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Sources of Theology
The Biblical message
The theological heritage of the church
The thought forms of our culture
The Biblical Message
primary source, the good news of God’s salvation in Christ.
The Theological Heritage of the Church
creeds & confessions, classic statements of faith
The Thought Forms of Our Culture
to express the Christian faith in the context of our modern world.
Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Scripture
Christian Tradition
Reason
Experience
What is an important factor affecting theological method?
primary social location in which a particular theology is pursued.
What does each social location of theology pose?
own sets of questions
own view of truth
own special emphasis
Migliore’s Description of the Task of Theology
The work of theology is a continuing search for the fullness of the truth of God made known in Jesus Christ. Rather than mere description and repetition of doctrine, it is a persistent search for the truth to which they point and which they only partially and brokenly express. Faith and inquiry are inseparable.
What are the three methods of theology?
Christocentric Theology
Correlation Method
Praxis Approach
Christocentric Theology (theology of Word of God)
a discipline of the church in which the church continuously tests itself and its proclamation by its own norm, Jesus Christ as attested in Scripture
the priority of the Word of God and the unsettling questions it asks of all domains of human life
For example, is our view of human nature in line with what is revealed by the Living Word of God?
Correlation Method
Tillich explores deep life questions by studying culture—things like philosophy, art, science, and society.
He connects these questions to Christian beliefs to create a meaningful conversation.
He criticizes Barth for focusing only on revelation (God’s message) without considering culture.
Tillich believes revelation should not be controlled by culture but must still respond to the real issues people face.
Praxis Approach
Theology is about wisdom, knowledge, and thinking deeply about Christian beliefs.
It should also reflect on how Christians live and practice their faith.
Fighting for justice is the first and most important step.
The Bible is read and understood based on real actions, especially helping the poor and oppressed.
An Evangelical Method of Theology
Collection of Biblical materials
Unification of the Biblical materials
Analysis of the meaning of Biblical teachings
Examination of Historical treatments
Consultation of other cultural perspectives
Identification of the essence of the doctrine
Application of the doctrine to experience
Contemporary Expression of the Doctrine
Fundamental Roots of Theology Questions
1. Are the church's proclamation and practice true to God's revelation in Jesus Christ as attested in Scripture? Truthfulness/accuracy at issue.
2. Do the proclamation & practice of the community of faith give adequate expression to the whole truth of the revelation of God in Jesus Christ? Wholeness and coherence. What is the whole gospel?
3. Do the proclamation & practice of the community of faith represent the God of Jesus Christ as a living reality in the present context? Relevance/mission
4. Do the proclamation & practice of the community of faith lead to transforming praxis in personal and social life? Effects, fruit
How could we keep theology from becoming a place of disputes and division?
Emphasizing Love and Unity
Respect other perspectives of theological interpretations
Building relationships with people of different theological backgrounds
Migliore’s Fundamental Roots of Theology
1. The object of faith: God himself remains the infinite and incomprehensible One.
2. The situation of faith: Particular historical situations, changing, ambiguous, and often precarious, pose ever new questions for faith.
What are Essential Identity Markers?
Primary affirmations of the Christian faith as proposed in Scripture (i.e., God is one, Duet, 6:4, etc.).
The answer to what is attested in Scripture, not how the truth works.
Liberal
“The maximum acknowledgment of the claims of modern thought”
Conservative
“The maximum acknowledgment of the claims of traditional thought”
Evangelical
Conservative Christian tradition, which places a high value on the inspiration and authority of Scripture.
Conversionism
the belief that lives need to be transformed through a born-again experience and a life-long process of following Jesus
Biblicism
a high regard for and obedience to the Bible as the ultimate authority
Crucicentrism
a stress on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as making possible the redemption of humanity
Activism
the expression and demonstration of the gospel in mission and social reform efforts
What is Theology?
the study of or teaching concerning God
(theos= God & logos = study of)
What are the two main ideas emerge that will be helpful in understanding the task of theology?
Articulation and Reflection
The Primary Function of Theology
to identify and articulate the essential identity markers set in Scripture and developed through tradition concerning a given topic, which, in turn, defines its uniquely Christian characteristics while also allowing the faith community the freedom to explore the area framed by these identity markers.
“Free Science??”
This science respects the freedom of what it studies.
