Full Guide - Theology Survey I Study Guide
TheologyMattersPart OneWhat Christians Believeand Why It MattersiL e c t u r e2005s Gordon-Conwellb y D r Theological. D a Seminaryvid Wells
Theology Matters Part OneAbout the Ockenga Institute and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary:Established in 1985, the Ockenga Institute exists to make the rich educational resources of GordonConwell Theological Seminary available to Christian leaders throughout the world. Through our variouscenters and programs, we serve as the research and continuing education arm of the school, seekingto build Christian leaders for the Church of Jesus Christ, present and future.Contact us:Dimensions of the FaithOckenga Institute of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary130 Essex StreetSouth Hamilton, MA 01982tel: 1-800-294-2774email: ockenga@gcts.eduweb: pyright:Copyright 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryAll rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permissionfrom Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Printed in the USA.Acknowledgements:Curriculum Design and Developer : David HornProject Administrator : Dana OlsonProject Editor : Karen SteinkrausNotebook Writer and Designer : Dénes HouseCopy Editor: Robin DavisAudio Editors : Kevin Yiu and Tae-Jin KimGraphic Design : Ashli NewmanAbout the author:Dr. David Wells is the Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and SystematicTheology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. He wasborn in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and became a Christian while studyingat the University of Cape Town. He began teaching at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1969and joined the faculty of Gordon-Conwell in 1979. He has authored or edited more than sixteenbooks and has served as a member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. He is anordained Congregational minister.Dr. Wells and his wife, Jane, live on Whipple Road in South Hamilton, Massachusetts.ii 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
What Christians Believe and Why It MattersPreface:The Dimensions of the Faith series is developed with the firm conviction that a life of faith andobedience in Jesus Christ is based upon a working knowledge of Godʼs word. You cannotobey what you do not know.For this reason, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has developed the Dimensions of theFaith series for any Christian who desires foundational knowledge in the areas of Old and NewTestament, Biblical Interpretation, Church History, Theology, and Missions. The goals of eachcourse are the following:1. To paint the big picture of what you are learning;2. To provide you with the basic content;3. To introduce you to key words that will enlarge your capacity for knowing;4. To guide you to understand how greater knowledge of Godʼs word can beapplied naturallyto everyday life and service;5. To direct you to valuable resources as Godʼs word whets your appetite forfurther study.The Dimensions of the Faith series is designed to be used in a variety of settings. You maywish to use the materials as a resource for your own spiritual growth and enrichment. You mayalso wish to study the materials as a group. The series may be used as a leadership tool forchurches or as a training tool on the mission field. We encourage those of you who are pastorsto use the series with your ruling boards or your volunteer teaching staffs. A certificate isavailable for those who complete all six subject areas of the Dimensions of the Faith series.In addition to the notebook and tape/CD version you currently own, you may listen to thelectures on the Gordon-Conwell website: he variety of formats will allow greater flexibility in the use of this material.For more information about the Dimensions of the Faith series, please contact us by postalmail at the Ockenga Institute, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton,Massachusetts 01982, or email us at ockenga@gcts.edu.We pray that God will use this series as a powerful tool for expanding your knowledge of Godand Godʼs word so that you may be able to share the good news throughout the world.iii 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
About the Study and Workbook Guide:The following study guide is designed as a scratch notepad to be used as you listen to theaccompanying taped lectures. You may have noticed that we have used the drawings ofLeonardo Da Vinci as a motif for our materials. Just as Da Vinci sketched out his ideas in theprocess of creating a final painting, so we invite you to sketch out your own thoughts in thenotebook while you listen to the lectures. Each chapter includes valuable information andquestions for you to ponder while you listen. Use the designated blank spaces and margins asyour opportunity to interact with what you are learning.To guide you through the materials, we have provided you with a series of icons. We do sounder the firm conviction that a fuller knowledge of God and his word requires expanding yourhorizons in all directions.Breadth of Biblical Knowledge: Grasp the big picture, from A to Z.SCOPEWidth of Biblical Knowledge: Expand your understanding by enlarging yourvocabulary.DEFINITIONHeight of Biblical Knowledge: Grow in your knowledge of the basic content ofScripture, theology, church history, and culture.BASIC CONTENTLength of Biblical Knowledge: Stretch yourself to obedience and service throughcorrect understanding.APPLICATION FOR SERVICEDepth of Biblical Knowledge: Use these resources to grow deeper.QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDYiv 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Table of Contents1. Theology for Everyone12. The God Who Speaks43. Through Scripture, His Voice Is Heard74. The Nature and Use of Scripture115. Is God Male or Female?156. The Mystery of the Trinity197. Godʼs Holy-Love238. Omni, Omni, Omni!279. Providence: Godʼs Governing Hand3010. Evil in the World3311. Humanity: Pristine, Corrupted, Remade3712. NOT the Way Itʼs Supposed to Be40v 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
vi 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Theology Matters, Part One:Lecture OneHow many angels can dance on the head of a pin? How manysquare feet will your heavenly mansion be? Did Godʼs plan to sendJesus to save the world precede human sin, or was it a responseto human sin? Sometimes the questions professional theologiansask seem far removed from the ordinary concerns men and womenface in todayʼs world. But the Biblical authors seemed to think thattheology was a task every Christian could and should engage in.If this is so, perhaps weʼve been misdefining theology lately. If thisis so, perhaps even theologians have lost sight of what theologyreally is. In this lecture, Dr. Wells argues passionately for arecovery of theology for the good of the church, offering a model oftheology that could help reconnect the people of God with the truthof God in a vital and world-changing way.Notestheology—the disciplined pursuit of the knowledge of GodNote: Some definitions in this book were adapted from the Pocket Dictionary ofTheological Terms Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1999.How does Dr. Wells define theology?Why is theology important?1 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary“As human beings madein God’s image, we mustthink. And as those whohave been redeemedby Christ, we shouldbe thinking about God,about Christ, about thetruths of Scripture.”
