Theology Proper (Done)

Question 1

Trinity

Answer 1

Deut 6:4“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

Matt 3:16
Christ’s Baptism

God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God - Grudem

1 essence, 3 persons- Nicaea 325, Constantinople 381

Question 2

Modalism

Answer 2

(Sabellianism) God is one person who appears in different modes - dealt with at Nicea 325

Question 3

Arianism

Answer 3

Colossians 1:15“First Born of All Creation” (See also various Scriptures referring to “Begotten”)

• “Eternally begotten” - Nicea 325
• Rights of the firstborn, not born of…
• From Arius, a Bishop of Alexandria
• Claims that Christ was not fully devine, but a creation

Question 4

God: Incommunicable Attributes

Answer 4

Some of God’s attributes can be known by man, but are not shared (or less shared).

• God’s Independence (Acts 17:24-25)
• Unchangeableness (Ps. 102:25-27, James 1:17)
• Eternity (Ps. 90:2, 102:25-27)
• Omnipresence (Jer. 23:23-24, 1 Kings 8:27)
• Unity (Ex. 34:6-7).

Question 5

God: Communicable Attributes

Answer 5

Some of God’s attributes are (more) shared with Mankind and we are encouraged to emulate his essential nature by the expression of these attributes.

• Spirituality (John 4:21, 24)
• Invisibility (John 1:18)
• Knowledge (Omniscience, Job 37:16)
• Wisdom (Rom. 11:33)
• Truthfulness (Num. 23:19, Ps. 141:6)
• Goodness (Luke 18:19)
• Love (1 John 4:8)
• Grace (Mercy, Patience, Ex. 34:6)
• Holiness (Lev. 19:2)
• Righteousness (Justice, Deut. 32:4)
• Jealousy (2 Cor. 11:2)
• Wrath (Rom. 1:18).

Question 6

God’s Sovereignty

Answer 6

Psalm 103:19
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

As the sovereign king over his kingdom, God has supreme power and authority over all of creation. He does not answer to, nor is he dependent upon anyone or anything.

Question 7

Human Responsibility

Answer 7

Philippins 2:12–13“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…”

Humans exercise choice and make real decisions regarding the events of their lives.

Question 8

Foreknowledge

Answer 8

Acts 2:23 (Events)
“this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God”

Romans 8:29 (Relational)
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined…”

Question 9

Theodicy

Answer 9

• The study that focuses on why God allows good and evil in the world • A response to the problem of evil in the world • Attempts to logically, relevantly, and consistently defend God as omnipotent, all-loving, and just, despite the reality of evil

Question 10

Solutions to theodicy

Answer 10

Job 38-40
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.

Rom. 9:14-16
Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

• Theonomy—God is law! Man is man and God is God, we shouldn’t question God. God is the law and don’t ask or question (Job 40; Rom. 9:14-16)
• Free will Theism—God gave man free will and when man chose to disobey evil come into being (Gen. 1-3)
• Soul-building—we are incomplete and our souls are being developed through suffering (Jas. 1:12-13; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:6-9, 4:12-13, Irenaeus)
• Greater Good—God allows evil because it helps to achieve the greater good (Jesus, Job, Joseph —> Gen. 50:15-21)
• The Secret of God – Deut 29 secret things belong to God.

Question 11

False responses to theodicy

Answer 11

a. SADISM: God is an all-evil God who likes to hurt and torture people (James 1:17) b. ILLUSIONISM: All evil is illusory and not real, thus even the most objectionable parts of life are good parts of God’s plan c. DUALISM: i. The idea that good and evil are equal/opposing forces ii. God isn’t good or sovereign over all iii. Good vs. evil are in contention with each other and equaled out against one another d. FINITE GODISM: God is incapable of intervening and human evil rules the day; God can’t help. e. ATHEISM: God does not exist

Question 12

Open Theism

Answer 12

the view that God chose to create a world that included free agents, and thus a world where possibilities are real. The future is pre-settled, to whatever degree God wants to pre-settle it and to whatever degree the inevitable consequences of the choices of created agents have pre-settled it. But the future is also open to whatever degree agents are free to resolve possibilities into actualities by their own choices. (Ex 32 - and the Lord relented)

Question 13

Pantheism

Answer 13

Pantheism denies several essential aspects of God’s character. If the whole universe is God, then God has no distinct personality.