Doctrine Exam 1 Madueme

What is the definition of dogma?

teaching // doctrine

"theology without worship is empty, abstract, and arid; worship without theology is formless, blindly zealous, and ambiguous"

Kevin Vanhoozer// ultimate purpose of doctrine is worship and to live to the glory of God.

How does theology or doctrine connect with doxology?

doxology = worship

theology should lead you to worship, for worship is the true purpose of theology

What does it mean to say that Scripture is norma normas (the norming norm)?

scripture > [experience, reason, + tradition]

submit E.R.T. to scripture

needs to be correctable by scripture

What does it mean to say that our theology should be a "generous orthodoxy"?

All orthodoxy worships the same God.

We can argue over small things but not the big thing (catholic, essentials —> unity)

your theology is not infallible

Reformation principle: "In essentials, unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity"

John Chrysostom

This means we should agree on the essentials of the faith (i.e. doctrine of trinity etc) but the non-essentials is minor in respect to the gospel. We have the freedom to disagree still with brothers and sisters in Christ.

: "In reality, theologian is just another word for Christian"

Carolyn Custis James// why women should not dread or avoid theology.

What is detachment theology?

not compartmental

The idea that anxieties, fears, struggles are separate from theology. When in reality wrestling with God is doing theology.

Defend the idea that life and theology are inseperable.

In wrestling with hard topics you are doing theology. We have the option to be bitter or to work. Through all struggle there is an underlying theology. Truth is that our souls struggle to know God and trust him in the midst of suffering.

What is our functional theology?

The beliefs that affect the things you say, think, and do.

what you believe based on how you act (what does your fruit show you believe?)

"orthodoxy"

right doctrine

"orthopraxy"

right practice

"Scientia"

academic knowledge

"sapientia"

spiritual wisdom

What are "ectypal" and "archetypal" knowledge? (Horton and Kapic)

extypal: God reveals himself through self-revelation. (Scripture and the incarnation)

archetypal: The knowledge only God possesses, he fully knows all things. He has original knowledge.

What is the working definition of theology used in the class?

Theology is the attempt to discover from God's word about the triune God, ourselves, and the world and to apply that word to all areas of our lives so that our thoughts, words, and deeds may glorify God.

Westminister Shorter Catechism

Q] What is the chief end of man?

A] The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Be able to explain whether theology is inerrant (free from error) or immutable (unchanging/unable to be changed) and why.

The theology is neither inerrant immutable because it changes with increase of knowledge or different cultural contexts.

Theology is fallible to scripture

What was the nature of theology before and after the 12th century?

Before: theology was solely about spiritual discipline. It was about wisdom and not book knowledge. Sapientia - spiritual wisdom

Then: MEDIEVAL CHURCH

University of Paris made it a major. Lombard wrote the FOUR SENTENCES, which shifts theology to an academic discipline.

Modern:

Inherited from medieval largely about know scientia but partly about passion

What is the significance of Peter Lombard?

Wrote the 4 books of sentences:

law, medicine, arts, theology (queen of the sciences)

What are the origins of theology as an academic, university discipline?

The medieval church

What are some of the reasons given by Carolyn Custus James why women do not like the dreaded t-word?

we have bought into the idea that theology is for men only

God did not equip women; we are more relational and practical?

Deep knowledge conflicts with wifely submission?

Give several personal examples that demonstrate the inseparability of life and theology.

• wrestling with relationships (idols)

• struggles with anxiety

• wrestling with anger towards God

How does Erickson defend the idea that theology is a "science"?

-Possesses criteria of scientific knowledge

1) object of study

2) method of investigation

3) objectivity

4) body of knowledge

-occupies common ground with other sciences

1) rules of logic

2) communicable

3) methods

4) some subject matter

According to Erickson, what are the different starting points for the study of Christian doctrine?

Natural Theology: the created universe is studied to determine certain truths about God and about human nature.

Tradition: What has been believed is normative.

The Scriptures: The Bible is held to be the defining document or the constitution of the CHristian faith.

Experience: The religious experience of a Christian today is regarded as authoritative.

Explain each of the nine components involved in Erickson's "method of theology"?

