Chapell/Meek (Licensure and Ordination)

These cards are arranged by week according to the Chapell/Meek study guide for the PCA Licensure and Ordination Exam. The content is from left to right following the "Schedule of Assignments" on pg. 3: Book Outlines, Book Contents, Bible Content, Doctrines & Proofs, Theology, Catechism, BCO

The hope here is that all of the content will be arranged so that the student can study all of the material for one week in one space without having to flip back and forth between many different sections of notes.

Week 1

Genesis

Purpose: To remind God's people that he had created an ideal world over which man and woman as bearers of God's image were to expand human vice-regency through multiplication and dominion.

Author: Moses

Date: ?

Beginnings (50)

1-11 Primeval history

12-36 Early patriarchal history

37-50 Joseph narrative

Genesis Key Verses

12:1-3 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Also good to know:

Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

50:24 And Joseph said to his brothers, I am about to die, but God will visit you and will bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Exodus

Purpose: To remind God's people of the LORD's power over all rulers and natural forces in order to deliver and provide for them. He did this to be faithful to his covenant with Abraham and through the authorized leadership of Moses. This reminder urges them to take possession of the land. God redeems Israel from slavery and orders their life and worship through the giving of the Law.

Exit (40)

1-18 God's deliverance of Israel led by Moses

19-24 God's covenant law mediated through Moses

25-40 God's holy dwelling established by Moses

Exodus Key Verses

3:12 And God said, I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.

19:4-6 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."

10 Plagues

What Funny Granny Fries Livers But Hates Livers Done Dryly?

Water to blood

Frogs

Gnats

Flies

Disease to livestock

Boils

Hail

Locusts

Darkness

Death to firstborn

Joshua

Purpose: To record the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan through conquest, through its distribution to the 12 Tribes, and through continued covenant faithfulness.

Author: Unknown. maybe Joshua?

*Don't need to know outline, but memorize key verses

Conquest (24)

Joshua commissions the people (1.1-9)

Israel conquers the land (1.10-ch. 12)

Israel divides its land inheritance (13-21)

Joshua leads Israel in covenant renewal (22-24)

Joshua Key Verses

1:1-9 (but esp. 6 and 8)

v. 6 - Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

v. 8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Judges

Purpose: To establish the need for a godly King who would consolidate Israel's power to complete the conquest and lead her in covenant faithfulness.

Cycles (21)

1-2 Military failure of Israel

3-16 Cycles of good and bad under the judges

17-21 Moral failure of Israel (need a king!)

Judges Key Verses

21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

List of Judges

circa 1375 BC

Othniel

Ehud

Shamsar

Deborah

Gideon

Abimelech

Tola

Jair

Jephthah

Ibzan

Elon

Abdon

Samson

Ruth

Purpose: To illustrate covenant faithfulness in David's ancestor, Ruth the Moabite, as one demonstration of the legitimacy of his Kingship.

*Don't need to know outline, but memorize key verses

Kinsman Redeemer (4)

1 Naomi's bitterness and emptiness

2 Ruth discovers her kinsmen-redeemer

3 Boaz promises to give her a kinsmen-redeemer

4:1-12 Boaz becomes her kinsmen-redeemer

4:13-22 Naomi's blessing and provision

Ruth Key Verses

4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!

Number of Books in the Canon

66 = Canon

39 = OT

27 = NT

Have you read the entire Bible?

The Ten Commandments (Decalogue)

Exodus 20, Deut 5 - Given to Moses at Sinai

Revealed again after Golden Calf

"I am the Lord your God"

1. No other gods

2. No idols

3. No misuse of God's name

4. Keep the Sabbath

5. Honor your parents

6. No murder

7. No adultery

8. No Stealing

9. No False-Witness

10. No Coveting

Revelation of God in Nature

Psalm 8: God made the Cosmos and creatures

Psalm 19: The cosmos declares God's glory

Romans 1: God has always been seen in creation

Acts 17: God dwells in creation, not temples

What is meant by "Systematic Theology"? What Are Its Divisions?

The study that attempts to arrange the teaching of Scripture in a coherent fashion, expressing it in a contemporary form, and relating it to issues of practical Christian concern.

Divisions: SEETAC

(Soteriology) Salvation = application, the work of redemption

(Ecclesiology) Church = means of grace

(Eschatology) Last things

(Theology Proper) God = being, attributes, works

(Anthropology) Man & Sin = image of God, fall, redemption, restoration

(Christology) Person & Work of Christ = person, states, office

Also:

(Pneumotology) Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

(Bibliology) Scripture = God's authoritative revelation of himself

What Is The "Reformed Faith?" (Explain As To A New Christian.)

Reformed Faith traces its history back through the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The emphasis of the Reformation has been placed on the solas:

1. By Scripture Alone: Scripture is the way God fully reveals himself and the way of salvation. Tradition is helpful but always kept in check by Scripture (norming versus normed norm). Councils are helpful but may err.

2. By Christ Alone: Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved. Declared right, made right.

3. By Grace Alone: This restored relationship with God comes purely as a free gift of God.

4. By Faith Alone: All that one must do to be restored to God is to trust in Jesus.

5. Glory to God Alone: All of life is meant to glorify God who's in control of all!

*What Is "Covenant Theology?" Why Is It Important? (Explain As To A New Christian.)

Covenants show how God graciously relates to people throughout history.

• WSC Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

• WSC Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a redeemer.

Also:

• WCF 7.1 - The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto Him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of Him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God's part, which He has been pleased to express by way of covenant.

Covenants = relational-bonds = marriage-like (promises, responsibilities)

Why is it important?

• Covenants show us how God relates to us in creation and in salvation.

• Covenants show us how we ought to relate to God.

• Covenants show us the continuity of God's dealings with us in history:

o Continuity in Grace: both old and new are gracious but applied differently.

o Continuity in People: both old and new consist of one people.

o Continuity in Signs: both old and new consist of signs (circumcision = baptism).

o Continuity in Households: both old and new extends blessings through families.

*List And Explain The 'Five Points Of Calvinism.' Where Did They Come From?

1. Total Depravity: Fall corrupted us totally. Blocks us from God. God must restore relationship. (Rom. 3 - "for all have sinned and...")

2. Unconditional Election: God elects people to salvation not based on anything other than his own free choice. (Eph. 1 - "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world...")

3. Limited Atonement: Christ's atoning death is limited in its effect only in the elect. Sufficient to save anyone; effectual only for those he has chosen. (Jn. 10 - lays his life down for the sheep)

4. Irresistible Grace: God's grace toward the elect cannot be resisted. It changes who they are so that they will choose to trust and obey him. (Jn. 6 - "All that the Father gives me will come to me..."; Acts 13 - "...and as many were appointed to eternal life believed.")

5. Perseverance of the Saints: God will keep his elect until the end with all his people. They will persevere in their faith because he has chosen them. (Jn. 6 "whoever comes to me I will never cast out...")

