Definitions
This Greek word meaning 'word' or 'logic' is the suffix in theology, biology, and anthropology
What is logos?
This type of theology studies specific concepts like salvation by examining every biblical use of the term.
What is biblical theology?
This mythical figure forced travelers to fit his bed by cutting off their limbs, representing the danger of forcing Scripture into preconceived systems.
Who is Procrustes?
When people say 'I don't need theology, just Jesus,' Sproul says this is impossible because any description of Jesus is this
What is theology?
Sproul emphasized that we should be the object of biblical criticism, not this role.
What is the critic?
This is the study of how human beings behave in religious environments, as opposed to the study of God himself.
What is religion?
This type of theology examines how doctrine developed through church councils, creeds, and responses to heresies.
What is historical theology?
This dangerous approach treats every piece of Scripture as standing alone, without seeking harmony between different biblical authors.
What is atomism?
Sproul says God is not the author of this, but rather creates an orderly cosmos
What is confusion (or chaos)?
According to Sproul, this quality of God means that if consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, God has the smallest mind of all
What is consistency?
When we study God himself specifically, rather than other theological topics, we call this 'theology' followed by this word.
What is proper?
Systematic theologians depend on these scholars to provide detailed information about specific biblical passages.
Who are biblical scholars (or Old Testament/New Testament professors)?
Sproul warns against this approach where someone brings an external philosophical system TO the Bible rather than deriving truth FROM it
What is imposing a preconceived system on Scripture?
Sproul doubts he'll ever come up with this because greater minds have studied Scripture for centuries before him.
What is a new or original insight?
The systematic theologian's task is to discover this, which already exists within Scripture itself.
What is the system (or unified truth)?
This philosophical movement believes in particular existences rather than essential truths and opposes systematic thinking.
What is existentialism?
These great teachers mentioned by Sproul include Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Edwards - not infallible but profoundly insightful.
Who are the master theologians (or great minds) of church history?
This phrase that Sproul heard promoted the wrong approach: 'bringing reformed theology' to this source of truth.
What is the Bible?
Sproul says Scripture has these three qualities: unified, coherent, and this third characteristic.
What is consistent?
Sproul says God reveals himself according to his own character and nature, and Scripture manifests these three qualities as a result
What are unity, coherence, and consistency?
In medieval times, theology held this royal title among all academic disciplines, with philosophy as her handmaiden.
What is the queen of the sciences?
According to 2 Timothy 3:16, Scripture is profitable for these four things that Sproul emphasized.
What are doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness?
Sproul mentioned this absurd doctoral thesis about Jesus founding a phallic mushroom cult as an example of pursuing this for its own sake
What is novelty?
When Sproul teaches about the cross and students ask about the virgin birth, it shows that every point in theology does this to every other point
What is addresses (or impacts or connects to)?
Sproul says this about Scripture's detailed symmetry: it never ceases to do this to him, meaning it overwhelms him every time
What is amaze?