1) collection: identify and interpret passages

2) unification: interpret scripture in light of all others

3) analysis of meaning: meaning meant by author.

4) examine historical treatments: look at earlier interpretations

5) identification of doctrine: find underlying message

6) illumination from sources beyond the Bible: refer to general rev.

7) contemporary expression of the doctrine: apply truth in differing time and place and audience.

8) development of a central interpretive motif: make biblical truth functional

9) stratification of the topics: difference of major and minor issues

Exegesis

interpreting scripture by other scripture, commentary, other translations, etc.

Historical theology

Approaches scripture with the theology of a past theologian (i.e. what did Martin think about the devil?) Augustine, Luther, Calvin.

philosophical theology

Theology that relies heavily on theologians with philosophical training. They are looking for clarity, precision, and logical consistency. DANGER: feels dry and abstract.

systematic theology

Uses all other modes of theology.

GOALS:

-how doctrines are related to eachother

-what does our faith mean for today?

What is analytic theology?

Historical Theology

asking what theologians thought about theology

Explain the basic theology of Roman Catholicism, including the significance of the Council of Trent, the First Vatican Council and the Second Vatican Council.

Roman Catholicism is the 16th century Reformation response to the Council of Trent.

The council of trent was the response to Luther and two things came from it (Scripture and tradition are equal sources of authority, and only Church can interpret Bible not individual)

The First Vatican Council was another gathering about papal infallibility; basically stating when the Pope is in official capacity (ex cathedra) his pronouncements are infallible. CONSERVATIVE

Vatican II

People can read bible for themselves

was an effort to make Catholicism more attractive to people by giving more freedom to the ley and de-emphasizing disagreements LIBERALS

Why are so many evangelicals being drawn to Roman Catholicism?

Certainty: tired of disagreements on things like baptism, the lord's supper, etc.

Connection to the past: desire to feel a part of something bigger.

unity: so many denominates but theres only 1 roman catholic church

final authority: scripture is not enough because we all have our own interpretations

What are the main features of Eastern Orthodox theology?

Basically salvation through participation in divine life.

Splits from Roman Catholicism due to the word filioque "and the son" in the Creed. Called the Great Schism.

Western: accurate reflection of Bible

Eastern says that is takes away from the Father!

It is different from protestant:

Looks for authority from church fathers not much scriptures!

Also, participation in Divine Life overrules than justification by grace and faith.

Who were the Cappadocian fathers?

Anyone who wrote anything of significance from the 2-7the century; Athanasius, John Chysostom, Basil, Gregory of Nazianus, Gregory of Nyssa.

What is liberal theology?

Believes that Jesus is a moral teacher and the Bible is a human book. Liberalists desire to be free from dogma and desire freedom to revise Christianity in the light of experience.

Explain the evolution of "fundamentalism" from the early twentieth century to the 1970s

1920's

"The Fundamentals" 12 vol. - written in response to Liberalism and in defense of orthodoxy

J. Gresham Machen left Princeton with some others to form Westminster Theological Seminary. Emphasized infallibility of Scripture

1930's

there was a perception that the liberals were "winning" the war

the fundamentalists decided to break off and start their own denominations, but some stayed in the mainline church

~ GARBC, OPC, Conservative Baptist were all formed during this time, as well as many Bible colleges

What are some examples of fundamentalist churches and institutions today?

Bob Jones, Pensacola College

What is the connection between fundamentalism and evangelical theology?

1940s - 1970s

fundamentalist movement split in two

Anti-intellectual and separatisic

against too much education; the word of God is for the common man

separate from other believers who don't agree with you

even second degree separation from those who agree with you, but yet associate with others who do not

Evangelicals

fundamentalists who wanted to be orthodox but engage with the world biblically

Ex: Billy Graham, Carl Henry

J. Gresham Machen

Professor of NT at Princeton

Left because liberalism and founded Westminister Theological Seminary

Is there any connection between Covenant College and American fundamentalism and if so what is it?

CC was founded by reformed Christians who were a part of the fundamentalist movement

What is confessional Protestant theology? Give examples.

Reformational traditions.

