THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THEOLOGY

THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THEOLOGY

2003

LESSON THREE

Christianity the Absolute Religion (p. 34 et. seq.)
1. The Christian religion is the “absolute”, i.e. absolutely perfect, religion.
  1. does not need supplementation or improvement.
  2. can not be developed to a higher degree of perfection.
  3. does not mean it presents a “logically complete whole”, i.e. no gaps for the human mind.
  4. the religious knowledge of the Christians is a fragmentary one (1Co 13:12).
  5. not saying it in so far as it teaches the “most perfect morality”.
  6. to be sure, it does teach the best, the perfect, system of ethics.
  7. Mt. 22:37-40.
    1. does not constitute the Christian religion.
    2. Is the daughter of faith.
    3. 1Jn 4:9-11, 14-16, 19-21.
2. Two reasons for this.
  1. It conveys the perfect salvation.
    1. not asking man to reconcile God through his own works or virtues.
    2. 2Co 5:18,19.
    3. i.e., is perfect because it not a moral code, but rather faith in His forgiveness.
    4. Therefore, must keep the vicarious satisfaction inviolate.
  2. Because its source and norm is not the word of men, but God’s own Word.
    1. for our day, this is the written Word of God, the Holy Scriptures.
    2. Jn 10:35.
    3. 2Ti 3:16,17.
    4. we receive it as God’s own Word, infallible, inviolable.
    5. The science of criticism constantly advancing new theories, e.g. “historical-criticism” and others.
3. Christianity’s “absolute” character.
  1. True from the beginning.
  2. Ge 3:15.
  3. Ac 10:43.
  4. Jn 5:39,46.
  5. is not the result of a natural historical development.
  6. Therefore, incorrect to call the Christian religion:
    1. the “highest” religion.
    2. the “most perfect” religion.
  7. There is not just some difference in degree.
  8. Difference is between life and death.
  9. Difference between Old Testament and New Testament.
    1. pertains only to the increasing clarity and extent of revelation.
    2. no difference as to content of the divine revelation.
    3. both teach faith alone, salvation without works.
Christian Religion and Christian Theology (p. 40 et. seq.)
1. In ecclesiastical terminology, distinction made between:
  1. Christian religion.
  2. Christian theology.
2. Religion (in the subjective sense).
  1. designates the knowledge of God and divine matters.
  2. all Christians have (Jn 6:45).
3. Theology (in the subjective sense).
  1. special knowledge.
  2. teachers of the Church have (1Ti 3:2).
4. There is no difference between them as to their source.
  1. Both begin and end in believing His Word as we have it in Scripture.
  2. “Text books”.
    1. where knowledge of all Christians systematically arranged according to chief parts of Christian religion (religion in the objective sense, as doctrine) usually called catechism, handbooks, etc.
    2. manuals in which the special divine knowledge of the teachers is presented called Textbooks, Dogmatics, Systematic Theology, etc.
Christian Theology (p. 41 et. seq.)
1. Etymology of “theology” not doubtful, as was case with “religion”.
  1. Original meaning of Gk: “theologia” is Gk “logos peri tou Theou”.
  2. In subjective sense: the knowledge of God and of divine matters.
  3. In objective sense: designates the doctrine of God.
2. The term does not occur in Holy Writ.
  1. term did not even originate with the Christians.
  2. first used by the heathen.
  3. then adopted by the Church.
3. Not always used in Church in same sense.
  1. What matters is that the word (and “theologian”) not used to express any unscriptural ideas.
  2. Matter denoted must be contained in Scripture, and takes place when “theology” taken to mean:
    1. the special measure of the knowledge of God and the divine doctrine which public ministers in the congregation should possess.
    2. the knowledge of God and the divine doctrine which is required of those who train the future public teachers. (2Ti 2:2).
    3. the knowledge of God and the divine doctrine possessed by all Christians (priesthood of believers judge doctrine).
    4. in narrower sense: the knowledge and doctrine of certain points of the Christian religion, namely, of the deity of Christ and, respectively, of the Trinity.
4. We will use “theology” to denote the divine knowledge necessary for the administration of the public ministry.
  1. Therefore, subjectively (or concretely) is the aptitude wrought by the Spirit in a Christian to perform the functions of the pastoral office. (2Co 3:5,6) – is the first and proper meaning.
  2. Objectively, as doctrine, is the Christian doctrine in its correct oral and written presentation by the public minister of the church (e.g. 2Ti 1:13) – is the secondary derived meaning.
  3. Walther: “Theology must first be in the soul of a man before he can teach it, present it in speech and writing”. (quoted, p.45)