THE-201 Midterm

dr. wind

1. Know the definition of "systematic theology."

any study that answers the question, "what does the whole Bible teach us today?"

Know the 7 other disciplines of theology mentioned by Grudem beside "systematic theology."

old testament theology, new testament theology, Biblical theology, historical theology, philosophical inquiry, apologetics, christian ethics

Know the 4 ways that Grudem's book differs from the way that most Christians do "systematic theology."

1. treats biblical topics in a carefully organized way

2. treats topics in much more detail

3. much more accuracy

4. that fairly all relevant Bible passages

Know the definition of "doctrine."

what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.

Know how to determine the difference between a major and a minor doctrine.

A Major Doctrine is one that has a significant impact on our thinking about other doctrines or our Christian life. A Minor Doctrine is one that has very little impact on how we think about other doctrines and minimal impact on our Christian life.

Know the 4 reasons that Christians should study systematic theology according to Grudem.

1. observe the great commission, obedience

2. overcome wrong ideas ,

3. better decisions

4. help us grow as christians

Know Grudem's 6 answers to the question "How should Christians study systematic theology?"

1. prayer, humility, reason, help from others, collecting and understanding all the relevant passages of scripture on any topic, with rejoicing and praise

Know the definition of biblical authority?

all of the word in scripture are God's works, if disbelief in any part of scripture you disbelieve God

1. Know the evidences mentioned by Grudem that the Bible is God's Word

1. The Bible is historically accurate.

2. The Bible is internally consistent.

3. It contains prophecies that have been fulfilled, often centuries later.

4. It has influenced the course of human history more than any other book

5. It continues to change the lives of millions of people throughout history.

6. Through it people come to find salvation.

7. It has a majestic beauty and a profound depth of teaching unmatched by other books.

8. It claims hundreds of times to be God's very words itself.

9. The witness of the Holy Spirit—i.e. when reading Scripture, the Spirit works in the reader to give assurance that these are God's words.

1. Know the facets of the truthfulness of Scripture as identified by Grudem.

God cant lie

all of scripture is true

God's words are ultimate standard of truth

no fact contradicts

1. Know the definition of "inerrancy" given by Grudem.

scripture in original manuscripts does not affirm anything which is contrary to fact

1. Know the 3 statements about the Bible that Grudem says are consistent with inerrancy and the absolute truthfulness of the Bible's speech.

a. the Bible can be inerrant and still speak in the language of ordinary every day speech
b. can be innerant and still include loose or free quotations
c. the Bible can be inerrant to have unusual or uncommon grammatical constructions in the Bible

1. Know the 5 current challenges to inerrancy.

a. Bible is only authoritative for "faith and practice"
b. "term inherency is a poor term"
c. we have no inerrant manuscript therefore talk about an inner ant Bible in misleading
d. The Bible writers accommodated their messages in minor details to the false ideas current in their day and affirmed or taught those ideas in an incidental way
e. there are some clear errors in the Bible

1. Know the 4 problems Grudem believes will result if we deny the inerrancy of Scripture.

a.if we deny inherency a serious moral problem confronts us: may we imitate God and intentionally lie in small matters also
b.if inerrancy is denied we begin to wonder if we can really trust God and everything he says
c.if we deny inerrancy we essentially make our own human minds a higher standard of truth than God's word himself
d.if we deny inerrancy we must also say that the Bible is wrong not only in minor details but in some of its doctrines as well

3. Know Grudem's definition of the clarity of Scripture.

Bible is written in such a way that it is able to be understood, but the right understanding requires time, effort, the ordinary use of means, willingness to obey, and the help of the Holy Spirit, understanding will remain imperfect in this lifetime