It also stays open to new ideas and is not limited by strict assumptions.
What it studies helps keep it free from bias or rigid beliefs.
What are the two poles of tension in Revelation?
Incomprehensibility / Knowability
Hiddenness / Disclosure
What does revelation mean?
an unveiling or disclosure of something hidden
Revelation is God’s free action whereby he communicates saving truth to created minds, especially through Jesus Christ as accepted by the apostolic Church and attested by the Bible and by the continuing community of believers.
What does Revelation mean in terms of Christian theology?
refers to the self-disclosure of God in creation, in the history of the people of Israel, and, above all, in the person of Jesus.
How do you understand the Barthian phrase, “Only God can reveal God!”?
Nobody is equal to God. We are all on another level below God. God is above all and in control of all.
The Hiddenness of God
God’s revelation is both shown and hidden at the same time.
Jesus being human isn’t the only way God stays hidden.
God’s message is especially hidden in Jesus’ role as a servant.
The deepest hiding happens in Jesus’ crucifixion.
The revelation of God is, paradoxically, a hidden revelation
What does it mean when Revelation is God self-revealing?
God is the only one who can truly know Himself
Christian theology has traditionally distinguished two media of the knowledge of God as?
General Revelation and Special Revelation.
God’s Self-Revelation as Interpersonal Knowledge
Our knowledge of persons requires attention to persistent patterns in their actions that manifest, as we might say, who they really are, what is in their hearts, what their true character is.
Personal identity is freely disclosed and open to spontaneity and unpredictability. A person is not bound by stereotype, but is free to do new things and surprising things.
Knowledge of persons involves a continuous invitation to trust and to live in response to promises. Because of the freedom and unpredictability of personal knowledge, promising is an important dimension of all personal relationships.
Personal identity is often rendered in narrative form. Our stories retell our lives, reveal our character, expose our motives, foreshadow our futures.
What is the difference between coercive power and inviting power?
Coercive power is a threat to compliance, whereas inviting is the offer of a choice within power.
Barth’s Three fold Word of God
1. Revealed in the incarnate Jesus.
2. Written in the pages of Scripture.
3. Proclaimed by the Church.
highlights that God's message isn’t just words written on a sheet of paper; it is a living reality that we experience through Jesus
What does Migliore mean by a liberative understanding of Scripture?
We must trust scripture because of our faith in God’s power.
Without this trust, we will be lost forever.
Four “Inadequate” Views on Authority
Historicist
Classicist
Devotionalist
Biblicist
The Historicist View
1. The Bible is read simply as a historical source.
2. Stresses the historical and cultural context of a text.
3. Limits Scripture to the past.
The Classicist View
1. The Bible is read as a classic literature
2. Stresses the narrative of Scripture, not the reality.
The Devotionalist View
1. Meaning and application are private and individualized.
2. Scripture is read only “for me.”
The Biblicist View
1. The Bible is authoritative by virtue of its supernatural origin
2. Stresses inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, extreme view is dictation
3. Defends the infallibility of Scripture
4. Scripture is authoritative not because of what it tells us, but because its words are identified without qualification with the words of God
5. Scripture tends to be leveled, with each verse carrying the same weight
Inerrancy
the belief that the Bible is without error or fault in its original writings
Infallible
without the ability to fail
Inspiration
the origin of the physical scriptures, inspired by God
Theopnuestos
the Greek word that we derive inspiration from, also in reference to God-Breathed
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy
Written in 1978
Signed by over 300 Evangelical scholars: James Boice, Norman Geisler, Francis Schaeffer, RC Sproul, J.I. Packer
Affirms inerrancy and infallibility of the original autographs of Scripture
What is bibliolatry?
the worship of the Bible, or an excessive reverence for the Bible
An excessive devotion to the Bible
An extravagant dependence on books
An excessive reverence for the letter of the Bible
Taking the Bible too literally
Refusing to worship except what's explicit in the Bible
What does Migliore mean by saying that our interpretation should include both a hermeneutics of trust and a hermeneutics of suspicion?
When reading the Bible, trust its message but also think critically. Be open to its meaning while questioning biases or misunderstandings that might change what the authors originally meant.