Where did TULIP come from?

Five Points were written up at the Synod of Dort (1618), not by Calvin, to counter the Remonstrance Articles (written by two of Jacob Arminius's supporters after his death in 1609).

Dort was a "Counter-Remonstrance" made up of 100+ delegates from England, Scotland, France, and Switzerland.

Define And Distinguish "General Revelation" And "Special Revelation."

Define and distinguish "general revelation" and "special revelation." (Ps. 19; Rom. 1)

General revelation is God's revealing of himself through everything he has made to all people. What humans are ("light of nature in man") and all of God's creative works "declare plainly that there is a God"

• WLC 2 - Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.

Special revelation is God's revealing of himself through historical events and speech (both given in Scripture).

• General revelation gives us sufficient knowledge of God but doesn't give us salvific knowledge of God and of his will whereas special revelation does.

o WCF 1.1 - Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now ceased.

• Special revelation also is given specially to God's people.

Inspiration of Scripture

Inspiration means breathed out.

1. Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) = the words of God himself

2. Scripture was given through humans by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21 'for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit')

a. Verbal Plenary Inspiration = The words and ideas (verbal), all of them - both OT and NT (plenary; 2 Peter 3:15, 16 - NT is Scripture), are authored by God (inspiration).

3. Scripture is infallible = Because God authors his Word, and because God never tempts (Jam. 1:13) nor lies (Tit. 1:2), the Bible is infallible (without error).

Define And Defend The "Necessity" Of Scripture.

Necessary means essential. We must have Scripture for us to know who God is, his will for our lives, and how we can be saved.

• General revelation is sufficient to know God

• Scripture and Spirit are necessary to know him fully and to be saved

o WLC 2 - Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.

o WCF 1.1

Secondary Resources:

o ***Rom. 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

o 1 Cor. 2:11 "For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

o Exo. 34 - God had to write his Law on tablets of stone in order to instruct Israel

What Is The "Canon"? Defend It Scripturally.

Canon means rule, measure, or standard. Regarding Scripture it means that the books in question meet the rule/measure/standard of God's Word.

1. God-Authored: Canonical books are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

a. Exo. 4:12 "Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."

b. Jer. 1:9 "Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

c. 2 Pet. 1:21 "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

d. 1 Cor. 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

2. God-Centered: Canonical books call people to worship the true God.

a. Deut. 13:1-3 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams.

b. 2 Tim. 3:16 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"

c. Jn. 5:39-40 "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."

3. Church-Affirmed: Canonical books are accepted universally by the Church.

a. Eph. 2:20 "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,"

b. 1 Thess. 2:13 "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard fro

Define And Defend The "Authority" Of Scripture.

Authority means one is worthy to rule and is worthy to be trusted and obeyed.

Scripture is authoritative = God's Word = Comes from God = who is our Authority

Doesn't depend on testimony or authority of man. WCF 1.4 - The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

How is Scripture authoritative?

• It does what God wants it to (Isa. 55:11).

• It trains our lives to follow the Lord (2 Tim. 3:16).

• It keeps us from sin (Psa. 119:9-11). 'How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.'

• It is our life source (Deut. 8). 'man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.'

• It is alive and exposes who we are within (Heb. 4:12). 'sharper than any two-edged sword'

• It is able to save us if we receive it (Jam. 1:21).

Define And Defend The "Sufficiency" Of Scripture.

Sufficiency means enough.

Scripture is enough because it tells us enough about God, how to live our lives, and how to be saved.

• ***2 Peter 1 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..."

• Psa. 19:7-14 "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul..."

• 2 Jn. 9 "Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."

• Deut. 8:3/Mt. 4 "that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

WCF 1.6 - The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture...

WCF 1.4 - Sufficiency of Scripture also means that no tradition, no Church, and no human is enough to make God known apart from Scripture.

Define And Defend The "Perspicuity" Of Scripture.

Perspicuity means clear (able to see through).

1. Clarity in Essentials: The essentials of the faith are clear enough for anyone to understand (Deut. 30:11-14 "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off...But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it."; Psa. 119:130; Mt. 19:14 "Let the children come to me...").

2. Less Clarity in Non-Essentials: But there are other things in Scripture that are less clear but are not essential (Rom. 11:33-36 'How unsearchable are his judgments...'; 2 Pet. 3:16 'There are some things in them that are hard to understand...').

a. WCF 1.7 - All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all: yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded, and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.

What Is Distinctive about the Reformed Interpretation Of Scripture?

1. Treats Scripture historically.

a. Scripture provides the actual events of God's acts throughout history.

2. Treats Scripture as a unity.

a. Scripture speaks about the same thing from the beginning to the end: how God will restore his marred creation, namely, through Jesus. Continuity between Old and New Testaments.

3. Treats Scripture progressively.

a. God's works in history change over time (various covenants, sacrificial/food laws, nation of Israel, etc.) even if his overall purpose does not (Christ).

4. Treats Scripture as knowable by all. Priesthood of believers.

a. You don't have to be elite, a scholar, or clergy to understand the Bible.

5. Treats Scripture with the Church's interpretation in mind.

a. How the Church has interpreted something in the past is important (but not non-negotiable) for our interpretation for today.

6. Treats Scripture as always reforming us.

a. Scripture isn't just about the past it's about what God is doing in his people in the present.

What Principles Should Guide Our Interpretation Of Scripture?

1. Scripture is the only infallible rule of interpretation. Scripture interprets Scripture. When there is ambiguity concerning one passage, the true meaning must be found in other clearer portions of Scripture.

a. WCF 1.9 - The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

2. Principle of Sensus Literalis: Scripture must be interpreted "in the sense in which it was written...parables...as parables, symbols as symbols, poetry as poetry" teaching as teaching, "historical narrative as narrative, occasional letters as occasional letters."

3. Principle of the Holy Spirit as Interpreter: Scripture must ultimately be interpreted by the Holy Spirit.

a. WCF 1.10 - The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

Define And Defend (Including Scripture Proofs) The "Inerrancy" Of Scripture.

Inerrancy means 'without error.'

The trustworthiness of Scripture is rooted not in timeless objective truths about God, but rather, in his trustworthy and faithful character that is revealed in the story of Scripture.

The reason Scripture can be considered without error is twofold:

• 1. God's Character: God is perfect (Mt. 5:48 '...as your heavenly Father is perfect..."), he doesn't lie (Num. 23:19; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18), nor does he do any evil (Jam. 1:13), therefore, his words are perfect, without lies, and without evil.

• 2. Scripture's Origin: Even though Scripture was written by human beings they were carried along by the Holy Spirit in order to speak God's words (2 Pet. 1:21 'men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit') which accomplish exactly what God wants (Isa. 55:8-11).

What about translations and copy variations?

Scripture is inerrant (a) in its original manuscripts (b) and when it is interpreted according to its intended sense.

