2. Systematic Theology is the process of summarizing a belief system of a religious
system. This concept uses an arranged system of thought to gain knowledge on a
particular subject. It the study for example on faith. It is studying the doctrine of the
Bible on what faith is. It is like doing a word study using the Bible as your source. I
guess you could say kind of like this assignment. *************
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B
This assignment requires the proper development of a biblical theology and rationale for
ministry. Students will construct a biblical theology of ministry so that the development of a
ministry strategy will have a foundation in theology.
Part 1 will be the definition of theological terms for ministry contexts. The student will define
these terms in Journal 1.
Part 2 will require the student to submit a ministry paper that will inform the student’s approach
to developing a ministry strategy and event. This paper will be an application of these theological
terms to ministry development.
Part 1: Journal
Like learning any discipline or practice, a proper progression and order is necessary to be
successful. Consider playing an instrument or learning a sport – there are not only fundamentals
to learn before playing the game or performing in a concert, but most importantly there is
specific progression and order for proper understanding and practice. For example, you can’t
effectively play the game of basketball without first learning basic rules about dribbling and
shooting. The same is true for theology. One would not begin by defining man or Anthropology
without first discussing the Trinity. Similarly, one should not begin a theological discussion
about salvation (soteriology) without addressing sin (hamartiology) first.
Throughout Scripture, theology progresses in a natural order. As you define these terms,
remember that prioritization requires an understanding of how the meanings of these terms and
their significance transition into a plan and then an event. Abstract terms become tangible
through examples which then yield behaviors. You will be developing a ministry event in this
course and your strategic planning must be based on these theological terms. Another way to
look at it is that the ministry event is where tangible results and behaviors are observed and
shared.
In the Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, review and define the following terms in this
order:
1.Biblical Theology is defined as the study of the Bible as whole. It is the interpretation
or the ability to convey the biblical text in the correct context without bringing in our
own modern thought process. Our thoughts or culture norms may taint the true
meaning of the text that is being studied. *******************
T
IBLICAL HEOLOGY JOURNAL
3.
4.
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The attempt to summarize religious truth or the belief system of a religious group
(such as Christianity) through an organized system of thought carried out within a
particular cultural and intellectual context ( see method of theology). A common
systematic order in Christian theology begins with God and God's self-revelation,
followed by creation and the predicament of sin, God's saving work in and through
Jesus Christ, the Spirit as the agent in personal salvation, the church as the redeemed
community of God's people, and finally the goal of God's program as leading to the
end of the age, Christ's return and eternity. [Stanley J. Grenz (2013). Pocket
Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of mankind’s customs, habits, and relationships, derived
from a belief that humans are created in the image of God. Its also covers that sin has
affected that image. Lastly, Anthropology poses to answer the question of what makes
us human, the body, soul, and or the spirit. ***********
Trinity is knowing that God demonstrates himself in three different persons: God the
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This belief is truly supported and
founded by the person of Jesus Christ. Who expresses that He was all three in one.
This was shown in Matthew 3:16-17, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out
of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is
my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” *************
The Christian understanding of God as triune. Trinity means that the one divine
nature is a unity of three persons and that God is revealed as three distinct persons:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The ultimate basis for the Christian doctrine of the
Trinity lies in the divine self-disclosure in Jesus, who as the Son revealed the Father
and poured out the Holy Spirit. See also economic Trinity; immanent Trinity. [Stanley
J. Grenz (2013). Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press.
Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
5.
6.
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From the Greek words anthrōpos (human) and logos (word), that is, words about, or
teaching concerning, humankind. Anthropology in general refers to any study of the
status, habits, customs, relationships and culture of humankind. In a more specific and
theological sense, anthropology sets forth the scriptural teachings about humans as
God's creatures. Christian anthropology recognizes that humans are created in God's
image ( imago Dei) but that sin has in some way negatively affected that image.
Anthropology is also interested in the question of the constitution of a human being,
that is, the relationship between body, soul, spirit and so on. [Stanley J. Grenz (2013).
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Hamartology
Harmartology is the study of sin itself and how it affects us a human being. It poses
the following questions. Where does sin originate from the heart? Is it our nature to
sin as humans? How is sin pasted down from generation to generation? How does sin
resist God’s original purposes for creation. *************
The term used to refer to the theological investigation of sin (from Greek hamartia,
“sin”). Hamartology concerns itself with understanding the origin, nature, extent and
consequences of sin. Furthermore, hamartology seeks to understand how sin is
transmitted throughout the human race and how sin opposes God's purposes for
creation. [Stanley J. Grenz (2013). Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms.
InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Metaphysics
The philosophical exploration into the ultimate nature of reality lying beyond the
merely physical (meta = beyond). Meta-physics deals with ontological concerns, that
is, with questions about what constitutes something as “real” or as having “being.”
[Stanley J. Grenz (2013). Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press.
Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
7.
8.
9. Hermeneutics
The discipline that studies the principles and theories of how texts ought to be
interpreted, particularly sacred texts such as the Scriptures. Hermeneutics
also
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Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of different methods of gaining knowledge. This study has
normally two different option in Western philosophy. Rationalism and Empiricism
are the means. Rationalism is the gaining of knowledge through reason and logic.
Empiricism is the gaining of knowledge through the gathering of information through
inner and external senses. ***************
Philosophical inquiry into the nature, sources, limits and methods of gaining
knowledge. In Western philosophy, epistemology has generally followed two main
alternatives: rationalism (knowledge is gained through the mind's use of reason and
logic) and empiricism (knowledge is gained through the gathering of information
through the use of the inner and external senses). [Stanley J. Grenz (2013). Pocket
Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Axiology
An area of philosophical inquiry that studies the nature, criteria, implications and
applications of value judgments. Generally, axiology asks, What is good (value
theory)? What is right ( ethics)? and What is beautiful ( aesthetics)? [Stanley J. Grenz
(2013). Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
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concerns itself with understanding the unique roles and relationships between the
author, the text and the original or subsequent readers. [Stanley J. Grenz (2013).
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
10.Praxis, Orthopraxy
Reflective, responsive action or the practical expression of the knowledge gained
through one's concrete experience and reflection on it. Orthopraxy, literally meaning
“right practice,” is living out the known and experienced truth of the Christian faith in
love and justice. [Stanley J. Grenz (2013). Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms.
InterVarsity Press. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Write a concise definition of each term using your own words. This summary should be at least
50 but not more than 100 words per term.
Submit the Journal by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 1.
