theological foundations part 1
TRANSCRIPT
Theological Foundations
TH2103Bethany University Las VegasSteve Thomason
Introduction to Course
Review Syllabus
What do you think of when you hear the word THEOLOGY?
What are some big questions that cause controversy in the church?
Do you feel equipped to develop adequate responses to these questions?
That is the purpose of Theology.
The Goal of this Course
Is Not INDOCTRINATION Indoctrination is the process of telling you
WHAT TO BELIEVE and proving why my belief is right and everyone else is wrong.
Is Education in Theological MethodThe purpose of this course is to teach you
HOW TO THINK theologically so that you can process all questions and new situations through a coherent grid throughout your life and ministry.
We all come from a PLACE
What is Theology?
This section of the lecture is an
overview of this book. Highly
recommended reading for the
beginning theologian
(that’s you).
FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING
Christian Theology is reflecting
on and articulating the beliefs
about God and the world that
Christians share as followers of
Jesus Christ so that God can be
glorified in all Christians are
and do.
Defining Systematic Theology
No Christian theology can claim to speak the last word about God and God’s relation to
human beings and the world. Every theology is at best a limited, fallible, provisional attempt to speak of the living God of scripture whose truth, justice, and compassion are beyond the
very highest and best we can imagine.Guthrie p. xiii
What is Systematic Theology?
Theological Studies
Biblical Studies Historical Studies
Doctrinal Studies
Practical Studies
Biblical Theology Historical Theology Systematic Theology Philosophical Theology
•Scripture•God•Sin•Jesus Christ•Salvation•Church•Last Things
Everyone is a Theologian
The Theology Continuum
How Do We DO Theology?
Two TasksCritical TaskConstructive Task
Critical Task
ogma octrine pinion
Why do I believe what I believe?
Constructive Task
On Building Models…
The Atom
Has the Atom ever changed?
Constructive Task
A good model should:handle scripture accuratelyBe in tune with Christian heritagemake sense to the current culture
•Bible Study
•Heritage
•Culture
Biblical Data
“What does the Bible Say?”Must have a strong handle on
hermeneutics.No proof texting. Must understand “the
full counsel of scripture.”We will discover that our “Bibliology” or
Doctrine of Scripture impacts this source. Which comes first…
Heritage
“What has the church said about this throughout history?”
Must understand the context of each eraAncient Biblical EraPre-Medieval Biblical EraMedieval Church EraModern Church EraPost-Modern Church Era
Historical Eras
Ancient Worldview
Medieval Worldview
Modern Worldview
Post-Modern Worldview
Post-FoundationalismPost-RationalismGlobalismPluralismNew Spirituality
Contemporary Culture
“What do the disciplines of knowledge in my contemporary culture contribute to my understanding of the question?”Sociology, Psychology, Archaeology,
Physics, Political Science, etc.“How can I communicate this theology
clearly to my contemporary culture?”
Systematic Theology is…
doctrinalbiblical(w)holisticcoherentcontemporary
Please Discuss the Following Questions
1) What should your attitude be toward someone whose theological beliefs are different from yours?
2) Do you accede to St. Anselm’s definition of theology, namely, faith-seeking-understanding (fides quaerens intellectum)?
How Can We Know God?
General Revelation
BasicWorldviews
PAN
THEISM
THEISM
THEISM
PANEN DEISM
THEISM
A
X
PAN
THEISM
THEISM
PANEN
THEISM
DEISM
THEISM
A
X
TRANSCENDENCE(God is out there)
IMMANENCE(God is in here)
Limitations to “God Talk”
“God” is infinite and eternal, we are finite and mortal.
Recognize the limitations of language itself. All communication must be analogical;
recognizing the inability to have direct correlation.
All communication must be anthropomorphic and anthropocentric.
The best communication tends to be apophatic.
