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Christian ApologeticsSTUDY GUIDE FOR FRIDAY'S (DEC. 11TH) EXAM Study Guide Exam #3 Uniquely Catholic Authority of the Apostles and the Church The scriptures promise us that the Church that Christ established was (1) HIS Church, (2) built on Peter (the Rock, not the wrestler) aka Simon, (3) and Christ, in that same setting, gave authority to the Apostles to interpret and teach. (4) He promised them (and us) that the Church he was establishing would NOT fall into error, (5) and then later He promised to send them the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit. Scriptures concerning the importance of Scripture AND TRADITION,
what is SPOKEN as well as what is WRITTEN. 2 Timothy 1:7-14 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit
of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8 So do not be
ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with
me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who
has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done
but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ
Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been
revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed
death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And
of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That
is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have
believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to
him for that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the
pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard
the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy
Spirit who lives in us. 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 14-18 1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the
presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified
to teach others. 14 Keep reminding
them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it
is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your
best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to
be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid
godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more
ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among
them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away
from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and
they destroy the faith of some. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2; 17-18 1 Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ. 2 I praise you for
remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed
them on to you. 17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for
your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place,
I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you,
and to some extent I believe it. Philippians 4:4-9 4 Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness
be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever
you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into
practice. And the God of peace will be with you. SCRIPTURES REGARDING “THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH” John 14:15-17 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I
command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you
another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him,
for he lives with you and will be in you. John 15:26-27 26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I
will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the
Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you
have been with me from the beginning. John 16:7-15 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your
good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to
you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes,
he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and
judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in
me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the
Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to
judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 "I
have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he,
the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak
on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet
to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and
making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is
mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it
known to you. 1 John 4:4-6 4 You, dear children, are from God and have
overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in
the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak
from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God,
and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not
listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of
falsehood. Is it possible that the Holy Spirit speak different
truths to different people in different denominations. Many, if not all, sincere Bible scholars
claim that they rely on the Spirit to guide them in their understanding of the
scriptures. Is it possible that “truth” from God or the Spirit
(of Truth) could be different for different people? For example:
One scholar reads a verse in the Bible about murder or homosexuality or
plural marriage, etc. Some scholars
interpret one way and other interpret
the complete opposite way even though they both have sincerely relied on
the Holy Spirit to guide them in their understanding. Who is there for them to say, “You are wrong
and you are right.” There over 33,000 different Christian denominations
in the world. Not 33,000 church buildings but 33,000 distinctly different
“versions” of Christianity. Most of them
have sincere differences with each other over issues of doctrine, scripture and
theology. **For Catholics this dilemma is answered by Christ
Himself. Christ promised us and
established a Church, “against which the gates of hell shall not prevail”. He gave us leaders who can interpret
scripture for us. Just as we are shown with Philip and the Eunuch in
Acts 8: 26 Now an angel of
the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes
down from Mary Mary as the Queen Mother There is an Aramaic word, "Gebirah", which means "Queen Mother". This was an office held by the mother of the King in the Davidic line of Kings. David began this dynasty, then Solomon and so forth on until the last King, Jesus Christ. Her specific place of honor and intercession is dramatically illustrated in the following passage from 1 Kings 2: 13-21: Of particular import are the following observations: 1.Adonijah assumed that the queen mother would approach the King on his behalf; he trusted her. 2. The reaction of the King is noteworthy: he stood up to meet her and paid her homage. 3. A throne was provided for her, and she sat at his right. 4. Her power as intercessor is stressed by the repetition of the idea that the king "will not refuse her". We do the same with Mary today. We assume that she will approach the King on our behalf. Revelations tells us that the prayers of the saints rise like incense before God. Who do you suppose they are praying for? If we ask those we know here to pray for us, how should we refrain from asking those who are in the presence of God? And if we ask those who are in the presence of God to pray for us, how should we refrain from asking the very mother of the King? Communion
of Saints Revelation 5:8 - Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us. In the book of Revelation, John sees that "the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Rev. 5:8). Thus the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth. Who do you suppose the saints in heaven are praying for? YOU! (and me too) Think of the saints in heaven as our spiritual cheerleaders. They have only one goal for us.
