Term
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Definition
| Theology is the biblical, historical, rational, experiential, comparative exposition of the Christian Faith. |
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Term
| The two critical tasks of theology |
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Definition
1. Critically examine faith-based propositions in the light of theology’s source and norms to
decide whether they are authentically “Christian.”
2. Locate Christian teachings according to their categorical priority: |
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Term
| The two constructive tasks of theology |
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Definition
1. Reviewing formulations and reformulations of Christian teaching
2.Considering “true” and “false” religion; secularity and “religion-less” Christianity;
“particularity” of revelation and “universality” of human religiousness |
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Term
| Advantages of systematic theology |
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Definition
1. Christian theologies without systematic arrangement lack the unity of the biblical message.
2. Some systematization is necessary for essential summary and intelligibility; all systems must be
corrigible (capable of being corrected or set right) and modifiable. |
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Term
| Disadvantage of Systematic Theology |
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Definition
1. All systematic theologies are defective because their central unifying theme expresses only a part
of divine revelation. |
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Term
| Recognize whether or not theology and doctrine are appropriate subjects for good preaching |
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Definition
1. Theology informs preaching; good preaching is good theology
2. Theology is reflection upon the message of Scripture in all its teachings; preaching exhorts hearers
to receive and to obey what Scripture teaches.
3, Sound doctrine should be conveyed in every church to every Christian. The gospel of Jesus Christ
should be proclaimed from the pulpit and its proclamation should be theologically sound (orthodox):
“If we are to get the message out, we must first get it right.” |
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Term
| Recognize the distinctions between general revelation, special revelation and natural theology. |
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Definition
1. General/universal revelation (GR) — God’s revelation of Himself through nature that is
available to everyone, everywhere. As Rom 1:18-20 shows, God’s existence and attributes are clear;
but willful ignorance and idolatry make general revelation unintelligible to humanity.
2. Special/particular revelation (SR) — (Heb 1:1f) comes in history through prophets, apostles,
Jesus Christ and the Bible and involves encounters with God.
3. The question of and controversy over natural theology: a modern project of “natural religion”
suggestive of a relationship with God beyond all religions, as in Deism. Natural Theology is also
missionary theology attempting to discern the degree of “saving knowledge” of all “seekers,” as well
as all the major religions and religious philosophies of the world. |
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Term
| Recognize the issues and positions on continuing, contemporary special revelation |
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Definition
1. View #1: Special Revelation ended with the completion of Scripture; everything after that is illumination or
Spirit-guided interpretation.
2. View #2: Special Revelation continues outside of and beyond Scripture but is normed by Jesus Christ and Scripture’s testimony to him. |
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Term
| Recognize the five arguments for the existence of God |
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Definition
1. The cosmological argument: causation/origin
2. The teleological argument: design/goal
3. The moral argument: conscience/right
4. The ontological argument: order of being/being rather than nothing
5. Indirect "proof" of God's existence |
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Term
| Recognize the source and norms of our knowledge of God’s character and their order of importance: |
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Definition
1) Jesus Christ
2) Scripture
3) reason
4) experience |
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Term
| List (in 1 word each) the seven major attributes of God |
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Definition
1. Spirit
2. infinite
3. omnipotence
4. omniscience
5. omnipresence
6. eternality
7. immutability |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is Spirit |
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Definition
| God is immaterial (not composed of matter and does not possess a physical nature)and therefore invisible. |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is infinite |
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Definition
| God is absolutely unconditioned. |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is omnipotent. |
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Definition
| Omnipotence: ability to do anything consistent with God’s character (not “ability to do absolutely anything”) |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is omniscient. |
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Definition
Omniscience: knowledge of everything actual as actual and everything possible as possible
(Pinnock and Willard) (not “knowledge of everything whether God wants to know it or not”) |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is omnipresent. |
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Definition
| Omnipresence: God is present everywhere but more intensely in some places than others. (Psalm 139:7-10; Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:27-28). |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is eternal. |
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Definition
| Eternality: God is either simultaneous to all times (“timeless”) or everlasting. (Psalm 90:2; 1 Tim 1:17). |
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Term
| Explain in one sentence God is immutable |
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Definition
| Immutability: God’s character is unchanging and he is faithful to his promises in all his ways (Num. 23:19; Psalm 102:27; James 1:17). |
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Term
| Recognize aspects of the issue of God’s self-limitation as it relates to creation. |
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Definition
1. Sovereign self-limitation
2. Incarnation is self-limitation with universal/cosmic effects
3.Divine self-limitation is: God, who is omnipotent, voluntarily restricts the use of his power for the sake of creation and covenantal relations |
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Term
| Write-out (in 1 sentence) the brief definition of Trinity |
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Definition
| God is one being eternally existing as three distinct (not separate) persons. |
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Term
Recognize the major Christian
misunderstandings of God leading up to the development of the doctrine of the Trinity at Nicea (325 A.D.)and Constantinople (381 A.D.). |
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Definition
1. Subordinationism: Only the Father is truly God; the Son and the Spirit are secondary gods created by the Father (or the Spirit is a divine force).