• (a) 'Original manuscripts': One, if God is the author of Scripture then he can maintain its meaning when copies are made. Two, even the copies themselves deviate very little from one another.

• (b) 'Interpreted according to its intended sense': False interpretations don't make the Bible false.

What Do The Scriptures Principally Teach?

WSC 3 - A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

• Beliefs about God:

o God is Creator (Gen. 1)

o God is Redeemer (Exo. 20)

o God is Jesus (Jn. 14 - "I am the way, the truth, and the life...")

o God is the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28, baptized into the triune name)

o God is Judge (Gen. 18 - Sodom and Gomorrah)

• Duty God requires of man:

o Fear him, walk in his ways, love him, obey him (Deut. 10 - "What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?; Micah 6:8)

o Love with all heart (Mark 12:30)

o Love neighbor as self (Mark 12:31)

o Believe that Jesus is the Christ and follow him (Jn. 20)

What is the value of studying church history?

1. Church history informs how God has dealt with his people in the past and informs our present and future.

a. Past-to-Present: How God has dealt with and worked through his Church in the past directly informs how he will deal with and work through his Church in the present - all of which informs how we ought to respond to him today (1 Cor. 10:6 ' Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.').

b. Present-to-Future: But since God is moving history in a particular direction, studying church history not only informs our present but it molds the Church into a shape fit for the future into which God is leading history toward.

2. Church history can give us perspective because humans are historical beings.

a. Who we are is inextricably tied to those who have gone before us. The thoughts, words, and deeds of our families, leaders, societies, and nations all complexly form who we are today. Both the beautiful and the bad.

b. ***This is a helpful counter to a common Western view of humanity that we are each somehow detached from those who came before us. We not only sin generationally but we are saved generationally.

3. Church history attests to the fact that Christianity is a historical religion (and is therefore true).

a. This is a helpful defense for our day in which we are exposed to a multitude of religious, philosophical, and worldview options that compete for primacy in the hearts and minds of people. Unlike other worldview options that are built upon myths, lies, or detached ideas, Christianity is the only one that is vitally tied to the events of history that can attest to the veracity of its claims.

4. Church history helps us know how the Bible has been interpreted throughout history.

5. Helps us examine Christian interactions with surrounding culture throug

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (AD 30/33-70)

Scripture was circulated across major trade routes, the apostles and other Christians planted churches, the poor were cared for, etc. Some persecution arose under Nero (54-68, Peter and Paul probably martyred by Nero) and Vespasian who ordered General Titus to destroy Jerusalem (70).

o Palestine (Judea, Samaria)

o Asia Minor (Pontus, Galatia, Bythinia, Cappadocia, Pamphylia, Crete)

o Greco-Roman cities (Philip, Corinth, Thessalonica, Antioch, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Sardis, Thyatira, Laodicea, Colossae, Rome)

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (70-300)

After the destruction of the Jewish temple, the Christian religion became unhinged from its Jewish roots and moved outward towards the east and west.

Persecution. Sporadic/light persecution governmentally (Trajan, 98-117; Hadrian, 117-138; Severus, 193-211, treated Christians well but persecutions happened) and socially occurs (seen as incestuous, cannibals, 'atheists' and later anti-Rome, anti-social, and idiotic). However, Decius (249-251) and Diocletian (284-305) violently sought to persecute Christians.

Apologists: Martyr, Tertullian, Origen. Explaining the faith intellectually.

Early heresies: Marcionism, Modalism, etc.

Canon. It took about 2 centuries to define the precise shape of the NT. Remember Muratorian Canon.

Episcopacy to organize a growing church. Bishops assigned to regions. "Follow the bishop as Jesus Christ followed the Father." - Ignatius.

Creeds. Stabilized the church with short statements of the Christian faith. "The Apostles' Creed." Teaching aids used to prepare one for baptism and to guard the church's teaching.

Translation and cultural connection was the main key to success as Christianity spread into different regions, cultures, and language groups.

o Mediterranean Europe (Gaul, modern Germany, Ireland, modern Britain)

o Mesopotamia (Edessa, Baghdad)

o Middle East and Persia (Syria, Arabia, Armenia, Georgia)

o North Africa (Egpyt, Carthage, Alexandria, Memphis)

o East Africa (Ethiopia/Nubia)

o India and West China : To China through silkworm trade routes and to India as tradition holds through Thomas.

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (300-700)

Constantine begins a pattern of protection for Christians that would last 1,000+ years. This provides space for Christian scholastic material and local maturation but not as much spread outward (Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, Gregory "the Great").

Beginning of Middle Ages (beginning in 500)

• Early Middle Ages (500-1000). "Dark Ages" - significantly fewer written sources. Series of wars, national calamities after the fall of the Western empire of Rome (476 AD).

• Merovingian Dynasty. Clovis I converts to Xianity in 496. Pepin the Short. Charlemagne.

Rise of monasticism:

• Reaction to the rise of the success of the Christian church under the Constantinian church-state establishment. Monks concerned with the spiritual state of the church.

• Benedict of Nursia, wrote his "Rule." (6th century).

Rise of Islam: (610, after Muhammed receives first revelation at age 40) begins to militarily spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East and killing/converting Christians and Jews

o African, Middle Eastern, Mesopotamian Christianity flourishes up until the rise of Islam.

o Ireland Christianized by English missionary St. Patrick

o Anglo-Saxon lands converted. Columbanus (543-615) preached in modern France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.

o Nisibis (Mesopotamia) founds the first Christian 'university' (500s)

o Ctesiphon and Jundishapur (Persia/Asia) became theological education centers (500s)

o Western and Central China increased in bishoprics between 500-600

o India well-populated with Christians at this point

o Mongolia (N. of China)

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (700-1100)

By the early 700's Islamic forces had conquered N. Africa, Spain, S. Italy, Sicily, the Middle East, up to the Caucuses, the Persian Empire, and into C. Asia. Middle Eastern Christians (Baghdad and others) engaged with this movement for quite some time. Viking invasions create issues for European lands (790's-1000).

o Charlemagne (coronation in 800 by Pope Leo III) the western Church gets more and more aligned with political power (forcibly converted Saxon lands).

o Cyril and Methodius reach the Slavic peoples of Moravia (800s; modern Czech Rebublic)

o Schisms between Rome and Constantinople (modern Turkey) ensue.

- Photian Schism (869-880): 'Filioque' clause about the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and Son (adopted by West, rejected by East)

- Great East-West Schism (1054): Geographical separation between East-West because of Islamic forces. KEY ARGUMENT over authority: what power does the bishop of Rome (the W. papacy) have in the life of the global Church? Anger in East over filioque clause in the W. version of the Nicene Creed.

Leo X (West Pope) forbade simony (buying clergy positions) and clerical marriage whereas Michael Cerularius (East Patriarch) forbade clerical celibacy and the filioque clause.

o Pope Urban II preaches in Clermont, France calling for the 1st Crusade against Muslims (1095)

o Monastic and reform movements pop up all over (10th-12th century)

o Mongolian Christians flourished up through the 1300's

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (1100-1500)

Crusades begin and continue, scholasticism on the rise, universities are birthed, and the Reformation begins.

o From 1000-1300 nearly 8 Crusades occur. Begin in 1095.

