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98 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
What 2 cultures contrinuted to Christianity?
Hebrews/Jews
Greeks/Hellenism
Deductive Logic
Moves from big to small
Inductive logic
moves from small to big
Augustine controversies are important because
Historically real questions were raised and the Church had to define its beliefs. Augustine used scripture tradition and reason to answer the controversy.
Plato and the Forms
Form is the highest most abstract thing. We cannot imaging anything greater. They are unchangeable, immutible, unqualified, eternal, divine, perfect, changeless and we cannot imagine anything greater.
When we get to the Greek culture and they start speculating about God they
already have the eternal form understanding about God. They think he is eternal, beyond our understanding, with no beginning and no end. God must be absolute. He must be perfect, changeless, highest possible conception of our ability.
What do the Greeks say about God?
They say he is omnipotent, and almighty. All knowing, ever present.
Omni
Means All
Almighty
There are no limits to what God can do. Nothing that can reduce his power. God can do anything he wants to do. There is a discussion about this.
What do we need to know about how the Greeks thought about God?
If we talk about Greek way of God, we need to know it's highly abstract. What is it we can talk about with no limit qualificaton then that must be God. God has transcendant nature.
Jewish understanding of God
They have much less abstraction. Language about God from Jewish tradition tends to be mataphor and analogy. Jews make statements which compare God to things they have knowledge of such as shepherd and father.
Jewish understanding of God as shepherd
Our knowledge of a shepherd can help us understand the nature of God it is from experience and inductive reasoning we get our shepherd. Shepherd protects sheep just as god is always read to protect. Shepherd leads flock, Jesus provides for and cares for his people.
Jewish understanding of God as father
FAther gets used alot as well. THis doesn't mean that God is male or that he is our father in procreation. It does mean there are things we can learn from this metaphor. This is an inductive way of talking about God.
If God is the eternal form and unchangeable how can he be personal? Is he aware of us? Does he respond to our needs? This creates a unique problem because a relationship would imply that God could change.
Uhon
If god is personal and chnages in any way can god suffer?
You realize to say Christian thought is from both of these there are some real issues when the two come together.
If God can change, in what sense is he eternal?
God gave Moses the commandments. The people don't think Moses will come back. Aaron makes Golden calf and they begin to worship it. God gets mad, Moses implores him not to destroy/turn his back on his people. God changes his mind about the disaster he was going to bring on his people. God does change because God became incarnate in humanity. Because he became changed to stay in the relationship he suffers.
If god can and does suffer he can also
Rejoice.
How can God be the eternal form and still be in relationship with humanity?
Most theology says the nature of God he is almighty and changeless but he has chosen out of love to be in relationship with humanity. He limited his power so there are things even God can't do and still be consistent with his nature since he has chosen to be in relation with humanity.
Christology
Making sense of Chirst. Deals with the nature of Christ.
Ology
Means making sense of
Soteriology
Has to do with the work of Christ, what is the work, outcome, and mission of Christ?
Nicene Creed
A statement of Church beliefs which begins when the Emperor of Constantine call together bishops at Nicea to settle disagreements in the Church. So Constantine understands Christianity could be a uniting force between the empire so he calls this council in 325. Nicea adpots an understanding of Christ. The Creed isn't finalized until 451 at the council of Chalcedon.
Question of Christology arises in ___ and is settled _____
The question arises at Nicea in 325 but isn't formalized until 451 at Chalcedon.
Homoousious
The majority opinion. OF the same substance. Jesus nature is of the same substance of God.
Homoiousious
Of similar substance. This is rejected
God's natures
God has 2 natures of the same substance. One being. Fully God, fully human. This can be summed up in the Christian doctrine of incarnation where we say if you know Jesus you know God.
Nicene formula
They believe in the 2 natures of God. That he is both fully God and fully human. This is summed up in the doctrine of incarnation. Nicene Christians mean you believe that both natures are fully present in one being. This belief is orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
right belief according to the Church's understanding of scripture, tradition, and reason.
Heresy
people who hold a view that differes from the Church's official position.
Nicene Creed
The Nicene creed became the position of the Church and in the jewish faith they believed in the Mesisah
Messiah
One who is anointed. To the Jews anointed means chosen by God for a specific mission or purpose. You were equipped with something to help you complete what you are sent to do.
2 important things about anointed
1. By Jesus time, when he was in Palestine, they hadn't been an independent nation until Babyolonian captivity. There was no independent sovereign nation. The messianicc hope was at an all time high. They wanted a king like David who would restore the nation to greatness and purify the religion. They believe there will be 1 unique individual who will do all of this. Jesus understands he is the messiah but he will save them by his suffering not military conquest.