Natural Theology Certain Assumptions
There is an objective, valid, and rational general revelation
There is integrity in the person perceiving and learning from creation (sin has not disabled the perceiver)
The congruity of the perceiver’s mind and the order of the universe (made from the same stuff)
Natural Theology
“The core of natural theology is the idea that it is possible, without a prior commitment of faith to the beliefs of Christianity, and without relying upon any special authority, such as an institution (the church) or a document (the Bible), to come to a genuine knowledge of God on the basis of reason alone. Reason here refers to man’s capacity to discover, understand, interpret, and evaluate the truth.” (Erickson p.157)
4 Arguments from Nature
Teleological - Things seem to be moving to an end.
Cosmological - Intelligent Design...too complex to "just happen"
Anthropological - Religion is EVERYWHERE...a God shaped void
Moral - without a "prime reality" there can be no basis for "right and wrong"
Teleological Argument
Teleological comes from the Greek word telos, meaning “end.” The teleological argument may be defined thus: “Order and useful arrangement in a system imply intelligence and purpose in the organizing cause. The universe is characterized by order and useful arrangement; therefore, the universe has an intelligent and free cause.” The world everywhere evidences intelligence, purpose, and harmony; there must be a master architect behind all this evidence.
Cosmological Argument
The term cosmological comes from the Greek word cosmos, meaning “world.” This argument is based on the fact that a cosmos, or world, exists. Because something cannot come from nothing, there must be an original cause that is the reason for the world’s existence. There cannot be an infinite regress of cause and effect. There must be an “uncaused cause”. The cosmological argument presumes that every effect must have a cause.
Anthropological Argument
Pervasiveness of Religion in human society
Moral Argument
Inherent sense of morality in humanity Immanuel Kant
Immortality and undying soulComing judgmentGod who establishes and supports valuesRewards for good and evil
Examination of Relevant Passages
Psalm 19Romans 1 and 2Acts 14:15-17
Implications of General RevelationMillard Erickson
All persons have a knowledge of God There is a possibility of some knowledge of
divine truth outside the special revelation. General revelation serves to explain the
worldwide phenomenon of religion and religions. There is harmony between creation and the
gospel. Truth arrived at apart from special revelation is
still God’s truth.
Take a Break!
Please Discuss the Following
Can a person be ‘saved’ or ‘find Jesus Christ’ devoid of the Christian Bible or any
Christian church involvement?
How Can We Know God?
Special Revelation
History of the WORD OF GOD
Inspiration (God’s Words through man’s hand)
+ Inerrancy(Bible contains no errors)
______________
AUTHORITY
Views of Inspiration
Natural – the same way we would call a gifted musician “inspired”. A high degree of insight.
Elevation – the Holy Spirit heightened the natural powers of the authors, but did not communicate specific truth.
Thought – the person writing will give expression to the divinely directed thoughts in a way that is uniquely characteristic of him.
Verbal, plenary – The work of the Holy Spirit is so intense that each word is the exact word which God wants used at that point to express the message.
Dictation – God dictated to the authors, removing their own personality from the writing.GOD
MAN
What Does Inerrant Mean?
Absolute – True in every detail. Discrepancies must be explained.
Full – In religious/theological/spiritual topics it is absolute. In scientific and historical it is communicated in “popular” terms.
Limited – The authors were limited by their culture's understanding of science and nature.
Innerrancy of Purpose – Its purpose is to bring people to faith, not communicate truths.
Where is Our Authority?
Word Centered Spirit Centered
• Bible is only authoritative Word from God
• The Spirit is the only authoritative Word from God.
• Danger: No life in the Spirit
• The work of the Spirit’s revelation closed at the end of the New Testament
• Danger: No discerning of Spirits – possible heretical influence
• The work of the Spirit’s revelation is as real today as it was in the New Testament
TRUTH
Please Discuss the Following
Out of the five theories, which theory of inspiration do you prefer?
How does the Bible differ from other human masterpieces?
Journal Entries
End of Week 1