Christian Theology Exam 2 Concepts

the 3 big questions of theological analysis

1. what does this say about God?

2. what does this say about us/humanity?

3. what does it say about the relationship between the two?

differences between biblical and systematic theology

- biblical theology seeks to understand the progressive unfolding of God's special revelation throughout history

- systematic theology seeks to present the entire scriptural teaching on certain specific topics or doctrines, one at a time or topically

epistemology

how you think about how we know what we know

anthropology

how you think about personhood and humanity

ontology

the study of the nature of existence/being

metaphysics

how you think about reality and existence

plot line

exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution

Grand Narrative of Scripture

creation, rupture, israel, Jesus, church, telos

4 characteristics of a good story

setting, characters, plot, major and minor details

protagonist

major character(s)

antagonist

major character(s) in opposition to the protagonist

agonist

characters engaged in the story

3 things of what it means to be human

1. to be human means to have huge freedom and responsibility

2. to respond to God

3. to be held accountable for that response

tselem

"image"; Hebrew word that describes the statue of a king meant to represent his rule and reign in a space even though he may not physically be there

demut

"likeness"; Hebrew word that describes a shadow, sketch, outline, or something in close appearance with what it represents

characteristics of humans as creatures

- not the creator

- "very good"

- utterly dependent on God

- characterized by finitude

- middle creatures

- not purely spiritual like angels

- not purely physical

- we're like amphibians- "we live and relate to God and one another both spiritually and physically"

- psychosomatic unities

list and briefly explain the 3 main categories of understanding the imago dei, along with their strengths and weaknesses

1. substantial view: sees humans as sharing in some aspect of God's substance

-s: drive us to do good things; we are rational

-w: what about those who are not rational

2. functional view: emphasizes the unique function humans have in caring for God's creation

-s: God places us in creation as divine representation

-w: we may abuse creation; treat it as something to be used for us

3: relational view: to be in the image of God might mean that we are created to exist in relationship with others

-s: human relationships should reflect God's love, no human can be truly human alone

-w: our identity gets put in others

root of the origin of evil

autonomy

what temptation did the tree of knowledge represent

temptation to be autonomous

what is autonomy and what it does it have to do with the rupture

"self law"; our desire to govern ourselves is what caused the rupture and our separation from God

summarize the consequences of sin for the serpent, the woman, and the man

serpent- cursed to crawl on belly, enmity with woman, will be crushed by her offspring

woman- pain in childbirth, desire will be for her husband and he will rule over her, death

man- difficulty in work, death

what is so important about Gen 3:15

the first promise of the Gospel

describe what happened after God told the serpent, Adam, and Eve the consequences of their sin

Adam and Eve had to be cast out of the garden

-Couldn't be in God's perfect Garden

-Couldn't be in God's presence

-Danger that they would eat from the tree of life

Note- God still clothed them (provided for them)

describe the experience of the Christian in terms of the fall as a repetitious event

- taking power and authority not given to humans is the core of the disobedience

- image and likeness are subordinate to the creator

- subordination then requires the image of God

- to disobey is to not reflect the image of God

- as a result, disobedience in any manner is sin

essentially, we continue to live in the fall because we continue to disobey in our lives today

what do divine covenants reveal

the saving plan of God for establishing communion w Israel and the nations, ultimately fulfilled by the death and resurrection of Christ

contracts v covenants

contracts- exchange of promises, limited by the terms of the exchange of property, based on profit and self interest, temporary

covenants- sworn by solemn oaths, an exchange of life, self giving loyalty and sacrificial love, permanent and even intergenerational

what is the significant difference between Israel's covenants with God and the covenants of the non-Israelites with their gods

God initiates the covenant vs. they form covenants by invoking the name of their gods

what is the primary way in which the Bible portrays the relationship between God and his people

image of covenant or agreement

what are the three motifs/image patterns consistent with covenants

command, promise, reward/blessing

what is the chief blessing of the abrahamic covenant

God himself

explain "this covenant is not an agreement between two equal parties"

it is a relationship initiated by a lord with his vassal. there are requirements and has both blessings and curses depending on level of faithfulness

Palmer Robinson's definition of covenant

"bond in blood sovereignly administered"

name the four major components of the promises in the Abrahamic covenant and know what they stand for

place - land (for example Canaan/ the promised land)

people - descendants

privilege - blessing

purpose - light (blessing) to all nations

creation was ____, not ____

good, perfect

what is the center of the chiasm in Genesis and why is it significant

moad=sabbath (festival, party)

moadim=seasons, sacred time

teaches the Israelites that their value is not in what they produce but in who they are

creation is God's ____

temple; instead of building himself a temple, God creates the earth, plants a garden, and dwells with humans

creation is __ ___

sacred space; it's a place where God and humans interact