Christian Theology 1

Theological Pyramid

The way in which we study, apply, and understand the Bible.

Systematic Theology

The study of the doctrines of the Bible; what the Bible says about any given topic.

Absolutes

Unquestionable truths such as Jesus is God, Trinity, Salvation by faith alone.

Convictions

Strong beliefs such as child baptism and female pastors.

Opinions

Personal preferences such as worship music, politics, education.

Questions

Inquiries or uncertainties such as the existence of aliens.

Forms of the Word of God

Jesus Christ or God: in decrees, personal address, written form, and speech through human lips.

Stages of the canon

The progression from the 10 Commandments to the NT Canon.

Canonicity

The way we determine what belongs in the canon.

Tests of canonicity

Criteria including Apostolic authority, Antiquity, Orthodoxy, Catholicity, Traditional use, and Inspiration.

Apostolic authority

written by an apostle

antiquity

the age of the text

catholicity

Universal acceptance from other Christians during the context

Orthodoxy

whether the teachings in a text align with the core beliefs of the Christian faith, as understood by the early Church

traditional use

This emphasizes the role of long

closed canon

The concept that the canon has always been closed and only God can add to it.

authority of scripture

All words in Scripture are God's words; disbelief or disobedience equates to disbelief or disobedience to God.

Key passages supporting authority

Jeremiah 23:16

Areas of Life where Scriptures are Authoritative

Science (uniformitarianism, evolution) and History (archeology).

inspiration of scripture

scripture is breathed out by God

Key passages supporting scripture

2 Tim 3:16

Harold Lindsell

Author of 'The Battle for the Bible' which criticized individuals and churches for not holding firm to inerrancy.

Sufficiency of Scripture

God has provided in His Word all that man needs to know concerning life in godliness.

Key passages supporting sufficiency

2 Peter 1:3

theology proper

The study of God the Father.

Proofs of God's existence

Arguments including Cosmological (things must have a cause), Teleological (order and design), Ontological (philosophical G), and Moral.

Ontological

prove God based on reason

teleological

showing or relating to design or purpose, especially in nature

Cosmological

things must have had a cause

Categories of God's Attributes

Communicable (shared with man, e.g., eternality) and Incommunicable (not shared with man, e.g., all

ICBI and Chicago Statement

ICBI declared Scripture inerrant in ALL things; all pastors and churches adhered to the Chicago Statement.