Systematic Theology

1. Systematic Theology • What is the systematic theology? • Why bother with history? • What is the history of creeds in the church? • What is the history of the Westminster Confession of Faith? • Some material from Chesapeake Church and Bill Petro

2. Creeds in the Bible • Deut. 6:4: Hear O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD alone. • Matt. 28:19: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. • John 20:28: Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" • 1 Cor. 15:3-7: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures… • 1 Tim. 3:16: Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

3. The benefits of history "History must be our deliverer not only from the undue influence of other times, but from the undue influence of our own, from the tyranny of environment and the pressures of the air we breathe." John Emerich Edward Dalberg (British Historian)

4. Credo Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem; Creatorem coeli et terrae.  Et in Jesum Christum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum; qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria virgine; passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, etsepultus; descendit ad inferna; tertia die resurrexit a mortuis; ascendit ad coelos; sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis; inde venturus (est) judicare vivos et mortuos.  Credo in Spiritum Sanctum; sanctam ecclesiam catholicam; sanctorum communionem; remissionem peccatorum; carnis resurrectionem; vitam oeternam. Amen.

5. Apostle's Creed Developed between the second and ninth centuries as a baptismal creed for new Christians this is the most popular creed used in worship by Western Christians. Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator.

6. Nicene Creed • Written during the 4th century A.D. in an attempt to unify the Christian church under emperor Constantine. It is heavily influenced by the theologian Athanasius and the work of the first two ecumenical councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). • It was adopted by the council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. Its central doctrines are those of the Person of Jesus Christ and the reality of the Holy Spirit. • It is the only creed accepted by all three major branches of Christendom including Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians.

7. Nicene Creed The Cross which is also a sword - A symbol for the Emperor Constantine, and his successors, because he called the ecumenical council which began the process of thinking that resulted in this creed, because he was the first Christian emperor and because he began the tradition of imperial Christianity. The cross is central here because the doctrine of Christ is central in the Creed. The Green Triangle and the Three symbols with it - The doctrine of the Trinity formalized in the Nicene Creed. The Hand Reaching Down - God the Father. The CHI RHO Monogram - Christ - the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ, used by Constantine on shields and helmets of his army. The Dove - The Holy Spirit. The Crowns - The rule and glory of God.

8. Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

9. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

10. Martin Luther • October 31, 1517 • Nailed 95 theses (questions for debate) to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany • His purpose: correct the corruption of church doctrine

11. 1 Peter 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;… For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

12. The Problem • The church had strayed from scripture • Salvation by works had replaced salvation by grace • God was no longer perceived as sovereign • Man didn’t need God so much as God needed man

13. The Solution • A “re-forming” of the historic apostolic • Christian faith • Recovery of the basic truths • Scripture as the sole authority • God is sovereign • Salvation by grace through faith

14. 3 Key Elements Sola scriptura Sola fide Sola gracie

15. Sola Scriptura Sola scriptura“by the scripture alone” • Scripture is the final and only authority • Only scripture can bind our conscience • Principle of private interpretation

16. Martin Luther “Unless I am convinced by sacred scripture, or evident reason, I cannot recant, for my conscience is held captive by the word of God. And to act against conscience, is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, God help me.”

17. Sola Fide Sola fide“by faith alone” • The central controversy of the Reformation • We are justified by faith alone • Romans 5:1

18. Romans 5 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand”.

19. Martin Luther “Justification by faith alone is the article by which the church stands or falls – it is the head and the cornerstone”.

20. Justification By Faith Alone • The heart of the gospel, how we are saved • We are pronounced just in God’s eyes • “At the same time just, and a sinner” • Justification by Christ alone

21. Sola gracie Sola gracie“by grace alone” • God saves us completely apart from anything we do • Grace is imputed to us; it is a transfer of the righteousness of Christ to the believer • Ephesians 2:8

22. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

23. Luther - Melanchthon 1517 Lutheran Calvin - Beza 1532 French-Swiss } Zwingli - Bullinger Reformed Presbyterian Scottish Presbyterian Dutch Reformed 1519 German-Swiss Henry VIII - Cranmer Grebel – Manz - Simonsz 1525 1536 English Swiss Brethren Reformation Traditions Lutheranism Episcopal Anabaptist Congregational Mennonites English Sep English Baptists Anglican Episcopal Church of England

25. Henry VIII • Sonless, annulment? • Pope refused • Church of England

26. Henry VIII • Established the “Church of England” (Anglican) when the Pope refused to grant him an annulment from his wife, Catherine. • Henry VIII appointed Thomas Cramner as Archbishop of Canterbury and cut off ties with the “Catholic” church. • He married Ann Boelyn whose daughter would be Queen Elizabeth I.