2. Messiah means Christ in Greek. We neeed to know this word meaning when the early Church comes to write the bible so Jesus becomes Christ.
Messiah translated from Greek
Means Christ
Messiah is
One anointed by God with a special purpose.
Lord
Jesus Christ is lord. This is the first affirmation of faith they adopt.
Kyros
Greek wrod for Lord. This gets used as a term of respect.
YHWH
In the Hebrew Scriptures Jesus isn't referred to by name, rather he is referred to as YHWH.
Tetragramaaton
Referring to God this way shows deference and honor. By not saying God's name when they referred to God they referred to him as letters as a sign of deference.
YHWH
translates to kyros which translates to Lord. This means they knew what they were doing when they referred to Lord. They know Jesus is Lord.
Early in the Apostolic period the New Testament
Used the word Kyros because they alrready believe that Jesus is God so they use that word in talking about him.
What does the early writers language show about how they think about God?
Their language shows they believe he is not only annointed but that he is God. They also say son of God and son of man. They understand God's divine nature. Even during the first 100 years they hae an understanding which will wind up in the Nicene Creed. This reminds us this isn't invented in 325 it's a concept which has been around.
How is the Gospel of John different?
John doesn't have a birth narrative. IT says Jesus is both. This affirmation is 200 years prior to the Nicene Creed. They don't just do this, there are alot of things that tell us their beliefs.
Nobody but God can do
God's work. God's work is salvation. Jesus is doing the work of salvation SO, Jesus MUST be God.
1st commandment
Don't have any other God's before me. This is the biggest sin a Jew can commit. They would not worship Jesus if they didn't think he was God. Since they tell us to wroship Jesus it is clear they believe we should Worship God.
Why was there a council of Nicea?
There were alot of divisions in the CHurch regarding what the nature of Christ was. The Emperor Constantine wanted the church to agree so they could be a unifying force in the Empire.
3 other Christologies
1. Adoptionism
2. Docetism
3. Arianism
Adoptionism
Passages in the new testament which suggest Jesus is most faithful. He is adpoted by God for a special purpose or mission. These people believe that he is born as a person and then he was chosen and adopted and raised to his position. No different nature, just a different purpose.
Docetism
FRom Greek word Dokien which means to appear. They say Jesus is divine in every way. He is God but God chose to put on human appearance. He is NOT human just looks like it so he can interact with us.
Arianism
Arius thought Jesus was highest of all GOd's creatures. This menas God was CREATED for a special purpose. Not god but Created by God for a special reason. 256 year you are eigther the eternal form or something else. He could not be the cause of salvation if he's human. He continued after Nicea. Central, southern Europe Roman missionaries went and converted others and so this view persists through today.
325 was the first
ecunminical council. Council of Nicea. CAlled by emperor Constantine because they want controversy over nature of Christ eliminated.
Arias
Key player. Gave us Arianism. Arius teaches Christ is the biggest and Best of All God's CREATURES. Alexander tells him to quit preaching this way. At the council hoomoosious is affirmed. The Council decides that Christ has 2 natures. Now Arias is a heretic.
Alexander
Aius bishop. Told him to stop preaching God as CREATED
Nicene creed is not finalized until
451 at Chalcedon This gives us the NIcene formula which goes on to state the nature of the trinity.
What did they do at Nicea and then at Chalcedon
Defined Christological statement
At Chalcedon it becomes triniterian
Who takes over after Alexander dies? And what do they do?
Athenasius takes over and confirms the trinaterian doctrine. HE wrote the list that became the new testament canon.
Capadotians
influence Christians doctrine of the trinity For us to understand this doctrine in terms of Greek philosophical context is impossible. Even great minds cannot figure it out. WE can talk about the influences that get the Church to this oint.
We recognize what about the nature of God?
WE recognize that it is more than we can know. We're putting the eternal into somethig we can understand. This is what we refer to as a holy mystery. Part of grasping the concept is understanding that this is a myster. WE cannot ever understand and comprehend the world around us.
No explicit part in the Gospel that says we can have trinity
Over time the Church used scripture and reason to reflect oand lead it to be trinetarian formula.
Belieff of the early Church
The early Church said that Jesus was resurrected. and remained with them for 50 days. He was present but on ascension day he bodily left them and went back to sit at the right hand of God.