1. Know the 6 requirements for understanding Scripture rightly.

1. time

2. effort

3. use of ordinary means
   4.willingness to obey

4. help of Holy Spirit

5. Humble recognition that we are imprefect

1. Know the 3 objections to the clarity of Scripture.

Theological liberalism
postmodern hermeneutics
roman catholic teaching

1. Know the 4 roles of scholars in regard to understanding the Bible.

1. teach scripture

2. explore new areas of understanding

3. defend
   4.supplement study of scripture for benefit of the church

1. Know Grudem's definition of the necessity of Scripture.

for knowledge of gospel, maintaining spiritual life, certain knowledge of God's will, not necessary for knowing that God exists of for knowing something about God's character or moral laws

1. Know the 6 different views of how people can be saved.

universalism, religious pluralism, inclusivism, annihilationalism, postmodern evangelism, exclusivism

1. Know the difference between general revelation and special revelation.

General revelations come to people generally as special revelation is god's words addressed to specific people.

1. Know Grudem's definition of the sufficiency of Scripture.

The sufficiency of scripture means that scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need god to tell us for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.

1. Know the 5 practical applications of the sufficiency of Scripture.

An encouragement to search the bible for answers, A warning not to add to scripture, We should consider no modern revelations from God to be equal to scripture in authority, A warning not to add more sins or requirements to those named in scripture, An encouragement to be content with scripture
Know the 2 basic evidences for the existence of God

2 basic evidences for existance of God

Humanity's inner sense of God, Believing the evidence in scripture and nature

Know the definition of "incomprehensibility"

Unable to be fully understood

Know the definition of "incommunicable attributes"

Those attributes that god does not share or communicate to others

Know the definition of "communicable attributes"

those that God shares or communicates with us

Know the definition of God's attribute of "independence"

God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation glorify him and bring him joy

Know the 4 ways that God is shown to be unchangeable in Scripture

Being, Perfections, Purposes, promises

Know the ways Scripture shows God to change his mind

Emotions and actions because he reacts to different situations differently

Know the definition of God's attribute of "unchangeableness"

God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet god does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations

Know the definition of "impassable"

Not subject to passions, that god does not have passions or emotions

Know the definition of God's attribute of "eternity"

God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being, and he sees all time equally vividly, yet god sees events in time and acts in time

Know the definition of God's attribute of "omnipresence"

God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being, yet God acts differently in different places.

Know the definition of God's attribute of "unity"

God is not divided into parts, yet we see different attributes of God emphasized at different times

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Spirituality"

Means that God exists as a being that is not made of any matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Invisibility"

Means that God's total essence, all of his spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us, yet God still shows himself to us through visible, created things

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Omniscience"

Knowledge, God fully knows himself and all things actual and possible in one simple and eternal act

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Wisdom"

Means that God always chooses the best goals and the best means to those goals

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Truthfulness"

Means that his is the true God, and that all his knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Faithfulness"

Means that God will always do what he has said and fulfill what he has promised

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Goodness"

Mercy, Grace, means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Love"

Means that God eternally gives of himself to others

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Holiness"

Means that he is separated from sin and devoted to seeking his own honor

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Righteousness/Justice"

Means that God always acts in accordance with what is right and is himself the final standard of what is right

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Jealousy"

Means that God continually seeks to protect his own honor

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Wrath"

Means that He intensely hates all sin

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Will"

Freedom, that attribute of God whereby he approves and determines to bring about every action necessary for the existence and activity of himself and all creation

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Omnipotence"

Means that God is able to do all his holy will

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Perfection"

Means that God completely possesses all excellent qualities and lacks no part of any qualities that would be desirable for him

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Blessedness"

Means that God delights fully in himself and in all reflects his character

Know the definition of God's attribute of "Beauty"

That attribute of God whereby he is the sum of all desirable qualities

1. Know the definition of "Trinity"

God eternally exists as three persons. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and each person is fully God and there is one God

1. Know the 10 actions of the Holy Spirit that exhibit the full personhood of the Spirit

Know the 3 imperfect analogies used to communicate the Trinity mentioned by Grudem

