Final Exam Flashcards
(37 cards)
Know the two realms of knowledge that helped us think through the objective/subjective tension in theology.
The two realms are phenomena (sense experience—appearances) and noumena (beyond senses—thing in itself). Phenomena knowledge is accessible by human reason, noumena is not.
What are the practical implications for biblical clarity?
1) A clear Bible still needs interpretation, but its meaning is accessible by anyone with sufficient time and knowledge of the Scriptures. 2) Scripture can still be misunderstood due to our own faults. 3) There is hope. 4) The pastor/staff of a church are not the only ones who interpret.
What are the practical implications for biblical sufficiency?
1) God’s word to us should be sought in Scripture. 2) Be encouraged as you try to discover what God would have us to think or do. 3) Scripture is not to be added to and no other writings are of equal value. 4) God does not require us to believe anything about himself or his redemptive work that is not found in Scripture. 5) Scripture has what we need to know for instruction in godliness.
What does biblical authority mean?
All the words of Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God—Grudem, Systematic Theology, 73.
The Reformers’ conviction of sola scriptura is the conviction that Scripture is the only infallible authority, the only supreme authority. Yet it is not the only authority, for the creeds and the church’s teaching function as important subordinate authorities, under the authority of Scripture (Ward, Words of Life, 147).
Why do we need theology?
To meet human needs – refute heresies and bad teaching, help answer and avoid theological problems, catechize and disciple people, preach and teach the Scriptures comprehensively and better understand Scripture.
Progressive revelation leads to it.
It teaches the truth of God’s word in the contemporary context; it shows us how to apply God’s word to every aspect of our lives.
It helps people understand and apply Scripture correctly.
Scripture does theology (Acts 17, cf. 7)
Address the sufficiency of general revelation.
General revelation is sufficient in its disclosure of God to hold people accountable for their rejection of God, but it is not sufficient to show them how to be forgiven. (When we reject the testimony of general revelation we sin against the one revealed. Knowledge is available but limited and at times mingled with error and uncertainty. There is a need for the Gospel, witness, evangelists, etc. God provided a special revelation to help us understand and interpret natural revelation.)
What are the three major types of knowledge that theology accounts for in its formulation?
Normative, situational, and existential. (Biblical theology, worldview-formative & corrective, worship & transformation).
Describe Paul’s theology in Acts 17.
Paul’s theology was apparent in his telling of the story of redemption. He uses doctrines of God, man, and Christ. He introduces his audience to God (24-28), saying God is the creator, sustainer, sovereign Lord, and revealer. Then he gives the doctrine of man (29-30), saying humans are God’s creatures, but they are sinners. Next he introduces Christ (18; 30,31), saying he is the judge of the world and the resurrected one. Finally he makes application—response is required.
Describe the three paradigms for coming to revealed truth.
1) Fideism—one cannot know the truth rightly because they do not have the Spirit (Barth); can’t know until they have faith (Yes to spiritual blindness but does not address moral antipathy).
2) Rationalism—anyone can understand and cognitively know truth, the problem is moral; we will always reject truth and not submit unless there is a work of the Spirit (Yes to moral antipathy but no to spiritual blindness).
3) Critical realism—we can see and understand the world and are responsible for what we see and handle, but we cannot see the truth as truth without the illumination of the Spirit (both moral antipathy and spiritual blindness accounted for).
Be familiar with the Theology from Above and Theology from Below distinctions.
From Above: Sees theology as an objective science. Emphasizes the scientific method and cognitive understanding.
From Below: Sees theology as subjective experience. Emphasizes expression of our longings and desires, and analyzes the “religious consciousness.”
What does concurrence mean?
In relation to the inspiration of Scripture concurrence means that both God and the human author were speaking at the same time (concurrently). (God’s sovereignty and human agency are not at odds in the process but are working concurrently/compatibly to bring forth the very word of God.)
Define and be able to identify aspects of inspiration.
Inspiration is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit upon the human authors of Scripture such that their writings were precisely what God intended them to write in order to communicate his truth, and as such, they are completely trustworthy and authoritative
Define and be able to identify aspects of inerrancy.
A natural consequence of inspiration and God being wholly truthful and without error. “When all the facts are known, the Bible in the original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true and never false in all that it affirms, whether that has to do with doctrine, ethics, the physical, social or life sciences” (cf. Paul Feinberg, “The Meaning of Inerrancy” in Inerrancy, ed. Norman Geisler, 267-304).
Define and be able to identify aspects of illumination.
The work of the Holy Spirit by which he makes the Scriptures understandable and applicable to the believer’s life.
Define and be able to identify aspects of canonicity.
The list of books that the Church recognizes as inspired and becomes the rule by which we measure (evaluate) our lives; the books which are God’s inspired Word – the closed collection of documents that constitute authoritative Scripture.
Define and be able to identify aspects of sufficiency.
The Sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contains all the words God intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.
Define and be able to identify aspects of clarity.
The Clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.
Define and be able to identify aspects of authority.
All the words of Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God (Grudem). Authority of Scripture is the authority of God as he reveals himself through Scripture—authority is based in the source.
Why is the canon closed?
Jesus is the final revelation; it all points to him. Jesus commissioned the Apostles to convey revelation with a unique authority that is no longer around.
Be able to define theology as it was discussed in class.
Theology is the understanding and application of the entire counsel of God as communicated in all the Christian Scriptures to all areas of life and contemporary culture for the purpose of true worship and transformation.
What are the different types of inerrancy? What distinguishes them? Which one do you hold to and why?
1) Technical—accuracy of contemporary science and history are over the Bible, though it can still be shown to be accurate.
2) Limited (Kerygmatic)—details can and will be off due to human error, but overall the main point is clear and true (i.e. infallibility).
3) Full—everything that the Bible teaches or claims to be true we accept as true.
Explain the issue of the circular argument for biblical authority.
Using Scripture to prove that Scripture is God’s Word is a circular argument (we believe that the Bible is the Word of God because it says it is the Word of God).
All arguments for absolute authority must appeal to itself (that authority) for proof—otherwise that authority would not be the highest authority (Grudem).
Increasing knowledge of Scripture and increasing correction of our understanding of God and this world tend to supplement each other in some way each demonstrating the correctness of the other.
What does general revelation have to do with the Christian life?
GR serves as a support to the believer, a source of worship, and an aid to apologetics and evangelism.
(GR can be a starting point for evangelism; it is a stabilizer for human society; it provides a prelude for God’s redemptive work; it makes the real world count; it makes us marvel at God’s further grace and mercy in SR; it renders all humans guilty.)
Why does redemptive religion need revelation?
Religion is distinct from other sciences, arts, and ethics because its interest is not first and foremost fellow man, but the supernatural—that which is transcendent, external, invisible, however that power is conceived (there is no religion without a god).
If there is a god then it must relate in some form of knowledge to its worshippers–in the mind, personal expression, on paper, etc.
Religion asks, “what must I do to be saved?” and revelation is needed for that to be answered.