• Preceded by ongoing clashes between Christians and Muslims. Rescue attempt by the West for the Byzantine empire and the invasion of Muslim Seljuk Turks.

• What's a crusade? Combination of pilgrammage, holy war and penance.

o University of Paris full of theological education

o Aquinas, Anselm, Peter Abelard, Peter Lombard, and others create logical/apologetic/philosophical writings.

o Western Church in moral, clerical, and governmental decline

o Great Papal/Western Schism (1378-1417) happened with the Western Church between 3 "Popes" (one in Rome, one in Avignon, and one in Pisa).

o John Wycliffe (1324-1384) and John/Jan Hus (c. 1369-1415) began pushing against abuses. Wycliffe translates Scripture from Latin into English.

o Printing press is invented (1440) which led to broad scale spread of Reformation ideas and Scripture in people's native languages.

o Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, Martin Bucer, and others began Protestant Reformation.

o Missions (and colonialism) to South America (1400-onward)

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (1500-1900)

Massive missionary engagement to the latter parts of the world previously unreached.

o Missions into Japan (Portuguese Jesuits, 1540s)

o Missions into China re-started (Matteo Ricci, 1500-1600s; Hudson Taylor, 1800-1900s)

o Missions into India re-started (Roberto de Nobili, 1500-1600s; Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plutschau, 1600-1700s; William Carey, 1700-1800s)

o Missions into Korea (1700s)

o Missions into the heart of Africa re-started (David Livingston, 1840)

o Massive translation work done with the Scriptures (printing press invented in 1440)

o Great Awakening(s): George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards minister in N. America

o Australia, South America, Natives of America (others), Japan

Briefly trace the spread of Christianity through the centuries (1900-Present)

Christianity has shifted from more populated areas to previously less populated ones.

o World Missionary Conference (Edinburgh) pushes missionaries throughout the world (1910)

o Wycliffe Bible Translators (1934) translates Scripture into thousands of languages. Technological advances/globalization accelerate this process even more

o Majority of Christians today live in:

Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia; Christians from global South are sending missionaries into America; rise in Pentecostalism (19 million new members/year) and prosperity gospel

What were the "sola's" of the Reformation?

• Sola Gratia - By Grace alone. Not works. Just God's goodness/mercy/favor.

o NOT works.

• Sola Fide - By faith alone. Not works. Not seeking. Not faith + ____.

o NOT sacraments.

• Sola Scriptura - By Scripture alone. Not against reason or tradition. Just God's Word over all.

o NOT church authority.

• Sola Christus - By Christ alone. Jesus alone saves. Not sacraments or reason or works.

o NOT saints, Mary, or priests.

Briefly discuss the development of 'covenant theology'

• Scripture: Covenant theology first of all stems from Scripture itself which speaks of God dealing with his people by means of one covenant of grace that has been applied to his people throughout time under various covenants: Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the Messianic/New. These can be summarized under two covenantal dispensations: the old and the new.

• Early Church Fathers: Covenant theology did not begin in the Reformation era but instead began with various church fathers.

o Justin Martyr (100-165). He explains in his Dialogue with Trypho that all of God's people, whether under the new covenant or old, are saved by means of Christ, are made sons of Abraham because of God's one covenant of grace for all his people throughout all time.

o Irenaeus of Lyons (115-202). He explained that there were four covenants (Adam, Noah, Moses, and one that sums up the others in the gospels). However, all of God's people are saved by Christ no matter what time period they are within because all are under the same covenant of grace which God condescended to us for our good. He also mentioned that law keeping was demanded of us but only possible by means of a heart change by the Spirit.

o Clement of Alexandria (160-215). He spoke of four covenants (Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses) and in addition to these one called the new covenant. And although there were different covenants at different dispensations all of God's people are saved by the same God, by means of the same Christ, and by means of one faith, and one covenant. He also spoke of both covenants (old and new) as being gracious but also that both covenants require obedience to the law; but, only by means of grace could one keep God's law.

o Augustine of Hippo (354-430). He speaks of an Adamic covenant that was established by means of God creating Adam a

Who is the head of the church?

- Jesus Christ - Ephesians 1, 2; Colossians 1.

Ephesians 2:19-20 "Christ Jesus is the chief cornerstone" - "There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be the head thereof." - Ephesians 1:22 "appointed him to be head over everything" - Colossians 1:18 "he is the head of the body, the church"

How does he exercise his authority?

To rule and teach the church through his Word and Spirit by the ministry of men (officers) for the edification and establishment of his kingdom

List at least two key principles of Presbyterian government

1) Jesus has appointed officers for the edification of the church to preach, administer the sacraments and to exercise discipline (the marks of the church).

2) All church power is only ministerial and declarative since the Holy Scriptures are the only rule of faith; human courts may err, yet they are called to hold up the laws of Scripture.

Can the church bind men's consciences? Why or why not?

No. All church courts may err through human frailty, yet it rests on them to uphold the laws of Scripture though this obligation be lodged with fallible men

What is the Constitution of the PCA?

Subordinate to the Scriptures, it consists f the Westminster standards and the BCO, comprising 1) Form of Government, 2) Rules of Discipline, 3) Directory of worship

Week 2

Leviticus

Purpose: To explain God's provision of substitutionary atonement through Israel's priestly representatives, which makes forgiveness and restitution possible so that Israel can dwell with her Holy LORD.

Holiness (27)

1-7 The sacrifices the Lord requires

8-10 The priests the Lord desires

11-15 Recognizing and remedying uncleanness

16-27 Living as a holy nation

Leviticus Key Verses

11:45 For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Types of offerings in Leviticus

Sin - atonement for sin

Guilt - atonement for sin

Burnt - expression of worship and dedication

Grain - gift to God, thanks for provision?

Fellowship - expression of devotion to God and fellowship with Him and one another

Types of feasts

Leviticus 23

Passover/Unleavened Bread - celebrating liberation from Egypt.

Pentecost - primarily a thanksgiving for the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, but it was later associated with a remembrance of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Ingathering/Tabernacles - Tent-dwelling in wilderness. Follows Day of Atonement and celebrates God's provision and protection for the people of Israel during their 40 years wandering in the wilderness; for the seven days of the feast, people live in temporary structures like they did in the wilderness. The Lord himself was with the Israelites in the desert, in a tented temple called the tabernacle, so the feast also celebrates his presence as he tabernacles (dwells) with us.

Numbers

Purpose: To call the 2nd generation of the Exodus community to take possession of Canaan as God's Holy Army by avoiding the failures of 1st generation.

