THE 511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS I INTRODUCTION

THE 511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY CLASS I: INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY & INTRO TO THEOLOGY OF THE GOSPELS

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 1. 1 Introduction to NT Theology • My favorite theological theme in NT and why? • Theological topic/theme that is most troublesome • Controversial themes in NT theology? • Predestination & free will • Eschatological views • Spiritual gifts (tongues, prophecies, miracles) A good reason to study NT theology

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Test your knowledge in NT theology 1. Which two evangelists emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit? 2. Which NT books focus on cosmic Christology? 3. NT author that highlight “justification by faith” 4. NT book that describes the advance of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit 5. This epistle is about “faith in action” 6. This epistle compares Christ to high priest and OT institutions 7. This book of the NT uses sharp dualism of light-darkness, above-below, truthfalsehood 8. Epistle that contains the most profound theology of suffering in the NT 9. Book that demonstrates Christ’s ultimate victory over all evil 10. Gospel that focuses on practical righteousness

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • More challenging topics in NT theology • Relationship between the testaments • How to synthesize different aspects of NT into NT theology • Challenging topics • • • Eschatology (Millennial views & rapture question) The role of Mosaic Law in ethics and salvation (Matthew & Paul) Faith and works (Paul & James) Spiritual gifts Christology of different authors

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY The Role of Mosaic Law in NT Theology • FMatt 5: 17 -18 17 “Do not think that I came to abolish* the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (NASB) Eph 2: 15 (cf. Rom 10: 4) He has abolished* the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace (NRSV) For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Jam 2: 25 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Interpretative paradigms and NT Theology • Presuppositions and pre-understanding in NT theology • • Church/theological tradition Socio-cultural and personal history • Two evangelical systems • Covenant theology • • New Covenantalism Dispensational theology • • • Classical Revised Progressive

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Theological systems, hermeneutics and NT theology Issue Interpretation of the Kingdom of Heaven? Covenant Same as kingdom of God; rule of God displayed through the church Classic disp. Davidic theocratic kingdom – postponed to millennium due to rejection by Jews Revised disp. Davidic kingdom in the past and offered to Jews by Jesus; in mystery format currently the church; and in the millennium Progressive disp. As covenant theology – identical w/ kingdom of God; already inaugurated during Jesus’ ministry and church but fully consummated in the millennium

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • l Issue Interpretation of the sermon of the Mount. Covenant Way of life for the church Classic disp. Way of life in the Millennium; moral application to church Revised disp. As above Progressive disp. Way of life for believers now though fully realized in the Millennium

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • l Issue Interpretation of the restoration of Israel and prophecy Covenant 1) Partial fulfillment in return from Exile 2) typologically fulfilled in church 3) spiritual fulfillment in eternal state Classic disp. Literal fulfillment in the Millennium Revised disp. As above Progressive disp. Partial fulfillment in church and fully in the Millennium

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 1. 2 The Nature of New Testament theology • NT theology among theological disciplines • Systematic theology • Systematic presentation of doctrines • Historical theology • Development of doctrine across the centuries • Dogmatic theology • Authoritative pronouncements of the church(es) • Contemporary theology • Post-Reformation developments in theology • Practical theology • Pastoral theology, homiletics, missiology, counseling

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Biblical theology (modernist paradigm) • Historical and biblical • Emphasis on descriptive historical development – focus on process • • Uses concepts found in the Bible • • John’s and Paul’s Christology – not two natures per later dogma Emphasis on human character and agency (cf. Luke 1: 1 -4) • • E. g. son of God in OT and NT (Gen 6: 1 -2; Ex 4: 22; 2 Sam 7: 14; Ps 2: 7; Hos 11: 1; Luke 3: 38; John 1: 49; Matt 26: 63 -64; Heb 1: 1 -3) The process of writing Luke’s gospel Progressive nature of revelation (cf. Heb 1: 1) Less focused on application or direct relevance

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Biblical theology and NT theology Exegesis of texts OT theology NT NT theology Biblical theology Exegesis Biblical theology Systematic Theology

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 2. 1 Historical Development of NT theology – Briefly • From church Fathers to Medieval Theology • Regula fidei as a guide (Church Fathers) • Dogma of the Church (Medieval period) • • Five-fold sense of the Scripture read in light of Dogma

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Reformation and biblical theology • From dogma to biblical theology • Historical/literal meaning • Inadequately applied (esp. OT) • Sola Scriptura principle • Later Protestant orthodoxy largely reverted back to dogmatism • Pietism & subjectivism • Holiness-Pentecostal movement & charismatic hermeneutics • Evangelicals and fundamentalist-liberal controversy