“TO GET US TO WHERE THEY ARE,
HEAVEN!” For Catholics we do not see a separation between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven. We rely on the help of the saints and upon their prayers . In the book of James we are told that the prayers of a righteous man our indeed powerful. How much more righteous could someone be than to be a saint in heaven? We commonly rely on others here on earth to pray for, as we are told to do in the scriptures. As Catholics we rely on our earthly brothers and sisters AND we ask the saints in heaven to pray for us as well. The Communion of Saints then becomes for us a connection between the Church on earth and the Church in heaven. I heard a priest who explained it
this way: for non-Catholic Christians the separation between earth and heaven
is complete. Souls go in but never again
have any knowledge of what is going on here on earth. It is almost as if there were a wall that
separated the two places. For Catholic Christians this
separation is much looser and there is not a wall but rather something more
like chicken wire that separates the two realms and we can pass notes asking
for prayers through to the saints. Just an analogy… not theology. Here are some of the early Church
Fathers on the Communion of Saints Hermas "[The
Shepherd said:] ‘But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask
anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without
fail to all who ask him. But you, [Hermas,] having been strengthened by the
holy angel [you saw], and having obtained from him such intercession, and not
being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it
from him?’" (The Shepherd 3:5:4 [A.D. 80]). Clement of "In
this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in
the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of
their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints
standing with him [in prayer]" (Miscellanies 7:12 [A.D. 208]). Origen "But
not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also
the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen
asleep" (Prayer 11 [A.D. 233]). Cyprian of "Let
us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides [of
death] always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by
mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall
go hence first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our
prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father’s
mercy" (
Using the Passover celebration as a “type” for our Communion Supper we can see there that the lamb, which was slaughtered had to be consumed. To do otherwise would be disobeying a command from God and would be risking bringing death to their household. Here is the verse: Exodus 12: 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
It was very important, in fact life or death, that the Jews consumed the Lamb.
If they didn't like lamb, they couldn't eat something else instead. If they did that, their firstborn would die. They had to eat the lamb. Now back to John 6 where Jesus pulls this all together, "My flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life."
It’s all there in this one beautiful chapter.
The Passover itself is there:
John 6 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
Christ feeding the
disciples miraculously is there:
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
Christ’s
references to Moses and making comparisons with Himself are there:
32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
*** IMPORTANT TO NOTE: CHRIST
DOES NOT GO AFTER THOSE DISCIPLES WHO LEAVE HIM THAT DAY. HE DOESN’T EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT WHAT HE SAID
HE MEANT METAPHORICALLY. HE RELIES ON
THE FAITH OF THE DISCIPLES AND THE APOSTLES PRESENT TO TRUST HIM IN WHAT HE IS SAYING. ALSO NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES CHRIST REPEATS
THAT WE MUST EAT THE FLESH AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF MAN. AT THE LAST SUPPER CHRIST MAKES
CLEAR WHAT HE MEANT ABOUT EATING THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINKING HIS
BLOOD: LUKE 22:14-20 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles
reclined at the table. 15 And
he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you
before I suffer. 16 For I
tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Priestly
Celibacy- Priests could be married up until about 1074 AD. Other Rites of the Catholic Church allow priests to be married. A married priest in the Anglican or The idea of a married priesthood is not impossible. It could return but it doesn’t seem likely to happen very soon. There are some Biblical reasons for a celibate priesthood (see verses below) and some very pragmatic reasons as well. Matt. 19:11-12 - Jesus says celibacy is a gift from God and whoever can bear it should bear it. The Apostle Paul’s recommendation in 1 Corinthians 7:32-33, 38 Know how the following verse is relevant to this discussion about "vox populi/Dei" and Cafeteria Catholics: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. ***Also on the exam will be some question over the reading in the text,
