© John Stevenson, 2012

Introduction to Theology

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

• Family Life

• Academic Life

• Professional Life

• Spiritual Life

• Ministry Life

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

Group IntroductionsGroup Introductions

• Your name

• Your home church

• Where are you in the TIU process?

• What is your current ministry within the Kingdom?

Dr. John T. StevensonDr. John T. Stevenson

http://JohnStevenson.net

JohnStevenson@Bellsouth.net

Jstevens@tiu.edu

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Summarize the nature of systematic Summarize the nature of systematic

theology. theology.

• Verify the importance of systematic Verify the importance of systematic theology.theology.

• Execute a valid, basic method for doing Execute a valid, basic method for doing theology.theology.

• Review key concepts, issues, questions, Review key concepts, issues, questions, and biblical texts in the doctrines of God, and biblical texts in the doctrines of God, Scripture, Christ, Salvation, Humanity Scripture, Christ, Salvation, Humanity and Sin, the Church, and the Future.and Sin, the Church, and the Future.

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives• Distinguish major theological views of Distinguish major theological views of

major doctrines in systematic theology.major doctrines in systematic theology.

• Assess evidence used to support Assess evidence used to support particular theological positions.particular theological positions.

• Produce personal positions on particular Produce personal positions on particular Christian doctrines.Christian doctrines.

• Evaluate aspects of their life and ministry Evaluate aspects of their life and ministry in light of biblical truth.in light of biblical truth.

Bible Doctrine: Bible Doctrine: Essential Essential

Teachings of the Teachings of the Christian FaithChristian Faith

By By Wayne Wayne GrudemGrudem

The Religious The Religious Life of Life of

Theological Theological StudentsStudents

By By Benjamin Benjamin WarfieldWarfield

Charts of Charts of Christian Christian

Theology and Theology and DoctrineDoctrine

By By Wayne Wayne HouseHouse

Doctrines of the Bible:Doctrines of the Bible:Outlines in Systematic Outlines in Systematic

TheologyTheology

RedeemerPublishing.comRedeemerPublishing.com

• Worksheets

• Applied Learning Paper

• Final Exam

• Participation

Total Points

50 %

30 %

15 %

5 %

100 %

Where are you in theWhere are you in the

Roman Catholic

Eastern Orthodox

Episcopal

Reformed

Arminian

Evangelical

Charismatic

Emergent

Fundamentalist

ChristianityChristianity

Theos + LogosTheos + Logos

• About man’s religious experiences with God.

• About man’s opinion of what God ought to be like.

Theology is the study of God’s revelation of

Himself to man

Can you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the depths of God?Can you discover the limits of the Can you discover the limits of the

Almighty?Almighty?They are high as the heavens, what They are high as the heavens, what

can you do?can you do?Deeper than Sheol, what can you Deeper than Sheol, what can you

know? (Job 11:7-8).know? (Job 11:7-8).

Man

Knowledge Gap

Problems in TheologyProblems in Theology

• The Finite versus the InfiniteThe Finite versus the Infinite

• Holy versus SinfulHoly versus Sinful

• Reality versus DescriptionReality versus Description

Which view more accurately depicts Which view more accurately depicts the Atlantic Ocean?the Atlantic Ocean?

Refrigerator Refrigerator DrawingsDrawings

NaturalNaturalTheologyTheology

ExegeticalExegeticalTheologyTheology

SystematicSystematicTheologyTheology

HistoricalHistoricalTheologyTheology

PracticalPracticalTheologyTheology

BiblicalBiblicalTheologyTheology

Our little systems have their day,Our little systems have their day,They have their day and cease to be.They have their day and cease to be.They are but broken lights of Thee,They are but broken lights of Thee,

And Thou, O Lord, are more than theyAnd Thou, O Lord, are more than they..

ConeConeOfOf

UncertaintyUncertainty

TheologyTheology

The BibleThe BibleAccurate & infallibleAccurate & infallible

Acts 17:10-12Acts 17:10-12The brethren immediately sent Paul

and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

Discuss the following objections Discuss the following objections and report to classand report to class

• Systematic theology is man-made, and it Systematic theology is man-made, and it illegitimately squeezes God into a logical illegitimately squeezes God into a logical box. God is beyond human logic.box. God is beyond human logic.

• Systematic theology reflects western Systematic theology reflects western thinking; it is not helpful for the global thinking; it is not helpful for the global church.church.

• Systematic theology is only for Systematic theology is only for academics, not for regular Christians.academics, not for regular Christians.

Dangers in Studying TheologyDangers in Studying Theology

• DivisionDivision

• PridePride

• Dependence upon KnowledgeDependence upon Knowledge

• Accepting Man’s False Accepting Man’s False TeachingsTeachings