Training Packet Misc Flashcards
(41 cards)
List and Describe the 4 categories of Theology.
Systematic - what does the whole Bible say about ___?
Biblical - what does this particular book/passage say about ___?
Historical - how has the church historically understood ___?
Practical - how does ___ work its way out in the life of the believers/church?
What is a creed/confession?
A corporate document agreed upon by an organized church.
A summary of doctrines of the Bible.
What theology is a confession most like?
Systematic - sets hermeneutical guardrails.
Theology is done at the __ level, not the __ level
Concept ; Word
How do we display that, for instance, the WCF is a “secondary standard”?
(a) Don’t preach it
(b) Don’t give it the same reverence (i.e. standing for reading)
(c) Believe we can change it, if necessary.
(d) Not basis of corporate worship, content or structure.
What are the four attributes of Scripture that the WCF lays out?
Authority, Sufficiency, Perspicuity (Clarity), and Necessity
Where does Scripture derive its authority? Does it make sense?
WCF Ch 1 IV describes the authority of Scripture as dependent wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof.
Yes - reasoning is circular but NOT irrational. All ultimate authorities are self-authenticated. God, being the ultimate authority, therefore sets the standard of truth and thus authority.
What is the doctrine of inspiration?
Teaches that God is the ultimate author of Scripture, yet He chose to work through human writers to produce the Bible without error in the original writings.
(WCF) It is by His singular care and providence that the inspired Word is kept pure in all ages, and is, therefore, authentic.
Define General vs Special Revelation.
General (AKA Natural) - how God reveals Himself via natural means, i.e. the world, nature, and human experience.
Special - how God reveals Himself via spiritual means, i.e. Scripture, truth claims, etc.
What is the 3rd type of revelation that is lesser discussed? Define it.
Illumination - God tangibly speaking to us via prayer, worship, interpretation of Scripture, etc.
Explain the overarching principle of Biblical Interpretation. Why is this important?
Scripture interprets Scripture.
An independent source of truth cannot be dependent or rely upon another source for validation.
How can one be saved if God will “by no means clear the guilty”?
If you are guilty, God doesn’t clear you. He clears the righteous, and because of Christ’s propitiation we are declared righteous.
Define and provide examples of God’s communicable vs incommunicable attributes.
Communicable - shared w/ man, i.e. love, wisdom, beauty, etc.
Incommunicable - not shared, i.e. sovereignty, immutability, omni-presence, -potence, -science, etc.
If God derives no glory from his creation, how are we called to glorify Him?
Not to add to, but reflect, honor, and make known his glory.
Define ontological vs the economic trinity.
Ontological - who God is in His being, think (intra)
Economic - how the Trinity practically works w/n time-space, think (extra)
Define the Trinity.
One God, Three Persons: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Define the personal properties of God. I believe in …
an Unbegotten God.
A Son begotten of the Father.
A Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.
The rest is mystery!
Define the visible vs invisible church. What’s their relationship?
Visible - physical church, attending regular worship and events, who claim to have a profession of faith (whether genuinely true or not).
Invisible - spiritual church made up of only God’s elect. AKA the Remnant.
Most but not all members of the visible church are part of the invisible church.
Distinguish Supra vs Infralapsarianism and state it’s context. What attribute of God does each view prioritize?
Discuss the logical (not temporal) order of God’s eternal decrees of salvation. Did his decree to save occur before (supra) or after (infra) his decree to permit the fall (laps).
Simply, infralapsarians believe “fall before election”, which is the historical Reformed view, whereas supralapsarians believe “election before fall”.
Supra typically prioritizes sovereignty while Infra prioritizes mercy.
Explain the significance (4 points listed) of Romans 9. Use specific verses to demonstrate.
Explains God’s sovereignty in salvation throughout Biblical history. v.13-14 “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated … I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’” AND v.22-23 “[God] has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy”
Clearly states salvation is given by God, not earned by man. v. 16 “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
Establishes the idea of the remnant and thus the visible vs invisible church. v. 6b-8 “For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel …” AND v.27 “though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved.”
Confirms the reliability and authority of Scripture. v. 6 “But is not as though the word of God has failed.”
What are the various views on Creation?
Literal (calendar day) view and Metaphoric views (multiple manifestations) …
Day-Age view understands each day of creation as an epoch, long period of time.
Framework view believes the 6 days demonstrate .
Analogous view ___.
Addt’l: Old earth creationism believes the earth is billions of years old and God created in distinct acts over long periods of time.
Which view of Creation do we believe in the PCA and why?
The literal view … a few reasons:
Creation account is historical narrative, hermeneutically.
Also, the word “Day” (Yom) is almost always used throughout Scripture as a 24 hour period. Ref Exd 20, connecting the creation account to the pattern of human work/rest.
Also also, imperfect vav consecutive - 51 times used in Scripture, how Hebrew literature tells stories in time and sequences, always indicator of historical narrative!
What does is mean to be made in the image of God?
Sharing in His communicable attributes. Pre-fall, inherent worth, value, and responsibility.
Addt’l: Having the breath of life, an eternal soul, familial relationship, etc.
How would you describe the relationship of personhood vs nature?
Persons do things, natures do not. Human nature can’t actually die, natures “just are”.
