Post on 11-Jan-2016
THEOLOGY 101
Session One: Theology and Scripture
Thinking about God
What is theology?
A basic definition Theos + logos
Reasoning about God
More generally, reasoning about the entire body of beliefs
The study of “the faith”
Theology Defined
Theology: “the quest for the ultimate truth about God, about ourselves and about the world we live in.” (Christian Doctrine, S. Guthrie, John Knox Press, revised edition, 1994, p.1)
Why Do Theology?
Philippians 3:8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Hebrews 5:13-14For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever thought of yourself as a theologian? Why or why not?
2. Describe, if you are able, any distinctive aspects of Reformed theology.
3. Describe a positive and a negative experience of trying to tell someone else about your beliefs. What made these two experiences different?
Theology Helps Us Distinguish Between Essential and Non-Essential Beliefs
“For the Christian, beliefs matter, but not all beliefs matter equally.”
–Roger OlsenMosaic of Christian Beliefs (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002), 33
“For the Christian, beliefs matter, but not all beliefs matter equally.”
–Roger OlsenMosaic of Christian Beliefs (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2002), 33
What beliefs are essential and which ones are non-essential?
1. There is a God?2. That Christ rose from the grave?3. That God loves you?4. That a Presbyterian form of church government is implied in the New
Testament?5. That Christ is coming back?6. That the Bible does not have any errors? 7. That Adam and Eve were real people?8. That God created the earth in seven literal days?9. That infant baptism is the most biblical mode of baptism?10. That Christ died for you?11. That the Apocrypha (15 books in the Roman Catholic Bible) should not be
included in Scripture?12. That miracles happen today?13. That the gift of tongues ceased in the first century?14. Others?
What is Systematic Theology?
Systematic Theology is the discipline of organizing or “systematizing” theological thought. Systematic theology should be ultimately biblical in nature but also taking into account the history of biblical and theological interpretation.
Approaches to Theology
Biblical Theology, “What does the Bible teach about… ?”Systematic Theology, “What do we know about this topic as part of the “whole” biblical knowledge… ?”Historical Theology, “What has the Church believed about… ?”Practical Theology, “How does the Church live
its belief about… ?” Pastoral Care/Counseling Christian Education Homiletics/Liturgics Evangelism/Missions Church Administration
Five Key Phrases of Reformation Theology
Sola Scriptura: Scripture aloneSola Fide: By faith aloneSola Gratia: By grace alone Solus Christus: Christ aloneSoli Deo gloria: Glory to God alone
Thinking about Scripture
What do you believe about the Bible?
1. The Bible is the most treasured book of all.2. The Bible is a human book filled with contradictions and errors.3. We should be able to add more books to the Bible.4. It is important to understand the historical context of any text before
we apply it to today.5. The answer to every question and problem can be found in the Bible.6. We cannot understand the New Testament without understanding the
Old Testament.7. The Bible is too complicated.8. The Bible is best understood as a library of sacred books.9. It is important to read through the entire Bible at least once a year.10. The church should have the final word on how a text should be
understood.11. Other?
Approaching the Bible
We begin with the God of the Bible Who has made himself known to us This is taken as an axiom and presupposition by faith
We trust it as God’s Revelation “Scriptural authority comes from God. In its total extent
and in all its parts Scripture is the inspired, and thus also the infallible and authoritative Word of God. What Paul says, God says.” Spykman, Reformational Theology, 123
Reason is subordinated to Scripture Experience is validated by Scripture We begin with Scripture rather than our own assumptions
or biases
Revelation
General RevelationGod is revealed through the created order (nature)
Special Revelation God is revealed through supernatural intervention in history by means of (1) miraculous events, (2) spoken and written words, and (3) visible manifestations.
General Revelation
God Reveals himself in nature Psalm 8 Psalm 19 Romans 1:18-20,
2:14-15
General Revelation
There is a limited spiritual value to General Revelation The unbeliever suppresses revelation in nature, so the
practical import is that it has no value. “But although the Lord represents both himself and his
everlasting Kingdom in the mirror of his works with very great clarity, such is our stupidity that we grow increasingly dull toward so manifest testimonies, and they flow away without profit.” Calvin, ICR, I,v,11
Believers who have their eyes opened can see God in his works.
“the invisible divinity is made manifest in such spectacles, but [that] we have not the eyes to see this unless they be illumined by the inner revelation of God through faith.” Calvin, ICR, I,v,14
Special Revelation
Special Revelation is: The self-revelation of God Redemptive revelation The history of a Covenant
People The revelation of God in
word and deed
Tradition Reason Experience EmotionsGeneral Revelation
ObjectiveObjective SubjectiveSubjective
Acts 17:11 Acts 17:11 These Jews were more open-minded than those in
Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the Scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.
Revelation: Objective and Subjective Knowledge
Proposed Stage of Truth
ScriptureScripture
TraditionTradition
ExperienceExperience
General RevelationGeneral Revelation
ReasonReason
EmotionsEmotions
Back
Front
Special Revelation and Inspiration
“Inspiration is, therefore, usually defined as a supernatural influence exerted on the sacred writers by the Spirit of God, by virtue of which their writings are given divine trustworthiness.” Warfield, “Inspiration” in R&I, 77-8.
Sufficiency of Scripture
Belgic Confession, Article 7 - The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to be the Only Rule of Faith
“We believe that those Holy Scriptures fully contain the will of God, and that whatsoever man ought to believe unto salvation is sufficiently taught therein.”
2 Timothy 3:15, “…the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Discussion Questions
1. Now that we have reviewed the course, what are you thinking about the field of theology?
2. If you had to name one or two things you wished you understood better when it comes to God and how God interacts with this world, what would it/they be?
3. What reflections about the relationship of theology or Scripture to your life would you like to share with the group?
Looking Ahead
Next Session: God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Nature, names, and attributes of God Trinity Person, work, and offices of Christ Work of the Holy Spirit