2. Adoptionism (Paul of Samosata, 3rd c. and many modern/contemporary "liberal” theologians.): Jesus Christ is a mere man “adopted” into a special relationship with the Father
3.Arianism (Arius, 4th c. and Jehovah’s Witnesses): Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God’s
first and mightiest/most glorious creature: the Logos or Michael the Archangel.
4.Sabellianism/Modalism (Sabellius, 3rd c. and modern/contemporary Oneness Pentecostals): God
is one person with three manifestations: Father, Son and Spirit (analogy to the Greek theater).
5. Oneness Pentecostalism (e.g., T. D. Jakes): “Jesus Only” (the “name” of the Father, Son and Spirit is Jesus who is the incarnation of the one person who is God).
6. Tritheism: (no early church examples; modern/contemporary Mormons and some say Jehovah’s Witnesses): God is composed of three “separate personages”—a divine committee. |
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Term
| Recognize the two major models of the Trinity |
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Definition
1. The psychological model
2. The social model |
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Term
| Recognize the seven aspects of the doctrine of creation. |
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Definition
1. Dependence of the creation
2. Divine freedom in creation
3. Creation from nothing (creatio ex nihilo)
4. Goodness of creation (vs. the fall)
5. Creation is inseparable from redemption in the plan of God
6. Creation in faith and worship
7. Purpose of creation |
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Term
| Recognize the eight views in the doctrinal controversy over creation. |
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Definition
1. Dualism (metaphysical, moral, demiurgic)
2.Monism (emanationism):
3.Eternal creation
4. Continuous present creation
5.Atheistic evolution
6. Cosmologies
7.Geologies: naïve literalism
8. Creation/evolution: instantaneous creation |
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Term
Choose and respond to one of the following essays:
a) Explain (in 4-5 paragraphs) the Biblical teaching on pain and suffering and the orthodox understanding of
divine purpose for suffering. (Sect. 15.4.1 & 15.4.2.4)
b) Name the author and title of the systematic theology text you read for this course. Then explain (in 3-4
paragraphs) specifically how this author stimulated (changed, affirmed or challenged) your view of the
attributes of God. Do not merely state your own views. Mention at least 2-3 attributes. (Textbook Reading
Objective) |
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Definition
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Term
| Recognize the purposes of miracles. |
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Definition
1. Glorification of God
2. Compassion
3. Signification |
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Term
| Recognize the types of Angels |
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Definition
1. Messenger
2. Cherub
3. Holy ones
4. Heavenly Host
5. Watcher
6. Sons of God
7. Seraphim
8. Gabriel
9. Michael
10. Angel of the Lord |
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Term
| Recognize the function of angels |
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Definition
1. Worship of God
2. Obedient service to God
3. Interpretation of the Word
4. Serving salvation history |
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Term
| Recognize the Old Testament teaching on and the contemporary approach to Satan and demons. |
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Definition
1. In the Old Testament, satan is not yet portrayed as the full Satan who tempted Jesus. Rather satan is
portrayed as:
1. “Adversary”
2. “Morning star”
3. Condemned Cherub
4. Self-divinized kings
2.Demons
1.Fiery serpents
2.Hairy demons
3.The scapegoat
4.Lilith the night demon
5.Demons/gods |
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Term
| Recognize the New Testament teaching on and the contemporary approach to Satan and demons. |
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Definition
1. (Demons) diabolos
a. “Devil”; “evil one”
b. Demons and exorcism by Jesus and disciples
c. Last judgment
d. Ruler of the world
2. Satan
a. God’s victory over
b. The god of this world
c. Prince
d. Destruction by incarnation of Christ
e. Safety of believers |
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Term
| Recognize the aspects of being “created in God’s image |
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Definition
1. Erect bodily form/stature
2. Dominion over nature
3. Reason/intellect
4. Original righteousness
5. Human spiritual nature
6. Relationality: male/female analogy of I/Thou in God
7. Old Testament (responsibility)
8. New Testament (conformity to God)
9. Composite view
10.Consequently human beings are religious, valuable to God and cannot be reduced to less than related to God. |
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Term
| List (in 1 phrase each) the six aspects of the essential Christian doctrine of sin |
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Definition
1. Violation of God’s law
2. Breaking covenant with God
3. Rebellion against God
4. Unbelief, non-trust of God
5. Selfishness
6. Sloth, apathy and fear |
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Term
| Recognize the three aspects of the nature of sin |
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Definition
1. Sin is not "natural"
2. Sin is primarily voluntary but also involuntary.
3. Sin is a state, sins are actions |
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Term
| Recognize the traditional view of original sinlessness and the fall of humanity |
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Definition
Traditional view:
a. universality of sin
b. universality of depravity
c. death by Adam, individual condemnation
d. Consequences of Sin |
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Term
| Recognize the seven consequences of sin |
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Definition
1. Temptation
2. Consciousness of sin
3. Alienation from God and others
4. Bondage to sin
5. Guilt
6. Judgement
7. Death |
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