Baptist, pres, Methodists

What does Timothy Tennent mean by the cultural and geographical translatability of the gospel?

The message of the gospel has been preserved and translated since Jesus. Through time the "center for Christianity" has shifted to all over Europe and western so through many cultures and languages the gospel has been preserved.

What is the seismic shift in the center of Christian gravity that Tennet discusses?

Christianity was born in Asia, moved west and north. 1900 it moved south and in 70's east. Today: Timbuktu 67% are outside western world. Currently growth in Africa.

Explain the "pilgrim" and "indigenizing" principles articulated by Andrew Walls (in the

Tennent essay)

PP: the gospel can be put into any culture and be applicable and true.

I: the gospel is linked to aspects of one culture and only applicable in that.

What is Tennet's definition of theological translatability?

The ability of kerygmatic essentials of the Christian faith to be discovered and restated within an infinite number of new global contexts"

What are five trends in the theology of majority world Christians?

These believers accept the authority of Scripture and, by Western standards, hold a theology considered conservative, orthodox, and traditionalist.

Majority World Christians are more likely to be morally and ethically conservative.

These new, younger churches are more likely to be sensitive to the Christian responsibility to address issues related to poverty and social justice.

These younger churches are experienced at articulating the uniqueness of the gospel in the midst of religious pluralism.

Majority World Christians are more likely to grasp the corporate (not just individualistic) dimensions of the teachings of the New Testament.

Be able to defend the doctrine of the Trinity drawing on at least three OT passages and three NT passages

OT

Genesis 1:26-

Gen 2:2 (Elohim - plural noun)

Exodus 33:14

NT

Matt. 3:16-17 // 28:18-20

2 Cor 13:14

Be able to define the Trinity using the language of "essence" and "persons"

God is one in essence and three in person (or hypostases). AN essence is simply something with characteristics-- that is, an entity about which something can be said. A person (or hypostasis) is a distinct bearer of an essence. Applied to the Trinity, it means that the father, the son, and the Spirit are distinct persons, each with his own personal attributes, while each also shares equally the attributes of deity

Michael Horton on the Trinity

Explain the economic/immanent distinction in the Trinity

E: the revealed activity of the triune God in creation and redemption

I: the hidden relationship of trinity

Michael Horton on the Trinity

Explain the ousia/hypostasis distinction in the trinity

Instead of calling the essence and the individual both "essence" (ousia), they coined the term hypostasis for individual persons who bear it. This one in essence and three in hypostasis

What is the significance of homoousios vs homoiousios in the early debates about the Arian view of the Trinity?

homoousios: "of the same essence"

Homoiousios: "of similar essence"

Arius: The Father alone is God, properly speaking, while there was a time when the Son did not exist.

So Jesus was a created and is of similar essence but not God

What is the meaning of perichoresis?

mutual indwelling of the persons in each other

Michael Horton on the Trinity

What was the filioque controversy between the Eastern and Western church?

Filioque: "of the son"

Western: uses it to say the spirit proceeds from Father and the Son

Eastern: heresy

Michael Horton on the Trinity

What is tritheism?

The trinity is "one community of persons," not "one essence in three persons"

Belief in three Gods

modalism

Michael Reeves article —> differences between the Islam view of God and the Trinity?

Allah is one person in one form. God is one in three.

Christianity: eternal love

Islam: eternal dependence of humans

God: already loved

Allah: created humans to love

"Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic faith. Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally. Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God in trinity and the Trinity in unity."

Trinity is a part of the faith // Athanasian Creed:

Give two OT hints of the Trinity.

Genesis 2:2 (Uses the word Elohim which is godS/ deitieS; plural word in reference to one God)

Genesis 1:26 (states let us make men in OUR imagine)

What is vestigial trinitatis?

fingerprints or hints of the Trinity in the Old Testament

Be able to give and explain two biblical citations that point to the oneness of God and two biblical citations that point to the Threeness of God

Deut 6:4 Lord is one

Zechariah 14:9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

John 10:30 I and my father are one

Matthew 28:19

Be able to discuss (at some length) why the Trinity is such a rich and essential doctrine for the Christian faith

Without it we would not know what Love is. Demonstrates how we are to love each other (son)

Who was Sabellius and what did he believe about God?