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Birth of modern biblical theology • Historical-criticism as catalyst • J. P. Gabler (1787) and birth of biblical theology • • Biblical vs. dogmatic theology Historical discipline Descriptive task Freedom from the dogma of the church Foundation for the modern biblical theology • Postmodern New Testament Theology (A. K. M. Adam)

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 2. 2 Recent approaches to NT theology • Historical-critical approaches • Historical-criticism and theology • Developmental and evolutionary approaches • • • Is NT theology possible? (H. Räisänen 1990, 2002; cf. W. Wrede) Moderate approaches (J. Gnilka; P. Stuhlmacher; U. Schnelle) Characterized by emphasis on diversity (and disunity) • Based on historical reconstruction Some discount the possibility of revelation

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Conservative & moderate NT theologies – history & theology • Importance of revelation • Basic unity of the NT theology affirmed • • Extent of diversity disputed Importance of exegesis - history and theology • Some more prominent NT theologies • • • G. K Beale (2011); I. H. Marshall (2004) F. Thielman (2008); L. Morris (1990) F. Matera (2007); T. Schreiner (2008) N. T. Wright (1992 -); G. Ladd (1974) D. Guthrie (1981); Caird and Hurst (1994) Zuck and Dowery (1994); L. Helyer (2008)

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Postmodern approach to NT theology (A. K. M. Adam) • Critique of standard approaches • • Historicism & lust for novelty and progress Elitism and antipopulism • Starting point w/ community’s sense of the NT • Explicit theology that “makes sense” to a particular group All biblical theology is perspectival

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 2. 3 Problems of Method and Approach • How and where to start? • OT history and theology? • Biblical theology of the NT • Intertestamental history and background? • Jesus (historical Jesus)? • Early church? • Occasional nature of NT documents • E. g. 1 Cor • History, culture, theology intertwined

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Unity and Diversity in NT • Diverse perspectives within the unity • Is there a center of NT theology? • • Death and resurrection of Jesus? Justification by faith? Holiness? God’s glory and worship? Mission? Salvation? Kingdom of God What to do with the material that is non-center?

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Approach and organization of materials 1) Collection of materials according to themes (e. g. righteousness) • Older approach of systematic theology (and early Pentecostals) • Largely abandoned • Problems • • • Assumes uniformity of thought in the NT Little consideration of historical context Little consideration of diversity of perspectives

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 2) Categories from systematic theology (D. Guthrie) • • Categories of systematic theology Historical context and author’s perspective Matthew Paul James Creation Lord’s supper - - Spiritual gifts - • Possible problems • • Imposing systematic categories on NT authors Lack of relevant data on certain topics

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 3) Historical development approach • Importance of historical reconstruction Jesus Jerusalem church Gentile churches Early Catholicism Kingdom of God Kerygma Doctrine Prophet & Messiah Christology 12 disciples 12 apostles & hellenists Charismatic church structure Formalized structure • Potential problems: • • Hypothetical reconstruction Focus on history more than theology

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 4) Author/Book centered approach • Theology of each book & each author/block • Synthesis Paul (Rom, Gal etc. ) Luke (Luke-Acts) John (Jh, 1 -3 Jh, Rev) Creation Justification - - (Kingdom of God) Kingdom of God - Holy Spirit • Some problems • How to combine various “blocks”? • • Jesus or the Gospels? Paul and Acts? How to synthesize the various perspectives into a whole?

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Concluding comments • Historical perspective important • Respect the perspective of each book & author • Synthesis needs to be done carefully • • • Conscious emphasis on certain parts (contextual realities) General synthesis remains on high level of abstraction More than one legitimate approach and outcome NT theology always a reconstruction to some extent

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY 3. 1 Introduction to theology of the Gospels • Some important issues and questions • Why four gospels? -- • Dilemma of sources and historicity(? ) • Should we talk about… • Theology of Jesus or of each gospel? (esp. Luke-Acts; John) • Relationship b/w gospels and the rest of NT • Why does Paul hardly ever refer to Jesus’ earthly life? Is there a disconnection between the epistles and gospels?

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Connections b/w gospels and epistles • • Luke and Acts (Luke-Acts) John’s writings (esp. Gospel and epistles) Allusions to Jesus’ teachings in James and 1 Peter Some references to Jesus’ words in Paul (e. g. 1 Cor 11) Epistles pastoral responses to pressing issues Different purpose of gospels and epistles

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • Starting point of theology of the synoptic Gospels • Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God • Summons of people to faith & repentance in light of the kingdom (Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection) • • Mediated through the unique perspective of each evangelist Mark: gospel in light of in-breakingdom Matthew: righteousness required by the kingdom Luke: salvation and reversal of fortunes brought by the kingdom

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY • John’s unique perspective • • Eternal life instead of kingdom Incarnation & sending of the pre-existent Son by the Father John’s gospel treated together w/ epistles and Revelation