THEO110 Exam 1 Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key definitions, concepts, theories, and scriptural evidences for THEO110 Exam 1 Review.

According to Roger Olson, how are dogmas, doctrines, and opinions distinguished?

Dogmas are essential truths whose denial constitutes heresy; doctrines are beliefs specific to a particular faith tradition or denomination; opinions are areas of Christian belief where no clear consensus exists.

How are orthodoxy and heresy defined in the lecture notes?

Orthodoxy refers to beliefs that most clearly represent biblical teaching, whereas heresy (literally meaning 'choice') refers to any deviation from traditional teaching.

What is the etymological origin and definition of theology?

Derived from the Greek words 'theos' (God) and 'logos' (word/study), theology is the study of God and all things related to God, as well as the process of thinking about God and how humans relate to Him.

How does Don Thorsen distinguish between General Revelation and Special Revelation?

General Revelation is available to all people at all times and places through self-discovery, declares God's greatness, and is sufficient for condemnation. Special Revelation is given to specific people at particular times/places, must be told, declares God's grace, and is sufficient for salvation.

What are the limits of Natural Revelation according to the lecture?

Natural revelation shows evidence of God's existence, goodness, provision, providence, power, transcendence, and glory, but it cannot reveal the way of salvation provided through faith in Jesus Christ.

What are Christological, Progressive, Propositional, and Personal Revelation?

Christological Revelation is God fully revealed in Jesus Christ; Progressive Revelation is God revealing Himself incrementally across biblical history; Propositional Revelation contains factual statements of truth; Personal Revelation has the ultimate purpose of transforming individuals as they encounter God.

What are the four views of biblical inspiration discussed in class?

1) Dictation View: God dictated words while human authors acted as copyists; 2) Verbal Plenary Inspiration: God worked through human authors so their words express His intended message while reflecting their personalities; 3) Natural View: authors were inspired similarly to human artists; 4) Conceptual View: theological concepts were inspired, but not necessarily exact words or history.

What three criteria were utilized by the Church during canonization?

1) Written by a prophet/prophetically gifted individual, or an apostle/associate of an apostle; 2) Written to all generations containing enduring truth; 3) Written in accord with previous revelation and consistent with orthodox faith.

How do Inerrancy, Infallibility, and Indefectibility differ?

Inerrancy holds that the Bible in its original autographs is free from error in all it affirms; Infallibility holds that the Bible is trustworthy and will not mislead in fulfilling God's purpose; Indefectibility is the Roman Catholic doctrine that the Church safeguards biblical truth for God's people.

What internal evidence demonstrates the continuity of the Bible?

The Bible consists of 66 books written over approximately 1500 years by 40 different authors across 3 continents and 3 languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek), yet presents one unified narrative of redemption centered on Jesus Christ.

What are the seven stages of the Grand Narrative of Scripture?

Creation, Crisis, Call/Covenant, Cycles to Christ, Church, and Consummation.

What five 'less than ideal' approaches to reading the Bible does Scot McKnight identify?

1) Morsels of Law approach (legalism); 2) Morsels of Blessing approach (pulling verses out of context); 3) Rorschach approach (eisegesis/projecting own ideas); 4) Systematic Theology approach (forcing text into rigid categories); 5) Maestro approach (reading all Scripture through one master book).

What are the four steps of the Inductive Method of Bible study?

1) Prayer; 2) Observation (What does it say?); 3) Interpretation (What does it mean?); 4) Appropriation (How do I respond/live it out?).

What technical theological language was adopted at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD to describe the Trinity?

The Church defined God as one substance (ousia) in three distinct persons (hypostases).

How does the 'Shield of the Trinity' diagram illustrate Trinitarian relationships?

It shows that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each 'Is' God, but each person 'Is Not' either of the other two persons.

What are the key beliefs of Arianism, Modalism, Adoptionism, Docetism, and Tri-theism?

Arianism: Jesus was the highest created being, not divine; Modalism: God appears in one mode at a time, not 3 simultaneous persons; Adoptionism: Jesus was human, adopted as God's Son at baptism; Docetism: Jesus only appeared human; Tri-theism: belief in three separate gods.

What is the key distinction between the Natural Attributes and Moral Attributes of God?

Natural attributes reflect God's unique nature and greatness (transcendence) and belong to God alone; Moral attributes reflect God's character and goodness, which humans can share at least in part.

How are Omnipresence, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Transcendence, and Immanence defined?

Omnipresent: present everywhere; Omniscient: all-knowing; Omnipotent: all-powerful; Transcendent: separate, surpassing, and independent of creation; Immanent: near, present, and indwelling creation.