Christian Theology

Preface
Studying God
1. What is Theology?
  1. The Nature of Religion
  2. The Definition of Theology
  3. Locating (Systematic) Theology on the Theological Map
    1. Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology
    2. Systematic Theology and Historical Theology
    3. Systematic Theology and Philosophical Theology
  4. The Need for Theology
  5. The Starting Point of Theology
  6. Theology as Science
  7. Why the Bible?
2. Theology and Philosophy
  1. Types of Relationships Between Theology and Philosophy
  2. Some Twentieth-Century Philosophies
    1. Pragmatism
    2. Existentialism
    3. Analytical Philosophy
    4. Process Philosophy
  3. Theology's Use of Philosophy
3. The Method of Theology
  1. The Theological Scene Today
  2. The Process of Doing Theology
    1. Collection of the Biblical Materials
    2. Unification of the Biblical Materials
    3. Analysis of the Meaning of Biblical Teaching
    4. Examination of Historical Treatments
    5. Identification of the Essence of the Doctrine
    6. Illumination from Sources Beyond the Bible
    7. Contemporary Expression of the Doctrine
    8. Development of a Central Interpretive Motif
    9. Stratification of the Topics
  3. Degrees of Authority of Theological Statements
4. Theology and Critical Study of the Bible
  1. Form Criticism
    1. Background
    2. Axioms
    3. Values or Form Criticism
    4. Criticism of Form Criticism
  2. Redaction Criticism
    1. Development and Nature of the Discipline
    2. Criticisms of Redaction Criticism
    3. Values of Redaction Criticism
  3. Guidelines for Evaluating Critical Methods
5. Contemporizing the Christian Message
  1. The Challenge of Obsolescence
  2. The Locus of Permanence in Christianity
    1. An Institution
    2. Acts of God
    3. Experiences
    4. Doctrines
    5. A Way of Life
  3. Two Approaches to Contemporizing Theology
    1. Transformers
    2. Translators
  4. Criteria of Permanence
    1. Constancy Across Cultures
    2. Universal Setting
    3. A Recognized Permeant Factor as a Base
    4. Indissoluble Link with an Experience Regarded as Essential
    5. Final Position Within Progressive Revelation
6. Theology and Its Language
  1. Theological Language and Verificational Analysis: The Accusation of Meaninglessness
  2. Theological Languages and Functional Analysis
  3. Answers to the Accusation of Meaninglessness
    1. The Concept of the Blik
    2. Theological Language as Personal Language
    3. Theological Language as Eschatological Verification
    4. Theological Language as Metaphysical Synthesis
    5. Theological Language as a Means to Discernment and Commitment
Knowing God
1. God's Universal Revelation
  1. The Nature of Revelation
  2. The Loci of General Revelation
  3. The Reality and Efficacy of General Revelation
    1. Natural Theology
    2. A Critique of Natural Theology
    3. The Denial of General Revelation
    4. Examination of Relevant Passages
    5. General Revelation, But Without Natural Theology
  4. General Revelation and Human Responsibility
  5. Implications of General Revelation
2. God's Particular Revelation
  1. The Definition and Necessity of Special Revelation
  2. The Style of Special Revelation
    1. The Personal Nature of Special Revelation
    2. The Anthropic Nature of Special Revelation
    3. The Analogical Nature of Special Revelation
  3. The Modes of Special Revelation
    1. Historical Events
    2. Divine Speech
    3. The Incarnation
  4. Special Revelation: Propositional or Personal?
  5. Scripture as Revelation
3. The Preservation of the Revelation: Inspiration
  1. Definition of Inspiration
  2. The Fact of Inspiration
  3. Issues in Formulating a Theory of Inspiration
  4. The Method of Formulating a Theory of Inspiration
  5. Theories of Inspiration
  6. The Extent of Inspiration
  7. The Intensiveness of Inspiration
  8. A Model of Inspiration
4. The Dependability of God's Word: Inerrancy
  1. Various Conceptions of Inerrancy
  2. The Importance of Inerrancy
    1. Theological Importance
    2. Historical Importance
    3. Epistemological Importance
