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Introduction to Theology

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.

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Introduction to Theology

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  1. Introduction to Theology

  2. 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

  3. Outline for the class • Prolegomena: Session 1-6 • Bibliology: Session 7-10

  4. Outline for Prolegomena Session 1: Introduction/What is Theology? (1) Session 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

  5. Outline for Bibliology Session 8: Old Testament Transmission and Canonization Session 9: New Testament Transmission and Canonization Session 10: Inspiration and Inerrancy

  6. Prolegomena “First Words”

  7. Sessions 1 & 2 What is Theology?

  8. Outline for Sessions 1 & 2 • What Is Theology? • Who Is a Theologian? • Categories of Theology

  9. What Is Theology? What Is Theology? Write a one or two sentence of definition theology:

  10. What Is Theology? “The study or science of God.” –Millard Erickson “Rational discussion respecting the deity.” –Augustine “The Science of God and of the relations between God and the universe.” –A. H. Strong “Thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way.” –Charles Ryrie

  11. What Is Theology? “The science 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 exhibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life.” —Webster’s Dictionary

  12. 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 nothing?

  13. 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

  14. Who is a Theologian? “We live in what may be the most anti-intellectual period in the history of Western civilization. . . We must have passion—indeed 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

  15. Who Is a Theologian? There are basically five arenas in which we can do theology: • Folk Theology • Lay Theology • Ministerial Theology • Professional Theology • Academic Theology

  16. Who Is a Theologian? Folk Lay Ministerial Professional Academic

  17. Who Is a Theologian? Describe this chart in relation to practicing medicine Folk Lay Ministerial Professional Academic

  18. Who Is a Theologian? Now describe this chart in relation to practicing theology Folk Lay Ministerial Professional Academic

  19. Who Is a Theologian? Folk Theology • Naïve • Traditionalistic • Dogmatic • Uninformed and unreflective What are some examples?

  20. Who Is a Theologian? Folk theology examples: • Views of Heaven (clouds, harps) • Ghosts • Angels’ wings • Good works salvation • All people are good at heart

  21. Who Is a Theologian? • Peter’s gate • Devil’s pitchfork • “God helps those who help themselves” • Demon possession (Hitler, Stalin, etc.) • Name-it-claim-it, health and wealth gospel

  22. Who Is 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

  23. Who Is a Theologian? Ministerial Theology • Reflection is more sophisticated • Educated in theological methodology • 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

  24. Who Is a Theologian? Professional Theology • Didactically purposed toward lay and pastoral theologians • Works with pastoral and lay theologians • Conducts practical original research • Critically evaluates common theological trends and folk theology • Often accused of quenching the Spirit

  25. Who Is a Theologian? Academic Theology • Overly speculative • Overly critical • Dialogue can come only with other theologians • Ivory Tower theologians • Unspiritual theology • Follows the academic status quo

  26. Who Is a Theologian? Folk Lay Ministerial Professional Academic

  27. Who Is a Theologian? Acceptable range Folk Lay Ministerial Professional Academic

  28. Why Study Theology? Because you are a theologian!

  29. Why Study Theology? “Theology is for everyone. Indeed, everyone needs to be a theologian. In reality, everyone is a theologian—of 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 theologian.” —Charles Ryrie

  30. Why Study Theology? How do we “do” theology everyday? In other words, how does our theology influence our daily routine?

  31. 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 for the future. • When we choose schooling for our children.

  32. Why Study Theology? • When we vote. • When we attempt to deal with sin in our lives. • When we decide on who we marry.

  33. What Is Theology? “Credo ut intelligam” —Anselm of Canterbury

  34. Categories of Theology • Systematic • Biblical • Historical • Creedal/Dogmatic • Apologetic • Philosophical

  35. 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.

  36. Categories of Theology • Bibliology: The study of the nature, transmission, canonization, and purpose of Scripture. • Theology Proper: The study of God’s nature. Sometimes called “Trinitarianism.”

  37. 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.

  38. Categories 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.

  39. Categories of Theology • Soteriology: The study of salvation. • Ecclesiology: The study of the nature of the Church. • Eschatology: The study of the last things.

  40. Biblical Restricts its study to the Scripture. Examines the parts of Scripture. Compiles information on a doctrine from aspecific writer (e.g., John or Paul) 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 Scriptures. Seeks to understand the result — the product. Categories of Theology

  41. Relationship of Categories

  42. Theological Statement “What is the timeless truth taught?” Extract timeless principles Homiletical Statement “How does it apply to us?” Exegetical Statement “What did it mean then?” • Historical interpretation • Grammatical interpretation • Contextual interpretation • Literary Interpretation Preach it!

  43. Sessions 3–5 Epistemology

  44. Epistemology What is Epistemology? “The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.” —Webster’s Dictionary “The branch of philosophy that is concerned with the theory of knowledge. It is an inquiry into the nature and source of knowledge, the bounds of knowledge, and the justification of claims to knowledge.” —Feinberg

  45. 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 rejected Christianity were prepared to discuss whether the evidence for Christianity’s 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.”

  46. A Conversation Between 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 you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?

  47. 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 my opinion, then you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy. Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.

  48. 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.” “Truth cannot be known.”

  49. Epistemology A short history of western civilization: Three periods: • Premodern (400-1600 A.D.) • Modern (1600-1900 A.D.) • Postmodern (1960-present)

  50. 400 1600 1960 Epistemology Modern Postmodern Premodern

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