Theology Exam Four, Dr. Stephenson, Lee University

Fourth Lateran Council (1215)

"Transubstantiation" was first formally defined by what council?

Zwingli

Who rejected transubstantiation on the basis of theological language?

accidents

this term refers to a thing's outward appearance

Luther

Who rejected transubstantiation because of its Aristotelian foundations?

substance

this term refers to a thing's essential nature

Eucharistia

What term emphasizes the sacrament as "giving thanks?"

Holy Communion

What term emphasizes the sacrament as fellowship between Christ and the believer?

Lord's Supper

What term emphasizes the sacrament as a remembrance of the moment of Christ's life immediately before his betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion?

Eucharist

What is the most common name for this sacrament?

The Lord's Supper

What name for the sacrament disappeared around the 2nd century?

pietism

an approach to Christianity, especially associated with German writers in the 17th century, which places an emphasis upon the personal appropriation of faith, and the need for holiness in Christian living. The movement is perhaps best known within the English-language world in the form of Methodism.

post-liberalism

a theological movement, especially associated with Duke University and Yale Divinity School in the 1980s, which criticized the liberal reliance upon human experience, and reclaimed the notion of community tradition as a controlling influence in theology.

postmodernism

a general cultural development, especially in North America, which resulted from the general collapse in confidence of the universal rational principles of the Enlightenment.

reformed

a term used to refer to a tradition of theology which draws inspiration from the writings of John Calvin (1510-64) and his successors. The term is now generally used in preference to "Calvinist."

sabellianism

an early trinitarian heresy, which treated the three persons of the Trinity as different historical manifestations of the one God. It is generally regarded as a form of modalism.

sacrament

a church service or rite which was held to have been instituted by Jesus Christ himself. Although Roman Catholic theology and church practice recognize seven such sacraments (baptism, confirmation, eucharist, marriage, ordination, penance, unction), Protestant theologians generally argue that only two (baptism and eucharist) were to be found in the NT itself.

scholasticism

a particular approach to Christian theology, associated especially with the Middle Ages, which lays emphasis upon the rational justification and systematic presentation of Christian theology.

scripture principle

the theory, especially associated with Reformed theologians, that the practices and beliefs of the church should be grounded in scripture. Nothing that could not be demonstrated to be grounded in scripture could be regarded as binding upon the believer. The phrase "sola scriptura" (by scripture alone) summarizes this principle.

theodicy

a term coined by Leibniz to refer to a theoretical justification of the goodness of God in the face of the presence of evil in the world.

transubstantiation

the doctrine according to which the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ in the eucharist, while retaining their outward appearance.

Did Jesus have brothers or sisters?

additional student question
-Matt. 13:55-56; Mark 3:31-32,6:3; John 7:3,5,10; Acts 1:14; Gal. 1:19
-probably children of Mary, could be extended family or Joseph's children from another marriage
-Roman Catholic church teaches Mary's perpetual virginity, so she never has biological kids
-Judas in Matt. 13 is likely not Judas Iscariot

Did Jesus ever commit any factual errors?

additional student question
-Jesus calls the high priest Abiathar (Mark 2:23-28), but his actual name is Ahimilech (1 Sam. 21:1-9)
-Jesus calls a man named Zechariah the son of Berechiah (Matt. 23:34-35), but he is the son of Jehoiada (2 Chron. 24:20-21)

What is the meaning of the name "Jesus?"

additional student question
-"Lord saves/will save" (Matt. 1:21)
-comes from the name "Joshua"

Was Jesus ever angry?

additional student question
-cleanses the temple (Matt. 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46; John 2:13-17)
-Mark 1:41 could be "filled with compassion" or "became angry"

What is the significance of the number of disciples?

additional student question
-at the last supper, Jesus says there are 12 disciples for the 12 tribes of Israel (Luke 22:28-30)
-disciples ask when the kingdom will be restored to Israel; Jesus says they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them (Acts 1:6-8)
-Matthias replaces Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:12-26)

What was Jesus' occupation?

additional student question
-called "carpenter" and "son of a carpenter"
-"one who works with his hands" (Mark 6:3) could also mean stoneworking or masonry

Why did blood and water flow from Jesus' side at the crucifixion?

additional student question
-only John reports this (19:34)
-water is a symbol for cleansing in John
-ch. 13-21 are known as the Book of Glory, and they only have one other mention of water (footwashing, 13:1-17)

