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1. What is the distilled essence of the Biblical Christian Worldview relative to its answers
to the four philosophical dilemmas?
Supernaturalism: There is a supernatural being, God, who created the world
2. What is the significance of Aurelius Augustine (354-430AD) Bishop of Hippo, in North
Africa?
Wrote the City of God. After the fall of Rome, he was looking to answer how faith and
government overlap/
3. Consider the discussion on ‘The Reformation and the Translation of the Scriptures’
and be prepared to identify the institutional impact of the new protestant approach
to biblical interpretation in contrast with Roman Catholicism.
The Reformation was the reforming of the catholic church that led to the formation of
protestant churches. It was a rebellion against the Catholic rules and traditions. We have
direct access to God.
4. What is the significance of the leading French Reformer John Calvin (1509-1564), and
what very influential work did he pen which directly addressed a biblical approach
to ecclesiastical and civil institutional procedure, in contrast to the approaches
instituted by the Roman Catholic Church?
He wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion. Systemized Christian thought and said that
God alone is sovereign, and everything must be accountable to Him.
5. What is the significance of John Wyclif (1320-1384AD)?
He published the first English translation of Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible in 1384.
Considered the morning star of the Reformation.
6. The cultural and institutional consequences of the Reformation are significant not only
for European and British history, but for American history as well. What were some of
these new relational principles derived from the Scriptures which resulted in new
institutional patterns dominant in the American colonies?
Limited government (didn’t want people governing their new religious freedom), Did not
want the state involved in the church, covenantal structure (as seen in Federalism).
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7. The Biblical Christian Worldview embodies a prepositional core, which the
reformation asserted. Be able to identify, correctly, the main thrust behind key
presuppositions such as ‘the kingdom of God is spiritual,’ ‘sovereignty of God,’
‘depravity of man,’ the ‘priesthood of all believers,’ and ‘man is prophet, priest, and king
under a sovereign God,’ as well as ‘no institutional interposition between God and
man.’ We also discussed another presupposition I referred to as the ‘created virtue of
man,’ so be able to identify this as well.
“The kingdom of God is spiritual.”- Within every sphere of life, there’s a core spiritual
orientation towards God.
“The depravity of man.”- All men are fallen and we all are sinners. We are all in need of a
savior
“Priesthood of all believers”- We have direct access to God
“Man is prophet, priest, and king under a sovereign God”
Prophet- We all have the ability to learn the truth through the Scriptures
and creation
Priests- We all have direct access to God.
King- God made us King over the earth. We have this authority because
God gave it to us.
a. Rehearse what is meant by the following statements:
As Christians we worship God ontologically as Creator.
As Christians we worship God epistemologically as acknowledger and revealer.
As Christians we worship God axiologically as redeemer.
As Christians we worship God teleologically as sustainer and coming lord and king.
8. What is the significance of the Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920)?
Theorist behind the Sphere of Sovereignty and how all institutions have a unique
purpose but are all interconnected under God.
9. Be able to identify the four significant and compelling consequences of the Protestant
Reformation.
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1. Christocentric Church (Christ is the center)
2. Biblical Christianity became the dominant force
3. Renaissance Humanism is derailed
4. A biblical base is established in the US
10. What best represents the institutional arrangement of the Biblical Christian
worldview? What is meant by the phrase ‘covenantal order’? What is a covenant? How
are covenants superior to contracts?
Covenantal order, which means that our government and life is not a horizontal
agreement between men, but is a vertical (or triangular) agreement that also includes
God.
A covenant is a triangular agreement between two people and God.
Covenants are superior to contracts because contracts are an agreement between two
people. Covenants are an agreement between two people and God. They not only hold
you accountable to the other person, but also to God.
11. What is meant by ‘personal covenant,’ ‘ecclesiastical covenant,’ and ‘civil social
covenant’?
Personal covenant- A covenant made between one man and God. One person putting
their trust in Jesus.
Ecclesiastical covenant- A covenant made by a corporal body and God. A group of
people who have all made personal covenants coming together to pursue God’s will.
Civil social covenant- The covenant that man agrees to follow God’s will in all court
corporate relationships
12. What are the two main characteristics of the American constitutional order and
system? How is federalism defined?