  3. Inerrancy and Phenomena
  4. Defining Inerrancy
  5. Ancillary Issues
5. The Power of God's Word: Authority
  1. Definition of Authority
  2. Religious Authority
  3. Establishing the Meaning and Divine Origin of the Bible
  4. The Internal Working of the Holy Spirit
  5. Objective and Subjective Components of Authority
  6. Various Views of Illumination
    1. The View of Augustine
    2. The View of Daniel Fuller
    3. The View of John Calvin
  7. The Bible, Reason, and the Spirit
  8. Tradition and Authority
  9. Historical and Normative Authoritativeness
What God is Like
1. The Greatness of God
  1. The Nature of Attributes
  2. Classifications of Attributes
  3. Attributes of Greatness
    1. Spirituality
    2. Personality
    3. Life
    4. Infinity
    5. Constancy
2. The Goodness of God
  1. Moral Qualities
    1. Moral Purity
      1. Holiness
      2. Righteousness
      3. Justice
    2. Integrity
      1. Genuineness
      2. Veracity
      3. Faithfulness
    3. Love
      1. Benevolence
      2. Grace
      3. Mercy
      4. Persistence
  2. God's Love and Justice -- A Point of Tension?
  3. The Best Mode of Investigating God's Attributes
3. God's Nearness and Distance: Immanence and Transcendence
  1. Immanence
    1. The Biblical Basis
    2. Modern Versions of Immanentism
      1. Classical Liberalism
      2. Paul Tillich
      3. The Death of God Theology
    3. Implications of Immance
  2. Transcendence
    1. The Biblical Basis
    2. Models of Transcendence
      1. The Traditional Model
      2. Karl Barth's Model
      3. Soren Kierkegaard's Nonspatial Model
      4. The Historical Model of the Theology of Hope
    3. Implications of Transcendence
4. God's Three-in-Oneness: The Trinity
  1. The Biblical Teaching
    1. The Oneness of God
    2. The Deity of Three
    3. Three-in-Oneness
  2. Historical Constructions
    1. The "Economic" View of the Trinity
    2. Dynamic Monarchianism
    3. Modalistic Monarchianism
    4. The Orthodox Formulation
  3. Essential Elements of a Doctrine of the Trinity
  4. The Search for Analogies
What God Does
1. God's Plan
  1. Key Definitions
  2. The Biblical Teaching
  3. The Nature of the Divine Plan
    1. The Terminology
    2. The Old Testament Teaching
    3. The New Testament Teaching
  4. Logical Priority: God's Plan or Human Action?
  5. A Moderately Calvinistic Model
  6. Various Understandings of History
2. God's Originating Work: Creation
  1. Reasons for Studying the Doctrine of Creation
  2. Elements of the Biblical Teaching on Creation
    1. Creation out of Nothing
    2. Its All-inclusive Nature
    3. Rejection of Dualism
    4. The Work of the Triune God
    5. Its Purpose: God's Glory
  3. God's Later Creative Work
  4. The Theological Meaning of the Doctrine
  5. The Creation Doctrine and its Relation to Science
    1. The Age of Creation
    2. Development Within the Creation
  6. The Uniqueness of God's Creative Work
  7. Implications of the Doctrine of Creation
3. God's Continuing Work: Providence
  1. Providence as Preservation
  2. Providence as Government
    1. The Extent of God's Governing Activity
    2. The Relationship Between God's Governing Activity and Sin
    3. The Major Features of God's Governing Activity
  3. Providence and Prayer
  4. Providence and Miracles
4. Evil and God's World: A Special Problem
  1. The Nature of the Problem
  2. Types of Solutions
    1. Finitism: Rejection of Omnipotence
    2. Modification of the Concept of God's Goodness
    3. Denial of Evil
  3. Themes for Dealing with the Problem of Evil
    1. Evil as a Necessary Accompaniment of the Creation of Man
    2. A Reevaluation of What Constitutes Good and Evil
    3. Evil in General as the Result of Sin in General
    4. Specific Evil as the Result of Specific Sins
    5. God as the Victim of Evil
    6. The Life Hearafter
5. God's Special Agents: Angels
  1. History of the Doctrine
  2. Good Angels
    1. Terminology
    2. Their Origin, Nature, and Status
    3. Their Appearance
    4. Their Capacities and Powers
    5. Organization
    6. Difficult Terms
    7. Their Activities