Theology Matters, Part OneWhat does Dr. Wells mean by “Confession”?NotesWhy does Dr. Wells say that Reflection should bea mark of all of the people of God?CONFESSIONWhat “terrible trinity” works to prevent successfulCultivation?REFLECTIONCULTIVATIONDr. Wells’s Triangle DiagramComing into this lecture, what was your perspective on theologyʼsrelevance to modern life?“Thinking about Goddoesn’t change God, andit doesn’t change theworld—but it does changeus.”Do you struggle most with Confession, Reflection, or Cultivation?Why do you think that is?What doctrines or practices “mark” you as a believer?2 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Theology for EveryoneHow has “worldliness” affected your view of the normality of sin andthe strangeness of righteousness?What are the core questions that the Church has wrestled withthroughout the millennia?Roger E. Olson, The Mosaic of Christian Beliefs: TwentyCenturies of Unity & Diversity. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsityPress, 2002.Mark A. Noll, Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History ofChristianity. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2000.How has the worldly mindset infected the Church in today’s world?NotesOf AmericansSurveyed:Meet description of“born again”—38%Believe the centraldoctrines ofChristianity—7%source:http://www.barna.orgOs Guinness, Fit Bodies, Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don’tThink and What to Do About It. Grand Rapids: Baker Books,1994.Os Guinness, Time for Truth: Living Free in a World of Lies,Hype, and Spin. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002.3 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary“Worldliness iseverything in the worldaround us that makessin look normal and thatmakes righteousnesslook strange.”
Theology Matters, Part One: Lecture TwoNotes“The religion of theBible is the religionthat focuses in and tellsus about how God hasactively sought us. It isnot the story about howwe have sought him.”“All religions are just the record of peopleʼs attempts to findGod.” How many times has someone said that to you? But inChristianity, we find the exact opposite. In Christianity, we havea God who cannot be discovered by human effort—God isabove anything we could think or imagine. But how can therebe theology—knowledge of God—if God cannot be found? TheChristian answer is that our God speaks. Our God speaks throughthe magnificence of the world around us, through our innerconscience, through the Scriptures, and preeminently through hisSon. Our God is a God of self-revelation, and that makes all thedifference.natural revelation—knowledge of God found in the external worldand in human naturesupernatural revelation—knowledge of God given directly andmiraculously by God (e.g. through Jesus and the Scriptures)general revelation—knowledge of God accessible to all humanbeingsspecial revelation—knowledge of God given to a particular peopleat a particular place in a particular timesaving revelation—knowledge of God pointing towards God’s wayof salvation, Jesus Christthe Fall—the events related in Genesis chapter 3 and theiraftermath, specifically the rebellion of Adam and Eve against God,which led to humanity’s enslavement to sinopen theism—a theological movement that states that humanfreedom is impossible unless God does not know the future withcertainty. Thus, the future is “open” to God as well as to humanity.4 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
The God Who SpeaksNotesHow does Dr. Wells define revelation?In this lecture,Dr. Wells quotes:What are the two kinds of revelation Christian theology recognizes?Francis Thompson“The Hound of Heaven”,(poem, lines 1-5)Albert CamusThe Fall (novel)How has the Fall affected human access to revelation?How did Paul use natural revelation with the Athenians? Why didhe follow this approach?Dr. Wells states that the light shed by natural revelation beginsto demand changes in the way we think about life. How hasthe character of God, as revealed in creation and in humanity,demanded change of you?How has the portrait of God as the sovereign ruler of a moraluniverse affected you? Has it given you hope? encouragement?terror? peace?5 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryWilliam ShakespeareMacbeth (play)Omar Khayyam“The Moving FingerWrites; and, HavingWrit” (poem, entire)“The Moving Finger writes;and, having writ, / Moveson: nor all your Piety norWit / Shall lure it back tocancel half a Line / Nor allyour Tears wash out a Wordof it.” Omar Khayyam
