Introduction to Systematic Theology Intro to Systematic Theology
- Slides: 23
Introduction to Systematic Theology Intro to Systematic Theology 3
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY • Not Identical with Roman Catholic Theology – Modern RC Theology is based on the Council of Trent and Vatican Councils I and II – Old Catholic Theology occurs prior to division between the western church and the eastern church in A. D. 1054 • Patristic Theology, is theology of the fathers, the first 4, 5 centuries 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 2
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY • A period of expansion in which there was little time for serious reflective work • Scripture received with a naïve faith; practice was valued above theory • Attempts to redefine or absorb Christianity by other systems, e. g. , Gnosticism • Reflective, scientific theology began with the Apologists, A. D. 120 -220 – Aristedes, Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, Tatian, Theophilus, Tertullian – Often, they defended Christianity by using pagan philosophical terms – Such “synthesis thinking, ” using pagan concepts or terms to defend Christianity, robbed Christianity of its absoluteness 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 3
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY • TERTULLIAN warned against the union of Athens and Jerusalem – Nevertheless he introduced terms: Trinitas, Substantia, and Persona into Trinitarian debate • The use of pagan terms is acceptable when filled with Christian meaning; e. g. , John 1: 1: kai ‘o logoj sarx egeneto • Summary of first three centuries: Theology was a by-product of apologetic activity. 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 4
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: • In the Fourth century, there was the rise of internal conflict – Theology developed in a polemical context – Controversial theology developed over Trinitarian/ Christological issues • Controversy was primarily within the geographical bounds of the eastern church • The first four councils of the Church occurred in the East (Asia Minor, or modern day Turkey) 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 5
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: Four Ecumenical Councils Chalcedon A. D. 451 Constantinople A. D. 381 Nicea A. D. 325 Ephesus A. D. 431 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 6
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: Certain trends developed within the two geographical divisions • EASTERN CHURCH – Concern with being/Trinity – Concern with relation of Man to God – Interested in nature of Sin • defined in terms of God Holy and Just • participation in corruption /salvation is participation in deity) – Ontology- Being/Non-being – Mystical – Roots in Scripture: JOHN focused on the Person of Christ, the Ontology of Redemption 12/29/2021 • WESTERN CHURCH – Concern over Person of Christ – Man guilty before God – Emphasis on Legal (forensic) – Law and Grace – Rational – Roots in Scripture: PAUL focused on the Economy of Redemption, Justification, Union with Christ Intro to Systematic Theology 3 7
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: Old Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Mystical Roman Catholic Forensic Reformed Heavily Forensic Mystical Purged 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 8
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: • Origen – Wrote De Principiis, • On First Principles • Regarded by some as the first Systematic Theology text • John of Damascus – Finalized the Eastern doctrine of Trinity – The most influential of the Greek theologians 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 9
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: • Augustine – Enchiridion ad Laurentium, Handbook for Lawrence • Based on a 3 -fold division of faith, hope, love [doctrine, Lord’s Prayer, ethics] • Division often reflected in many Protestant catechisms – Influenced early in life by Manichaeism and Neo. Platonism – Developed theology of original sin- against Pelagianism – Developed theology of church/sacrament- against Donatus – Known for his work in Trinitarian theology and his development of double predestination. 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 10
OLD CATHOLIC THEOLOGY: • Methodological Considerations – Little awareness of covenant – First principles inconsistently applied • Priority of Scripture for some • Priority of pagan philosophical concepts for others – Cultural influences determined trajectory of developing theologies (Eastern/Western) – Trinitarian/Christological controversies led to significant creedal development 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 11
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • The Period, A. D. 1050 -1517 – This chronology is based on Gordon Clark, Thales to Dewey, 249 – See also the chronology in William Cunningham, Historical Theology, 1, 414 • Three smaller periods – Early Scholasticism, A. D. 1050 -1200 • Lanfranc- Albertus Magnus – High Scholasticism, A. D. 1200 -1340 • Albertus Magnus, Aquinas, Bonaventura, Duns Scotus – Late Scholasticism, A. D. 1340 -1517 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 12
