#4Theology Proper - Paterology

Founda ons in Chris an Doctrine #4 THEOLOGY PROPER - PATEROLOGY AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL WEEKLY OUTLINE 1. The Triunity of God 2. The Names and A ributes of God (Last Week) 3. Paterology (This Week; the study of the Father) KEY ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION 1. One Essence, Three Persons 2. God’s Sovereignty & Human Responsibility 3. The Problem of Evil (If God is all-good and all-powerful, then why does evil exist?) PREVIOUS HOMEWORK How do you answer the Problem of Evil (If God is all-good and all-powerful, then why does evil exist?)? Can you support your view with Scripture? Can you answer probing ques ons from unbelievers in this regard? KEY QUESTIONS 1. In what sense is the rst Person of the Trinity the “Father”? Our understanding of “fatherhood” is physical. What is the interrela on between the Father and the Son? 2. The Problem of Evil: With a biblical understanding of the me culous sovereignty of God and of the perfect goodness of God, how do we deal with the Problem of Evil (If God is all-good and all-powerful, then why does evil exist?) a. De ne “evil.” b. Did God create evil? PATEROLOGY FATHERHOOD OF GOD Father of Israel (Ex 4:22; Is 63:16; 64:8; Jer 31:9; Hos 11:1; Mal 1:6) Father of Christ (Ps 2:7; Mt 3:17; 6:9; The en re Gospel of John; Jn 1:18; 10:30 etc.) Father of believers (Mt 5:16; 6:9; Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6; 1 Jn 3:1; etc.) PROVIDENCE Providence refers to God’s common grace in provision on behalf of all Crea on. Mt 6:26; Mt 6:30; Mt 5:45; Phil 4:19 PRAYER Mt 6:9; Mt 7:11; 1 Jn 5:14-15 CHASTISEMENT Heb 12:3-11 ti ti ti ti ti ti fi tt ti fi 1 Founda ons in Chris an Doctrine CONSIDERING THE PROBLEM OF EVIL The Problem of Evil was rst stated by a Greek philosopher of the 4th-3rd centuries BC named Epicurus. He said it this way: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? DEFINE EVIL ORIGIN OF EVIL Did God create evil? What about Isaiah 45:7? (Compare James 1:13) ASSUMPTIONS OF “THE PROBLEM OF EVIL” 1. God does nothing to restrain evil. 2. God will do nothing to deal with evil. 3. We know be er than God. GOD’S PREVIOUS JUDGMENT UPON EVIL Gen 3 Gen 6 Gen 11 Gen 18-19 Deut 20:16-18; Lev 18:24-28; Gen 15:16 Rom 1:18; 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 2:2 ULTIMATE SOLUTION TO EVIL Rev 20-21 HOMEWORK 1. Read the book of Habakkuk and consider the Problem of Evil. 2. Read the book of Colossians or one of the Gospels (Ma hew, Mark, Luke, John) in prepara on for our Christology study (study of Christ) beginning next week. tt fi ti tt ti ti 2