Prior to ascension Jesus says
all authority on heaven and earth has been given to me go teach others to obey. I amwith you always father, son, and holy spirit. There are a couple possibilities. Matthew could be quoting verbatim, or he could be using the understanding the Church has developed. Whatever the case may be we can see that the trinitarian belief is held as early as 80 or 95. No explicit doctrine has formed, BUT the Church is already thinking this way.
The Church comes to a conclusion that this is the nature of God. What does this set the stage for?
This sets the stage for more discussion. Once we get to the patristic period, everyone has read the Gospel, they are trying to figure out why they refer to FAther Son and Holy Spirit.
Greagory of Nazianzis
329-389 During the debate he says the old testament preaches. He believes that he revealed one thich which was understood and then once we understood that God revealed another thing. It is natural the church should affirm the docrtine of the trinity.
Irenaeus
Very early patristic peirod 130-200. He is a generation or 2 removed from the Apostolic period. Church is at an early stage but he is talking about the economy of salvation
economy
Greek Word Oikonomia meaning how one orders one's business or affairs.
Economy of salvation
IF salvation is God's business there's an order we can discern for how he's ordered our affairs. God the father, uncreated who is uncontained. Holy spirit was poured out on humanity to affirm the nature of God.
In the ordering of God's affiars we can see
the trinity. God created everything. Even the cosmos. He created us. WE experience the power of the Holy Spirit who draws us closer to God and renews this in us. This points to the reality of the trinity.
On a histoical level what do we get from trniity debate?
On a historical level we get NIcene Creed at Chalcedon. 1st step was understanding Christ and God. WE can return to the earliest period and find numerous scriptural references.
person
latin word from theater had to do with a mask
Heresy of modalism
God has 1 nature with 3 appearances. That our perception of God ias as 2 pwerons but one unity in God that he takes on each of these 3 masks. Rahter than 3 persons in one God. One God in 3 persons.
Imago dei
image of God. IN Genesis Ancient Hebrews understood not only that God created us but that he created us in his imagea nd this reflects characteristics that we're created in the image of God.
What characteristics reflect the nature of God?
Compassion and love. Compassion, we can put ourselves into another's perspective and respond with kindness and love. Forgiveness, WE can forgive just as God forgives. WE can sacrifice. We have the ability to reason.
What does God's nature reflect in our nature?
creativity God created heaven and earth humans make hthings such as bldgs, music ect. WE can procreate just as God created us we can create others.
procreation
we give life to our offspring just as God gave life to humanity.
We were created by God some say that something happened to make us not like God.
According to genesis Adam and Eve fell. Eve is tempted by the snake and sins, then Eve tempts Adam and he sins as well. God told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They eat The snake says that they will be like God and God doesn't want that. Adam hides.
What is the outcome of the first sin?
This is a significan role in theology. Are people mostly good? Do they depend on something to fix them? How do we understand human nature?
The church came to understand the question of are people good
They believe people need Grace in order to be good. Pelagius says we can fix ourselves. The Church believes that we cannot do that. We have to make sacrifices for others. If we sacrifice for others we have evidence that the human condition has not been obliterated. WE were affected by original sin.
What did original sin do to us?
Because of original sin, our imago dei is damaged. Augustine thinks this is passed to everyone because of concupisence in lusting after partner. Cannot resist in delighting in what they shiouldn't do.
God presided over chaos
he began create using the matter. Gnostics want to say chaos is evil and god created you out of that stuf so you are evil. Christians didn't like this so they reevaluated and thought that God must have created that. If god created everything then he is begining.
Ex Nihilo
Anything that is, is created by God. The council of trent this becomes a doctrine.
We were created in the image and likeness of God.
It takes a long time for them to understand the likeness part. In Medieval period they became interested. between the 2 there are descriptive words that point to the same reality. Which is what we thin today. Back then they thought likeness of God was a moral aspect. WE still had possibilities but we were morally damaged.
though created we are damaged and need God's help.
Salvation is where we are. If we aren't damaged, no need for salvation.
Grace
Christia understanding that says God has unmerited attitude of love toward creation. He loves you because it is in his nature. WE are victims of original sin and we don't always act in our best interest but God acts in our best interest regardless of what we do. Grace is key to salvation. He does for human kind what they cannot do for themselves.
Attonement
When Englishment translated the bible from latin to english there was no concept of reconciliation. Atoonoement. The work of Christ is to rbing us back to the one we want to be. we can talk about the work of Christ as attonement. Most modern theology talk about salvation.
