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INDIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY
AN ESSAY PAPER
IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY, COURSE #T502
BY
RICHARD L. TAYLOR, JR.
JANURARY 2009
9404 NORTH SHAFFER ROAD
MUNCIE, INDIANA 47303
(765)282-3645
Introduction to Theology
Foreward
The Beginnings of My Theology
As it is necessary upon every minister’s life to ascertain a personal theological stand, I now endeavor to accomplish this very important work.
Although my Christian beliefs have been in development for many years, this is my first attempt to define a personal, systematic belief system of my Christian faith.
Recently, while away on business with a Christian brother, I found myself embroiled in friendly and lengthy conversations concerning our mutual Christian faith.
The discussions were enjoyable, but rather difficult at times.
These difficulties lead me to realize the importance of knowing /what/ I believe about my Christian faith.
And more importantly /why/ I believe what I believe.
I first say ‘what I believe’ due to the various ways to believe about certain theological matters.
Calvinistic Theology, Arminian Theology, Dispensational Theology, Catholic Theology (just to name a few), are all belief systems concerning Christianity.
Subsequently, ‘why I believe what I believe’ becomes all the more important because I must be able to /Biblically/ defend my beliefs.
Although this treatment will be intentionally brief, it will begin a work that is necessary as a part of the calling that God Almighty has placed on my life.
This work is by no means complete or exhaustive, but it will be very personal and fulfilling as the Holy Spirit leads me through this effort.
Introduction to Theology
Biblology: The Doctrine of the Bible
What I believe about the Bible.
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I believe the Bible is the primary mode of communication God has chosen to speak to humanity.
The Bible was written by God through many different authors.
Each author was inspired by God to make the total and precise contribution to the Bible that God intended.
No special qualifications were necessary of the authors to be used for this purpose other than to be chosen, obedient servants of God (Hebrews 1:1).
Kings, priests, tax collectors, shepherds and many others are all among the authors God chose as instruments for this purpose.
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I believe the Bible is fully and verbally inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20f).
This is called the plenary and verbal inspiration of Scripture.[1]
This concept stresses the intimate involvement of the Holy Spirit as He formed the very words of the original manuscripts of the Bible through the minds and hearts of the human authors (I Corinthians 2:13).
God presided over and directed the life of each person chosen for the purpose of writing the very portion of Scripture God intended for them to write.
This direction prepared each author to freely choose to be a vessel of God.
As a result each author’s personality, vocabulary, and emotions are present in the writings; but it is God who inspired them to write the very words that He intended.[2]
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I believe the plenary and verbal inspiration of Scripture is limited to the original autographs as written by the original authors.
This inspiration is not possessed by any copied manuscripts or any version of the Bible.
Mistakes in translation and transliteration can be made as a result of human fallibility.
However, I also believe that God will keep the integrity and reliability of His Word intact despite these mistakes (Isaiah 55:10-11).
As an example, the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the reliability and accuracy of the Scriptures currently in use.
Indeed, the Great Isaiah Scroll found with the Dead Sea Scrolls has further enhanced the validity and understanding of the Christian Faith.
The Dead Sea Scroll passage of Isaiah 53:11 has this reading ‘Out of the travail of his soul he shall see /light/’, not ‘He shall see of the travail of his soul’ found in the KJV.
The word ‘light’ is present in the older manuscript (as well as two other ancient scrolls).
With this transliteration both Good Friday /and/ Easter Sunday are found in the same passage.[3]
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I believe that, as a result of the plenary and verbal inspiration of Scripture, the Bible has the following attributes:
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Infallibility and Inerrancy: If God wrote the Scriptures (II Timothy 3:16) and God is true (Romans 3:4), then God’s Word is true.
Jesus, the Son of God recognized and affirmed this (John 17:17).
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Authority: God’s Word has the power and authority (Isaiah 1:2; I Thessalonians 1:5; Hebrews 4:12) and will accomplish His desired task (Isaiah 55:10-11).
No word spoken by God is without power (Luke 1:37).
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Sufficiency: God’s Word is sufficient for all God has intended (Isaiah 55:10-11; II) God’s Word is sufficient to meet our daily needs (Corinthians 9:8; II Timothy 3:15-17).
