Theology oral exams practice questions

What does Psalm 1 teach us about the two ways?

There are two paths—the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.

How does Jeremiah 17 connect to Psalm 1?

Both passages use the image of a tree to contrast the person who trusts in God with the person who turns away from God.

How does the New Testament connect to the two ways?

the New Testament reveals Jesus and that salvation comes through Jesus.

Who asks to see God, and where is this found?

Moses asks to see God in Exodus 33–34.

What does it mean that prophecy is oriented toward Christ?

Prophecy points toward Christ and is understood in relation to Jesus.

Explain the analogy between mathematics, music, and theology.

Mathematics provides principles that make the study of music possible.

Similarly, God's own knowledge, communicated through divine revelation, provides principles for human theology.

How is faith a mean between science and opinion?

Faith has the certainty of science, but, like opinion, it involves the assent of the will.

Are theology and faith the same thing? Why or why not?

No. Theology is the study of God, while faith is a type of thinking that involves the will, heart, and mind.

What role does the will play in faith?

Faith involves more than intellectual understanding. It also requires the will's assent or acceptance.

Why do Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17 represent the “Two Ways”?

Both describe two different paths in life.

People who trust and follow God are like healthy trees that grow and produce fruit.

People who turn away from God are like dry plants that cannot survive.

What is the difference between seeing and understanding in prophecy?

Seeing means receiving or witnessing something from God. Understanding means recognizing what it means and learning something deeper about God.

Why does Moses ask to see God in Exodus 33–34?

Moses wants to know God more deeply and understand His presence and character.

God reveals aspects of who He is to Moses.

Why does theology depend on Divine Revelation?

Theology depends on Divine Revelation because God reveals truths about Himself that humans could not discover completely on their own.

What is the difference between God's science and human science about God?

God's science is God's own perfect knowledge of Himself and everything else.

Human science about God is theology, which is our study of God based on what He reveals to us.

How is faith different from science and opinion?

• Science: Knowledge proven through demonstration.

• Opinion: A belief that could be different or uncertain.

• Faith: Believing something because of God's truth, with certainty and the involvement of the will.

What does Augustine mean by faith being “thinking with assent”?

Faith involves thinking about what we believe and agreeing to accept it as true.

It includes both understanding and belief.

Why does Aquinas describe faith as a mean between science and opinion?

Faith has the certainty of science, but it also involves the will, like opinion.

Faith is certain because it relies on God, even though we do not prove everything through demonstrations.

How are theology and faith different?

Faith is believing and accepting what God reveals.

Theology is the study of God that uses what we believe and what God has revealed to help us understand Him more deeply.

What are the four aspects of prophecy?

1. Two Ways: Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17 describe the different paths people can choose.

2. Intercession: Abraham prays to God on behalf of others in Genesis 20.

3. Seeing and Understanding: Moses seeks to see and understand God in Exodus 33–34.

4. Oriented Toward Christ: Isaiah's prophecies point toward the coming of Jesus.

How do the four aspects of prophecy help us understand God?

They show us different ways God communicates with people. Prophecy teaches us how to live, shows how people can pray to God for others, helps us understand God's character, and points toward Jesus Christ.