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Libri Quatuor Sententiarum – Peter Lombard, Four Books of Sentences written, 1150 -1160 • Sic et Non – Peter Abelard, Yes and No, lived 10971142 • Corpus Juris Canonici – Gratian, Body of Canon Law, ca. 1150 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 13
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Anselm, A. D. 1033 -1109 – Methodology summarized in slogan, Credo Ut Intelligam, “I believe in order that I may understand” – For Anselm, Faith is prior to Reason • Reacted against the mystical tendencies of medieval theology • Cur Deus Homo, (Why the God Man? ) – Introduced satisfaction theory of atonement based on God’s majesty being offended • Proslogion and Monologion, – Developed Ontological argument for existence of God 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 14
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Abelard, A. D. 1079 -1142 – Wrote Sic et Non (“Yes and No”) – Was enthusiastic about dialectical thinking (this is the style of Sic et Non) • Used dialectics to attempt to explain the mysteries of the faith and contradictions found in the church fathers. • Methodology is summarized in the slogan, “I believe that which I may understand. ” 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 15
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Peter Lombard, A. D. 1095 -1159 – Lombard was a pupil of Abelard – His Sentences became the most useful and popular text on theology in the middle ages • Taught 7 sacraments • Based on Sic et Non • Was dialectical in style • God, Angels and Men, Christ, Church and Sacraments • Much of medieval theology a mere commentary on the Sentences 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 16
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Thomas Aquinas, A. D. 1225 -1274 – Wrote Summa Theologiae, (“Compendium or Totality of Theology”) – Most important theology text to come from the Scholastic period. • He employed a Nature/Grace scheme – Grace complements and completes Nature – Synthesized Aristotle and Scripture • Begin with Reason • Revelation complements and completes Reason 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 17
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • For Aquinas, the value of natural theology – Its provision of a foundation of truth accessible to all – Other truths about God (i. e. , his Tri-unity) are not available through natural theology – These must be accepted on the authority of the Church • The Summa consists of three parts – God as he is in himself – God as man’s end (and the way back to God) – Christ as man’s way to God 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 18
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY • Trends in Scholasticism – see Tillich, History of Christian Thought, 140 • Dialectics (Yes and No; Nature and Grace; Reason and Revelation) • Augustinianism and Aristotelianism – For Augustinians- priority of faith – For Aristotelians- priority of reason • Thomism and Scotism – Thomists: intellect, preeminent characteristic of God – Scotists: will, preeminent characteristic of God • Nominalism and Realism 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 19
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY: Defects • Methodologically: No clear authority governing how one does theology – No principium theologiae, “first principle, ” • How does that differ from today!? – The Word of God was greatly neglected • Many could not read the biblical languages and worked only with the Latin Vulgate – Instead, there were several substitutes for the authority of the Word • Tradition • Philosophy • Mysticism 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 20
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY: Defects • The results of Scholasticism may be described as ambiguous – Much discussion about useless/unprofitable questions – Much mental activity and the development of elaborate systems with endless distinctions and differences – Failure to distinguish between what was legitimate investigation and what was not – Little awareness of significance of covenant – Priority of reason over revelation 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 21
SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY: Benefits • Scholasticism is the “immediate antecedent of the Reformation” – William Cunningham, HT, 1, 418 – Provides the background for Reformation, especially late medieval nominalism – See H. Oberman, The Harvest of Medieval Theology • Scholasticism provided much useful theological vocabulary – E. g. , the term satisfactio, in relation to the atonement of Christ 12/29/2021 Intro to Systematic Theology 3 22
Introduction to Systematic Theology Intro to Systematic Theology 3
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- Define theology proper
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- Basil mitchell
- The development of catholic trinitarian theology
- Theology proper lecture notes
- What is theology
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- Inconsistent triad
- Seattle university school of theology and ministry
- Revelation 21:9-10
- Eccumenicalism
- Arminian theology
- Mike mazzalongo theology
- 5 pillars of reformed theology
- Himalayan graduate school of theology
- Antony flew theology and falsification
- Fire imagery in the crucible act 3
- Theology
- Practical theology mpt
- Praxis model of contextual theology
- Flailing definition the crucible
- Theology of self care