1、Introduction to Theology,Matthew 22:37,“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” Jesus Christ,Outline for the class,Prolegomena: Session 1-6 Bibliology: Session 7-10,Outline for Prolegomena,Session 1: Introduction/What is Theology? (1) Session
2、 2: What Is Theology? (2) Session 3: Epistemology (1) Session 4: Epistemology (2) Session 5: Epistemology (3) Session 6: Traditions of Christian Theology Session 7: Sources of Theology,Outline for Bibliology,Session 8: Old Testament Transmission and Canonization Session 9: New Testament Transmission
3、 and Canonization Session 10: Inspiration and Inerrancy,Prolegomena,“First Words”,Sessions 1 & 2,What is Theology?,Outline for Sessions 1 & 2,What Is Theology? Who Is a Theologian? Categories of Theology,What Is Theology?,What Is Theology?Write a one or two sentence of definition theology:,What Is T
4、heology?,“The study or science of God.” Millard Erickson,“The Science of God and of the relations between God and the universe.” A. H. Strong,“Rational discussion respecting the deity.” Augustine,“Thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way.” Charles Ryrie,What Is Theology?,“The sci
5、ence of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice; divinity; (as more commonly understood) the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures, the systematic ex
6、hibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life.” Websters Dictionary,Who Is a Theologian?,Anyone who has asked the ultimate questions of life: Why am I here? What is life? What happens after death? What is the difference between right and wrong? Why is there something instead of
7、 nothing?,Who Is a Theologian?,The question is not, “Who is a theologian?” but “What kind of theologian am I going to be?” Are you going to be a good theologian or a bad theologian? This is a more accurate question because, as one writer put it, “not all theologies are equal.” Source unknown,Who is
8、a Theologian?,“We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization. . . We must have passionindeed hearts on fire for the things of God. But that passion must resist with intensity the anti-intellectual spirit of the world.” R. C. Sproul,Who Is a Theologia
9、n?,There are basically five arenas in which we can do theology: Folk Theology Lay Theology Ministerial Theology Professional Theology Academic Theology,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk,Lay,Ministerial,Professional,Academic,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk,Lay,Ministerial,Professional,Academic,Describe this chart
10、in relation to practicing medicine,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk,Lay,Ministerial,Professional,Academic,Now describe this chart in relation to practicing theology,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk Theology Nave Traditionalistic Dogmatic Uninformed and unreflective What are some examples?,Who Is a Theologian?,Fol
11、k theology examples: Views of Heaven (clouds, harps) Ghosts Angels wings Good works salvation All people are good at heart,Who Is a Theologian?,Peters gate Devils pitchfork “God helps those who help themselves” Demon possession (Hitler, Stalin, etc.) Name-it-claim-it, health and wealth gospel,Who Is
12、 a Theologian?,Lay Theology More reflective upon learned theological concepts Likely to formulate a doctrine of essentiality More critical of unfounded traditions More willing to use study tools,Who Is a Theologian?,Ministerial Theology Reflection is more sophisticated Educated in theological method
13、ology Uses tools and resources at a more effective level Working knowledge of the languages Ability to openly critique personal theology against competing models Devotes more time to reflection,Who Is a Theologian?,Professional Theology Didactically purposed toward lay and pastoral theologians Works
14、 with pastoral and lay theologians Conducts practical original research Critically evaluates common theological trends and folk theology Often accused of quenching the Spirit,Who Is a Theologian?,Academic Theology Overly speculative Overly critical Dialogue can come only with other theologians Ivory
15、 Tower theologians Unspiritual theology Follows the academic status quo,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk,Lay,Ministerial,Professional,Academic,Who Is a Theologian?,Folk,Lay,Ministerial,Professional,Academic,Acceptable range,Why Study Theology?,Because you are a theologian!,Why Study Theology?,“Theology is
16、for everyone. Indeed, everyone needs to be a theologian. In reality, everyone is a theologianof one sort or another.And therein lies the problem. There is nothing wrong with being an amateur theologian or a professional theologian, but there is everything wrong with being an ignorant or sloppy theol
17、ogian.” Charles Ryrie,Why Study Theology?,How do we “do” theology everyday? In other words, how does our theology influence our daily routine?,Why Study Theology?,When we think about God. When we share the Gospel. When we interpret the Bible. When we get sick. When we defend the faith. When we plan