  3. Evil Angels
    1. The Status of Demonology Today
    2. The Origin of Demons
    3. The Chief of the Demons
    4. Activities of Demons
    5. Demon Possession
    6. The Destiny of Satan and the Demons
  4. The Role of the Doctrine of Angels
Humanity
1. Introduction to the Doctrine of Humanity
  1. Importance of the Doctrine of Humanity
  2. Images of Man
    1. Man as a Machine
    2. Man as an Animal
    3. Man as a Sexual Being
    4. Man as an Economic Being
    5. Man as a Pawn of the Universe
    6. Man as a Free Being
    7. Man as a Social Being
  3. The Christian View of Man
2. The Origin of Humanity
  1. The Meaning of "Origin"
  2. The Status of Adam and Eve
  3. Views of Human Beginning
    1. Naturalistic Evolution
    2. Fiat Creation
    3. Deistic Evolution
    4. Theistic Evolution
    5. Progressive Creationism
  4. The Age of Man
    1. Four Conservative Views
    2. The Problem of the Neolithic Elements in Genesis 4
  5. The Theological Meaning of Human Creation
3. The Image of God in the Human
  1. The Relevant Scripture Passages
  2. Views of the Image
    1. The Substantive View
    2. Relational Views
    3. The Functional View
  3. Evaluation of the Views
  4. Conclusions Regarding the Nature of the Image
  5. Implications of the Doctrine
4. The Constitutional Nature of the Human
  1. Basic Views of the Human Constitution
    1. Trichotomism
    2. Dichotomism
    3. Monism
  2. Biblical Considerations
  3. Philosophical Considerations
  4. An Alternative Model: Conditional Unity
  5. Implications of Conditional Unity
5. The Universality of Humanity
  1. All Races
  2. Both Sexes
  3. People of All Economic Statuses
  4. The Aged
  5. The Unborn
  6. The Unmarried
Sin
1. The Nature of Sin
  1. The Interrelationship Between the Doctrine of Sin and Other Doctrines
  2. The Difficulty of Discussing Sin
  3. Methods of Studying Sin
  4. Terms for Sin
    1. Terms Emphasizing Causes of Sin
      1. Ignorance
      2. Error
      3. Inattention
    2. Terms Emphasizing the Character of the Sin
      1. Missing the Mark
      2. Irreligion
      3. Transgression
      4. Iniquity or Lack of Integrity
      5. Rebellion
      6. Treachery
      7. Perversion
      8. Abomination
    3. Terms Emphasizing Results of Sin
      1. Agitation or Restlessness
      2. Evil or Badness
      3. Guilt
      4. Trouble
  5. The Essential Nature of Sin
    1. Sensuality
    2. Selfishness
    3. Displacement of God
2. The Source of Sin
  1. Various Conceptions of the Source of Sin
    1. Animal Nature
    2. Anxiety of Finiteness
    3. Existential Estrangement
    4. Economic Struggle
    5. Individualism and Competitiveness
  2. The Biblical Teaching
  3. Implications of the Various Views -- The Cure for Sin
3. The Results of Sin
  1. Results Affecting the Relationship with God
    1. Divine Disfavor
    2. Guilt
    3. Punishment
    4. Death
      1. Physical Death
      2. Spiritual Death
      3. Eternal Death
  2. Effects on the Sinner
    1. Enslavement
    2. Flight from Reality
    3. Denial of Sin
    4. Self-Deceit
    5. Insensitivity
    6. Self-Centeredness
    7. Restlessness
  3. Effects on the Relationship to Other Humans
    1. Competition
    2. Inability to Empathize
    3. Rejection of Authority
    4. Inability to Love
4. The Magnitude of Sin
  1. The Extent of Sin
    1. The Old Testament Teaching
    2. The New Testament Teaching
  2. The Intensiveness of Sin
    1. The Old Testament Teaching
    2. The New Testament Teaching
  3. Theories of Original Sin
    1. Pelagianism
    2. Arminianism
    3. Calvinism
  4. Original Sin: A Biblical and Contemporary Model
5. The Social Dimension of Sin
  1. The Difficulty of Recognizing Social Sin
  2. The Biblical Teaching
    1. The World
    2. The Powers
    3. Corporate Personality
  3. Strategies for Overcoming Social Sin
    1. Regeneration
    2. Reform
    3. Revolution
The Person of Christ
1. Contemporary Issues in Christological Method
  1. History and Christology
    1. The Search for the Historical Jesus
    2. "Christology from Above"
    3. "Christology from Below"