Wanderings (36)

1-10 Preparing Israel's 1st army at Sinai

11-25 Failure of Israel's 1st army & wandering in desert

26-36 Preparing Israel's 2nd army for conquest

Numbers Key Verses

14:31-32 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.

Deuteronomy

Purpose: To reconstitute the 2nd Wilderness Generations as the LORD's Covenant People. Moses reminds them of God's faithfulness and love, but also of God's wrath on the previous generation of Israelites because of their rebellion. Repeatedly he charges Israel to keep the Law. Deuteronomy is a solemn call to love and obey the one true God (6:4-5). There are blessings for faithfulness and curses for unfaithfulness. The book closes with the selection of Joshua as Israel's new leader and the death of Moses.

Covenant restated (34)

Review of God's goodness (1-4)

Review of God's Law (5-26)

Blessings and Curses (27-30)

Succession of Leadership (31-34)

Deuteronomy Key Verses

6:4-5 Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Shema)

12 tribes of Israel

Repentant Sinners Love Jesus. Do Not Give Animals In Zoos Jelly Beans.

Reuben

Simeon

(Levi) - dispersed among the tribes, had no land allotment

Judah

Dan

Naphtali

Gad

Asher

Isaachar

Zebulun

Joseph - Ephraim and Manasseh

Benjamin

Samuels

Purpose: To explain that God's covenant with David's house remained Israel's best hope for a stable future, though David's sins had brought covenant curse of exile on her.

*Don't need to know outline, but memorize key verses

Kingdom (31 and 24)

Messianic hope previewed (1-2.11)

Samuel prepares for the kingdom (2.12-ch. 7)

Saul's kingdom fails (8-15)

David's kingdom rises (16-2 Sam 8)

David's kingdom has troubles (2 Sam 9-20)

Messianic hope reviewed (2 Sam 21-24)

Samuels Key Verses

2 Sam 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (Davidic Covenant)

Kings

Purpose: To explain that the exile of Israel by Assyria (722 BC) and of Judah by Babylon (586 BC) were just acts of God's judgment for apostasy and to call for repentance, so that the covenant might be renewed and they might return to the land.

*Don't need to know outline, but memorize key verses

Division and Exile (22 and 25)

Hope and apostasy in Solomon (1 Kgs 1-11)

Apostasy and hope in Divided Kingdom (12- 2 Kgs 17)

Apostasy and hope in Judah (2 Kgs 18-25)

Kings key verses

1 Kgs. 3:9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? (Solomon's request for wisdom)

2 Kings 25:27-30 Jehoachin released from prison (ends with a sliver of hope)

Chronicles

Purpose: To encourage and direct the RETURNEES in reestablishing Israel's kingdom after the exile with special emphases on a rebuilt and reformed Temple; Davidic leadership; and the reunification of "all Israel" represented in Jerusalem.

*Don't need to know outline, but memorize key verses

Genealogies of God's people (1-9)

United Kingdom (10-2 Chr 9)

Divided Kingdom (2 Chr. 10-28)

Reunited Kingdom (29-36)

Chronicles key verses

2 Chr. 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (Solomon at dedication of the Temple)

General Divisions of the OT

History (17)

Wisdom (5)

Prophecy (17)

Give a general outline of OT history, including key dates. Also, include covenantal features with key passages.

CASKET

Creation - ? to 2000

- Major characters: The Lord, Adam and Eve, the Serpent

- Books covered: Genesis 1-11

Abraham - 2160 to 1446 OR 2000 to 1260 BC (depending on early or late (more literal reading of the text) Exodus date-based on the "480th year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt" from 1 Kings 6:1 when Solomon began to build the temple.)

- Major characters: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel

- Books covered: Genesis 12-50

Sinai - 1446 to 1050 OR 1260 to 1050 BC

- Major characters: Moses, nation of Israel, Joshua, the judges, Ruth

- Books covered: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Kings - 1050 to 586 BC (David in 1010 BC; Solomon in 970; division of kingdom in 930 BC; Syro-Ephraimite War in 734-731; fall of Samaria in 722 BC)

Exile - 586 to 539 BC

Temple - 538 to 430 BC (Ezra in 458; Nehemiah in 445)

Covenants:

Adamic Gen 2:16, 17; 3:15

Noahic Gen 9:9-17

Abrahamic Gen 15:5-7, 18; 17:1-4

Mosaic Exo 19:5,6; 24:7,8

Davidic 2 Sam 7:11b-17

New Covenant Jeremiah 31; Gal 3:15-22; Luke 22:20

What is God?

WSC #4 God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, his wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Briefly Explain And Defend (Including Scripture Proofs) The Doctrine Of The Trinity.

Scripture proofs- Deut 6:4- oneness of God; Exodus 20- first commandment; John 10:30- I and the Father are One; John 1:1- deity of Christ; Matt 28:19- baptismal formula.

• Are there more gods than one? There is but one only, the living and true God (WSC 5).

• How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory (WSC 6).

What Are The Attributes Of God? (Be Prepared To Offer Scripture Proofs.)

• WLC 7 - Q. 7. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

• WSC 4 - Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

Which Are Communicable?

Wisdom/Knowledge (James 1:5; Prov. 2)

Holiness (Lev 11:45)

Moral attributes: Justice, Goodness, Truth (Mic. 6:8; Galatians 5)

Which are Incommunicable?

• Infinite (extending indefinitely in space) - Isa. 40:28 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable."

• Eternal (extending indefinitely in time) - Ps. 90:2 " from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

• All-Sufficient - Acts 17:25 "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything."

• Unchangeable - Heb. 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Jas. 1:17 God doesn't change.

• All-Present - Psalm 139 "Where can I go from your spirit?"

• All-Knowing - John 4, Jesus knows everything about the Samaritan woman's life.

• All-Powerful - Gen. 18:14 " Is anything too hard for the LORD?; Isa. 40:28 "He does not faint or grow weary"

What are the decrees of God?

WSC 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

• Cf. Eph. 1 "...him who works all things according to cthe counsel of his will,"

What is the difference between infralapsarian and supralapsarian view of God's decrees?

Issue is over not time but the logical order in which God decreed the fall.

• Infralapsarian (below)

o To create

o To permit the fall

o To elect

o To atone through Christ

o To send the Spirit to apply that atonement

o To glorify the elect

• Supralapsarian (above)

o To elect

o To create

o To permit the fall

o To atone through Christ

o To send the Spirit to apply that atonement

o To glorify the elect

WSC 20 "God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life...."

What is the Amyraldian view of God's decrees?

Popularized by Moses Amyraut (after the Synod of Dort, 1643).

• 4-Point Calvinism - rejected Limited Atonement for Unlimited Atonement. Emphasizes a person's faith over God's election.

o Christ's atonement is unlimited in scope but limited in application. He atoned for all but his atonement only applies to those who put faith in him.

• In his view, God decreed universal salvation but this universal salvation can only be applied upon the condition of faith.

o His Decree Order:

Decrees universal salvation

Decrees the Fall

Decrees the application of that salvation as contingent upon faith

How does God execute his decrees?

