1. General Revelation - created universe, also in our heart (i.e., we know that there is a God).
2. Special Revelation - He has revealed Himself from time to time in special ways (the incarnation is one example).
3. Theological Encyclopedia - all knowledge is under four categories.
(a) Exegetical - study language, canon, inspiration (date, integrity, purpose of each book), text, interpretation, content, get meaning out of text (hermeneutical).
(b) Historical - how the church has done things over the years
(c) Systematic - systematize all aspects of what we know (also dogmatic theology) and apologetics
(d) Practical - apply what has been learned (homiletics, pastoral)
4. Narrowing the definition down to introduction (that which is before)
(a) General Introduction - background, canon, what can be trusted, and so forth
(b) Special Introduction - each individual book (higher criticism) - date authorship, integrity of each book, historical background
5. Sharpening the focus (outline of the course)
(a) General Background (400BC to Christ) - Maccabees, Herods, geography, Jewish literature (apocrphal, pseudopigraphic), Christian apocryphal literature, Bible chronology
(b) Canon and Textual Criticism - How do we know inspiration and textual criticism?
(c) Special Introduction - cover each book individually
6. Grasping presuppositions (something that is presupposed or held as a fact)
(a) Naturalist and the Bible - believes only in natural and what can be seen (atheistic). Believes no God, no absolutes, no ethics or standards, may or may not be evolutionist. No right or wrong. All is by chance. Views Bible as a book of stories, folklore, and no miracles because miracles are against nature.
(b) Neoorthodox and the Bible - The "new" orthodox which seeks to set things right - Karl Barth. This is existentialist philosophy that happens at a different level of existence.
(c) Fundamentalist - the Bible is God's Word, inspired, and inerrant.
Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews
Lesson 2 - A Brief History of the New Testament
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