Theology

doctrine of God

theological anthropology

doctrine of humanity

hamartiology

doctrine of sin

christology

doctrine of Jesus Christ

pneumatology

doctrine of the Holy Spirit
-Holy Spirit in the Bible
-historical developments
-recent pneumatologies

soteriology

doctrine of salvation
-atonement/work of Jesus Christ
-redemption
-regeneration
-justification
-sanctification
-glorification

ecclesiology

doctrine of the church
-biblical metaphors for the church
-marks of the church
-sacraments
-recent ecclesiologies

eschatology

doctrine of the last things

Holy Spirit in the Bible

part of pneumatology
-Holy Spirit in the OT
-Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus
-Holy Spirit in the NT

Holy Spirit in the OT

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the Bible
-"Holy Spirit" is only used a couple of times in the OT
-more common is "Spirit of God/Lord"
-characteristics: not given to everyone, temporary and occasional work (departs after a God-ordained task is completed), prophets foretold the Spirit would be poured out on all flesh (Joel 2:28-29)

Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the Bible
-present in Jesus' conception, baptism, etc.

Holy Spirit in the NT

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the Bible
-indwelling, infilling, and baptism
-gifts of the Holy Spirit
-cessation

indwelling of the Holy Spirit

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the NT
-resides in every Christian (Rom. 8:9)
-seal and deposit (Eph. 1:13-14)
-makes us the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19)

infilling of the Holy Spirit

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the NT
-successive infillings (some people continue to receive the Spirit)
-"filled" (Acts 2:4,4:31); "were being filled" (Acts 13:52); "be continuously filled" (Eph. 5:18)
-being filled with the Spirit is not only an initial experience, but an ongoing condition

baptism in the Holy Spirit

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the NT
-traditional pentecostal position: an experience following conversion
-purpose: empower believers to witness (Acts 1:8); enrich individuals in private prayer (Rom. 8:26; 1 Cor. 14:4); enrich others when interpreted in corporate worship (1 Cor. 14:5)
-evidence: this event is accompanied by an empirical sign- tongue speech

tongue speech

part of pneumatology, evidence of baptism in the Spirit (no tongues = no baptism in the Spirit)
-normal (not unusual) and normative (standard of measurement)
-glossolalia: speaking in unknown tongues
-xenolalia: speaking in a foreign language one has not studied/learned

gifts of the Holy Spirit

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the NT
-variety of gifts: 9 gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-11); 7 gifts (Rom. 12:3-8); 5 gifts (Eph. 4:11-13)
-Spirit gives each person the gift God determines (1 Cor. 12:11)
-gifts are for building up the entire body of Christ

cessation

part of pneumatology, Holy Spirit in the NT
-spirit's supernatural manifestations (healings, prophecy) "ceased" after the death of the apostles
-gifts were needed originally, but no longer required after the church was established
-what is the "perfect?" (1 Cor. 13:8-10)
-cessationists: church's maturity, established doctrine
-others: Jesus' return

historical developments of the Holy Spirit

part of pneumatology
-in the first 3 centuries of the church, there was less discussion of the Spirit than of the Son
-Council of Nicaea (325) vs. Pneumatomachians
-Council of Constantinople (381)
-Eleventh Council of Toledo (672-76)
-Basil of Caesarea (4th c.)

Council of Nicaea (325)

part of pneumatology, historical developments
-"We believe... in the Holy Spirit."

Pneumatomachians

part of pneumatology, historical developments
-4th century group, "Spirit-fighters"
-took advantage of the Nicaea's limited statement
-said the Son is "of the same essence" as the Father, but the Spirit is a creature

Council of Constantinople (381)

part of pneumatology, historical developments
-"Lord, and giver of life."

Eleventh Council of Toledo (672-76)

part of pneumatology, historical developments
-"God" and "of the same essence" with the Father and the Son

Basil of Caesarea (4th c.)

part of pneumatology, historical developments
-some object to his use of two different trinitarian doxologies
-they say the Spirit is inferior to the Father and Son, and shouldn't be worshiped with them
-he responds: the baptismal formula (Matt. 28:19) ranks the Spirit with the Father and Son; salvation also comes through the Spirit; Spirit should be worshiped and glorified together with Father and Son
-he does not describe the Spirit as "God" or "of the same essence"

recent pneumatologies

part of pneumatology
-Wolfhart Pannenberg (20th-21st c.)
-Karl Rahner (20th c.)
-Jurgen Moltmann (20th-21st c.)
-pneumatology's influence on the rest of theology

