Theological Foundations

TH2103Bethany University Las VegasSteve Thomason

Introduction to Course

Review Syllabus

What do you think of when you hear the word THEOLOGY?

What are some big questions that cause controversy in the church?

Do you feel equipped to develop adequate responses to these questions?

That is the purpose of Theology.

The Goal of this Course

Is Not INDOCTRINATION Indoctrination is the process of telling you

WHAT TO BELIEVE and proving why my belief is right and everyone else is wrong.

Is Education in Theological MethodThe purpose of this course is to teach you

HOW TO THINK theologically so that you can process all questions and new situations through a coherent grid throughout your life and ministry.

We all come from a PLACE

What is Theology?

This section of the lecture is an

overview of this book. Highly

recommended reading for the

beginning theologian

(that’s you).

FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING

Christian Theology is reflecting

on and articulating the beliefs

about God and the world that

Christians share as followers of

Jesus Christ so that God can be

glorified in all Christians are

and do.

Defining Systematic Theology

No Christian theology can claim to speak the last word about God and God’s relation to

human beings and the world. Every theology is at best a limited, fallible, provisional attempt to speak of the living God of scripture whose truth, justice, and compassion are beyond the

very highest and best we can imagine.Guthrie p. xiii

What is Systematic Theology?

Theological Studies

Biblical Studies Historical Studies

Doctrinal Studies

Practical Studies

Biblical Theology Historical Theology Systematic Theology Philosophical Theology

•Scripture•God•Sin•Jesus Christ•Salvation•Church•Last Things

Everyone is a Theologian

The Theology Continuum

How Do We DO Theology?

Two TasksCritical TaskConstructive Task

Critical Task

ogma octrine pinion

Why do I believe what I believe?

Constructive Task

On Building Models…

The Atom

Has the Atom ever changed?

Constructive Task

A good model should:handle scripture accuratelyBe in tune with Christian heritagemake sense to the current culture

•Bible Study

•Heritage

•Culture

Biblical Data

“What does the Bible Say?”Must have a strong handle on

hermeneutics.No proof texting. Must understand “the

full counsel of scripture.”We will discover that our “Bibliology” or

Doctrine of Scripture impacts this source. Which comes first…

Heritage

“What has the church said about this throughout history?”

Must understand the context of each eraAncient Biblical EraPre-Medieval Biblical EraMedieval Church EraModern Church EraPost-Modern Church Era

Historical Eras

Ancient Worldview

Medieval Worldview

Modern Worldview

Post-Modern Worldview

Post-FoundationalismPost-RationalismGlobalismPluralismNew Spirituality

Contemporary Culture

“What do the disciplines of knowledge in my contemporary culture contribute to my understanding of the question?”Sociology, Psychology, Archaeology,

Physics, Political Science, etc.“How can I communicate this theology

clearly to my contemporary culture?”

Systematic Theology is…

doctrinalbiblical(w)holisticcoherentcontemporary

Please Discuss the Following Questions

1) What should your attitude be toward someone whose theological beliefs are different from yours?

2) Do you accede to St. Anselm’s definition of theology, namely, faith-seeking-understanding (fides quaerens intellectum)?

How Can We Know God?

General Revelation

BasicWorldviews

PAN

THEISM

THEISM

THEISM

PANEN DEISM

THEISM

A

X

PAN

THEISM

THEISM

PANEN

THEISM

DEISM

THEISM

A

X

TRANSCENDENCE(God is out there)

IMMANENCE(God is in here)

Limitations to “God Talk”

“God” is infinite and eternal, we are finite and mortal.

Recognize the limitations of language itself. All communication must be analogical;

recognizing the inability to have direct correlation.

All communication must be anthropomorphic and anthropocentric.

The best communication tends to be apophatic.

Natural Theology Certain Assumptions

There is an objective, valid, and rational general revelation

There is integrity in the person perceiving and learning from creation (sin has not disabled the perceiver)

The congruity of the perceiver’s mind and the order of the universe (made from the same stuff)

Natural Theology

“The core of natural theology is the idea that it is possible, without a prior commitment of faith to the beliefs of Christianity, and without relying upon any special authority, such as an institution (the church) or a document (the Bible), to come to a genuine knowledge of God on the basis of reason alone. Reason here refers to man’s capacity to discover, understand, interpret, and evaluate the truth.” (Erickson p.157)

4 Arguments from Nature

Teleological - Things seem to be moving to an end.

Cosmological - Intelligent Design...too complex to "just happen"

Anthropological - Religion is EVERYWHERE...a God shaped void

Moral - without a "prime reality" there can be no basis for "right and wrong"

Teleological Argument

Teleological comes from the Greek word telos, meaning “end.” The teleological argument may be defined thus: “Order and useful arrangement in a system imply intelligence and purpose in the organizing cause. The universe is characterized by order and useful arrangement; therefore, the universe has an intelligent and free cause.” The world everywhere evidences intelligence, purpose, and harmony; there must be a master architect behind all this evidence.

Cosmological Argument

The term cosmological comes from the Greek word cosmos, meaning “world.” This argument is based on the fact that a cosmos, or world, exists. Because something cannot come from nothing, there must be an original cause that is the reason for the world’s existence. There cannot be an infinite regress of cause and effect. There must be an “uncaused cause”. The cosmological argument presumes that every effect must have a cause.

Anthropological Argument

Pervasiveness of Religion in human society

Moral Argument

Inherent sense of morality in humanity Immanuel Kant

Immortality and undying soulComing judgmentGod who establishes and supports valuesRewards for good and evil

Examination of Relevant Passages

Psalm 19Romans 1 and 2Acts 14:15-17

Implications of General RevelationMillard Erickson

All persons have a knowledge of God There is a possibility of some knowledge of

divine truth outside the special revelation. General revelation serves to explain the

worldwide phenomenon of religion and religions. There is harmony between creation and the

gospel. Truth arrived at apart from special revelation is

still God’s truth.

Take a Break!

Please Discuss the Following

Can a person be ‘saved’ or ‘find Jesus Christ’ devoid of the Christian Bible or any

Christian church involvement?

How Can We Know God?

Special Revelation

History of the WORD OF GOD

Inspiration (God’s Words through man’s hand)

+ Inerrancy(Bible contains no errors)

______________

AUTHORITY

Views of Inspiration

Natural – the same way we would call a gifted musician “inspired”. A high degree of insight.

Elevation – the Holy Spirit heightened the natural powers of the authors, but did not communicate specific truth.

Thought – the person writing will give expression to the divinely directed thoughts in a way that is uniquely characteristic of him.

Verbal, plenary – The work of the Holy Spirit is so intense that each word is the exact word which God wants used at that point to express the message.

Dictation – God dictated to the authors, removing their own personality from the writing.GOD

MAN

What Does Inerrant Mean?

Absolute – True in every detail. Discrepancies must be explained.

Full – In religious/theological/spiritual topics it is absolute. In scientific and historical it is communicated in “popular” terms.

Limited – The authors were limited by their culture's understanding of science and nature.

Innerrancy of Purpose – Its purpose is to bring people to faith, not communicate truths.

Where is Our Authority?

Word Centered Spirit Centered

• Bible is only authoritative Word from God

• The Spirit is the only authoritative Word from God.

• Danger: No life in the Spirit

• The work of the Spirit’s revelation closed at the end of the New Testament

• Danger: No discerning of Spirits – possible heretical influence

• The work of the Spirit’s revelation is as real today as it was in the New Testament

TRUTH

Please Discuss the Following

Out of the five theories, which theory of inspiration do you prefer?

How does the Bible differ from other human masterpieces?

Journal Entries

End of Week 1