SBTS Systematic Theology 2 Final Exam Questions & Answers 2024/2025
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SBTS Systematic Theology 2
Institution
SBTS Systematic Theology 2
SBTS Systematic Theology 2 Final Exam Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Systematic Theology - ANSWERSThe application of God's Word by persons to all areas of life
Biblical Theology - ANSWERSIt answers the question: What does the whole Bible teach us today about any given topic? But it attempts ...
SBTS Systematic Theology 2 Final Exam
Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Systematic Theology - ANSWERSThe application of God's Word by persons to all areas of life
Biblical Theology - ANSWERSIt answers the question: What does the whole Bible teach us today about
any given topic? But it attempts to summarize what the whole Bible says about any given topic and/or
question in not only an orderly and comprehensive manner, but also carefully following the story-line of
Scripture. In this important sense, systematic theology seeks to understand the whole Bible and apply
that 'big picture' (=metanarrative) to our own lives and to our hearers. In short, systematic theology
attempts to think God's thoughts after him and to bring every thought captive to Christ
Intratextual reading of Scripture - ANSWERSBoth the structure and content of the text are important. It
works inductively from the biblical text where the text sets the agenda and gives the categories of
thought. It seeks to make connections within the canon.
What is the use of rationality/reason? - ANSWERSa) Reason has a ministerial function.
(b) Rule: "We are free to use our reasoning abilities to draw conclusions from Scripture so long as these
conclusions do not contradict the clear teaching of some other passage of Scripture."
*Rationalism uses reason as chief source and test of knowledge, rather than Scripture.
What is the place of mystery in theology, and how is mystery different than contradiction? -
ANSWERSMystery is not only acceptable within Christian theology, it is also necessary. In fact, it follows
from our doctrine of God. Logic derives its validity from the character of God. He himself determines
ultimately what is possible and he alone has exhaustive knowledge. Our knowledge is true, yet finite. It is
limited by our created status and by God's limitation of revelation. Entailment: Because we do not know
all the truth we do not know all the interconnections between the truths. Mystery is simply the result of
our ignorance about the interconnections. In many doctrinal areas, we do not know fully how various
elements of the revelation of God come together, but we do know that because it comes from God, it
must come together.
,What is progressive revelation? - ANSWERSRevelation is progressive because redemptive history is
progressive. The focal point of biblical theology, then, is not only the historical unfolding of God's self-
revelation, but also the organically related, and expanding movement of that revelation pressing on
toward its consummation in Jesus Christ (cf. Heb 1:1-2). God did not disclose himself in one exhaustive
act but in an organic, progressive manner, and that this organic-progression is from seed (=OT) to full
growth (=NT).
What are the three horizons in reading Scripture? - ANSWERS(1) The Textual Horizon (=Where We Start
with Any Text).
(2) The Epochal Horizon (=Where are we in the unfolding story?). As already stated, redemption does not
come all at once. It progresses in stages, through different epochs.
(3) The Canonical Horizon: (=Where the text fits in light of the whole canon). To read the Bible
canonically is to read the Bible as a unified communicative act of a single divine author.
(1) The Textual Horizon - ANSWERSWhere We Start with Any Text
The Epochal Horizon - ANSWERSWhere are we in the unfolding story
The Canonical Horizon - ANSWERSWhere the text fits in light of the whole canon). To read the Bible
canonically is to read the Bible as a unified communicative act of a single divine author.
What is typology? - ANSWERSinvolves an organic or essential relation between events, persons, and
institutions in one epoch and their counterparts in later epochs. Typology is not the same as allegory.
The typological relation is the central means by which particular epochal and textual horizons are linked
to later horizons in redemptive revelation. It links the present to the future, and it retroactively links the
present with the past.
The concept of divine actions/miracles? - ANSWERSBiblically speaking, miracles are God's mighty 'signs';
'wonders'; and 'works'. In this sense, they are unusual/extraordinary events caused by God's power that
are demonstrations of God's covenant Lordship. A miracle without an interpretative context is inherently
ambiguous.
Opera ad intra - ANSWERSworks that terminate within God's own being
, opera ad extra - ANSWERSworks that terminate outside God's own being
Process Theism (Panentheism) and Divine Action: Can God act in the world? - ANSWERSRejects a biblical
view of divine action - viz., as the primary cause of events in the world. They argue that it is
'mythological' to talk of God 'intervening' in history. Aaffirms that God is active in the world in a
'persuasive' way in the sense that he attempts to 'lure' every actual entity with new possibilities to
actualize, but he ever does so in a 'coercive' manner. God is not to be viewed as the one who is Lord of
every detail of the world process. Since each actual entity always has libertarian freedom, even though
God may present new possibilities to the entity which are attractive and persuasive, he can never
guarantee compliance. God is only able to influence' and give teleological direction; he in no way can
guarantee that his ends will be achieved. Even if God wanted to, it is quite metaphysically impossible for
him to effectively guarantee anything, given the nature of reality for it denies efficient causation. So, God
acts in and is he partial cause of all events, but he is the sole cause of none. God's action in the world
involves risk - persuasive rather than coercive.
Extraordinary v. Ordinary Providence - ANSWERSTheologians have distinguished between 'ordinary
providence' (=providential ordinaria) and 'extraordinary providence' (=providential extraordinaria) to
stress that the workings of 'nature,' whether they be 'ordinary' or 'extraordinary' are all under God's
providential control. It is best to view 'miracles' as a demonstration of God's covenant Lordship.
Libertarian or indeterministic view of human freedom - ANSWERSGod decided to give humans free will.
In this sense, God has 'limited' himself in what he can and cannot do. For if he has given humans such
freedom then he cannot control their free actions if they are to remain free actions.
Compatibilistic view of human freedom - ANSWERSeven though human actions are causally determined,
they are still free as long as the agents act according to their wishes, i.e. without constraint. God did not
have to create anything, but having decided to create, he chose our world from among a number of
possible worlds. His decision to create this world was unconditional. Because God's plan (=decree) is
efficacious, whatever God plans comes to pass, and Scripture teaches that the decree covers all things.
Hence God is absolutely sovereign and has not limited that sovereignty to make room for human
freedom.
Open Theism - ANSWERSGiven libertarian freedom, this view argues that God cannot know the future
free actions of creatures. It is due to the fact that the language of divine decree is dropped or modified.
God's will is not the ultimate explanation for everything that happens; human decisions and actions
make an important contribution too.
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