Soteriology
Asks what is changed in the human condition and what does this do and how is the condition changed.
Theories of Attonement
1. sacrifice
2. Victory
3. Ransom
4. Moral
Sacrifice
First theory of attonement. In the old testament during the period of early history there were people who believed if you sinned you had to make a blood offering. All kinds of regulations surrounded this. After animals are slain they were cooked on the alter and the smell wafts up to God and the sacrifice negates the sin. The first generation saw the sacrifice of Christ in this light.
How did the Greeks view sacrifice?
The Greeks have an abstract view of sacrifice. IN the book of Hebrews ther's the visual of Christ nailed on the cross. They understand it was a perfect priest and a perfect sacrifice. There's an eternal form of priest. Jesus being God is the perfect sacrifice because it is the eternal form and ends the need for even after this, people continued to be sinful. They understand God is not bound by the concept of time so the sacrifice happens in both human time and God time. It really happens once and for all and for all time it is transcendent. But the CHurch gave us sacraments to make sure people remain in the state of grace.
jewish understanding of sacrifice
When Baboloynians laid siege to the Jews they destroyed the temple. While there the Jews thoughts about sacrifice changed. There was a restoration of temple worship. The animal sacrifice never came to play such a significant role again. The great diasphera caused a change in their worship. Imagery of blood sacrifice was less prevalent. They understand that Jesus was the blood sacrifice for humanity.
Second theory of attonement victory
This victory refers to a victory over forces that oppress human beings. Human beings are oppressed by sin and death. Jesus overcame sin by offering himself as sacrifice. He raised himself from the dead and overcame death. Attonement can be seen as a victory of God over sin and death. WE have to celebrate. These celebrations are similar to celebrations Romans have for victorious soldiers.
Third theory of attonment ransom
This idea differs because it is more extreme. They really begin to think with the fall of reality and creation of original sin, since we're o longer in that righteous order we're living in the realm where Satan has power. WE are under the control of Satan. If God wants to redeem us from bondage God has to pay the price Satan requires to redeem us. We are living not only as fallen but in the realm of Satan as well. Jesus in his humanity is offered up and pays the price of sin. He is taken over by Satan but he rises from the dead and snatches Satan's control and redeems humanity.
What are the logical problems with the theory of ransom
Logical problems are that we find that this isn't just God's creation marred but it's Satan's area. Now God contends with another spiritual power. This is a problem for a monotheistic religion. God shouldn't have to bargain with Satan. Now there's a whole other realm into which we are being held captive.
Fourth theory of attonement moral
Moral comes from Anselm of Canterbury. By the time we reach the 1200's there's a new movement in Christianity. Scholasticism has arisen they are early scholars. Moral theory states that God created everything did so with a certain moral order. God chose to be a part of that creation and moral order. When humans sinned they disrupted this moral order you may think God could do anything why doesn't God just replace it with another moral order? God is faithful to his morality and cannot change it. There are things he cannot and will not do because he believes in moral order of creation. Human beings are the one with responsbility to fix the moral order but they cannot do that. God has the power to fix it but cannot do it because he's divine. This is where Jesus comes into play. He is fully human so has responsiblility to make humanity restored and is divine so he has the power to do so.
History around the 4th attonment theory
Patristic peirod ends in 500 we could've called it 451 but 500 relates to the fall of rome and the beginning of the middle ages. Prior to this, they are the dark ages. Eurpoe is in constant political turmoil and warfare. No stable government system. During that period schools, education, and literacy are at an all time low. Servitude runs wild. Education is not valued Libraries and monastaries of Ireland survived. So when the desire for education redevelooped Ireland played a large role.
Scholastics
Most influential person was ST. Thomas Aquinas
What do some people call the moral theory
satisfaction theory
Historical development understanding the historicl significance of the theories
1. Judaism was immediately impacted by Hellenism;
2. Influence of Roman power
3. This influence comes out of what it means to be captive and subject to sin and death.
4. Yes it's biblical but it's also much more rational because of the knowledge of the period. REason is playing greater role.
What do the theories of attonement do for us? How does it impact and become significant for individuals? 2 ways to understand it.
Ojectively-May simply change your staus in relation to God. Could take an outsider and make him an insider. God could change thae standing relationhsip with you. May be just as sinful as you were before but it means God accepts you and loves you anyway.
Subjective-Could be subjective and has to do with human nature.
regeneration
What was damaged in the fall is put back and restored to being what God created us to be. All Christians try to asnwer how God does this.