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Religion 3001: Doctrine 1 301 – God So Loved the World (version 2019) Prolegomena – Introduction to the Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 1 pp. 1-6 The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 2 pp. 6-22 The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 3 pp. 22-34 The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 4 pp. 35-46 Holy Scripture Lesson 5 pp. 46-62 Holy Scripture Lesson 6 pp. 62-76 Holy Scripture Lesson 7 pp. 77-86 Holy Scripture Lesson 8 pp. 87-96 Holy Scripture Theology – A Study of God, the Author of Salvation Lesson 9 pp. 99-108 The Natural and Revealed Knowledge of God / The Essence & Attributes of God Lesson 10 pp. 108-119 The Essence and Attributes of God Lesson 11 pp. 121-127 The Triune God Lesson 12 pp. 127-145 The Doctrine of the Trinity Anthropology – A Study of Man, the Object of Salvation Lesson 13 pp. 148-161 Creation Lesson 14 pp. 163-169 Providence Lesson 15 pp. 169-176 Providence Lesson 16 pp. 177-188 Angels Lesson 17 pp. 189-197 Mankind Lesson 18 pp. 197-208 Mankind Lesson 19 pp. 208-217 Mankind Lesson 20 pp. 218-226 Mankind Christology – A Study of Jesus Christ, the Mediator of Salvation Lesson 21 pp. 229-235 Grace Lesson 22 pp. 237-243 The Person of Jesus Christ Lesson 23 pp. 243-254 The Person of Jesus Christ Lesson 24 pp. 254-266 The Person of Jesus Christ Lesson 25 pp. 267-278 The States of Christ Lesson 26 pp. 278-287 The States of Christ Lesson 27 pp. 289-300 The Threefold Office of Christ 1 2 Prolegomena – Introduction to the Study of Christian Doctrine 301 – God So Loved the World The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 1, pp. 1-6 The Core of Christian Doctrine: pp. 3,4 1. What is the core of Christian doctrine? Eph 2:20; 1 Co 2:2 2. Who is Jesus Christ? 3. What two principles enunciated by Paul will we follow as we approach the study of Christian doctrine? a. Ac 20:27 b. 1 Co 2:2 4. What are the three principles which guided the Reformers in their teaching of Christian doctrine? Explain them. a. b. c. 5. Why is it important to use law and gospel properly? 6. Why is it important to stress the use of the means of grace as we study Christian doctrine? 7. What is the Christian’s sole source for doctrine? Jn 6:68,69. 3 The Bible is the only source and standard for the Christian’s faith and life: pp. 4-6. 1. What was the source of doctrine for the people of the Old Testament from Adam through Moses? Ge 3:15. 2. When Moses wrote the Pentateuch, what became the source for believer’s faith and life? Dt 4:2; Jos 1:7; Isa 8:20, Luke 24:44. 3. What did Jesus tell us was the authority for our faith and life? Jn 6:63, 68, 69 4. How have Jesus’ words been passed on to us? Jn 14:26, 16:13,14 5. What warning does the Bible give those who would add to or subtract from the teaching of the Bible? Rev 22:18,19. 6. What do the Lutheran Confessions state concerning the teaching of Christian doctrine? Cf. SA II II:15; FC Sd rule and Norm:3 7. What is our approach to the study of Christian doctrine? 4 President Mark G. Schroeder August 2009 Forward in Christ 5 301 – God So Loved the World The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 2, pp. 6-22 Other approaches to the study of Christian doctrine. 1. How do the following approach the study of Christian doctrine? a. Roman Catholic is m (Compare the view of the Council of Trent with that of Vatican II) b. The Orthodox Church (see pp. 11-13) c. The Reformed Churches d. Cults e. Modernism f. Post-Modernism 2. Answer the following questions: a. What brought about the break between the Eastern and the Western churches? b. Give a brief overview of the development of the Orthodox Church. c. Identify how the Reformed approach to the study of the Bible affects the following teachings of the Bible: 1. The means of grace 2. The real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Lord’s Supper 6 3. Conversion d. List the six characteristics of a cult? 