Civil and religious liberty
Federalism is defined as divided authority and diffused power done through checks and
balances
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13. Other very significant propositions are inherent within Federalism and the American
Constitutional Order and System. Be able to identify the ‘doctrine of the lower
magistrate.’ What identifies ‘Federalism’ as America’s contribution to political theory?
Doctrine of the lower magistrate: Seperation of the government so that there’s always
another system of government in place that is able to advocate and fight against tyranny.
The founders believed federalism was the means to ensure an environment of liberty so
humans could fulfill their religious and moral duties to God and their neighbors;
fundamentally rooted in the Protestant Reformation.
14. Why did John Adams pen his Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law (1765)?
What exactly is this “wicked confederacy” he describes?
He wrote it to enlighten readers on impetus (the force that makes something happen
more quickly) for America’s founding and to energize efforts against a similar and civil
tyranny emerging from Britain in the form of unconstitutional act of tax with the stamp
act.
Wicked confederacy is ecclesiastical and civil tyranny. Both the church and the state
uniting to be a complete, absolute like tyrant.
15. Be able to identify a biblical perspective on the structure and organization of civil
government. For example, should civil-government be limited or not? If it should be
limited, for what purpose?
Civil government should be limited to preserve order liberty, protect property, and
prevent tyranny.
16. Biblically speaking, what is the purpose of civil-government?
So we can have ordered liberty in a fallen world.
What is the relationship between the purpose of civil government and property?
Property is necessary to exercise our liberty. By civil-government protecting our property,
they also protect our liberty.
Why is civil-government necessary in a fallen world?
Fallen people will continue to be fallen.
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17. Biblically speaking, what is the province or purview of civil-government? In other
words, what is the extent of civil authority?
It is structured in order to acknowledge the sovereignty of God but also reflects the self
governing capability of man.
18. What is the first sphere of government and governing authority?
Sovereignty of God
19. What is the second sphere of government and governing authority?
Individual or Internal Self Government
20. Biblical principles of government begin with God as the author of government, which
in turn, is established and directed for His purposes. In this regard, understand the
meaning of the assertion: “We must always begin and end with God in our thinking” as it
relates to government.
God has sovereignty and authority over all aspects of life, including the government.
21. Understand the nature of, and the relationship between, internal and external
government.
Internal produces the external. We cannot have limited government if we cannot self
govern ourselves.
22. Be able to identify the correct definition for “jurisdiction.”
Lawful use of lawful authority
23. What exactly is meant by the phrase “Sovereignty of God” in regards to governing
authority?
God has authority to govern man and set the rules and limitations of government. As
creator, God has jurisdiction over His own creation.
24. How did early colonial Americans (historic Anglo/American definition) define
“government”?
There is both an internal and external aspect of governance
25. Be able to associate the purpose, province, and nature of government with their
corresponding questions. In other words, the purpose of government asks what
question?
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What is the civil government’s authority?
-Ordered liberty
The province of government asks what question?
What is the subject matter of civil government’s authority and power?
The behavior of people. How people execute their internal thoughts through their
behaviors.
What is the nature of government?
Government can control what actions you do and do not, but they cannot control you.
26. You were given a series of passages from which God’s exclusive jurisdiction
or governing authority is understood. Read through these examples of “Rudiments of
God’s Governing Authority” and be able to identify the principles of God’s sovereignty. In
this regard, you will see a series of biblical texts from which you will be required to tease
out God’s exclusive authority to govern or rule in a sovereign way, and other texts which
relate to the purpose, province, authority and scope of civil government. (Consider the
word document associated with lecture 9.)
John 19:10-11: All authority originates in God and is delegated by Him. The sovereignty
of God.
Genesis 1:26-31: Human authority is limited due to sin.
27. How does God justify his authority to rule man supremely?
By virtue of His creatorship.
What are the jurisdictional implications for the following: “What you are belongs to
God, who alone has the authority to govern your heart. Man’s heart has been created in
such a way that duty relates intimately to a heart matter, a value intention, a
motive, from which virtuous dispositions and acts are derived, and which only God can
judge. Force will destroy the nature of duty—and what is a duty toward God is a right
toward your neighbor.”
God is Creator. God has authority over us. No thing on Earth is able or can wield as
much authority as Him.
28. Be prepared to answer questions relative to the differences between moral and legal
duties, and the nature of the Sermon on the Mount relative to God’s jurisdiction over
men’s hearts. Our hearts belong to God. Duty is intimately a heart matter.
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