Unit 1: Method Flashcards
Divine Incomprehensibility:
- NOT God is like us just greater
- Different in kind not degree (if we see Him, we will die = how other He is)
- Never comprehend (marble) surround, fully understand/describe
- Understanding necessary to right size theology
Theology Definition:
“God” “sayings, utterings, thoughts”: the study of God
- The study of God and all things in relation to God
- Properly God centric (1st) and then His effects/economy/actions
– Heresies: flip order looking at economy then God
Creator/Creature distinction:
- Why we cannot comprehend God
- NOT because of sin (Adam/Eve/Angels) or size (Bigger)
- Completely other: (change, ase, definable, infinite)
Accommodation:
- Why the fact that the Bible calls us to know God who is unapproachable does not lead to hopelessness
- Knowing our inability, God lisps (baby talks) to us
Theological Humility:
- Only study theology because God has accommodated
- Only possible to understand baby talk
What are Dr. Kurtz’s five reasons to study theology?
1) You are a theologian (Q: will you be a good theologian)
2) Theology helps us to be Administers of reality
3) Theology clarified who God is and what He does (able speak accurately)
4) Theology edifies and sanctifies (change you as a person, deep, reflexive, think, sustained attention to beauty)
5) Theology leads to the glory of God (doxology/praise, cannot save from turmoil, pain, depression, but right size it)
What is “Administers of Reality”?
- The activity of theology
- Good theologians can hear lies, take them down & administer what is real (without freaking out)
- Be stable, wise, calm, and present what is actually good, true identity, truly beautiful, purpose
What are theological disciplines? Why are they useful for laypeople?
The subdisciplines of, different ways to go about, theology.
- Understanding these helps us to not freakout when not know question but can point to subdiscipline that likely holds the answer
- We are all ignorant, be relatively informed about ignorance
What is biblical theology?
Studying God by tracing themes/motifs throughout scripture
What is historical theology?
Studying God by seeing how it has developed after scripture in the church
What is philosophical theology?
Using philosophical questions/research
- Is this cohesive? Make sense? Does this conclusion follow the premise?
What is systematic theology?
The “So What?” Reach conclusions, connect ideas, What is the Christian understanding of this?
What is Kurtz’ theological method?
1) Pray: not trying to be unbiased academic but a Christian. We need God’s permission to be able to understand
2) Biblical theology/exegesis: what do the scriptures say? (Ultimate authority)
3) Philosophical Theology: does this make sense
4) Historical theology: Are you alone (in 2,000 yr old faith, novelty is not good)
5) Systematic theology: So what? What do we believe as Christians? How Apply
6) Start over
Being a wise Christian thinker is Not instantaneous
What is univocal language?
One predication for two objects and you mean to communicate exactness
- leads to theological idolatry: we can use our words to fully know God
What is equivocal language?
one predicate for two objects and they are not alike (bat - animal/sport)
- leads to theological despair, nothing we say has meaning
What is analogical language?
One predicate for two objects to communicate a shadow (good - father reminds Father)
- only because of God’s accomodation
What is Archetype?
the true form of something
- God’s knowledge of Himself is archetypal
What is Ectype?
The shadow of the true form
- Mankind’s knowledge of God is ectypal
What is anthropomorphism?
God speaking as if He has creaturely-like parts and positions
What is anthropopathism?
God speaking as if He has creaturely-like passions and volitions
What is anthroprochronism?
God speaking in creaturely-like time and chronology
What are the three groups of theological grammar?
Language - The predicates: how words relative to each other and constructs
Intellectual - archetype & ectype
Anthros: how God accommodates to us
What is the location of theology?
In the church,
- Christian membership should keep one another biblically grounded
With the church,
- Historical (find a dead mentor) and global (not American gospel)
For the church
- For your joy and brother’s flourishing
What is soteriology?
The study of salvation
What is Ecclesiology?
The study of the church
“the gathered ones” or “the gathering”
What is Protology?
The study of creation
What is Eschatology?
The study of the end times
What is Anthropology?
The study of humans
What is Paterology?
The study of the Father
What is Christology?
The study of the Christ
What is Pneumatology?
The study of the Holy Spirit
What is Hamartiology?
The study of the fall/sin
What is Angelology?
The study of angels
What is Diabology
The study of demons
What is missiology?
The study of missions
What is Theological triage and why do we have it?
A threefold way to categorize theology
- not what doctrines are most important?
- what is at stake?
*Heat of conversation should match level of conversation
Christians should care about all that God has revealed but mind and emotions are attached so will care differently
What is Primary theology?
When what’s at stake is orthodoxy
- (what the history of the church says about Christianity - if you disagree you are a heretic)
- very few doctrines go here
- major difference between ignorance and denial (theology does not save)
thief on the cross not know doctrines
What is secondary theology?
When what’s at stake is fellowship
- no reason to question each other’s salvation but probably would not go to church together
What is tertiary theology?
When what’s at stake is preference
- go to same church but one will get their preference and the other will not
What are Dr. Kurtz’s caviots?
- One way ticket to legalism: treat tertiary like primary
- One way ticket to liberalism: treat primary like tertiary
- Be serious about primary
- ALL is luxury: because live in America & have many churches to choose from
- Secondary category: is so big
– secondary but sick: not question salvation but will infect you - Not always agree about what goes in secondary