18、for the future. When we choose schooling for our children.,Why Study Theology?,When we vote. When we attempt to deal with sin in our lives. When we decide on who we marry.,What Is Theology?,“Credo ut intelligam” Anselm of Canterbury,Categories of Theology,Systematic Biblical Historical Creedal/Dogma
19、tic Apologetic Philosophical,Categories of Theology,Systematic Theology Prolegomena: Literally means “to say beforehand.” Deals with the foundational issues of theology such as theological methodology, sources, and reasons for the study of theology.,Categories of Theology,Bibliology: The study of th
20、e nature, transmission, canonization, and purpose of Scripture. Theology Proper: The study of Gods nature. Sometimes called “Trinitarianism.”,Categories of Theology,Christology: The study of the person and work of Christ. Pneumatology: The study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.,Categories
21、of Theology,Anthropology:The study of the purpose and nature of humanity both in its pre-fall and post-fall state. Harmartiology: The study of the nature, origin, and effects of sin on all creation. Angelology: The study of the nature and works of demons and angels.,Categories of Theology,Soteriolog
22、y: The study of salvation. Ecclesiology: The study of the nature of the Church. Eschatology: The study of the last things.,Categories of Theology,Biblical Restricts its study to the Scripture.Examines the parts of Scripture.Compiles information on a doctrine from a specific writer (e.g., John or Pau
23、l) or a particular era (e.g., Abrahamic, Mosaic, prophetic). Seeks to understand the process as well as the result the product.,Systematic Seeks truth from Scripture and from any source outside the Bible. Examines the whole of Scripture. Compiles information on a doctrine by correlating all the Scri
24、ptures.Seeks to understand the result the product.,Relationship of Categories,Historical interpretation Grammatical interpretation Contextual interpretation Literary Interpretation,Exegetical Statement “What did it mean then?”,Theological Statement “What is the timeless truth taught?”,Extract timele
25、ss principles,Homiletical Statement “How does it apply to us?”,Preach it!,Sessions 35,Epistemology,Epistemology,What is Epistemology?,“The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.” Websters Dictionary,“The branch of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge. It is an
26、inquiry into the nature and source of knowledge, the bounds of knowledge, and the justification of claims to knowledge.” Feinberg,Epistemology,“Today evangelical Christians stand at a greater distance from those with whom we communicate than we did just 20 years ago. At that time, even those who rej
27、ected Christianity were prepared to discuss whether the evidence for Christianitys truth was adequate. Today, this is much less frequently the case. Before we can broach the question of whether the Christian gospel is true, we have to establish that such a thing as truth exists.”,A Conversation Betw
28、een Protagoras and Socrates (4th Century B.C.),Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion. Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion? Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me. Truth is subjective. Socrates: Do
29、 you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?,A Conversation Between Protagoras and Socrates (4th Century B.C.),Protagoras: Indeed I do. Socrates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error. Since this is m
30、y opinion, then you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy. Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.,Epistemology,Self-defeating statements:“I cannot speak a word in English.”“My wife has never been married.”“We cannot know anything about God.”“There is no such thing as truth.”“
31、Truth cannot be known.”,Epistemology,A short history of western civilization:Three periods: Premodern (400-1600 A.D.) Modern (1600-1900 A.D.) Postmodern (1960-present),Epistemology,Premodern,Modern,Postmodern,Transition 1960-,Epistemology,Modern,Postmodern,Truth and Tolerance,“In Postmodernism, ther
32、e is no objective, universal truth; there is only the perspective of the group. . . . In postmodernism, all viewpoints, all lifestyles, all beliefs and behaviors are regarded as equally valid. . . . Tolerance has become so important that no exception is tolerated.” Charles Colson,Modernist Objection
33、s to Christianity,What about all the contradictions? God is just a crutch. Religion was invented by man. Jesus was just a man. The Bible we have today is not the same as when it was written two thousand years ago. I dont believe in what I cant see. Evolution has proven Christianity to be wrong.,Mode