WSC 8 - God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Briefly discuss the length of the days of creation.

WSC Q. 9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Analogical Day Interpretation

Analogical Day Interpretation: God created all things 'in the space of six days' but these days are not ordinary 24-hour days; instead, they are God's workdays serving as the model workweek for God's people to follow.

• Reason 1: In Gen. 1-2 we see God working each day, resting each night ('evening and morning'), and then finally resting on Day 7 which is used in Exo. 20 and Exo. 31 as the model workweek for God's people. God's workweek, then, serves as an analogy for his people's workweek because God's work and God's rest is clearly not identical with our own but follows the same pattern (e.g. God doesn't need rest because he never tires, God's work doesn't need to take time like ours does, etc.).

• Reason 2: The lengths of the days were never once specified as 24-hour days either in Scripture or by the WCF. A note on Westminster. What the authors believed about the length of the days cannot be known because the lengths of the days were not discussed nor emphasized. Instead, they simply affirmed Gen. 1-2 that God created everything and that he did this in the 'space of six days.'

• Reason 3: God's workweek in Gen. 1-2 is used in Exo. 20 and Exo. 31 as an analogy for Israel's workweek we can say that the length of the days in Gen. 1-2 is NOT THE CONCERN of the passage but instead the pattern is the concern.

Evaluate biblically the theory of evolution.

1. Naturalistic Evolution/Neo Darwinism: This theory of evolution says that the earth's formation has come about entirely from natural, unguided processes without the involvement of God.

a. Incompatible: This view of evolution is incompatible with Scripture which clearly states that God created everything (Gen. 1-2).

2. Theistic Evolution: This theory can be sub-divided into many views.

a. View A - Incompatible: God created everything and then was uninvolved thereafter. This is incompatible with Gen. 1-2 which shows that God is deeply involved in the ongoing creative process of the world. Also, God's works of providence - he preserves and governs all his creatures.

b. View B - Incompatible: God created everything and guided evolution to produce plants, animals, and then large numbers of human beings from the bodies of already living animals. But this means there is no historical first human pair. This is incompatible with Gen. 1-2 which clearly shows that there was a first man (Adam) and a first woman (Eve) which God created by which the Fall infected mankind. Furthermore, the historicity of Adam is also affirmed by Rom. 5 as a necessary doctrine of salvation brought about by Christ.

c. View C - Incompatible: God created everything and guided evolution to produce plants, animals, and then guided the creation of a first human pair from already living animals. Again, although this affirms the historicity of Adam it negates the plain reading of Gen. 2:7 which states not that God used to body parts of pre-existing animals but instead used the pre-existing material from the soil to form Adam into a new living creature.

Views A, B and C also don't account for the fact that humans are made in God's image. In a sense, they are the pinnacle of God's creation. The historicity of Adam and Eve speak to our doctrine of

What are God's works of providence?

WSC Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?

A. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

What is a miracle?

God, as creation's first Cause, ordinarily works by preserving the secondary cause-and-effect relationships he has built into his creation.

• WCF 5.2 - Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by the same providence, He orders them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.

But a miracle is when God chooses to freely work "without, above, and against" those ordinary secondary cause-and-effects.

***Miracles are publicly observable events that catch our attention and have the power to evoke faith, trust, fear, or worship.

• WCF 5.3 - God, in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure.

Do miracles occur today? Explain.

Yes, I believe miracles occur today.

1. God is still free to do what he pleases. God has done miracles in the past and he is free to do them in the future as he wishes.

2. Scripture does not say miracles have ceased.

a. 1 Cor. 13 says some gifts will pass away but the implication is that this will happen when all is made perfect at the final judgment and not during the church age. "When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away."

b. 2 Cor. 12:12 links miracles with the apostles however it doesn't say that miracles only happen with apostles.

c. Heb. 2:3-5 simply says that the Holy Spirit has caused miracles to happen to approve of the gospel but again doesn't say who did them nor that they will cease.

3. Scripture says that miracles are a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. 1 Cor. 12:10 says 'the working of miracles' is a gift that the Holy Spirit dispenses to his people for the sake of blessing the Church.

Is God responsible for sin?

No. Human beings are responsible for sin. God is not the author of sin even though he decrees and permits sin.

• WSC Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

James 1:13-15. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

• WCF 5.4 The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extends itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, but such as has joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, and otherwise ordering, and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to His own holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceeds only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.

Did He decree sin?

Yes he did. Isa. 46:9-10 "declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done"

• WSC Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

o He foreordains sin.

• WSC Q. 11. What are God's works of providence?

A. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

o God preserves and governs even the sinful actions of his creatures.

• WCF 3.1 God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

o God decrees sin

o God doesn't author sin

o God doesn't violate the will of his creatures

o God doesn't violate second causes

o God establishes/ensures/allows all of it

Did He permit sin?

Yes he did.

• WCF 6.1 Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptations of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.

• God permits sin, not by approving of it, but by allowing and ordaining that his creatures sin (Gen. 3, Genesis 50 "What you meant for evil...")

Who is the ultimate cause of all things?

God is.

• WCF 5.2 Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by the same providence, He orders them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.

Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

• WSC Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

What is theodicy?

Theodicy = θεος ('God') + δικ (root of 'just') = attempting to justify God.

"How can a good God allow evil?"

A term used to refer to attempts to justify the ways of God to man. A successful theodicy resolves the problem of evil for a theological system and demonstrates that God is all-powerful, all-loving and just despite evil's existence.

If God is good and all-powerful, explain AIDS, deformed babies, natural disasters.

• When human beings defied God we unleashed evil into humanity which caused us to suffer and die (Gen. 3; Rom. 5 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—).

• And so, sin changed something in humans by making us mortal AND by pitting the earth against us ('cursed is the ground' because Adam was charged to rule over God's creation) serving both as a consequence for sin and also as a disciplinary tool for God's people (Gen. 3; Deut. 28 'curses for disobedience'; Rom. 8).

• Thus, now humans suffer and die from diseases (like AIDS), from issues at birth (like deformed babies), and from catastrophes (like natural disasters).

***Sinner, Sinned Against, Living in a Fallen World. While suffering is not always a direct result for someone's personal sin (Job 1; Jn. 9 man born blind, disciples ask "who sinned, this man or his parents?"; though sometimes it is, Deut. 28 covenant curses, King Uzziah struck with leprosy in 2 Kings 15; Jn. 5 'sin no more that nothing worse may happen to you') it is always an indirect result of living in a fallen world.

More so, God entered into our fallen world and experienced the misery of it with us, ultimately taking on the punishment for our sin in order to one day redeem all of God's good creation.

Discuss the biblical teaching regarding predestination, election, and reprobation.