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) e. Relate the influences from the 18th through the 20th centuries which led to the development of Modernism and Post-Modernism. Identify the following: 1. The Enlightenment 2. David Hume 3. Jean Astruc 4. Johann Semler 5. Charles Darwin 6. Karl Marx 7. Friedrich Nietzsche 8. Sigmund Freud 9. Romanticism 10. Immanuel Kant 11. Friedrich Schleiermacher 12. Religious Liberalism 13. Neo-orthodoxy 14. Rudolph Bultma nn 7 15. Existentialism 16. Demythologizing 17. The Jesus of History vs. the Historica l Jesus 18. Albert Schweitzer and “The Quest for the Historical Jesus” 19. Modernism’s view of the Bible 20. Modernism’s view of the world 21. Postmodernism’s view of truth and the Bible 22. Postmodernism’s view of science, society, and education 3. Relate how the following approach the study of Christian doctrine: a. Neo-orthodoxy b. Radical theology c. Secular theology d. Liberation theology e. Feminist theology f. Black theology g. Existential theology 4. In conclusion, reiterate what our approach is to the study of Christian doctrine. 8 9 301 – God So Loved the World The Study of Christian Doctrine Lesson 3, pp. 22-34 Christianity is the absolute religion. pp. 22-24 1. What is an absolute? 2. List two reasons why we call Christianity the absolute religion? a. Ro 3:28, Eph 2:8,9, Jn 14:6, Ac 4:12 b. Lk 21:33, Ro 5:5 Theology is an active aptitude to administer the treasures of Scripture. pp. 24,25 1. Define: theology in the objective sense. 2. Define : theology in the subjective sense. 3. Distinguish between the ability all Christians have to teach God’s Word and the special abilities give to some to serve in the public ministry. Col 3:16, 1 Pe 3:15: 2 Co 3:5, 1 Ti 3:2 4. Identify the characteristics needed by those who serve in the public ministry. a. 2 Co 3:5 b. Jn 8:31, 32 c. Mt 28:18-20, Ac 20:27 d. 1 Co 4:2 10 e. Mt 7:15, Ro 16:17, Tit 1:9 f. 2 Ti 2:3, 9, 12 Christian doctrine is everything that the Bible teaches. pp. 25-27 1. What is Christian doctrine? 2 Tm 3:16 2. What is true doctrine? 3. What is false doctrine? a. b. 4. Demonstrate that there is no useless information in the Bible. Ge 12:6, 2 Ti 3:16 5. Demonstrate that we cannot limit doctrine only to teachings that pertain to our salvation. 2 Ti 3:16; cf. the statement of our Lutheran Confessions: FC Ep V: 3 6. Explain: Luther and the Confessions speak of doctrine as singular, not plural. 7. Distinguish between doctrine in the wide sense and doctrine in the narrow sense. 8. Of what use are doctrinal statements? 11 9. Explain: doctrinal statements may change, but the Bible does not change. The Bible distinguishes between teachings basic to salvation and teachings that assist faith. pp. 27–33. 1. Is there any teaching of the Bible with which we can dispense? Explain. Mt 28:20, 2 Ti 3:16 2. What is a fundamental doctrine? 3. What is the central doctrine of the Bible? Gal 5:4; Jn 3:18; Cf. SA II I:1-5 4. Identify the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. a. Isa 43:11; Jn 17:3, Ac 4:12 b. 1 Jn 1:9 c. Mt 9:2 d. Mt 16:13-17 e. 2 Co 5:21, Gal 4:4,5 f. 1 Co 15:17, 1 Ti 1:19,20, 2 Ti 2:17 g. Ro 1:16; 10:17 5. What is a non-fundamental doctrine? 6. How can an error with regard to a non-fundamental doctrine still undermine the foundation of a person’s faith? 12 7. What is a “secondary fundamental doctrine?” Identify which teachings of Scripture fit into this classification. 8. What is a proper use of the term “open question?” 9. What is an improper use of the term “open question?” Mt 28:20 The academic divisions of theology. p. 33 1. List and explain the six major areas into which we divide the study of Christian doctrine. a. b. c. d. e. f. 2. Identify and explain the four major disciplines which we use in our study of Christian doctrine. a. b. 13 c. d. We grow in the study of Christian doctrine. pp. 33,34 Identify the three ways through which we grow in the study of Christian doctrine. a. Jas 1:5 b. 1 Ti 4:13, 15 c. Mt 10:22 14 301 – God So Loved the World Holy Scripture Lesson 4, pp. 35–46 The revelation of God. pp. 35-37. 1. Why must God reveal Himself to us if we are to know anything about him? 1 Ti 6:15,16 2. What are the two sources of the natural knowledge of God? a. Ro 1:20-23 b. Ro 2:14,15 3. What can we know of God from creation? a. Ro 1:20-23 b. Mt 5:45 c. Ps 19:1 4. What can we know of God from our conscience? Ro 2:14,15 5.
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