"hermeneutics of trust" (the human words of Scripture convey God's Word)
"hermeneutics of suspicion" (God's Word in Scripture is conveyed in human words)
Principles of Interpretation
1. Scripture must be interpreted with the help of literary and historical criticism;
2. Scripture must be interpreted theocentrically;
3. Scripture must be interpreted ecclesially,
4. Scripture must be interpreted contextually.
Classical Interpretations of Atonement
Christ the Victor (Cosmic Conflict): God defeats evil through love and dying on the cross. Cosmic battle between good vs. evil.
Anselmian or Satisfaction Theory: rooted in biblical passages that suggest vicarious suffering as the way by which humankind is redeemed
Liberal/Moral Influence Theory (Subjective Theory): stresses the importance of human response to God's love. Humans respond with such wonder and gratitude. Some flaws is the sometimes the power of evil is underestimated.
T/F: Substitutionary atonement was confirmed by the early church as the only way of understanding atonement via the cross.
False
Three Essential Identity Markers of Atonement
God established the sacrificial system as a means of atonement (Leviticus 17:11)
Christ's death on the cross atoned for the sins of the world (1 Peter 3:18)
God does not need to be appeased through blood sacrifice (Isiah 1:11)
NT has noted three things:
1. We have platonized our eschatology.
2. We have moralized our anthropology.
3. We have paganized our soteriology.
Errors in Christology
The tendency to rob Christ of his deity. (Anti-Trinitarian thought, Arianism, Adoptionism)
The tendency to rob Christ of his humanity. (Docetism, Appolinarianism, Adoptionism)
The tendency to overemphasize the difference between the two natures. (Nestorianism—two persons)
The tendency to lose the distinction between the two natures. (Eutychianism—he is so unified he is only divine.)
Divinity of Jesus
John 6:35 I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst
John: 10:30 I am the Father are one.
Col 2:9 Fullness of God
Philippians 2:6 In the form of God
Humanity of Jesus
Matthew 21:18-22 Hungry
John 19:28 Thirsty
Philippians 2:6-8 Born, becomes human
Matthew 1:25 Born of Mary
Nature of Jesus
Jesus as God
Jesus as Man
What are some fundamental questions of God?
Who is the God worshiped and proclaimed by the Christian community?
Is this God the friend or the enemy of human maturity and freedom?
Is God the source of reconciliation and peace or of violence and war?
What does Migliore mean when he states that the doctrine of the Trinity is not a “revealed” doctrine?
Migliore says the Trinity is not a "revealed" doctrine because it’s not directly given in the Bible.
The word "Trinity" is a symbol that helps explain the idea, and Scripture helps us understand it.
The doctrine was developed by the church over time, reflecting on the gospel message.
It’s a deeper reflection on God's love shown in Scripture and experienced by Christians.
What councils prove to be two milestones in trinitarian development?
Councils of Nicaea (AD 325) and Constantinople (AD 381)
The tension of the Trinity lies between these two poles:
Unity in Essence
Distinction in Person
Proof-Texting
act of gathering individual verses to support a certain theological perspective without giving full regard to the context of each individual verse.
Suborinationism
different ranks or orders of deity
Modalism
masks of God which do not reflect his essence
Tritheism
three individual and separate deities
Migliore pushes us to move beyond the surface grammar of the creeds to “depth” grammar.” What does he mean by this?
Migliore wants us to look deeper than just the words in the creeds.
He means we should understand the true meaning behind the words about God.
God loves freely, lives in community, and wants us to live in love and service to each other.
God’s love is about sharing, caring for others, and creating community.
What does affirming the Trinity tell us about God?
God is one in essence.
God is distinct in persons
God is relational
God is love
God is involved in our lives
To confess that God is triune is to affirm that the eternal life of God is personal life in relationship. God is a "living God" within whose own being there is movement, life, personal relationship, and the giving and receiving of love.
Anthropocentrism
a view that the world exists primarily to serve our needs and desires
Power of Domination
At its core, it’s about misusing power. Modern science and technology have gained great control over nature, and this power can be used for good or bad.
Denial of Interconnectedness
ecological consciousness means understanding the interconnectedness of all life. It doesn't mean giving plants or animals personhood, but recognizing their inherent value.