    4. Evaluation
    5. An Alternative Approach
  2. The Person and the Work of Christ
  3. Incarnation Viewed as Mythology
2. The Deity of Christ
  1. The Biblical Teaching
    1. Jesus' Self-Consciousness
    2. The Gospel of John
    3. Hebrews
    4. Paul
    5. The Term "Lord"
    6. The Evidence of the Resurrection
  2. Historical Departures from Belief in the Full Deity of Christ
    1. Ebionism
    2. Arianism
  3. Functional Christology
  4. Implications of the Deity of Christ
3. The Humanity of Christ
  1. The Importance of the Humanity of Christ
  2. The Biblical Evidence
  3. Early Heresies Regarding the Humanity of Jesus
    1. Docetism
    2. Apollinarianism
  4. Recent Depreciations of the Humanity of Jesus
    1. Karl Barth
    2. Ruldolf Bultmann
  5. The Sinlessness of Jesus
  6. Implications of the Humanity of Jesus
4. The Unity of the Person of Christ
  1. The Importance and Difficulty of the Issue
  2. The Biblical Material
  3. Early Misunderstandings
    1. Nestorianism
    2. Eutychianism
  4. Other Attempts to Solve the Problem
    1. Adoptionism
    2. Anhypostatic Christology
    3. Kenoticism
    4. The Doctrine of Dynamic Incarnation
  5. Basic Tenets of the Doctrine of Two Natures in One Person
5. The Virgin Birth
  1. The Signficance of the Issue
  2. Evidence for the Virgin Birth
    1. Biblical Evidence
    2. Early Church Tradition
  3. Objections to the Virgin Birth
    1. Unexpected Ignorance Regarding The Virgin Birth
    2. The Possibility of its Precluding Full Humanity
    3. Parallels in Other Religions
    4. Incompatibility wit the Preexistence of Christ
    5. Conflict with Natural Law
  4. The Theological Meaning of the Virgin Birth
The Work of Christ
1. Introduction to the Work of Christ
  1. The Functions of Christ
    1. The Revelatory Role of Christ
    2. The Rule of Christ
    3. The Reconciling Work of Christ
  2. The Stages of Christ's Work
    1. The Humiliation
      1. Incarnation
      2. Death
      3. Descent into Hades
    2. The Exaltation
      1. Resurrection
      2. Ascension and Session at the Father's Right Hand
      3. Second Coming
2. Theories of the Atonement
  1. The Significance of the Atonement
  2. The Manifold Theories of the Atonement
    1. The Socinian Theory: The Atonement as Example
    2. The Moral-Influence Theory: The Atonement as a Demonstration of God's Love
    3. The Governmental Theory: The Atonement as a Demonstration of Divine Justice
    4. The Ransom Theory: The Atonement as Victory over the Forces of Sin and Evil
    5. The Satisfaction Theory: The Atonement as Compensation to the Father
3. The Central Theme of Atonement
  1. Background Factors
    1. The Nature of God
    2. Status of the Law
    3. The Human Condition
    4. Christ
    5. The Old Testament Sacrificial System
  2. The New Testament Teaching
    1. The Gospels
    2. The Pauline Writings
  3. The Basic Meaning of Atonement
    1. Sacrifice
    2. Propitiation
    3. Substitution
    4. Reconciliation
  4. Objections to the Penal-Substitution Theory
    1. The Objection to the Concept of the Necessity of Atonement
    2. The Objection to the Concept of Substitution
    3. The Objection to the Concept of Propitiation
    4. The Objection to the Concept of the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness
  5. The Penal-Substitution Theory in Relation to the Other Theories
    1. The Atonement as Example
    2. The Atonement as a Demonstration of God's Love
    3. The Atonement as a Demonstration of God's Justice
    4. The Atonement as Triumph over Evil
  6. The Implications of Substitutionary Atonement
4. The Extent of the Atonement
  1. Form Whom Did Christ Die?
    1. Particular Atonement
    2. Universal Atonement
    3. A Balanced Evaluation
  2. For What Did Christ Die?
The Holy Spirit
1. The Person of the Holy Spirit
  1. The Importance of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
  2. Difficulties in Understanding the Holy Spirit
  3. The History of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