pages 384-392.*** 12-8 to 12-12 This weeks lectures will be over: The Eucharist The Sacraments Mary The Communion of Saints Read in your text pages 384-392 "The Bottom Line" ***OUR EXAM IS NOT DURING FINALS WEEK BUT RATHER FRIDAY OF THIS WEEK, DEC. 12TH*** Week of Dec. 1st to Dec. 5th We begin this third and final section of lectures on what makes the Catholic Church and its beliefs unique to other Christian traditions. The lectures will cover the following topics and beyond: Mary The Saints The Pope Eucharist Salvation The 7 Sacraments ** THIS WEEK BE READING IN YOUR TEXTS pages 282-337 over "Hell" and "Salvation" VERY LIKELY QUIZ ON FRIDAY, DEC. 5TH!!! Exam Study Guide Our exam has been postponed until the Monday after Thanksgiving. (Monday Dec. 1st) Here is the study guide: Exam #2 Study Guide Christian Apologetics The Resurrection, Christ’s Divinity, Christ’s Miracles & The Trinity The Resurrection, the Trinity and Christ’s Divinity are three of the core beliefs of orthodox Christianity. People or sects within Christianity who believe otherwise would be considered “unorthodox” and perhaps even heretical. I. THE
RESURRECTION Paul explains in stark terms the importance of the Resurrection to Christians: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14). “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). This claims of Christianity hinge on the Resurrection so the New Testament accounts of Christ’s resurrection warrant careful analysis and reflection. This testimony was the essential function of the apostles. Read
Acts 1:22 Jesus' resurrection was not merely a coming back from the dead (resuscitation, near-death experience, reincarnation) but a resurrection into a new type of human life eternal life Jesus Christ fully and completely conquered death. These verses give us details and accounts of the
Resurrection: Matt. 26:47-28:20; Mark 14:43-16:8; Luke 22:47-24:53; John
18:1-21:25; Acts 9:1-19; 1 Cor. 15:1-58. 1. Eye witness accounts of the empty tomb 2. Christ appears first to women. This would not have been the way chosen by male writers, in the culture of that day, to give validity to the empty tomb. 3. The executioners were experts at what they did. They knew as well as anyone who was dead and who was not dead. 4. Between the scourging and the crucifixion Christ not would have had the strength to roll back the stone in front of the tomb. In fact no single person in good health could do this. Christ appeared to friends and enemies, believers and unbelievers, women and men, in public and in private, at different times, and in different locations. Mary Magdalene (John 20:10-18), Mary and the other women (Matt. 28:1-10), Peter (1 Cor. 15:5), two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), ten apostles (Luke 24:36-49), eleven apostles (John 20:24-31), seven apostles (John 21), all the apostles (Matt. 28:16-20), five hundred disciples (1 Cor. 15:6), James (1 Cor. 15:7), all the apostles again (Acts 1:4-8), and finally, later, to Saul, who became Paul (Acts 9:1-9). Christ still bore the marks of the wounds in His hands, feet, and side (John 20:20). Christ could be seen and touched as a physical body of flesh and bone (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:37-39). Christ invited people to examine his body (Luke 24:39-40; John 20:20, 27). Jesus even ate and drank with his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24:41-43; Acts 10:41). ** Jesus was capable of things
that ordinary mortals are not; for example, He could appear and disappear in a
closed room. STRANDS OF EVIDENCE FOR THE
RESURRECTION 1. The empty tomb 2. The post resurrection appearances of Christ 3. The exponential growth of the Christian Church even very early on 4.
The day of worship for Christians was changed from
the Sabbath to Sunday in honor of one event and one event only: The Resurrection 5.
The transformation of the Apostles. They go from cowering and hiding from the
authorities to preaching with authority and confidence in a matter of 9
days. They then at Pentecost are heard
in many different languages. 1. The resurrection is simply a myth 2. The disciples stole Christ’s body to perpetuate the story of a risen Christ. 3. The women went to the wrong tomb. 4. Jesus was not really dead when he was laid in the tomb and he became healthier and then rolled back the stone to escape. 5. The followers of Jesus suffered from hallucinations (individually or mass hallucinations) 10 ESSENTIAL THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
There are many miracles that Christ did while here on earth. I gave you a list of those miracles in class and we read through many of them. Three of the miracles stand out as having a rich and even prophetic symbolism. 1. The feeding of the 5000 (the fishes and the loaves) 2. Walking on the Water 3. The Raising of Lazarus Other men came claiming to be the Messiah but none of them had the reputation of being a miracle worker. This is unique to Christ. The corroborative testimony of the miracles is important.
OBJECTIONS?
Know the weaknesses in these objections CHRISTS MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE 1. Cure of two blind men (Matt 9:27-31) 2. Piece of money in the fish's mouth (Matt 17:24-27) 3. The deaf and dumb man (Mark 7:31-37) 4.