27. Henry VIII Founder of the Anglican Church

28. Edward VI • Boy king • 2 Regents • Tutored by Henry Bullinger • MarriedLady Jane Gray

29. Thomas Cranmer • Protestant Archbishopof Canterbury • Book of Common Prayer

30. Mary Tudor “Bloody Mary” • The Catholic daughter of Henry VIII & Catherine. • Mary Tudor m. Philip II of Spain. • She tried unsuccessfully to reestablish Catholicism in England by persecuting Protestants, thus became knowns as “Bloody Mary”. • Executed Thomas Cramner • Executed Thomas Rogers, printer of Tyndale Bible • Mary, Mary, quite contrary

31. Calvinism Jumps the Channel

32. John Knox • Thundering Scot • Univ of St. Andrew • Exile in Geneva, Frankfurt • Returns to Edinburgh • Wrote Scots Confession

33. Elizabeth I • The Protestant daughter of Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn. • “Via Media” • Protestant Doctrine • Catholic Rituals • Geneva Bible printed England during her reign

34. Elizabeth I • She claimed to be not only Queen of England, but like her father, she was also Head of the Anglican Church. • Elizabeth I proved to be an exceptionally strong & influential ruler. • She also established a great empire beyond the shores of England.

35. James I • James VI of Scotland • Puritans petitioned for change in church government • Hampton Court Conference: • Refused • Permitted new Bible translation • Reissued Book of Sport –riled the Puritans

36. Charles I • Absolute authority • Appointed Laud: AB of C • Arminian • Puritan Calvinists reacted • Abolished Parliament:1629-1640 • Civil War: 1642-46 • Cavaliers - loyalists • Roundheads - Puritans

37. Oliver Cromwell • Member of Parliament • Head Parliamentary Army • Lord Protector, Head of State • England • Scotland • Ireland

38. Charles II • Restoration of Monarchy • Episcopacy returned • Puritans were persecuted

39. James II • A Catholic • Forced to abdicate

40. William & Mary • Mary: James’ oldest daughter • William:Ruler of the Dutch • Religious Toleration

41. 1509 Reformed Catholicism Henry VIII 1547 Advanced Protestantism Edward VI 1553 Militant Catholicism Mary Tudor 1558 Anglicanism Elizabeth 1603 Enforced James I Episcopalianism Charles I 1625 1640 Transcendent Presbyterian Puritanism Independent 1649 1660 Enforced Charles II Episcopalianism James II 1685 Glorious Revolution 1689 Religious Toleration William & Mary

42. Rise of Presbyterianism • The first presbytery in England was erected under the leadership of the Father of English Presbyterianism, Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603), in 1572 in Wandsworth with as many as 500 ministers, some of whom were outstanding leaders in the land. • Presbyterianism was rising on a steep slope of popularity at the turn of the seventeenth century. • Although this was rapidly becoming the people's faith, it was perceived as a dangerous threat to the Bishop and the King

43. Call for an Assembly King James resisted, realising "No Bishop, no King”. Groundswell of reformed believers in the British Isles nearly demanded an Assembly. As historian Phillip Schaff observed, prior to the call for the Assembly, "the excesses of despotism... intolerance, and cruelty exhausted the patience of a noble, freedom-loving people, and kindled the blazing war-torch which burnt to the ground the throne and the temple"

44. Call for Assembly In London, as early as 1641, the local ministers, smarting under the tyranny of the episcopacy, petitioned Parliament to convene a "free synod, to take into consideration and remove the grievances of the Church"

45. Assembly Called by Parliament • The ordinance directed that the divines meet in King Henry VII's chapel at Westminster beginning July 1, 1643 with both a positive task and a negative one: to • (1) set down the biblical patterns of the reformation faith in the areas of liturgy [worship form] and polity [church government], and • (2) defend such reformation distinctives from false aspersions, misconstructions, and attack.

46. The divines were not made up of only scholars and theologians • There were "orators, statesmen, hymnists, saints, men in every way qualified to voice the deepest religious convictions and embody in symbols and institutions the intense life of that marvelous spiritual revival..." • Even the famous poet John Milton pronounced the assembly as being full "'of so much piety and wisdom,' a 'learned and memorable synod,' in which 'piety, learning, and prudence were housed'"

47. Pledge of Assembly …that we shall propound nothing, nor consent, nor oppose, but what we are persuaded is most agreeable to the Word of God; and will renounce any preconceived Opinion, if we shall be convinced that the Word of God is otherwise. So shall we all seek Christ, and not ourselves, nor ... victory or glory to ourselves"

48. Biblical Precedence in the Book of Acts (Chapter 15), amidst the missionary expansion of the gospel in the first century, the leaders of the church had to take time out to settle an important controversy.

49. Timeline • 1643 to revise 39 Articles • 1646 completed WCF • 1647 Scripture proofs • 1647 Shorter catechism completed • 1648 Larger catechism completed

50. Rules • “that every member, at his first entrance into the Assembly, shall make serious and solemn protestation not to maintain anything but what he believes to be the truth in sincerity, when discovered unto him”; • “That what any man undertakes to prove as necessary, he shall make good out of the Scriptures.”  • The rules of procedure were read at the beginning of each week or month.