Theology Matters Part OneNotesThink of a person with whom you would like to share Christ. Howmight natural revelation provide a foundation for conversationsabout God with that person?What is the relationship between the flourishing of natural sciencesand the ideas in the Protestant Reformation?“What Paul does is todeconstruct the worldview of these peoplebefore presenting JesusChrist and the gospel.”Nancy R. Pearcey and Charles B. Thaxton, The Soul ofScience: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy. Wheaton, Ill.:Crossway Books, 1994.How can natural revelation be used in Christian apologetics?Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of ChristianApologetics. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1994.6 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Theology Matters, Part One: Lecture Three“My church is the great outdoors.” The orange-suited man shutthe tailgate of his pickup truck with a satisfying metallic thud. “Ilearn everything I need to know about God while Iʼm out hunting.Iʼm out here, communing with nature, and youʼre stuck in somebuilding wearing a tie!”NotesMany ministers have come face-to-face with objections like thesefrom well-meaning parishoners who donʼt want to come to churchon Sunday morning. Given what we learned in the last lectureabout natural revelation, isnʼt this hunter right on target here? Whatmore do we need if God reveals himself through nature? In thislecture, Dr. Wells finishes his discussion of natural revelation andmoves on to special revelation, which points a listening persontowards salvation.common grace—God’s extension of favor to all people throughprovidential care, regardless of whether or not they acknowledgeand love Godrelativism—the philosophy that says that truth is personally defined,that all truths are equally valid, and that all faiths lead equally toGodinspiration—the action of the Holy Spirit, who worked throughresponsible human authors to communicate God’s will in such away that what they wrote was exactly what God intendedapologetics—a reasoned defense of the faith7 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary“The reason we areinterested in [tragicstories from far away inthe news] is because weknow that these thingsare abnormal. We knowwe have a sense that it isnot the way it’s supposedto be.”
Theology Matters, Part OneNotesAccording to Dr. Wells, why are we are so fascinated by newsstories of tragedies that cannot possibly affect our lives?Books cited by Dr. Wells in this lecture:M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie.Beaverton, Ore.: Touchstone Press, 2nd edition, 1998.Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, The Naked Public Square.Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans – Lightning Source, 2ndedition, 1986.Dr. Wells identifies several “pointers”in the world around us that highlightthe prevalence of natural revelation.Which of his examples struck youparticularly?Morris Berman, The Twilight of American Culture.New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2001.Os Guinness, Long Journey Home.Colorado Springs: WaterBrook Press, 2001.How does Godʼs common graceserve a fallen humanity?How does natural revelation enable apologetics to be successful?According to Dr. Wells, what is the process of inspiration?8 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Through Scripture, His Voice is HeardWhat are the three categories of evidence that substantiate theinspiration of Scripture?NotesWhat is remarkable about Jesusʼ view of Scripture?Passages Dr. Wells cites todemonstrate Scripture’s own witness toits inspiration and authority:According to Dr. Wells, todayʼs culture is influencedby a wave of people who consider themselves“spiritual, but not religious.” How might you usewhat youʼve learned about general and specialrevelation to respond to such people?Luke 24:461 Corinthians 15:4Acts 17:2-3Romans 3:4; 4:17Matthew 4: 4, 7, 10Galatians 3:7-8 (cf. Genesis 12:1-3)Romans 9:17Hebrews 3:7; 6:14The Christian approach to inspiration recognizes both a divine anda human element. How is this meaningful to you?How would you respond to the sort of relativism that Dr. Wellsdiscusses in the final moments of this lecture?9 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary“So sin itself becomesits own judgment. Becausesin promises what it neverdelivers. Sin promises allkinds of satisfaction, butit always brings heartacheand disappointment andsorrow.”
