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Systematic Theology - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Nature of revelation
        Revelation: God revealing truth to humans
        Sentences and understanding: Primarily linguistic and propositional
        Logical categorisation: Categorise as true or false using logic
        Naturally about: primary nature of revelation
        Language: understood through language including words, sentences and syntax than personal experiences and events
        Psa 19:1, Rom 1:18,20
        
        Issues with relativistic concept of truth
        Relativistic concept: we risk adopting an unbiblical and inadequate understanding of language Joh 14:6, 2 Tim 2:15, 2 Pet 3:16, Col 2:8
        Language was bestowed upon humanity as part of his image and the Christian God communicates through language. This goes against the idea that language evolved just as man evolved
        Gen 2:19,20 Gen 1:26,27,28
      - God condescended to man to communicate with humankind. Man could never find their way up to God. Hence, revelation comes from God.
        2 Pet 1:21, Gal 1:11,12 Joh 1:14, Rom 3:11, Eph 2:8,9
    - - General Revelation
        God's disclosure to all people without distinction
        
        Means of General Revelation
        
        Material Creation
        Rom 1:18-32, Psa 19:1-6
        
        The Image of God in man's constitution and conscience
        Psa 139:14, Rom 2:15
        
        Characteristics
        
        Gives general knowledge
        
        Given to all of humanity
        
        Can lead men to the truth in Bible
        
        Exposes man's sinful rebellion against a holy God
        Rom 1:18-20
        
        Provides man with:
        
        There is a God Psa 19:1
        
        God is eternal Rom 1:20
        
        God is powerful Rom 1:20
        
        God is righteous Rom 1:32
        
        God will judge evil Rom 1:32, 2:15-16
      - Special Revelation
        how God reveals himself directly to specific people
        
        Means of Special Revelation
        
        Direct communication Gen 12:1
        
        Mighty acts Exo 14:31
        
        Lives of Christians 2 Cor 3:2-3
        
        the Bible Psa 119:105
        
        Jesus Christ Heb 1:1-2
        
        Characteristics
        
        Gives mankind specific, concrete, propositional information about God that could not be communicated other than supernatural means
        
        has special recipients
        
        is found in the Bible 2 Pet 1:19-21
        
        is the most revelation of God to mankind today because:
        
        God revealed himself, with his authority and direction through the Bible 2 Tim 3:16
        
        God gave his ideas and purposes in the Bible through human language 1 Cor 2:9-13
        
        People can objectively understand God's nature and will, thus confining their knowledge of God's purposes to scripture
        
        the Bible is sufficient for Christians to know how and why to live in this world 2 Tim 3:16, 2 Peter 1:3
  - - - Infallibility
        Joh 10:35, Mat 5:18
        
        Characteristics
        
        Judgements and statements are wholly reliable
        
        All teachings are authoritative and trustworthy
        
        Possesses supreme authority in matters of faith and practice
        
        is self-authenticating and doesn't require external validation
        
        has the final say in all matters it addresses
        
        When properly interpreted, is internally consistent and without contradiction
        
        in its original manuscripts, is free from error and falsehood
      - Inerrancy
        Psa 119:7-9, Mat 22:29, Mar 14:49
        
        Characteristics
        
        teachings about science, history, ethics and faith are accurate
        
        teachings are consistent and unified with each other
        
        ultimate author is God, but humans were used in the process of writing it
        
        is the final authority in all that it claims
        
        misinterpretation would mean its a human error and not a biblical error
        
        inerrancy speaks to accuracy not exactness
        
        inerrancy accommodates grammatical errors
        
        inerrancy accommodates paraphrase and abridgement
        
        inerrancy speaks to the original manuscripts only
        
        inerrancy is not upset by the limitations of human language
        
        is not threatened by changes in human culture
        
        is not threatened by dual authorship of the scripture
      - Sufficiency
        2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Pet 1:3
        
        Characteristics
        
        doesn't teach that Bible speaks comprehensively about everything and thus nothing can be known apart from the Bible
        
        extends beyond spiritual matters, addressing various aspects of human life and knowledge
        
        it can speak to all matters concerning truth and life
        
        teaches us that God is the source of all truth, goodness and being
        
        teaches us that It provides a basis for knowing and understanding truth across all disciplines
        
        offers absolute moral standards that can be applied universally
        
        presents a rational God, providing a foundation for logical thinking
        
        offers a basis for understanding beauty and creativity
        
        tells us there is no secular and scriptural understanding of the truth and there is no neutral discipline of practice that cedes authority to an individual
        
        it provides all necessary guidance for faith, practice and understanding of the world
        
        teachings on creation, human nature, morality and the structure of the world are not just descriptive of a particular time but prescriptive for all time
        
        principles and truths found in scripture are timeless and universally applicable, capable of addressing any situation of ethical dilemma, even in a rapidly changing world
        
        additional revelation is not only unecessary, but also unwelcome. God has given man a book and an illumined mind.
      - Preservation
        Psa 119:152, Psa 119:160
        