  4. The Nature of the Holy Spirit
    1. The Deity of the Holy Spirit
    2. The Personality of the Holy Spirit
  5. Implications of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
2. The Work of the Holy Spirit
  1. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
  2. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus
  3. The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Christian
    1. The Beginning of the Christian Life
    2. The Continuation of the Christian Life
  4. The Miraculous Gifts Today
  5. Implications of the Work of the Spirit
Salvation
1. Conceptions of Salvation
  1. Details on Which Conceptions of Salvation Differ
    1. The Time Dimension
    2. Nature and Locus of the Need
    3. The Medium of Salvation
    4. The Direction of Movement in Salvation
    5. The Extent of Salvation
    6. The Objects of Salvation
  2. Current Conceptions of Salvation
    1. Liberation Theologies
    2. Existential Theology
    3. Secular Theology
    4. Contemporary Roman Catholic Theology
    5. Evangelical Theology
2. The Antecedent to Salvation: Predestination
  1. The Historical Development of the Doctrine
  2. Differing Views on Predestination
    1. Calvinism
    2. Arminianism
    3. Karl Barth
  3. A Suggested Solution
  4. Implications of Predestination
3. The Beginning of Salvation: Subjective Aspects
  1. Effectual Calling
  2. The Logical Order: Effectual Calling, Conversion, Regeneration
  3. Conversion
    1. Repentance
    2. Faith
  4. Regeneration
  5. Implications of Effectual Calling, Conversion, and Regeneration
4. The Beginning of Salvation: Objective Aspects
  1. Union with Christ
    1. The Scriptural Teaching
    2. Inadequate Models
    3. Characteristics of the Union
    4. Implications of Union with Christ
  2. Justification
    1. Justification and Forensic Righteousness
    2. Objections to the Doctrine of Forensic Justification
    3. Faith and Works
    4. The Lingering Consequences of Sin
  3. Adoption
    1. The Nature of Adoption
    2. The Benefits of Adoption
5. The Continuation of Salvation
  1. Sanctification
    1. The Nature of Sanctification
    2. Sanctification: Complete or Incomplete?
  2. The Christian Life
    1. Union with Christ
    2. A Relationship of Friendship
    3. The Role of the Law
    4. Separation
    5. The Salvation of Old Testament Believers
6. The Completion of Salvation
  1. Perseverance
    1. The Calvinist View
    2. The Arminian View
    3. A Resolution of the Problem
  2. Glorification
    1. The Meaning of "Glory"
    2. The Glorification of the Believer
7. The Means and Extent of Salvation
  1. Views of the Means of Salvation
    1. The View of Liberation Theology
    2. The View of Sacramentalism
    3. The Evangelical View
  2. The Extent of Salvation
    1. Varieties of Universalism
    2. Evaluating the Case for Universalism
The Church
1. The Nature of the Church
  1. Defining the Church
    1. Confusion Regerding the Church
    2. The Empirical-Dynamic Definition of the Church
    3. The Biblical-Philological Definition of the Church
  2. Biblical Images of the Church
    1. The People of God
    2. The Body of Christ
    3. The Temple of the Holy Spirit
  3. Special Problems
    1. The Church and the Kingdom
    2. The Church and Israel
    3. The Visible Church and the Invisible Church
    4. The Time of Inception of the Church
  4. Implications
2. The Role of the Church
  1. The Functions of the Church
    1. Evangelism
    2. Edification
    3. Worship
    4. Social Concern
  2. The Heart of the Ministry of the Church: The Gospel
  3. The Character of the Church
    1. Willingness to Serve
    2. Adaptability
3. The Government of the Church
  1. Forms of Church Government
    1. Episcopal
    2. Presbyterian
    3. Congregational
    4. Nongovernment
  2. Constructing a System of Church Government for Today
4. The Initiatory Rite of the Church: Baptism
  1. The Basic Views of Baptism
    1. Baptism as a Means of Saving Grace