Theology Matters, Part OneNotesI understand the doctrine of biblical inspiration. But what about allthe so-called “contradictions” in the Bible?Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce and ManfredT. Brauch, Hard Sayings of the Bible. Downers Grove, Ill.:InterVarsity Press, 1996.“I have listed a number ofthe cases where [Jesus]cites the Old Testament.In every single case hevalidates its historicalorthodoxy, its historicalaccuracy.”How can we trust that the biblical text we have now has not beencorrupted and changed from what the original authors wrote?Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., The Old Testament Documents: Are TheyReliable & Relevant? Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press,2001.F. F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are TheyReliable? Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2003.10 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Theology Matters, Part One: Lecture FourIn a world full of false fronts, media images and political spin,sometimes we long for just a drop of Truth to cool our tonguesand remind us that there exists something out there that is REALand SOLID and ETERNAL. As Christians, we believe that thoughheaven and earth may pass away, Godʼs word will last forever.His word is living and active; like a scalpel it can cut away the“tumors” in our lives, penetrating the very depths of our being, andmaking life-saving changes. Perhaps itʼs no surprise, then, thatthe hostile world around us has made attacking the authenticityand interpretation of the Bible priority number one. It seems noday goes by without a story on the television, in magazines, or innewspapers attempting to discredit the validity of the Scriptures.Well, what are the Scriptures? How did we get them? And how canwe be confident in our use of them?theopneustos—Greek for “God-breathed,” the term translated“inspired”canon—an authoritative list, as in the authoritative list of booksconsidered to be Scriptureapostolic—deriving its history or authenticity from a connection withChrist’s apostlesApocrypha—religious books written between the time of the OldTestament and the New, included in the Roman Catholic andEastern Orthodox canon of Scripture but not in the ProtestantcanonDidache—Greek for “teaching,” Didache is the title of an earlyChristian instruction manual, which lays out some early Christiancreeds and practicessola Scriptura—Latin for “only Scripture”; the Protestant credo11 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryNotes
Theology Matters, Part OneNotes“So [in 2 Timothy 3:2–4]you have a misplaced love.You have in the centerof people’s universe,instead of God you havethemselves. And thisreally is the very heart, theessence of pride. Prideis not only conceit butpride is placing ourselvesin the very center of lifeand the very center of theuniverse ”affirming the supreme teaching authority of Scripture, as overagainst church traditionperspicuous—clearprogressive revelation—a term used for various beliefs aboutScripture, including the idea that God’s plan for humanity unfoldsgradually in Scripture, and not all the details are revealed at oncehermeneutics—the art of interpreting the BibleHow does Dr. Wells say the words “last days” should beinterpreted?In what way is a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures a cure for“form only” Christianity?Dr. Wells makes a distinction between the authors of Scripturebeing inspired, the readers of Scripture being inspired, and the textof Scripture being inspired. Why is this distinction so important tomake?What were the criteria that the early Church used in the shaping ofthe Biblical canon?12 2005 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
The Nature and Use of ScriptureWhat are the Reformational principles of Biblical interpretation thatDr. Wells commends to us for our use?NotesHow has your life been shaped by the authority of the Scriptu
further study. The Dimensions of the Faith series is designed to be used in a variety of settings. You may wish to use the materials as a resource for your own spiritual growth and enrichment. You may also wish to study the materials as a group. The series may be used as a leadership tool for churches or as a training tool on the mission field.
DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL THEOLOGY, edited by T. Desmond Alexander and Brian S. Rosner, 90-104. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsit, 2000. Systematic theology and biblical theology Systematic theology and biblical theology. the turning points that have given rise to dif-ferent apprehensions of biblical theology. In one sense, wherever there has been dis-
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A Century of Protestant Theology / Table and Tradition Hogg, D. Anselm of Canterbury Holifield, E. B. Theology in America Hodgson, P. & R. King, eds. Christian Theology Jenson, R. Systematic Theology John Paul II, The Gospel of Life / The Splendor of Truth / Theology of the Body Journet, C. Theology of the Church Kelly, J. N. D.
Theology of Hope return to religion-online Theology of Hope by Jurgen Moltmann Jürgen Moltmann is a German theologian notable for his incorporation of insights from liberation theology and ecology into mainstream trinitarian Christian theology. He was Professor of Systematic Theology a
theology came out of the struggle of concerned ·Korean Christians for social and political justice in Korea. This paper is written to introduce Mi:njung theology and to discuss its salient points. Since Minjung theology is a theology
2. The Sources of Evangelical Systematic Theology 3. The Structure of Evangelical Systematic Theology 4. The Setting of Evangelical Systematic Theology 5. The Satisfaction of Evangelical Systematic Theology Study 1: The Nature of Systematic Theology & the Doctrine of Revelation "God is most glorified in us as we are most satisfied in him." John .
Sector of Systematic Theology Sector of Patristics, History of Dogma & Symbolics 312 STUDY GUIDE 2017-2018 – DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY C. The Department of Theology Β. The School of Theology ODHGOS SPOUDWN ENGL-C.qxp_Layout 1 30/11/17 10:43 Page 312
This course surveys major topics in Christian theology using Alister McGrath's Theology: The Basics (4th ed.; Wiley-Blackwell, 2018) as a guide. Preliminary considerations will include surveying major periods in the history of Christian theology and identifying major resources for theology