The blind man of 5. Jesus passes unseen through the crowd (Luke 4:28-30) 6. The miraculous draught of fishes (Luke 5:4-11) 7. The raising of the widow's son at Nain (Luke 7:11-18) 8. The woman with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-17) 9. The man with the dropsy (Luke 14:1-6) 10. The ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19) 11. The healing of Malchus (Luke 22:50-51) 12. Water made wine (John 2:1-11) 13. Cure
of nobleman's son, 14. Impotent
man at 15. Man born blind cured (John 9:1-7) 16. Lazarus raised from the dead (John 11:38-44) 17. Draught of fishes (John 21:1-14) 18. Syrophoenician woman's daughter cured (Matt 15:28; Mark 7:24) 19. Four thousand fed (Matt 15:32; Mark 8:1) 20. Fig tree blasted (Matt 21:18; Mark 11:12) 21. Centurion's servant healed (Matt 8:5; Luke 7:1) 22. Blind and dumb demoniac cured (Matt 12:22; Luke 11:14) 23. Demoniac
cured in synagogue at 24. Peter's wife's mother cured (Matt 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) 25. The tempest stilled (Matt 8:23; Mark 4:37; Luke 8:22) 26. Demoniacs
of 27. Swine rush into and drown (Mark 5:1-20) 28. Leper healed (Matt 8:2; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12) 29. Jairus's daughter raised (Matt 9:23; Mark 5:23; Luke 8:41) 30. Woman's issue of blood cured (Matt 9:20; Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43) 31. Man sick of the palsy cured (Matt 9:2; Mark 2:3; Luke 5:18) 32. Man's withered hand cured (Matt 12:10; Mark 3:1; Luke 6:6) 33. A lunatic child cured (Matt 17:14; Mark 9:14; Luke 9:37) 34. Two blind men cured (Matt 20:29; Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35) 35. Jesus walks on the sea (Matt 14:25; Mark 6:48; John 6:15) 36. Jesus feeds 5,000 "in a desert place" (Matt 14:15; Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10; John 6:1-14) 37. Many fulfilled prophecies (also see: prophets) 38. The conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:35) 39. Star
of 40. The transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8) 41. The resurrection (John 21:1-14) 42. The ascension (Luke 2:42-51) III.
The Divinity
of Christ
WHAT SET CHRIST
APART? WHAT MAKES HIM DIVINE?
1. His independent approach to the law. This means that Jesus equated his own authority with the authority of what He considered, along with the rest of His culture, to be the divinely inspired Torah 2. His feeding of the 5,000. 3. His interpretation of His own miracles. 4. His proclamation of the 5. His choosing of 12 disciples (mirroring the
12 tribes of 6. Use of the terms “Abba”, “Amen”, Son of Man”, “Son of God” and “Amen” 7. His distinguishing Himself from his contemporaries, including John the Baptist, the Pharisees, Jewish revolutionaries, and the disciples. 8. His belief that one's future standing with God hinged on how one reacted to His ministry. Jesus says that people will be judged based on their response to Him. See, for example, Luke 12:8-9. But if Jesus is not God, this would be "the most narrow and objectionable dogmatism. For Jesus is saying that people's salvation depends on their confession to Jesus Himself."
THE CHURCH FATHERS
FROM THE ON CHRIST’S DIVINITY (These men were early leaders, theologians and Bishops of the Church) Ignatius of Ignatius, also called Theophorus, to the Church at Ephesus in Asia . . . predestined from eternity for a glory that is lasting and unchanging, united and chosen through true suffering by the will of the Father in Jesus Christ our God (Letter to the Ephesians 1 [A.D. 110]). For our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary in accord with God's plan: of the seed of David, it is true, but also of the Holy Spirit (ibid., 18:2). To the Church beloved and enlightened after the love of Jesus Christ, our God, by the will of him that has willed everything which is (Letter to the Romans 1 [A.D. 110]). Aristides [Christians] are they who, above every people of the earth, have found the truth, for they acknowledge God, the Creator and maker of all things, in the only-begotten Son and in the Holy Spirit (Apology 16 [A.D. 140]). Irenaeus For the Church, although dispersed throughout the whole world even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, Father Almighty, the creator of heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them; and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who announced through the prophets the dispensations and the comings, and the birth from a Virgin, and the passion, and the resurrection from the dead, and the bodily ascension into heaven of the beloved Christ Jesus our Lord, and his coming from heaven in the glory of the Father to reestablish all things; and the raising up again of all flesh of all humanity, in order that to Jesus Christ our Lord and God and Savior and King, in accord with the approval of the invisible Father, every knee shall bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Against Heresies 1:10:1 [A.D. 189]). Clement of The Word, then, the Christ, is the cause both of our ancient beginning — for he was in God — and of our well-being. And now this same Word has appeared as man. He alone is both God and man, and the source of all our good things (Exhortation to the Greeks 1:7:1 [A.D. 190]). Despised as to appearance but in reality adored, [Jesus is") the expiator, the Savior, the soother, the divine Word, he that is quite evidently true God, he that is put on a level with the Lord of the universe because he was his Son (ibid.,10:110:1). Tertullian The origins of both his substances display him as man and as God: From the one, born, and from the other, not born (The Flesh of Christ 5:6-7 [A.D. 210]). That there are two gods and two Lords, however, is a statement which we will never allow to issue from our mouth; not as if the Father and the Son were not God, nor the Spirit God, and each of them God; but formerly two were spoken of as gods and two as Lords, so that when Christ would come, he might both be acknowledged as God and be called Lord, because he is the Son of him who is both God and Lord (Against Praxeas 13:6 [A.D. 216]). Origen Although he was God, he took flesh; and having been made man, he remained what he was: God (The Fundamental Doctrines 1:0:4 [A.D. 225]). Hippolytus For Christ is the God over all, who has arranged to wash away sin from mankind, rendering the old man new (Refutation of All Heresies 10:34). Cyprian of One who denies that Christ is God cannot become his temple [of the Holy Spiriti . . . (Letters 73:12 [A.D. 253]). IV. THE
TRINITY What is the Trinity? a. Human reason alone cannot fathom the Trinity, nor can logic explain it fully. b. Why can’t we comprehend the nature and essence of the Trinity? Because the Trinity us God in three “persons” and understanding the mind, make-up and essence of God is beyond our reasoning capacity. A more descriptive term would be Tri-unity, which suggests the three-in-oneness of God better than the word Trinity. a. God, is a trinity of persons consisting of one substance and one essence. b. God is triune, not triple; three in one, not
three-parted. c. A definition of the Trinity must include the distinctness and equality of the three Persons within the Trinity as well as the unity within the Trinity. d. The doctrine of the Trinity asserts that one God exists indivisibly and eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is three persons in one essence. f. All three Persons possess the divine attributes, yet the essence of God is undivided. CONCLUSIONS? a. Each of the three persons is completely divine in nature though each is not the totality of the Godhead.