Assumption of Limitless Resources
we seem to think that the air, water, and fertile fields have limitless supply for our appetites
Unchecked Consumerism
our market economy is driven by the desire to consume and possess, and this is a major factor in the ecological crisis. “I consume, therefore I am” is the logic of modernity
The Great Metaphysical Statement
Most current conversations about Creation wrestle with how what is seen came into existence, but the real question is why?
Why is there something here rather than nothing?
What does the doctrine of Creation teach us?
God is worthy of praise because He is greater than creation. Creation affirms God's greatness, power, and authority.
Everything had a beginning and is completely dependent on God for existence.
All creation is good, even though it has limits and imperfections.
Humans are responsible for caring for creation, and all creatures are interdependent, meaning everything relies on each other.
Themes Doctrine of Creation
A strong theology of creation, where the church affirms God as the "Maker of heaven and earth," is an important part of Christian belief today.
The Bible’s creation narratives...
are not in dialogue with modern scientific ideas about world origins.
are in dialogue with Egyptian, Babylonian, and Canaanite cosmologies.
What is an “Ancient Near Eastern Cosmology”?
These types of narratives do not have as their primary purpose to give a scientific account of world origins.
They do have as their primary purpose to address basic worldview issues: who are we, where are we, why are we here, who are the gods?
What are some key elements of Babylonian cosmology?
Violence
Kill or Be Killed
World was created out of violence
Solution is survival by all means
What are some key points of Egyptian cosmology?
the chaos that existed pre-creation
the emergence of the creator deity
the creation of the world and the difference of beings
the reign of the sun god
direct rile by other deities
rule by human kinds
a return to the chaos of the primeval waters
Migliore connects God's self-revelation to what other type of knowledge?
Interpersonal
The doctrine of creation teaches us that all life is utterly ______ or ______ __ ______.
Good
Dependent on God
In terms of the doctrine of creation, what view misundertsnacds the authority God has given human beings over the earth?
Dominion
Migliore notes that the revelation of God is paradoxically _______.
hidden
Barth argues that theology will really be theology when from beginning to end it is _______.
Christology
Which of the following is not a key in the historical distinctive of Evangelicalism?
Political Influence
Describe the discipline of Theology. Be sure to describe the concept of essential identity markers and what role they play in theology.
Definition of Theology (Millard Erickson):
A discipline that provides a coherent statement of Christian doctrines.
Based primarily on Scripture.
Considered within the broader cultural context.
Expressed in contemporary language.
Connected to real-life issues.
Essential Identity Markers in Theology:
Core affirmations of the Christian faith as presented in Scripture.
Examples: "God is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4).
Focuses on what Scripture attests, not how the truth functions.
If revelation is self-disclosure, and knowledge of God is vital to salvation, why is God not more clear in revealing who he is?
Revelation as Self-Disclosure
God must choose to reveal Himself; human efforts alone cannot fully grasp Him.
Knowledge of God is essential for salvation, yet His revelation remains paradoxically hidden.
Lewis’ Hamlet Analogy
Just as Hamlet could only know Shakespeare if Shakespeare wrote himself into the story, humans can only know God if He chooses to reveal Himself.
God’s revelation is not something we can attain on our own—it is entirely dependent on His initiative.
Dulles’ Key Points on Revelation
God communicates truth about Himself and humanity’s relationship to Him.
Some aspects of revelation exceed human capacity to understand without divine intervention.
Migliore on Hidden Revelation (p.25)
God's self-revelation is paradoxically hidden, especially in the person of Jesus.
The ultimate revelation of God is found in Christ’s servant form and His crucifixion.
God’s disclosure is not obvious or overpowering but embedded in humility and suffering.
Briefly describe the Biblicist view of biblical authority. Why does Migliore consider this view an inadequate view of authority? What aspects of his critique are helpful and what aspects are in danger of diminishing a proper view of Scripture?
The Biblicist View
1. The Bible is authoritative by virtue of its supernatural origin
2. Stresses inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, extreme view is dictation
3. Defends the infallibility of Scripture
4. Scripture is authoritative not because of what it tells us, but because its words are identified without qualification with the words of God
5. Scripture tends to be leveled, with each verse carrying the same weight
Migliore’s Critique of the Biblicist View:
Lacks consideration of historical and cultural context, potentially distorting meaning.
Ignores the diversity of literary forms in Scripture, treating all passages with equal weight.
