Systematic Theology

Systematic TheologySeptember, 9 Windsor Locks Congregational Church Tony ArsenalProlegomenaFirst Things FirstThe Role of ScriptureScripture serves as the ultimate normative, infallible, and highest authority in the life of a ChristianIt is Inerrant (contains no errors in that which it teaches)It is Infallible (not capable of failing to communicate that which it intends to communicate)It is Divinely Inspired (The words on the page are the exact words, exact order of words, and exact form of words that God intended. They come from God and are Gods words)It is Humanly Authored (The words on the page are the genuine product of the human authors and were influenced by their personalities, cultures, context, limitations, and intentions)The Role of ScriptureBecause of its unique role and nature, Scripture is the final arbiter of truth in the life of a ChristianIf something (legitimately) contradicts the Bible, then that something is wrongIn disputes between Christians, the Scripture ought to be the final judicator between two opposing view pointsThe Role of Subordinate AuthoritiesAlthough Scripture is the supreme authority in the life of a Christian, other legitimate authorities existThese authorities are binding upon us, in so far as they appropriately interpret ScriptureThese other authorities help us to understand where we may be interpreting Scripture incorrectlyThese authorities stand over us, but they do not stand over ScriptureArchetype, Ectype, and Analogy Oh MyArchetype Original, actualEctype Copy, duplicateThe knowledge the divine persons have of themselves is archetypal and completeThe knowledge we can have about the divine persons or the nature they share is only ever a partial and faulty copy of Gods archetypal knowledgeBecause of this, we can only ever speak in partial approximations in regard to the divine persons or the nature they share

Archetype, Ectype, and Analogy Oh MyAnalogy A non-direct reproduction of a given realityDigital vs Analog ClocksDigital = Precise, exact, and 100% accurateAnalog = Imprecise, inexact, and never 100% accurateOur language and knowledge of God is always takes the form of analogyAnalogy does not mean untrue or figurativeWhen we speak in analogy we say something that is true, albeit not precise or 100% accurateIf I say that this table is hard as a rock, I am communicating the truth that this table, like a rock, is hard, and is hard in a similar way to the way a rock is hard.This means that we are always talking about what God is like rather than talking with precision about what God actually isArchetype, Ectype, and Analogy Oh MySince only the divine persons have archetypal knowledge of themselves and the divine nature, we must begin with and limit ourselves to that which they have revealed to usConsequently, theology can exist as a legitimate enterprise only when it begins with Gods self-revelation. (PT 37)Doctrine of GodPaterology (Theology Proper, Theology of God the Father)Why start with the Father?Most Theology Proper or Doctrine of God is an investigation into the divine nature of God, or sometimes into a single being (quasi-entity) that is the one GodThis tends to depersonalize God and can put us on a path that may lead to unhealthy places (see July Lecture on the Creeds)Additionally, theology is inherently personal as we are seeking to get to know the three divine persons, not to understand some abstract and impersonal natureSince we want to know a person, we should start our inquiry with a person rather than the divine natureWhy Start with the Father?The New Testament overwhelmingly has in view the Father when it uses the word God (Greek: | theos) in an unqualified wayIf you replace the word God with Divine Nature, Trinity, or one of the other two persons of the Trinity, most passages simply dont make senseExamples:John 3:16 For the Trinity so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son Does the Trinity have a son?Romans 1:1-3 Set apart for the Gospel of the divine nature concerning his Son, who was descended from David Does the divine nature have a son?Why Start with the Father?The pattern of the Church starts with the FatherApostles Creed: I believe in God, the Father Almightythe Father Almighty is what is called an appositive meaning that the statement is clarifying the preceding noun.I believe in God, that is to say the Father AlmightyNicene Creed: We believe in God, the Father AlmightyAgain, appositively identifies God as The FatherDoes not refer to the Son or Spirit as God directly, rather demonstrates their divine status in light of their shared nature and activity with the Father (see July Lecture on Creeds)Incommunicable AttributesIncommunicable attributes are attributes that the divine persons have in light of their sharing of the divine natureThese attributes cannot be transferred, given or communicated to creatures (human or otherwise)None of these attributes is true of creatures, even analogically (PT 74)These attributes are primarily apophatic, meaning that they describe God by saying what he is notIt is helpful to think of these in regards of a denial that God is bound, constrained, or circumscribed by a given thingEach is simply a way to say God is free from XSimplicitySimplicity is the negation of the term ComplexitySimply put, it means that God is not composed of parts or componentsThis means that God is not composed of 1 part Holiness, 1 part omnipotence, 1 part loveRather, it means that God simply is what God is and could not be reduced to a smaller componentThis does not mean that there are not multiple attributes, or that God only has a single attribute (although some Christian tradition would affirm this)Rather, it means that Gods attributes are perfectly and eternally unified and connectedWe cannot separate Gods justice or wrath, from his mercy or loveGod is free from internal conflict or divisionAseityAseity is the attribute which denies that God is dependent on any person or thing outside of the TrinityI prefer to think of this attribute in terms of non-contingency or uncreatedness (aseity implies an independence of person that I find problematic in light of the Trinity and the eternal relationships therein)This means that Gods very existence is not dependent on anything outside of the TrinityThis is in part, what is meant when the Bible talks about the Son having life in himself (John 1:4)This is in contrast to contingent, created things (ie everything that isnt God) which get their existence from GodGod is free from dependence on external thingsImmutibilityThis is a denial of the concept that God can be changedIt is a logical corollary of aseityIf God is fully independent of anything outside of the Trinity, then his nature and character cannot be influenced or changed by himIf God is not composed of parts, then he is either fully actualized or he is fully potential. Since a fully potential entity would not exist, God must be a fully actualized entityThis does not mean that Gods action cannot change as we experience it in historyIt simply means that all of Gods actions are, and always will be, utterly consistent with his permanent and unchanging natureAny form of change would mean that God is imperfect (PT 78)God is free from fluctuation, degradation, or external influencesImpassibilityImpassibility is a denial of the idea that God can be made to sufferA logical corollary of Aseity for all the same reasons that immutability wasIs not an utter lack of emotion (even negative emotions)Impassibility would state that every emotion that God experiences or portrays is fully consistent with his purposes, character, and natureCannot be overcome by emotion or sufferingGod is free from being overcome by a given attribute or emotionOmnipresence and EternityOmnipresence and Eternity are two sides of the same coin (PT 81)Both represent how God interacts with a given dimensionOmnipresence means that God is present at all locations, as well as present outside of all locationsEternity means that God is present at all times, as well as present outside of timeNot exclusively atemporal (God does not experience time) and not exclusively omnitemporalBoth are related to Aseity (uncreatedness)Time and Space are both created, thus God exists outside of them since he existed prior to them (logically)However, being free from dependence on something external, God is free to interact with and exist within time as wellGod is free from being constrained or circumscribed by time and spaceDiscussion and Questions