Final Exam Study Questions from Contemoprary theologoy

Final Exam Study Questions

Contemporary Theology

1. Explain what worship is commonly like in the EC movement and what it is a reaction against?

Emphasize experience and feelings. Wants to be transcendent. They combine scripture with medieval ritual. They want to experience everything with the 5 senses.

E - Experiential

P - Participants (conversational)

I - Image based

C - Communal

2. List and explain 4 or 5 key terms commonly used in the Emergent Church movement.

A.       Conversation – “lets Talk” you teach me and I teach you

B.      Vintage – medieval catholic setting hands on

C.      Mystery – Desire for the unknown (don’t want hardcore theology)

D.     Story – Tell everything in story form

E.      Communal – community – people “instead of going to church they want to be the curch”

F.       Mission / Missional  - We exist to Serve those around us.

3. How do some leaders (the ones mentioned in the notes) in the Emergent Church movement view doctrine and experience?

Rob Bell "this is not just the same old message with new methods. We're rediscovering Christianity as an Eastern religion, as a way of life."

“the basis of learning has shifted from logic and rational, systematic thought to the realm of experience"

E - experiential

P - Participants (conversational)

I - Image based

C - Communal

Experience is elevated above doctrine.

4: Compare or contrast modernism and post-modernism in the following areas:

A.      Human reason and knowledge.

B.      Science and technology.

C.      Concept of truth.

5. How did the heritage of the Enlightenment blossom in science, psychology and theology. If we are loyal to the Bible, what should determine what we do and do not believe about the nature of the Bible itself? With relationship to transcription and translation. Why is the Bible such an amazing book?

What should determine what we do and do not believe about the nature of the Bible itself?

1.       We must believe everything it claims itself

2.       It claims that it is God’s own God breathed book, verbally inspired, inspired in original writings.

"Loyalty for the word is claiming for the bible everything it claims for itself and nothing that it does not claim."

Stats on the Bible

o    40 different writers

o    Literary masterpiece

o    Written in 3 languages

·   Greek

·   Hebrew

·   Aramaic

o    Best documented book in the world (more than 5000 manuscripts)

o    Supernatural book

o    Changed lives

o    Affected Government

o    Timeless book

6. Define and explain “inspiration.”

                Inspiration is the work of the Holy Spirit in which He superintended the reception and communication of the divine message to mankind such that the product is verbally and plenarily both inerrant and inspired.

7. Describe the six step process of revelation?

1.        Revelation

God reveals Himself and his message to men in various ways. He does so by an inner drive, direct dictation, and various other means.

2.       Inspiration

 God oversees the inscription of his message so that the original message so that the original writings are without error. They are exactly, word for word, as God wishes them to be.

3.       Transcription

 The text of scripture is carefully copied, so that it can be handed down through the generations and out to the entire world.

4.       Translation

The words of scripture are translated into the languages of he world so that people can have God's message in their own tongue. This process of translation is an intrinsic part of the Great Commission.

5.       Interpretation

Individual believers, teachers, and preachers seek to determine the meaning of scripture. The question "what does this mean?" seems silly at times, yet some passages of scripture are difficult to understand. Specific rules are applied concerning interpretation of scripture.

6.       Application

The message of Scripture is then applied to individuals today. What does this mean to me?

7.       Proclamation

The Bible is both publicly and privately taught to others in order to bring people into a relationship with God, a deeper understanding of God and a more obedient walk as a believer.

8. From which step in that process does the vast majority of false doctrine spring and why?

                Most Doctrinal problems come from Interpretation not translation!

Men can come up with false doctrine in any version they want to.

9. What is the Textus Receptus, and where did it come from?

                The TR is a compiled manuscript. Primary produced by Erasmus. Byzantine family of manuscripts

10. Explain (in detail) the three main reasons for differences in modern English versions of the Bible.

o            Text

·   If the translator does not have the word in his text he won't translate it

o    Translation

·   Style of translation - Dynamic (Thought for though) or literal (word for word as much as possible)

• KJV and New American Standard - both literal but different texts
• NIV does thought for though

o    Theological Bias

·   KJV - Baptize (baptizo), church (ekkliseah)

·   RSV - Virgin or Young Woman

·   Blatant Bias - Good news for modern man.

11. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Intelligent Design movement?

                Strengths –

·         Consistent with Biblical passages concerning General revelation

·         Attacks Darwinism

·         Gives a greater appreciation of creation and Gods revelation through creation

·         Useful in introducing apologetic theories

Weakness –

·         don’t use the bible as any sort of reference or source for their argument.

·         Don’t expand into God’s attributes