Overlooks the human role in Scripture’s formation, which can lead to rigid interpretations.
Helpful Aspects of His Critique:
Encourages contextual reading of Scripture for a fuller understanding.
Recognizes the importance of literary diversity within the Bible.
Promotes a dynamic engagement with Scripture rather than a rigid, word-for-word approach.
Potential Risks of His Critique:
Could undermine confidence in Scripture’s authority if taken too far.
Might lead to subjective interpretations, weakening Scripture’s role as a foundational truth.
Could diminish the role of divine inspiration, focusing too much on human influence.
Discuss the positive and negative aspects of the classical views of atonement.
Cosmic Conflict (Christ the Victor)
Positive:
Highlights God’s victory over evil, offering hope.
Supported by Bible passages (Ephesians, Colossians).
Shows Christ's impact on the whole world.
Negative:
May oversimplify sin and ignore personal struggles.
Less focus on Christ's sacrifice.
Anselmian (Satisfaction) Theory
Positive:
Explains how God’s justice is satisfied through Christ.
Supported by Bible (Isaiah 53, Romans 3).
Focuses on the seriousness of sin.
Negative:
Too legalistic, feels distant from God's love.
Hard to understand why God "needs" satisfaction.
Liberal/Moral Influence Theory
Positive:
Focuses on Christ’s love and example.
Inspires personal transformation.
Peaceful, non-violent view of salvation.
Negative:
Doesn’t address the full depth of sin.
Too focused on human response, not God’s action.
May miss broader aspects of atonement.
Build a Theology of the Trinity (biblical and historical background) and discuss why it is important to hold a trinitarian view of God.
Theology of the Trinity (GOD IS ONE!)
1. Biblical Basis
Old Testament Hints:
Genesis 1:26 – "Let us make man in our image."
Isaiah 48:16 – "The Lord God has sent me, and His Spirit."
New Testament Revelation:
Matthew 3:16-17 – Jesus' baptism shows all three Persons.
Matthew 28:19 – "Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
2 Corinthians 13:14 – Paul’s Trinitarian blessing.
2. Historical Development
Early Church Fathers:
Tertullian (2nd Century) coined Trinitas.
Athanasius (4th Century) defended Christ’s divinity.
Church Councils:
Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Affirmed Jesus as fully God.
Council of Constantinople (381 AD): Confirmed the Holy Spirit’s divinity.
3. Why the Trinity Matters
Faithfulness to Scripture – Avoids false views like Modalism or Arianism.
Essential for the Gospel – The Father sends, the Son saves, the Spirit empowers (John 3:16, Titus 3:5).
Shapes Christian Worship – We pray to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
Demonstrates God's Love – The Trinity reveals God’s eternal relationship of love (John 17:24).
Conclusion
The Trinity is essential to Christianity, protecting biblical truth, preserving the gospel, and guiding worship. Denying it leads to misunderstandings of God and salvation.
What are the most essential elements of the Christian Doctrine of Creation that are clearly repeated throughout Scripture and what do they teach us about the nature of the world?
Development of a strong and comprehensive theology of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, in which the church confesses its faith in God as ‘Maker of heaven and earth,’ must be a major part of every Christian Theology today.—Migliore, Pg 92
What does the doctrine of Creation teach us?
1. God, as Creator, is worthy of praise and adoration because He is greater than creation.
Migliore notes to speak of the world as God’s creation is first of all to make an affirmation about God. (Radical Otherness, transcendence, and lordship)
2. Existence, history, and all matter had a beginning. Life, therefore, is wholly dependent on God.
So a second theme of this doctrine is that the world as a whole and all beings individually are radically dependent on God.
3. All creation is good.
A third theme of the doctrine of creation is that in all of its contingency, finitude, and limitation, creation is good.
4. Human beings were entrusted to care for creation.
A fourth theme of the doctrine of creation is the coexistence and interdependence of all created beings. Creature hood means radical coexistence, mutual interdependence, rather than solitary or monarchic existence.
Discussion Question
Migliore describes God creating all that there is (heaven and earth) as both necessary and not necessary. What does he mean by this and what does it tell us about the nature of creation?
Not necessary, because he didn’t need us and God would still exist.
Necessary, because if he didn’t create us, then it would only exist with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in communion.