God is 3 persons, each is fully God,, There is One God

1. Know the definition of "modalism"

1 person who appears to us in 3 different forms or modes

1. Know the definition of "Arianism"

Denies full diety of son ad Holy Spirit

1. Know the definition of "Tri-theism"

denies that there is only one God, there are 3

1. Know the 6 reasons that the doctrine of the Trinity is important

1. atonement is at sake
2. justification by faith alone is threatened if we deny the fun diety of the son
3. if Jesus is not infinite God should we pray to Him and worship Him
4. Christ is God, if not mentioned, given credit to human creature and not Christ
5. independence and personal nature of God are at stake
6. unity of universe is at stake

1. Know how the persons of the Trinity are distinct according to Grudem

1. different in how they relate to each other, same characteristics

1. Know Grudem's understanding of the Greek word monogenes in the NT

only begotten

1. Know Grudem's answer to the question, "Does the Son eternally submit to the authority of the Father?"

yes

Know the different ways according to Grudem that God's own unique unity and diversity is reflected in the unity and diversity of creation

many members, one body, diversity of gifting

1. Know the 10 significant differences between Christianity and Mormonism.

1. mormonism is not restored church
2. man made
3. God's word and trustworthy
   4.God is eternal spirit being
4. 3 persons in 1 God
5. humans are creatures and never become God
6. Jesus is God, not the spirit-brother Lucifer
7. salvation is by grace through faith, not by works
8. the afterlife involves heaven, hell, not three degrees of glory
   10.Jesus changed my life forever

1. Know Grudem's definition for the doctrine of creation

out of nothing, origionally created good, made to glorify him

1. Know the evidence Grudem mentions which supports the direct, special creation of humanity

adam and eve, breathed into nose

1. Know the definition of God's attribute of "Transcendence"

God is far baove creation , independent of it

1. Know the definition of God's attribute of "Immanence"

remaining in creation

1. Know the definition of "materialism"

denies existance of GOd all together, materials is all that there is

1. Know the definition of "pantheism"

everything in the universe is God or is a part of God

1. Know the aspects of God's character that pantheism denies

denies GOd having a personality, no longer unchanging, no longer holy

1. Know the definition of "dualism"

God and material universe have existed side by side

1. Know the problems of dualism

indcated an eternal conflict between God and evil aspects of material universe, discourages universe was created by GOd

1. Know the definition of "deism"

God is not now directly involved in creation, God created yet is not present

1. Know the 5 major points Grudem makes concerning the relationship between Scripture and the findings of modern science

1. when all facts are understood, no final conflict between scrioture and natural science
2. secular theries are inconsistant with teachings of scripture
3. scientific objections to Darwin theory of evolution
4. Theistic evolution with the teachings of scripture
5. destructive influences of evolutionary theory and modern thought

1. Know the distinction between macro-evolution and micro-evolution

micro-single species
macro-wide scale with different species

1. Know the 9 scientific objections to macro-evolution mentioned by Grudem

1. no power to create genetic info
2. human institution believes that evolution is impossible
3. nonliving matter does not contain and can not produce info necessary for life
4. creating new life forms would require more changes than just one mutation in DNA
5. embryo development requires coordinated activity of thousands of genes
6. irreductible complexity of living cell defies evolutionary explanation
7. similarities in structure and appearance are better understood as evidence for the same designer than as evidence for same ancestor
8. genrtic diversity in human race could have arisen from one origional couple
9. believing anything about Bible

1. Know Grudem's 7 critiques of "theistic evolution"

1. claims that adam and eve wre not first human beings and maybe never existed
2. God did not create adam from dusk on ground
3. God did not act directly creating eve from rib
4. adam and eve did not create first human sin
5. human death was not because of adams sin , always subject to death
6. God did not rest
7. historical narrative

1. Know the destructive influences of evolutionary thought mentioned by Grudem

If not God, no moral absolutes in life

1. Know Grudem's view on the question of the age of the earth

both views are acceptable

1. Know Grudem's definition of God's attribute of "preservation"

God is continually invloved with all things in such a way that he 1. keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them