    2. Baptism as a Sign and Seal of the Covenant
    3. Baptism as a Token of Salvation
  2. Resolving the Issues
    1. The Meaning of Baptism
    2. The Subjects of Baptism
    3. The Mode of Baptism
5. The Continuing Rite of the Church: The Lord's Supper
  1. Points of Agreement
    1. Establishment by Christ
    2. The Necessity of Repetition
    3. A Form of Proclamation
    4. A Spiritual Benefit to the Partaker
    5. Restriction to Followers of Christ
    6. The Horizontal Dimension
  2. Points of Disagreement
    1. The Presence of Christ
    2. The Efficacy of the Rite
    3. The Proper Administrator
    4. The Appropriate Recipients
    5. The Elements to Be Used
  3. Major Views
    1. The Traditional Roman Catholic View
    2. The Lutheran View
    3. The Reformed View
    4. The Zwinglian View
  4. Dealing with the Issues
    1. The Presence of Christ
    2. The Efficacy of the Rite
    3. The Proper Administrator
    4. The Appropriate Recipients
    5. The Elements to Be Used
    6. The Frequency of Observance
6. The Unity of the Church
  1. Arguments for Unity of the Church
    1. Biblical Teachings Regarding the Unity of Believers
    2. General Theological Considerations
    3. Practical Considerations: A Common Witness and Efficiency
  2. Conceptions of the Nature of Unity
    1. Spiritual Unity
    2. Mutual Recognition and Fellowship
    3. Conciliar Unity
    4. Organic Unity
  3. The History and Present Status of Ecumenism
  4. Issues Raise by Evangelicals
    1. The Theological Issue
    2. The Ecclesiological Issue
    3. The Methodological Issue
    4. The Teleological Issue
  5. Guidelines for Action
The Last Things
1. Introduction to Eschatology
  1. The Status of Eschatology
  2. The Classification of Eschatologies
  3. Modern Treatments of Eschatology
    1. The Liberal Approach: Modernized Eschatology
    2. Albert Schweitzer: Demondernized Eschatology
    3. C. H. Dodd: Realized Eschatology
    4. Rudolf Bultmann: Existentialized Eschatology
    5. Jurgen Moltmann: Politicized Eschatology
    6. Dispensationalism: Systematized Eschatology
  4. Conclusions Regarding Eschatology
2. Individual Eschatology
  1. Death
    1. The Reality of Death
    2. The Nature of Death
    3. Physical Death: Natural or Unnatural?
    4. The Effects of Death
  2. The Intermediate State
    1. The Difficulty of the Doctrine
    2. Current Views of the Intermediate State
      1. Soul Sleep
      2. Purgatory
      3. Instantaneous Resurrection
      4. A Suggested Resolution
  3. Implications of the Doctrines of Death and the Intermediate State
3. The Second Coming and Its Consequences
  1. The Second Coming
    1. The Definiteness of the Event
    2. The Indefiniteness of the Time
    3. The Character of the Coming
      1. Personal
      2. Physical
      3. Visible
      4. Unexpected
      5. Triumphant and Glorious
    4. The Unity of the Second Coming
    5. The imminence of the Second Coming
  2. Resurrection
    1. The Biblical Teaching
    2. A Work of the Triune God
    3. Bodily in Nature
    4. Of Both the Righteous and the Unrighteous
  3. The Final Judgment
    1. A Future Event
    2. Jesus Christ the Judge
    3. The Subjects of the Judgment
    4. The Basis of the Judgment
    5. The Finality of the Judgment
  4. Implications of the Second Coming and Its Consequents
4. Millennial and Tribulational Views
  1. Millennial Views
    1. Postmillennialism
    2. Premillennialism
    3. Amillennialism
    4. Resolving the Issues
  2. Tribulational Views
    1. Pretribulationism
    2. Posttribulationism
    3. Mediating Positions
    4. Resolving the Issues
5. Final States
  1. Final State of the Righteous
    1. The Term "Heaven"
    2. The Nature of Heaven
    3. Our Life in Heaven: Rest, Worship, and Service
    4. Issues Regarding Heaven
  2. Final State of the Wicked
    1. The Finality of the Future Judgment
    2. The Eternality of Future Punishment
    3. Degrees of Punishment
  3. Implications of the Doctrine of the Final States
Concluding Thoughts