1. Predestination is God's foreordaining the destiny of some people and angels to everlasting life and some to everlasting death (Eph. 1; Rom. 8; 1 Tim. 5:21 'In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels'). Those persons who are predestined to everlasting life are predestined to be saved by Christ and to be conformed to his image.

• WCF 3.3 By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.

2. Election is God's choosing some to have everlasting life purely because of his own good pleasure, his eternal purpose, his own counsel, and not based upon anything foreseen (Eph. 1; Rom. 9 'though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—'; 2 Tim. 1 'who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace').

• WCF 3.5 Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, has chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, WITHOUT ANY FORESIGHT OF FAITH, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto; and all to the praise of His glorious grace.

• WSC Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvatio

Distinguish the Reformed and Arminian understandings of these doctrines.

Reformed View:

• God ordains the destiny of people (predestination) and chooses them (election) or passes them by (reprobation) according to his eternal purpose, the counsel of his will, his good pleasure, and without any foreseen faith or merit.

o WCF 3.5 This choice was completely independent of his foreknowledge of how his created beings would be or act. Neither their faith nor good works nor perseverance had any part in influencing his selection.

Arminian View:

• God ordains the destiny of people (predestination) and chooses them (election) or passes them by (reprobation) according to his FOREKNOWLEDGE of their repentance, faith, and perseverance or lack thereof.

*Man's choice was not given to the sinner by God, but resulted from man's will.

Are these doctrines (predestination, election, reprobation) compatible with belief in real human choice and responsibility?

These doctrines are compatible with real human choice and responsibility because God's choices and human choices are not in competition but instead work together.

WCF 3.1 GOD from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, NOR IS VIOLENCE OFFERED TO THE WILL OF THE CREATURES, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

In other words, God is able to ordain the free choices of humans without violating their freedom or negating their responsibility (Exo. 3-14 and Rom. 9 with Pharaoh).

• WSC Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

What should be some of the practical results of believing the doctrine of election?

• Assurance of salvation (2 Pet. 1)

• Praise, reverence, admiration of God (Eph. 1; Rom. 11)

• Humility - nothing we did made God choose us (Rom. 11)

• Diligence to confirm our calling (2 Pet. 1 'Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election')

• Consolation (Rom. 8; Lk. 10)

• WCF 3.8 The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men, attending the will of God revealed in His Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.

Is there a real, personal devil? Explain from Scripture.

Yes.

• The devil used a serpent as his mouthpiece for tempting Eve (Gen. 3).

• The devil made a deal with God to test Job (Jb. 1).

• The devil directly tempted Jesus (Mt. 4).

• The devil demanded Jesus to allow him to make the disciples fall (Lk. 22).

• The devil is to be resisted (1 Pet 5).

• The devil prowls around seeking to destroy (1 Pet. 5).

• The devil will one day be defeated and judged by God (Rev. 20).

Orthodox churches

• ORIGIN (pre-Chalcedon [451] to the East-West Schism [1054])

o Pre-Chalcedon (451) many eastern (Alexandrian) theologians developed a unity-heavy model of Christ's natures saying that Jesus's human and divine natures were more unified than they were distinct unlike the western theologians who said that Christ's human and divine natures were solely distinct but were only unified in the person of Christ himself. The eastern conception of the unity of Christ's natures was on spectrum with some leaning toward heavy-unity and others leaning toward light-unity.

o Synod in Trullo (691-692) the eastern churches' veneration of icons, high-liturgies, and canon laws were established regarding the affirmation of clerical marriage and of using leaven in the Eucharist bread.

o Photian Schism (863-867) occurred when Photius, the Patriarch of Constantinople (East), challenged Rome's exerting its papal authority over eastern churches and also opposed the filioque clause which had been added in 589 to the Constantinople Creed of 381. The original creed (381) affirmed that the Spirit proceeded from the Father but the filioque addition (589) affirmed that the Spirit proceeded from the Father 'and the son' (filioque in Latin). Thus, eastern churches rejected the idea that the Spirit proceeded from the Son and also rejected Roman papal authority.

o Great East-West Schism (1054) was the final divide between the eastern and western churches which happened because: (a) the filioque clause was officially adopted by Rome around 1014, (b) Constantinople (East) refused to help Rome (West) from Norman Christian invaders, (c) the East's reaffirmation of the use of leaven in Eucharist bread which was rejected by the West.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Regional: Heavy populations are in Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Georgia, Antioch, Jerus

Lutheran churches

• ORIGIN (1517)

o Martin Luther, as a Catholic priest, wrote his Disputation against Scholastic Theology (1517) in which he defended Augustinian thought over Aristotelian thought, the supremacy of grace, and the divide between law and gospel.

o Then he published his Ninety-Five Theses (1517) arguing largely against the Catholic practices of indulgences and penance.

o Soon after he made three books that argued for change in the church: (a) Appeal was to the laity and German princes to help reform the church by doing away with celibate clergy, pilgrimages, masses for the dead, religious orders, and more; (b) On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church was to the clergy appealing for them to reform the idea of transubstantiation; (c) and The Freedom of a Christian Man argued for justification by grace as opposed to works. The pope condemned all three in 1520.

o In 1521 he was called to defend himself before the emperor at the Diet of Worms in 1521 but he refused.

o Later, Luther and his contemporaries, Philip Melanchthon and Matthias Flacius and Martin Chemnitz, all led the charge of a Lutheran theology which spread throughout Germany, Scandinavia, and then to America in late 1600's.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Consubstantiation: This is the belief that Jesus's body and blood are truly present somehow "in, with, and under" the bread and wine.

o Justification by Faith: This is the central focus of Luther's theology. God's righteousness can only be attained this way: by faith in the justifying death and resurrection of Jesus.

o Supremacy of Grace: Grace is paramount for the Christian, not works. Works result but only because of grace.

o Baptism Necessary for Salvation: In the Augsburg Confession Article 9.1-2 it says About baptism our churches teach that it is necessary for salvation, and that through Baptism God offers us his gra

Mennonite churches

• ORIGIN (early 1500's)

o Swiss Brethren Anabaptists in Switzerland formed as a more "radical Reformation" than the other Protestant groups.

o Menno Simmons (1496-1561) was a former Catholic priest turned Anabaptist who ministered in the Netherlands.

o Much of his pastoral oversight sowed the seeds of those who would sail to America and call themselves Mennonites.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Separation: This group believes in a strict separation between church and state and thus no Christian should take political office. This also leans Mennonites from also creating a strong divide between the church and broader culture.

o Pacifism: Strict non-resistance.

o No Oaths: No one should take oaths (over-reading the Sermon on the Mount) and thus no one can take political office if one is a Christian.

o Personal Regeneration and Holiness: One's personal conversion by the Holy Spirit and one's personal purity are emphasized.

o Foot Washing: This practice is near-sacramental alongside of baptism and the Lord's Supper as an over-literal reading of John 13

o Believers' Baptism: Only believers ought to be baptized.