THE
TRINITY IN SCRIPTURE The word “Trinity” is not found in
the Bible. Hints of the Trinity in the Old Testament: 1. Suggestions of plurality in the Godhead 1. Gen 1:1 God (Elohim) is a plural noun. 2. Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our image.” also Gen 3:22 3. Ps 110:1 God’s name is applied to more than one person in the same text. 2. Suggestions of three persons 1. Isa 48:16 “The Lord God, and his Spirit hath sent me” 2. Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO THE TRINITY New Testament proofs of the Tri-Unity of God 1. Matt 3:16-17 At the baptism of Christ, the Son was in the water, the Father’s voice was heard from heaven, and the Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. 2. Luke 1:32-35 Persons named: the Lord God, Son of the Most High, the Holy Spirit 3. Matt. 28:1, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 4. 1 Cor. 12:4-6, Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 5. 2 Cor. 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 6. Eph. 4:4-7, There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 7. 1 Pet. 1:2, "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure." 8. Jude 20-21, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."
11-26-08 11-25-08 Tuesday: Movie
11-24-08 11-21-08 Friday: Finish with the Trinity and Review for Exam on Monday ALSO! Be ready for a quiz over pages 227-276 in our text! 11-20-08 Thursday: The Trinity 11-19-08 Wednesday Nov. 19th: The Trinity 11-10-08 Monday: Apologetics Debate about The Resurrection Tuesday: (cont.) Apologetics Debate - The Resurrection Wed.: (cont.) The Miracles of Christ Thurs.: (cont.) The Miracles OF cHRIST Friday: Possible Quiz over PART 4 in the text. Finish lecture about Christ's miracles NEXT READING ASSIGNMENT: PAGES 227-279 Monday (Nov. 17th): "Who do you say that I am?" Who is/was the person of Christ? Tuesday: Guest Lecturer - Mr. Malarkey - "The Bible: Myth or History" Wednesday: (Nov. 19th) - (cont.) - "Who do you say that I am?" Thursday: "The Divinity of Christ" Friday: Be prepared for a quiz over pages 227-279 - (cont.) "The Divinity of Christ" -conclude section- Hand out reviews/study guides for exam on Monday, Nov. 24th. Monday (Nov. 24th): Exam over The Resurrection, Miracles and Christ's Divinity 11-6-08 Thursday: Lecture- The Resurrection Friday: Lecture - The Resurrection (cont.) Possible Quiz over Chapter 3 in text. Be prepared. 11-2-08 We have our exam on Monday. After the exam begin reading section 3 of the text. This needs to be read for a possible quiz on Friday, Nov. 7th. The section is on "God and Nature" and covers pages 101 to 120 in the text. 10-26-08 Read chapter 2 entitled "God" from "Handbook of Christian Apologetics". Again, possible quiz on Friday over this chapter. **Our first exam will be on Monday, November 3rd. It will be over the notes and the first two chapters of the text.** 10-21-08 Keep Reading Chapter 1, keep taking good notes in class. Be ready for a possible quiz on Friday over Chapter 1... 10-20-08 Be sure to be reading Part 1 in our text, "Handbook of Christian Apologetics" This would be pages 11-27. Please have read this by Friday October 24th and be prepared for a possible quiz over the material in that reading. __________________________________________________________________
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