1. Know Grudem's definition of God's attribute of "concurrence"

God cooperates with things in every action directigg their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do

1. know the areas Grudem mentions in which God cooperates with created things

1. inanimate creation

2. animals

3. seemingly random or chance events

4. events fully caused by God and fully caused by the creature too

5. affairs of nations

6. all aspects of our lives

7. what about evil

1. Know the biblical examples of God using human evil for good

Joseph and his brothers,
egypt harden heart of pharoho,
job

1. Know the 5 conclusions Grudem offers on the relationship of God and evil as portrayed in Scripture

1. God never does evil or is blamed for evil
2. God rightfully blames and judges moral creatures for the evil they do
3. God uses all things to fufil His purposes and even uses evil for His glory and our good
4. evil is real, not illusion, never do evil, for it will always harm us and others
5. in spite of this, God can ordain that we carry out evil deeds and yet holds us acccountable for them and not to be blamed Himself

1. Know the two different understandings of human freedom mentioned by Grudem

1. Libertarian free will
2. freedom of inclination- e are free when we chooses according to our strongest inclination or deepest desire

1. Know Grudem's definition of God's attribute of "government"

God has a purpose in all that He does in the world and that He providentially giverns or directs all things in order that they be acomplished for His purposes

1. Know Grudem's 5 points concerning the importance of human action

1. still responsible for actions
2. real results and alter course of life
3. prayer has definate results and does change ocurse of events
4. we must act
5. what if we cant understand fully

1. Know 4 major points of the Arminian position

1. the verses cited are exceptions and do nt describe teh way God ordinarily works through human activity
2. calvinist view wrongly makes responsible for sins
3. choices caused by God cannot be real choices
4. responsible christian living, calvinism encourages dangerous fatilism

1. Know the 4 responses of the Calvinist position (as represented by Grudem) as well Grudem's 4 additional objections to the Arminian position

1. they are examples of how God ordinarily works
2. God ordains that some people sin or do evil
3. God works through our will
4. nothing falls outside the bounds of God's wise and loving plans

objections

1. how can God know the future
2. how can evil exist if God did not want it
3. how can we know that God will triumph over evil
4. the difference in the unanswered questions

1. Know the definition of "middle knowledge" and Grudem's 4 objections to this view

alternative preserving aspects of each of them

1. promotes theory outside of scripture, which says God chose us as individuals to be saved
2. scripture does not appeal
3. denies kind of libertarian free will that the middle knowledge advocates are cliaming to protect
   4.inconsistant with claims of both arminianismand calvinism

1. Know the definition of "prayer"

personal communication with God

1. Know the 7 basic biblical elements of prayer mentioned by Grudem

prayers of request for ourselves and for others, confession of sin, adoration, praise, thanksgiving, God communicating to us indications of His response

1. Know the 4 reasons God wants us to pray

expresses trust and dependence of God, love and fellowship with Him, involved in activities that are eternally important, give glory to God

1. Know the 6 considerations which should characterize effective prayer

1.pray according to Gods will
2.with faith
3.confession of sins
4.forgiving others

5. humility
   6.obediance

1. Know how we should explain and respond to unanswered prayer

God sometimes keeps His own wise plans hidden, dont always know how to pray as we ought

. Know the 5 points about our relationship to Demons

Demons are active in the world today.-Not all even and sin is from Satan and demons, but some is.-A christian can experience a "demonic attack"-Jesus gives all believers authority to rebuke demons and command them to leave.-We should expect the gospel to come in power to triumph over the works of the devil.

5. Know the definition of "demons"

evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world.

4. Know the points about our relationship to angels

-We should be aware of angels in our daily lives.-Beware of receiving false doctrine from angels.-Do not worship angels, pray to them, or seek them.

3. Know the 5 points about the place of angels in God's purposes

-Angels show the greatness of God's love and plan for us.-Angels remind us that the unseen world is real.-Angels are examples for us.-Angels carry out some of God's plans.-Angels directly glorify God.