Part One: Definitions of Key Words and Phrases Flashcards
Be prepared to give a 2-3 sentence statement that accurately and precisely defines the concept, as introduced by Plantinga, Thompson, and Lundberg and/or our other authors and/or class lectures. (14 cards)
Divine immutability
the classical theistic idea derived “via negativa” that there is no change in God. This divine attribute was primarily directed against the view that God could be acted upon from without, since that wold make God the passive object of creaturely action. But it was also thought that if God is perfect, any change in God would involve either a diminishment of divine perfection or an admission of its lack.
Divine impassability
Synonymous with “apatheia,” the classical theistic idea derived “via negativa” that God cannot suffer or experience emotion.
Based on Spinoza, it is the idea that God is not a nature of passions or emotional connections and thus does not change or react to the circumstances of creation. This would go against God’s perfection.
“whatever it is better to be than not to be”
According to Anselm, God is a supreme being that exists through God’s self alone. Therefore, God is whatever is the best (or whatever is better) such as God is just, truthful, and happy, for it is better to be just than unjust and better to be happy than unhappy.
Dogma of the Trinity
Father, Son, and Spirit share an intellect and will. Rules for speaking about the Trinity in an Orthodox way: You must not divide the divine essence. You must not confuse the persons.
- Cannot divide divine essence
2. Can’t confuse the persons
1. Perichoreses = A mutual in-existence of the three Divine Persons
2. Inseparable Operation = Outward operations of the Trinity are indivisible*
- Cannot divide divine essence
Essence
From the lecture notes, essence is X, what is means to be X in a bundle of powers, it had to do with the essence of the pieces of the trinity the Cappadocian fathers of one divine essence in three persons which gives a set of rules for Christian talk about God– no division of essence.
ousia. One of the key terms that emerged in the patristic church to describe the oneness or unity of the three persons of the Trinity. A bundle of attributes or powers to do specific things. Refers specifically to the nature that is shared by the Father, Son, and Spirit.
Doctrine of Appropriation
The teaching that certain works of the Trinity toward the world are “appropriated” in theological speech to one another of the trinitarian persons because they seem “most appropriate” to that person–principally, creation to the Father, redemption to the Son, and sanctification-glorification to the Spirit. The theory was necessitated by the teaching that the operations of the Trinity towards the world are singular or “indivisible” (opera trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa) on account of the supposition of divine simplicity.
This doctrine is a “manner of speaking.”
Doctrine of Inseparable Operation
The outward operations of the Trinity are indivisible. According to Gregory of Nyssa, there is no privacy between the persons of the Trinity because they share one thought and one character. Utilize to suggest that God cannot be made up of parts.
Modalism
Along with Arianism, one of the two major trinitarian heresies of the church. The belief that God is simple, single, monad that manifests itself in three operations, which are not eternal divine identities or discrete persons. Since there are no distinctions in God, the Son and the Spirit are simply ways or “modes” in which the one person of God appears in the world.
Creatio ex nihilo
Literally, “creation out of nothing.” The foundational tenet and linchpin of Christian creation doctrine. With meager biblical reference, this theological affirmation became an important defense against Gnosticism, ruling out the dualistic idea that God created out of preexistent matter and thereby affirming both the sovereign freedom of the Creator God and the goodness of God’s creation.
Imago Dei
Image of God. Term to describe the relationship between God and humans. Idea that we reflect the divine nature and essence in creation in a special way and have authority as vice-regents. In living human relationships we mirror also the divine trinity’s interaction.
Literally: Divine Image. The conception or idea that human beings are uniquely created in God’s likeness and somehow ‘bear’ God’s image.
capax Dei
The belief that one way creatures are so good is because they have the capacity for God. The capacity to be in union with God that no other creature can have because essence of humanity is open to the union with God. This follows up what it means to be human and some disagree about the status of angels.
Pelagian controversy
Patristic era controversy between St. Augustine of Hippo and a British monk named Pelagius over the issue of sin. Pelagius believed that “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48) was to be taken as a real possibility, one that could actually be achieved, and that Adam’s primal sin did not have any effect on later human beings other than setting a bad example. Augustine reacted vehemently to Pelagius’ proposals because he thought that salvation cannot be achieved by human works, but requires the special grace of Christ to be infused into the human soul.
Actual sin
The acts of sin that human beings willfully and culpably commit and for which they are individually guilty. Actual sin is typically understood as something that is fostered by the tendencies inculcated in people by original sin and is also manifested as structural or systemic sin.
- A decisive corruption of the image of God through the distortion of relationships.*
- Plantinga calls it the “culpable disturbance of shalom.” Rebellion against God through our actions. Corrupts the imago dei in us and is us falling out of right relationship with God, others and nature.*
Han
An Asian concept that refers to the feelings of the “sinned against,” or those who have been violated or wounded. It is the abysmal experience of pain and frustrated hope in which the self is destroyed through resignation or apathy resulting in resentful bitterness. It can be active or passive in individuals and in collectives.