        Characteristics
        
        the Bible and it's claims have survived to the present day
        
        God providentially made sure that the biblical text will survive
        
        The doctrine of biblical preservation ensures that the Bible's core message remains intact, despite minor errors in copying or translation
      - Canonicity
        2 Cor 11:4, 2 The 3:6, 1 Joh 2:27
        
        Characteristics
        
        is a canon in that it norms faith and practice
        
        is canonical when it is recognised for its norming authority and added the official list of authoritative books
        
        Certain writings of the Bible were collected in the tabernacle/temple
        
        Jesus displayed familiarity with a specific, exclusive body of literature - the law, the prophets and the Psalms - that he apparently viewed as the OT canon
        
        NT authors saw the Scriptures as a defined but expanding collection during apostolic period
        
        Another approach is orthodoxy - This method asserts that the Bible must be internally consistent, without contradictions
        
        Biblical books are also identified by catholicity, meaning they were widely accepted by the majority of Christians
        
        Given God's purpose of providing his inspired Word to fully equip us for every good work, it logically follows that we have successfully identified this Word in the 27-book NT canon
        9.The canon of the Bible is determined by the Holy Spirit's collective witness to the majority of Christians
      - Perspicuity
        1 Cor 12:28, Psa 119:130, 1 Cór 1:2, 2 Peter 3:15-16
        
        Though the Bible's core message is clear, not all parts of Scripture are equally accessible. Some passages require more study, context or background knowledge to fully grasp.
        
        Varying levels of complexity in different biblical texts
        
        The need for careful study and interpretation
        
        The existence of hard passages that even experienced scholars debate
        
        Just because the Bible is clear, doesn't mean that believers cannot misunderstand the Bible
        
        the Bible's clarity doesn't exclude non-believers from comprehending its content
        
        Understanding the the text literally is possible even without faith
        
        However, spiritual discernment and acceptance of its truths may require faith
        
        Just because the Bible is clear, doesn't mean that there is no need for teachers in the church
        
        Teachers help explain cultural and historical contexts
        
        They can guide in applying biblical principles to contemporary situations
        
        They assist in understanding more complex theological concepts
        
        Teachers fulfil a biblical role in equipping the saints Eph 4:11-12
  - - - Nature of the Bible is:
        
        the Bible is supernatural
        
        the Bible is infinite
        
        the Bible is pure
      - Nature of fallen human beings is:
        
        Human beings are finite
        
        Human beings are sinful
  - - - the Bible can be interpreted and understood by man because:
        
        the Bible is clear
        
        the Bible is sufficient for everything we need
      - Bible can be interpreted
        
        Grammatically
        Understanding the Bible requires knowledge of human language convention, particularly grammar. While language evolves, applying basic grammatical rules of the Bible's original languages is essential to grasp its meaning. This approach is necessary because the Bible was written using human linguistic conventions
        
        Historically
        Understanding the Bible's historical context is crucial for uncovering its meaning, as it was written within the specific time periods and revealed to humans progressively over time. Progressive revelation refers to the concept in theology that God's truth and will were not disclosed all at once, but rather gradually revealed over time throughout human history
        
        Theologically
        Theological interpretation of the Bible, also known as theological exegesis, is an approach to reading and understanding Scripture that focuses on its theological content and implications
    - - Dispensationalism
        
        It is an approach to understanding the Bible in terms of the unfolding revelation of God, resulting in distinguishable administrations of responsibility on the part of man
        
        It is a method by which the interpreter can understand the flow of history and the unfolding design of our sovereign God for all creation
        
        It is a system of theologising
      - Covenant Theology
        
        It is an approach to understanding the Bible in terms of (a) a covenant of redemption (some do not hold to this covenant) (b) a covenant of works of the God with the federal head of the human race (the first Adam) and (c) a covenant of grace whereby Christ (the second Adam) fulfils the terms of the covenant of works
        
        Governing covenant theology are God's universal, uninterrupted covenant demands and man's similarly universal and uninterrupted covenant commitments
      - Progressive Dispensationalism
        
        Its is an approach to understanding the Bible in terms of Scriptural promises whose meaning and referents "progress" as history unfolds
        
        Progressive dispensationalism's most visible, distinguishable feature is it's complimentary hermeneutic, which allows Scripture to obtain a sensus plenior, or fuller meaning that that originally intended by the human author
      - New Covenant Theology
        
        It is an approach to understanding the Bible in terms of a developing covenant motif that culminates in the establishment of the new covenant
        
        New covenant theology teaches that the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants are shadows or types that anticipate the arrival of the glorious new covenant, and Israel is a temporary unbelieving picture of the people of God. These give way when the new covenant is established.