Pneumatology Lesson 1 ‐ An Introduction What is Theology? o Theos + Logos What are the values of Theology? o Transformation by His Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). o Communication with God’s Person (Genesis 4:24). o Foundation for a true worldview (2 Corinthians 10:3‐6). o Refutation of false teachers (1 Peter 5:9‐10; 2 Peter 2:1‐3). Who has a Theology? o The theology of a fool (Psalm 14:1). o Classifications . Monotheist . Pantheist . Polytheist . Atheist . Agnostic . Deist Where should our Theology be developed? o Scripture should drive our Theology . Which comes first, Doctrine of Scripture or Doctrine of God? . What is General Revelation/What is Special Revelation (Psalm 19)? General – Special ‐ o Remember the perspicuity of Scripture – Perspicuity ‐ . Use a normal approach to reading the Bible (Literal hermeneutic or interpretation). o Other Approaches . Unorthodox Christianity – Judges Theology . Roman Catholicism – Tradition + Bible . Cults – Bible + Other revelation . Religious and Secular World views. What is Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology? o Biblical Theology o Systematic Theology o Three Dangers in studying Theology: . Theological Drift – recognize the danger of over stepping reason . Novel Nabal Theology – recognize the history of faith . Thin Ice Theology – recognize the analogy of faith What are common Systematic Theology categories? o Doctrine of Revelation (Doctrine of the Word of God/Bibliology). o Doctrine of God (Theology) o Doctrine of Christ (Christology) o Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology) o Doctrine of Humanity o Doctrine of Sin (Hamartiology) o Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology) o Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology) o Doctrine of Last Things (Eschatology) How can we summarize Theology of God? o Communicable/Incommunicable o Moral and Natural o Good and Great How do we describe God as Trinity? o God is One (Deuteronomy 6:3‐5) o God is three distinct Persons (John 1:1; Matthew 28:19‐21). o Each of these distinct Persons is God. God the Father is God (“God the Father” a dozen times in Scripture – 1 Peter 1:2) . Jesus is God – John 1.1, 1:18; 20:28; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9 . The Holy Spirit is God – Acts 5:3‐4; Psalm 139:7‐8 Q&A: 1. What is the difference between our church and Roman Catholicism in our understanding of the basis of theology? 2. Discuss the values of Theology. 3. Precise detail in theology is unimportant and overemphasized (True/False) 4. Which of the following is general revelation and which is special revelation? a. Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures. b. God’s precision and orderliness is seen in the precision and orderliness of the solar system He has made. c. God is powerful! d. God is one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 5. Why is it dangerous to hold experience as more authoritative than Scripture? Can you name an example of why this is dangerous? 6. Jesus became God’s Son at His birth (true/false). 7. Describe why the H2O liquid, vapor, solid illustration is not a fitting illustration for the Trinity. 8. Jesus became God at His baptism (true/false). .