Wolfhart Pannenberg (20th-21st c.)

part of recent pneumatologies, German theologian
relationship between theology and natural sciences
-wants to give a theological account of the physical universe
-Spirit as a "force field" in light of modern physics
-enables things to exist, move, change, gives power and energy (Gen. 1:2,2:7; Psalm 104:29-30)
Spirit and the doctrine of the church
-pneumatology is the most prominent here
-the Spirit who creates is the Spirit given to Christians
-creation is fulfilled in final salvation

Karl Rahner (20th c.)

part of recent pneumatologies
transcendental pneumatology
-"transcend" means "to exceed, surpass boundaries"
-Spirit transcends all limitations, even boundaries between Christiantiy and other religions
-Spirit can give God's grace to members of other religions; Spirit/grace causes them to live in such a way that they are "anonymous Christians"
influenced Second Vatican Council (1962-65)
-was a theological advisor to the bishops
-"Dogmatic Constitution on the Church" (Lumen Gentium)
-persons outside the church may be saved by God's grace

Jurgen Moltmann (20th-21st c.)

part of recent pneumatologies
the Spirit's universal presence
-Panentheism vs. Pantheism
-God's "immanent transcendence"
the Spirit and life
-nonChristian actions that promote life (peacemaking, AA, etc.) are in some sense works of the Spirit
-book on Pneumatology: "The Spirit of Life"

panentheism

Moltmann's idea that God is present in everything

pantheism

the idea that God is everything, and everything is God

D. Lyle Dabney

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-says "third article theology" to refer to all of theology in light of the third section of the creed

French L. Arrington

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-biblical interpretation, when informed by pneumatology

Stephen J. Land

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-focus on spirituality (worship, prayer, spiritual disciplines) from the perspective of pneumatology

Frank D. Macchia

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-church and the kingdom of God

Veli-Matti Karkkainen

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-ecumenism, intra-Christian relations

Amos Yong

a pneumatological perspective on theology
-interreligious dialogue, inter-faith relations

atonement/work of Jesus Christ

part of soteriology
-already introduced in Christology, because Jesus saves

redemption

part of soteriology
-"to redeem" means "to buy" (Greek)
-can refer to the literal purchase of goods
-land (Matt. 13:44) -food (Matt. 14:15) -spices (Mark 16:1)
-humans have also been purchased, bought/redeemed by God
-we should glorify God because we have been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
-the lamb (Christ) purchased humans with his blood from many backgrounds (Rev. 5:9-10)

regeneration

part of soteriology
-the means through which Christians receive new life in Jesus Christ
-after being dead in sin, we are brought back to life by the Spirit
-begin to share in Christ's resurrection power
-this concept is closely associated with baptism

justification

part of soteriology
-the forgiveness of sins
-Greek "justify" means "to make righteous/place in right standing"
-declaration, transformation, vindication

declaration

view of justification in soteriology
-many churches say we are righteous because God calls us so
-God views us in light of Christ's righteousness, in spite of our guilt
-by faith and through grace, not based on works, an undeserved gift

transformation

view of justification in soteriology
-brings about real inner change
-we actually become righteous and are enabled to do good works
-not God calling us something we are not

vindication

view of justification in soteriology
-ultimate and final deliverance
-Jesus himself was justified through his resurrection (1 Tim. 3:16)
-same Spirit who raised Jesus will also raise us to ultimate justification (Rom. 8:11)

sanctification

part of soteriology
-making holy through cleansing and purification
-being set apart or distinguished for special purposes
-process should continue throughout one's life
-Holy Spirit assists this process through practices like prayer, meditation, study, worship, etc.

glorification

part of soteriology
-final state of Christians
-forever freed from sin and enabled to please God without exception
-occurs in the resurrection from the dead to eternal life

biblical metaphors for the church

part of ecclesiology
-people of God
-body of Christ
-temple of the Holy Spirit

people of God

a biblical metaphor for the church, ecclesiology
-distinguishes Christians as God's people, and no one else's (1 Peter 2:9)
-affirms connection with Israel as God's chosen people before Christ

body of Christ

a biblical metaphor for the church, ecclesiology
-Christians form a body, of which Christ is the head (Col. 1:18)
-Christ causes the body to grow into maturity (Eph. 4:4-16)
-Christians have a common stake in Christ's death and resurrection

