17).
- Ordination is an act of presbytery, a plurality of elders (Acts 6).
- The privilege of appeal belongs to a plurality of elders, and they govern corporately (Acts 15).
What is the role of women in the church? Support your answer from Scripture.
Women should:
1. Perform any role which an unordained member may perform
a. Because women may not exercise authority over men in an ecclesial context (1 Tim. 2)
b. Because no women were selected for priestly (Exod. 40) or apostolic (Acts 6) offices
2. Contribute robustly to corporate life
a. As they serve the church (Rom. 16)
b. As they disciple other believers, particularly younger women and children (Titus 2)
May women serve as officers in the church? Support your answer from Scripture.
No, women may not serve as officers in the church because…
1. No women were selected for priestly (Exod. 40) or apostolic (Matt. 10; Acts 6) offices
2. Women may not exercise authority over men in an ecclesial context (1 Tim. 2)
What is “subscription”?
~ Why is there disagreement on this subject?
~ What view of subscription do you hold and why?
Subscription is the vow of a church officer to submit himself to the system of doctrine of the PCA as outlined in the WCF.
People disagree about the degree of alignment an officer must have to the system of doctrine in order to sufficiently subscribe. The degrees are as follows:
1. Strict subscription: No differences with the system of doctrine may be held.
2. Good faith subscription: Differences with the system of doctrine may be held, so long as they do not “strike at the vitals” of the system.
3. Loose subscription: The system of doctrine is a “canopy” which may accommodate multiple differing perspectives.
I hold to a good faith subscription position because it:
1. Acknowledges that no true system, if it is to have a degree of authority, can accommodate multiple differing perspectives
2. Acknowledges that no true system exhaustively or perfectly accords with Scripture and is always subservient to it (WCF 31)
What privileges do Christians share?
All Christians share the privileges of:
1. Union with Christ (in his grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory)
2. Union with one another (through gifts, graces, and mutual good)
What duties do Christians owe one another?
All Christians owe one another:
1. Holy fellowship
2. Communion in worship
3. Mutual edification
4. Relieving of outward needs
Does the “communion of saints” deny the right of private property? Explain.
No, believers still retain rights to private property because:
1. Church membership does not negate the need to work for and maintain personal belongings (Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3)
2. Church membership allows for voluntary disbursement of personal belongings (Acts 5:4)
What authority does the church possess?
The church possesses spiritual (rather than civil) authority. As a result, it possesses
1. The keys to the kingdom
2. The power to retain and remit sins
3. The power to shut or open the kingdom to the impenitent or penitent, respectively
What is the purpose of church censures?
Church censures exist to:
1. Reclaim and gain offending brethren
2. Deter others from like offenses
3. Vindicate Christ’s honor and the Gospel’s profession
4. Prevent God’s wrath from falling on the church
