Assignment: Principles of Christian Faith
Review Sheet
The mid-semester exam comprises of three sections
Section A: True and False
Section B: Multiple Choice
Section C: Short Answers
This review sheet is a general guide and does not cover in details the content of the exam. The student must remember that according to the policies of this class, he/she is accountable for all the materials covered in the class
1. THE TASK OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
-Define Theology
-The relationship between faith and reason
-The nature and purpose of theology
-Different areas of theological study
-The role of the church in theology
2. DIVINE REVELATION
-The means of revelation
-The content of revelation
-General Revelation versus Special Revelation
-Revealed Theology versus Natural Theology (Emmanuel Kant)
-The nature of Biblical revelation
--Note the extent to which the Bible is Divine and Human
--What are the divine elements?
--What are the human elements?
-The meaning of the term "prophecy" (who is a prophet?)
--What is the purpose of prophecy?
-Basic principles of Biblical interpretation
-What is inerrancy? What are the problems associated with it?
-The contents of the Bible - Old testament, New Testament, Apocrypha etc.
-The meaning of the term "canon" and its significance regarding Biblical authority.
-Selected Messages, Book 1, page 21 (Ellen White's view of Biblical inspiration)
3. GOD'S RELATION TO THE WORLD
-monism versus dualism
-pantheism, deism, and theism
-monotheism versus polytheism
Know how the above concepts interrelate
-Anthropmorphism
--What is it?
--How does it affect our understanding about God and ourselves?
-Understand the Biblical concept of One God-note that it is not connected with the doctrine of the Trinity.
4. THE NATURE AND FALL OF HUMANITY
-What aspect of humanity constitutes the "image" of God?
- Dualism and the concept of life after death
-Human Sexuality
--Different kinds of sexuality
--Difference between sex and gender
--Gender roles and social constructions of gender
-The difference between the terms "sin" and "sins"
-The meaning of the term "total depravity" as postulated by John Calvin
-"Original sin" as postulated by Augustine
-The Pelagian challenge to the concept of "original sin"
5. THE PERSON AND WORK OF JESUS.
-The terms christology and soteriology
-The difference between Jesus place in Christianity, and other prophets' place in their religion
-The relationship between Jesus and Christianity
-The relationship between Jesus and God
--Pay special attention to John1:1-14
-What do the Gospels say about Jesus?
--Know the meaning of the terms Christ, Son of God, Messiah.
-The theories of the atonement
-The importance of Jesus' resurrection
-The dispute over Jesus' humanity
--The implication of Hebrews 4:15
6. LOVE, GRACE AND LAW
- The purpose of Law
-The relationship between God's commandment(s) and tradition
- The meaning of "faith" in the Bible
- The meaning of "righteousness" in the Bible
- The relationship between justice and love
TERMS TO KNOW
Soteriology, Christology.
Sample Questions
A. True and False
1. ( ) The Bible is the word of God mainly because the words were dictated to the authors by God.
B. Multiple Choice. Circle the letter which represents the most accurate response to the following:
1. Which of the following does not represent a principle of Biblical interpretation?
a. Historical context
b. Use of the right version
c. Comparing scripture
d. Literary context
C. Short Answers
Explain the meaning of any two of the following terms
a. Monism
b. Pantheism
c. Polytheism
d. soteriology.