Theology and the Nature of God Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice questions covering systematic theology, the attributes of God, Trinitarian orthodoxy, and the doctrine of creation.

What is theology?

The study of God and the things He has done

What is the foundation of our theology and why?

The Bible, because it is God’s Word

What is the law of noncontradiction?

Something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same way

What is the Trinity?

One God who exists eternally in three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), each fully God

Why is the Trinity not logically contradictory?

Because God is one in nature but three in persons, which are different categories

What is the difference between a mystery and a contradiction?

A mystery is something not fully understood but not logically contradictory

How important is the Trinity as a doctrine?

Of utmost importance; it answers who God is

What is textual pressure?

The phenomenon where the Bible leads us to affirm the Trinity through multiple passages rather than just one verse

Which part of the Trinity does Deuteronomy $6:4$ support?

That there is one God (monotheism)

Which part of the Trinity does John $1:1$ support?

The Father and Son are distinct persons and fully God

Which parts of the Trinity does $1$ Corinthians $8$ support?

All three propositions: one God, distinct persons, and each fully God

What is the primary difference between a person and nature?

Person refers to “who”; Nature refers to “what”

In what specific sense is God one?

He is one in nature (attributes)

In what specific sense is God three?

He is three persons (thinking, willing subjects)

What specifically makes the Son the Son?

He is eternally begotten

What specifically makes the Spirit the Spirit?

He eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son

What specifically makes the Father the Father?

He begets the Son

What does it mean that the Son is “begotten”?

He is not created, is eternal, and shares the divine nature

What was the major contribution of the Cappadocians to Trinitarian theology?

They clarified the distinction between person (hypostasis) and nature (ousia)

What was Athanasius’ major contribution to the doctrine of the Trinity?

He defended homoousios, the belief that the Son has the same nature as the Father

What is the Nicene Creed?

A full doctrinal statement describing the Trinity

What is Arianism?

The belief that the Son was created and not fully God

What is the theological problem with Arianism?

It denies the full divinity of the Son

What is modalism?

The belief that God is one person who appears in different modes

What is the theological problem with modalism?

It contradicts passages where multiple persons of the Trinity exist simultaneously

What is the creator/creature distinction?

The concept that God is distinct from His creation

What is naturalism?

The belief that reality is only the physical world and there is no God

What is pantheism?

The belief that God and the world are the same

What is dualism?

The belief that two equal forces exist, which undermines God's transcendence

What is deism?

The belief that God created the world but is not involved in it

What is theism?

The belief that God is both transcendent and immanent

What does it mean that God is transcendent?

He is self-sufficient and above creation

What does it mean that God is immanent?

He is present and active within creation

How does materialism view the creator/creature distinction?

There is no distinction because there is no creator

How does pantheism view the creator/creature distinction?

God and the world are identical

How does deism view the creator/creature distinction?

God is separate and uninvolved

How does Christian theism view the creator/creature distinction?

God is both distinct and actively involved

What is an implication of the creator/creature distinction regarding language?

Language about God is analogical

What is an incommunicable attribute?

An attribute that only God has

What is a communicable attribute?

An attribute shared analogically with humans

What is aseity?

God’s self-existence and independence

What is omniscience?

The fact that God knows all truths

What is the problem with Open Theism?

It denies God’s full knowledge of the future, is unbiblical, and is philosophically weak

What is omnipresence?

The fact that God is everywhere

How is God’s “absence” in hell explained?

He is not relationally present

What is omnipotence?

The fact that God can do anything logically possible and consistent with His nature

What does it mean that God is immutable?

God does not change

What is sovereignty?

God’s rule over everything

How far does God's sovereignty extend?

To everything, including human choices

What is libertarian freedom?

The ability to choose otherwise (between choices $A$ or $B$)

What is compatibilist freedom?

Choosing according to one’s desires

What is God’s wisdom?

Knowing the highest good and how to achieve it

What is God’s holiness?

His moral perfection

How is hell considered just?

Sin is against an infinite God and may continue eternally

In what sense is God good?

God is the standard of goodness

What does it mean that God creates?

He creates out of nothing, freely, for relationship, through His Word, as a Trinitarian act

What is God’s providence?

He sustains and governs creation continually

What are reasons for reading the creation account literally?

Presence of genealogies, lack of poetry, and a context suggesting literal days

By what means does God create?

His Word

By what means does God sustain creation?

His Word

What is the image of God?

Humans are God’s representatives (vice-regents) over creation

What is complementarianism?

The belief that men and women are equal in value but have different roles

What was Adam’s relationship to sin before the fall?

He was free to sin and had an unfallen nature

What is humanity’s relationship to sin after the fall?

Christians are free not to sin; non-Christians are not free not to sin

What is original sin?

Humanity sinned in Adam, resulting in an inherited sinful nature and guilt