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Effectiveness: God’s Word is effective in any and every task in which it is properly applied (Isaiah 55:10-11; Hebrews 4:12; I Thessalonians 1:5).
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Completeness: God’s Word is complete as presented in the canonical Scriptures generally accepted by the Church.
No other revelation, contemporary or otherwise, is needed, necessary, nor acceptable (Psalms 19:7; Proverbs 30:6; Galatians 1:8-9; Jude 3; Revelation 22:18-19).
Conclusion.
I must remain firm in my faithfulness and diligent in my care of God’s Word.
As a minister of the Gospel it is crucial that I be found worthy in my treatment of the infallible, inerrant, authoritative, sufficient, effective and complete Word of God (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 3:5; 22:18-19).
Theology Proper: The Doctrine of God
What I believe about God.
1.
I believe God exists.
This fact is proven by many proofs.
The existence of and systematic order of the universe requires more than a ‘big bang’ theory.
The diversity and complexity of life on earth cannot by sufficiently explained by an astronomically improbable series of events, random mistakes and mutations endorsed by the evolution theory.
It is logically necessary that the existence of the complex, diverse, and orderly system of life found in the earth and the surrounding universe have a rational and intelligent beginning.
The beginning is found only in God (Genesis 1:1; Psalms 8:3-4; 33:6; 89:11-12; 102:25; Jeremiah 51:15; John 1:1-3).
2.
I believe God possesses the following attributes (this list is not all inclusive nor listed in any order of rank or importance):
a. Omnipresence: God is everywhere at all times, this quality is known as ubiquity.
Nothing escapes His notice or avoids His attention (Psalms 139:7-17; Job 26:6; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49).
b.
Omniscience: God is all knowing of all things in actual existence (Job 42:2; Isaiah 40:14; Psalms 139:1-6; 147:4-5; Matthew 6:8; 10:28-30).
God is all knowing of all things possible (Matthew 11:21-24).
I believe God voluntarily limits His knowledge of sins for repentant believers in Christ (Romans 11:27; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17).
c.
Omnipotence: God is all powerful (Job 42:2; Isaiah 26:4; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37; Revelation 19:6).
God cannot do anything contrary to His nature.
He cannot approve of sin (Psalms 5:5; Habakkuk 1:13), deny Himself (II Timothy 2:13), lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), or tempt or be tempted by sin (James 1:13).
d.
Immensity: God knows no boundaries (I Kings 8:27; II Chronicles 2:6; 6:18; Isaiah 66:1; Jeremiah 23:24).
e.
Eternity: The eternity of God is expressed in His name /Yahweh/, ‘I AM WHO I AM,’ (Exodus 3:14).
He has existed through time and eternity (Deuteronomy 33:27; Job 36:26; Psalms 90:2).
He is not subject to nor limited by time (II Peter 3:8).
f.
Spirituality: God is Spirit (John 4:24).
He is not corporeal, nor is He limited by corporeality.
References to His physical features or actions that resemble man serve to allow man to have an understanding of God relative to himself (Genesis 3:8; I Kings 8:27; Psalms 90:2; 139:7-12).[4]
g.
Personality: God is a person and has the attributes that exhibit personality.
The Scriptures reveal that God has self-awareness (Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 45:5; I Corinthians 2:10), and self determination (Job 9:12-13; 23:13; Psalms 115:3; Isaiah 55:10-11; Ephesians 1:9).
Furthermore, God shows superior intelligence (Genesis 18:19; Isaiah 55:9), sensibility (Genesis 6:6), and volition (Genesis 3:15; Psalms 115:3; John 6:38).
God speaks, hears, sees, gets angry, grieves, repents, is jealous, and shows compassion.
All these are traits and proof of the personality of God.[5]
h.
Self Existence: God lives and exists independently from any and every thing (John 5:26).
All things were and are created by Him; therefore all created things are dependant upon Him (Genesis 1-2; Job 26:13; Hebrews 11:3).
God emphasizes His independence when He declares His name to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
God declares, “I AM WHO I AM.”
In other words, He is making the declaration, “I am being all I ever have been, all I am, and all I will ever be.”
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