Presbyterian churches

• ORIGIN (1560)

o The first official Presbyterian church was started by John Knox (formally a priest) in 1560 in Scotland as the church adopted the Scots Confession which made the church "lord-led" as opposed to monarch-led (Church of England) and opposed to episcopal-led (Catholic). He also banded together with the local lords to outlaw mass in the area. All of this was largely in opposition to Mary Queen of Scots who was killing his Protestant compatriots.

o This form of church government was also influenced greatly by John Calvin (1500's) who in Geneva, Switzerland was the pastor of a church that emphasized Reformed theology and a Presbyterian-ish government.

o The Presbyterian church was further codified during the Westminster Assembly which was called together by the English Parliament in 1643-1652/3 (confessions written) to protect England from the civil war that was brewing largely due to three groups:

(1) Charles I's opposition to Parliament so that he could have full power,

(2) Parliament (largely Puritan) who opposed episcopal/Catholic church structures and also opposed Charles' attempts to gain supreme power

(3) Scottish rebels (Presbyterian) who were being forced to adopt an Anglican form of church government Charles through William Laud

o So, Parliament called the Assembly to form an alliance with Scotland which leaned its ecclesial pronouncements toward Presbyterianism thereby limiting Charles's power and limiting the relationship between church and state. This was codified in the:

Westminster Confession, Larger and Shorter Catechism (replacing the Thirty-Nine Articles)

Directory of Public Worship (replacing the Book of Common Prayer) and the Form of Presbyterial Church Government (later BCO)

• DISTINCTIVES

o God's Glory: The chief end of all things is God's glory and nothing else. No human or g

Baptist churches

• ORIGIN (early 1600's)

o Some separatists in England who wished to separate from the Church of England began to adopt believers baptism as opposed to infant baptism.

o Essentially two groups formed:

General Baptists: Netherlander Baptists were influenced by Arminianism and thus were called general Baptists emphasizing the fact that Jesus atoned for all of mankind (general). 1678: The General Baptist Orthodox Creed was formed.

Particular Baptists: English Baptists were influenced by Calvinism and thus were called particular Baptists emphasizing the fact that Jesus atoned only for the elect (particular). 1677: The Particular Baptist Confession was formed.

o Both groups (general and particular) made there way to America along with the rest of the settlers.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Believers' Baptism: Their belief is that baptism is not covenantal but instead is by one's profession of faith. Thus, infants are not baptized because they cannot personally commit to Christ. The mode of baptism (particular immersion) is not the official mode of Baptist churches but is disputed by some.

o Congregationalism: They also believe that the church, although connected to the wider body of Christ, is best governed by each congregation and so maintains each congregation's individual autonomy. The leadership of the church is appointed by the church and held accountable by the church.

o Authority of Scripture: Committed to the absolute authority of Scripture over any church or person.

Methodist churches

• ORIGIN (1700s)

o Began from the "Holy Club" at Oxford University which was started by John Wesley, Charles Wesley, and George Whitfield

o This "Oxford Movement" grew out of the Church of England (Anglican) and eventually split from it in order to focus on personal holiness, itinerant evangelism, and looser ordination for ministers to do work in N. America and Scotland.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Personal Conversion: Wesley emphasized his own personal conversion to the point where emotionality, deep grief toward sin, and a radical change of life were seen as the marks of one's true conversion. Long change of covenant children over time are not as accepted.

o Personal Holiness and Perfectibility: One must be committed to radical holiness which sometimes could lead to moralism and undue fixation on sin. One can attain perfection by means of a "second conversion" called "entire sanctification."

o Evangelism and Mission: Itinerant evangelism started the movement and planted seeds that each Christian ought to engage in some kind of witness and in some kind of service, especially to the poor and needy.

o Mini-Societies: This is the beginning of small groups in churches in which it is seen that Christians ought to not only organize themselves in large groups but in smaller groups of more tight knit communities.

o Arminian: The freedom to choose, the ability to be a good person, Christ's atonement for all people, and the ability to lose one's salvation are each marks of this movement.

o Episcopal: Effectively, Methodist churches are governed in an episcopal fashion where all decisions are made by a body of bishops who are in connection with regional bishops who make decisions on behalf of the church body.

Episcopal churches

• ORIGIN (1785-1789)

o Originally a part of the Church of England.

o Two issues prompted the formation of the Episcopal Church

(1) By 1775 in the American colonies there were roughly 300 Church of England congregations but they had limited ability to grow because no bishops were sent to the 13 colonies and bishops alone hold the authority to ordain priests and install new members.

(2) During the American Revolution (1775) the Church of England leaders had sworn oaths of allegiance to the English monarchy and thus could not support the revolution efforts which caused church persecution and decline.

o And so William White was consecrated the first bishop of the Episcopal Church of America that would still be tied to the Church of England but could function on its own.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Book of Common Prayer: Liturgical, prayer, and devotional material that unites the Church of England, Anglicans, and Episcopalians.

o Liturgical: Tends toward high liturgy.

o Episcopal: Headed by a head-bishop (Chief Pastor) and a group of bishops in presiding over regions.

o Apocryphal Texts: Some accepted as Scripture.

o Women Ordination: Women are ordained as bishops, priests, and deacons.

o LGBT: Accepted as children of God who have no need of repentance (since 1976).

Pentecostal churches

• ORIGIN (early 1900's)

o The holiness movement in America (led by preachers like Charles Finney and others) in the early-to-mid 1800's emphasized a "second baptism" of the Spirit after one's conversion either (a) to become entirely sanctified or (b) to receive spiritual gifts.

o In 1901, Agnes Ozman spoke in tongues at Bethel Bible College in Topeka, KS after her principle (Charles Fox Parham) laid hands on her and prayed for her to receive the power of the Spirit.

o This led to the Azusa Street Mission of Los Angeles (1906) which was a movement that practiced tongues, miracles, and prophetic utterances. This movement then spread Pentecostalism throughout America and then worldwide.

• DISTINCTIVES

o Indwelling vs. Outpouring: There is a distinction made between the indwelling of the Spirit in salvation and the outpouring of the Spirit for spiritual gifts and witness.

o Second Baptism and Spiritual Gifts: Typically a second baptism is encouraged in which either (a) one can receive total sanctification or (b) one can receive spiritual gifts.

o Tongues: High emphasis on speaking in tongues as a sign of one's true faith or a sign of one's second baptism.

o Laying on of Hands: Prayer and healing done through laying on of hands.

o Personal Holiness and Legalism: Personal holiness is committed to but can tend toward legalistic emphases like forbidding smoking, alcohol, and dancing.

o Believers' Baptism: Not infant baptism.

o Congregational or Presbyterian: Either governed autonomously (Congregational) or by elder-oversight (Presbyterian).

o Oneness Pentecostals: A heresy started around WWI when some Pentecostals began teaching different doctrines:

- Oneness: This is an anti-Trinitarian doctrine in which there is one God who is not three persons but one God who manifests himself as Father, Son, and Spirit at different