Creation Theories
Who are the Epicureans?
A philosophical group maintains that the universe is "self-originated" and "haphazard," denying the existence of any Mind or Designer behind the cosmos.
What is the Image of God?
A special grace bestowed upon men to distinguish them from other earthly creatures.
What is the perishing (or disappearance) of God's work?
It would be "unworthy of the goodness of God" if He allowed the human race to perish or be "brought to nothing" by this deceptive force.
What is a human body as an instrument or temple?
The Word prepared a human body within a "spotless, stainless virgin" to serve as His "instrument" and as a "temple" for His dwelling.
How was water used and what is it in our context?
By transmuting water into wine at Cana, the Word proved through His works that He is the "Lord and Maker" of this element.
Who is Plato?
A Greeks philosopher, he argued the theory that God did not create matter, but instead fashioned the world out of "pre-existent and uncreated matter.
What are a law and a place (Paradise)
They were the two conditions God established to secure the grace given to mankind: the place was Paradise, and the law was the single prohibition against eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
What is repentance?
Repentance is the act of ceasing from sin. While it stops the transgression, it is insufficient because it cannot reverse the physical corruption of death or maintain God’s consistency regarding His decree that sin must lead to death
What is a "sufficient exchange"?
To abolish the law of death, the Word surrendered His body to death "instead of all," offering it to the Father as this type of "sufficient exchange."
Who is the man born blind?
The healing proved that the Word was the "Artificer of man" and the "Lord of birth."
Who are the Gnostics?
A sect invented a separate "Artificer" for the world who is distinct from the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the law of death?
The law of death is the penalty established by God for the transgression of His commandment, requiring that those who turned away from Him should die
Who is the Word of God Himself?
This is the only Person capable of recreating all things, being an "ambassador for all" with the Father, and suffering on behalf of all.
What is a King entering a city?
This analogy illustrates how the Word's indwelling in a single body bestows "honor" and "prestige" upon the whole human race, shielding the entire "city" from the enemy.
What is sustaining (or directing) the universe?
While living a human life, the Word was simultaneously "ordering, directing, and giving life to all" while remaining "uncontained."
What are "nothing" and "non-existence"?
Absolute states from which God brought the universe into being through His Word
What is non-existence?
Because man was originally called into being from nothing, the process of corruption causes him to turn back toward this specific state according to his original nature.
What is limitation?
God to neglect the ruin of His own work would imply this specific "limitation" or weakness, which is contrary to His perfect goodness.
What is a portrait on a panel?
An analogy to explain why the "Image of the Father" had to come in person to restore the likeness in man.
What are the sun's rays?
The sun's rays enlighten and purify the earthly objects they touch without being defiled by that contact; similarly, the Word of God sanctified the body by His presence without sharing in its corruption
Who is the Word of God?
God the Son
What is the envy of the devil?
The envy of the devil is identified as the cause through which death entered into the world. This envy led to the deceit of mankind, causing them to turn away from the contemplation of God and the grace of His Image, which resulted in their subjection to the law of death and corruption
The Divine Dilemma
The Divine Dilemma is the conflict between God’s truth and God’s goodness: He could not go back on His word that transgression must result in death, yet it was "unworthy" of His goodness to allow beings created in His Image to perish and return to non-existence
What are the ending of the law of death and the hope of resurrection?
The sacrifice of the Word’s body achieved a dual victory: the "ending of the law of death" and the "new beginning of life" through the hope of resurrection.
What are Signs or works done in the body?
Extraordinary acts and miracles performed by the Word while manifested in human form, These acts were intended to meet human senses "half way" by providing visible proof that He was not merely a man, but the Word and Power of God, By performing deeds only the Creator could do—such as healing the blind, walking on the sea, and casting out spirits—He revealed the Father to those who had turned away from spiritual contemplation toward sensible things