temple of the Holy Spirit

a biblical metaphor for the church, ecclesiology
-OT: temple represented God's dwelling place
-NT: God does not dwell in houses made by humans (Acts 7:48-50; 17:24)
-instead, Christians themselves are the temple of God's spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
-Spirit actively distributes gifts to the church

marks of the church

part of ecclesiology, its characteristics/traits
-one
-holy
-catholic
-apostolic
-Nicene Constantinopolitan Creed (381)

one

a mark of the church, ecclesiology
-a unified body
-"many churches" are one church, because Christ is the head and the Spirit dwells in all of them
-refers to all churches throughout Christian history
-does not negate diversity of cultures, personalities, and gifts (they are not the same)
-John 17: Jesus prays for unity

holy

a mark of the church, ecclesiology
-distinct body, different from all others
-Greek word for "church" literally means "ones who are called out"
-has to do with separation and distinction, as well as purity and righteousness

catholic

a mark of the church, ecclesiology
-universal, not to be confused with "Roman Catholic"
-exists throughout the world, throughout Christian history
-depends on the church's fulfillment of its mission

apostolic

a mark of the church, ecclesiology
-related to first century apostles
-traces its historical beginnings to these figures
-proclaims the apostles' original message and is judged by its faithfulness to it
-some pentecostals say it displays the signs and wonders of the apostles (charismatic gifts)

Nicene Constantinopolitan Creed (381)

a mark of the church, ecclesiology
-"I believe... in one, holy, catholic, apostolic church."
-many modern churches recite this when they gather

sacraments

part of ecclesiology
-special practices within the church that identify Christians as Christians
-traditionally, also a means through which God gives grace to Christians
-visible sign of an invisible reality
-all 7 practiced by Catholics (baptism, eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation/penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and marriage)
-2 (baptism and eucharist) practiced by Protestants

baptism

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-Christian initiation, part of becoming a Christian
-nonrepeatable
-regeneration: means of bringing new life, or representation of new life?
-timing: infant or adult?
-method: immersion or sprinkling?

eucharist

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-Lord's supper, holy communication, mass
-Jewish passover includes the last supper, where Jesus introduced this
-bread and wine: truly convey, or just represent Christ's body and blood?
-participating in this for the first time is part of becoming a Christian

confirmation

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-Christian initiation
-completes the grace given in baptism by giving the Spirit through the laying on of hands, usually by a bishop
-those baptized as infants, at this point, accept the implications of their baptism
-Orthodox: baptism, eucharist, and confirmation occur together in the same service
-Catholics: confirmation takes place years later

reconcilliation and penance

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-bringing about restoration after committing sin
-person repents, confesses to a priest, and performs works to amend for sin
-priest absolves (forgives) sin

anointing of the sick

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-last rites or extreme unction
-given to those near death as a preparation for entering eternal life
-unites a person with Christ's sufferings and grants forgiveness of sins if not attained through reconciliation and penance

holy orders

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-process of ordination to Christian ministry
-3 degrees: bishops, presbyteries (priests), deacons
-only men are eligible; only deacons can be married

marriage

a sacrament, ecclesiology
-signifies the union between Christ and the church
-benefit of the couple and the reproduction and education of children

recent ecclesiologies

part of ecclesiology
-Miroslav Volf (20th-21st c.)
-Stanley Hauerwas (20th-21st c.)
-John Christopher Thomas (20th-21st c.)

Miroslav Volf (20th-21st c.)

a recent ecclesiology
-the church should mirror God as Trinity
-"Perichoresis"- relationships of mutual participation and sharing
-likewise, Christians form a community of equality and mutual support
-"After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity."

Stanley Hauerwas (20th-21st c.)

a recent ecclesiology
-the church is an "alternative community"
-exists in contrast to the secular state (government)
-emphasizes total commitment to being Jesus' disciple rather than to the state's methods of control and domination
-ideas drawn from Jesus' sermon on the mount

John Christopher Thomas (20th-21st c.)

a recent ecclesiology
-Pentecostal "fivefold gospel" and "sacramental ordinances"
-Jesus as...

Jesus as Savior

baptism (Thomas, fivefold gospel)

Jesus as Sanctifier

footwashing (Thomas, fivefold gospel)

Jesus as Spirit-baptizer

tongues (Thomas, fivefold gospel)

Jesus as Healer

anointing with oil (Thomas, fivefold gospel)

Jesus as coming King

eucharist (Thomas, fivefold gospel)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Apostle's Creed