Sabellius was a 3rd century man who was condemned by the early church for his theory of modalism. Modalism is the idea that there is one God in three modes (most commonly disguised as the water; ice, vapor h20 idea). The problem with this is that is denies the Threeness of God.

Who was Arius and what did he believe about God?

Arius was an early church heretic and had this theory of Arianism. Arianism stated that there was no way God could suffer like we do, but since Jesus did he can't be divine, therefore Jesus was "created". Best demonstrated as the sun, heat, light idea.

What is general revelation?

God is constantly revealing himself in creative order.

What are the 3 modes of general revelation? Be able to give at least 1 biblical citation for each mode.

1) God reveals himself in a general way in His creation. (Psalm 104)

2) History; Basically meaning God is at work in history and he controls the destiny. Gen 50:30

3) The human conscience; We have this innate spiritual sense and moral capacity. We make judgements about right and wrong and have this sense of obligation. Romans 12:12-16

What are the limits of general revelation?

It does not show the Lord as a Savior; rather just a creator. We need special revelation.

What is the traditional view of biblical authority?

The idea that the Bible is, in fact, God's word and is God speaking directly to us which is why it is so important (THESE ARE THE WORDS OF LIFE).

What was the "fundamentalist-modernist controversy" and why was it significant?

The early fundamentalists have the traditional view.

The modernists were highly influenced by scientific discoveries and new information which made them abandon this traditional theory. Fragile, based on science

They greatly emphasized the humanity of the Bible, and that the authority was in Jesus but the Bible itself has no direct authority; but it is somewhat important because it is a witness to Jesus.

Occurred because in the 19th century humanity developed this "6th sense" which is the awareness of ourselves in history.

What are some of the ways that a graduate of CC can end up rejecting the authority of scripture? How would you advise Covenant students today to be wise and careful about sustaining a faithful doctrine of scripture after graduation?

A lot of times people end up rejecting the authority of scripture because it makes it easier to navigate the controversies of the time

For example, if the Bible is not the authoritative Word of God, then it is okay to support things like the LGBTQ because you're being like Jesus (Lover of the oppressed) rather than a "homophobe"

Covenant students should remember that God did not call us to an easy life

What is the significance of these Scripture passages for the doctrine of inspiration?

2 Tim 3:16—"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"

Scripture is directly from God and innerent.

What is the significance of these Scripture passages for the doctrine of inspiration?

1 Pet 1:19-21—"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

God spoke through man and the Holy Spirit guided them

What is the meaning of the Greek word 'theopneustos"?

God breathed

What was B.B. Wafields understanding of the word "inspiration"?

Hated the word inspiration, He thought it was confusing.

"The Holy Spirit supernaturally guided the minds and personalities of the human authors of Scripture such that the final written product was exactly what God intended to say."

The traditional understanding of inspiration:

Why did Dr. Madueme feel the need to offer some additional "nuance" to the traditional, conservative understanding of inspiration?

because inspiration is no longer happening

Know and understand Dr. Madueme's nuanced definition of inspiration: "The Holy Spirit supernaturally guided the minds and personalities of the human authors of Scripture such that the final written product was exactly what God intended to say. And he also providentially superintended the preparation and the production of the final form of Scripture. The whole process was God's supernatural work."

What is verbal-plenary inspiration (Horton)?

Christians have held that God is the ultimate author of Scripture

Verbal: meaning in its words

Plenary: Meaning in its entirety

Scripture is the speech of the prophets and the apostles that is inspired

organic vs. mechanical view of inspiration- what does he mean?

A mechanical view of inspiration assumes that God suspended ordinary human agency, perhaps even dictating his revelation word for word. An organic view recognizes the fully human character of Scripture, evident in the diversity of style, interest, and cultural-linguistic context of each author. In this view, Scripture is from God, yet written through human beings, compiled over many centuries as the history of redemption progressed

Whar is the significance of this quote from Galileo: "The Holy Spirit does not want to teach us how the heavens go, but how to go to heaven"?