34、rnist Objections to Christianity,The Bible is a myth full of fairy tales. How did Noah get all of the animals on the Ark? There are no such thing as miracles. Do you really believe in the story of Adam and Eve?,Postmodernist Objections to Christianity,If God exists why is there evil? The inquisition
35、 and the Crusades show that Christianity is oppressive. Christianity is a way to God but not the only way. Christianity is arrogant and exclusive. How do you know that your Bible is better than other religious writings? Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?,Postmodernist Objections
36、 to Christianity,What about those who have never heard? The church is full of hypocrites. Why would God send anyone to Hell? The God of the OT is cruel, partial, and unjust.,Postmodernist Objections to Christianity,Modern View of Truth,Correspondence view of truth: (1) Truth is an objective reality
37、that exists whether someone believes it or not, (2) and (to the modernist) that objective reality has no definite basis.,Modern View of Truth,True statements are that which correspond to that objective reality. False statements are those that do not correspond to that objective reality.,Modern View
38、of Truth,Law of non-contradiction does applyA -A at the same time and in the same relationship.,Modern View of Truth,What is an example?Key Motto: Man can and will know all truth.,Postmodern View of Truth,Relativism: what is right/wrong, true/false is determined by some group. Subjectivism: what is
39、right/wrong, true/false is determined by each individual. Pragmatism: what is right/wrong, true/false is determined by what works.,Postmodern View of Truth,What is an example?Law of non-contradiction does not apply A = -A at the same time and in the same relationship. No objective truthKey Motto: Th
40、e truth cannot be known.,Postmodern View of Truth,Religious Spin on Postmodern Epistemology Universalism: All will make it to Heaven. Pluralism: Many ways to God that are equally valid. Syncretism: Assimilation of differing beliefs and practices. Inclusivism: Salvation is only through Christ, but Ch
41、rist may be revealed in other religions.,Vatican II,1962-1965“But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the creator. In the first place among these there are the Moslems, whom professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful god, who on the last d
42、ay will judge mankind. Those also can attain salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the gospel of Christ or his church, yet sincerely seek god and, moved by grace, strive by their deeds to do his will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.”,Christian View of Trut
43、h,What is the Christian view of truth?Correspondence view of truth: (1) Truth is an objective reality that exists whether someone believes it or not, (2) and that objective reality has God alone as its objective basis.,Christian View of Truth,The law of non-contradiction is a foundational necessity
44、to all truth. God cannot even violate this principle since it is a logical impossibility.,Christian View of Truth,Key Motto: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law” (Deut. 29:29).,Chri
45、stian View of Truth,Principles There are truths that are not revealed. There are truths that we may not ever know or understand. There are truths that are revealed.,Christian View of Truth,They are binding to all people. They are binding in all places. They are binding for all time. They have author
46、ity over our beliefs and practice.,Session 6,Traditions in Christian Theology,Traditions in Theology,Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Protestant,Traditions in Theology,100 AD,1200,1500,500,Formulation,Protestant View of Ecclesiastical History,Traditions in Theology,“Justification is the hinge upon wh
47、ich true Christianity stands” John Calvin,“Christianity stands of falls upon the doctrine of justification.” Martin Luther,100 AD,1200,1500,500,Formulation,Roman Catholic View of Ecclesiastical History,Invasion of Islam 612,Filioque,Fight for Supremecy,Invasion of Islam 1453,Russian Orthodoxy become
48、s primary Orthodox church,100 AD,1200,1500,500,Formulation,Eastern Orthodox View of Ecclesiastical History,Traditions in Theology,Why do you think that the Protestant Reformers believed that the Gospel was the main essential which determines the true church? Do you think that the Gospel is preserved
49、 in the Protestant church today? Many are pushing for a “modern reformation.” Do you think that the Church is in need of another major reform? Why or why not?,Traditions in Theology,Sub-traditions: Reformed Arminian Liberal Fundamental Charismatic Evangelical Postmodernist,1500,1700,1900,Brief History of the Protestant Movement,2000,Session 7,Sources of Theology,Sources of Theology,John Wesleys Quadrilateral,Tradition,Scripture,Reason,Experience,Sources of Theology,Tradition Reason Experience General Revelation Emotions Special Revelation (Scripture),
