Basic Theology/ Chapter 93
Some Central Passages for the Study of Theology
For the Christian, theology must be built on the Bible.
We recognize that it is Scripture that gives us the doctrines of our faith. It does this not only by providing clear proof texts, but also by giving clear principles, and by offering the data from which we can make deductions or inductions or logical conclusions. But the basis of all our theology, however derived, must be the Scripture.
Through the years of teaching I have tried to insist that students not only know how to state a doctrine correctly but also what are the principal biblical passages from which it is formulated.
In this chapter I want to list useful central passages with a brief description of their contribution to theology. If a person could use this list in both directions he or she would have a great grasp of the Bible and theology. By “both directions” I mean: (a) if one were given a passage he could describe its major doctrinal content; and (b) if one were asked where a doctrine is taught in the Bible he could cite the most important references.
If this is “proof-texting” so be it. What is wrong with that? “Both liberalism and neoorthodoxy have strongly castigated the orthodox use of proof texts, and not with good reason. There is no doubt that the Scriptures quoted closely yield the doctrines of orthodoxy, not liberalism nor neoorthodoxy. . . . The conservative insists the citation of Scripture is nothing more than a special application of ‘footnoting’ which is standard scholarly procedure. . . . The liberal and neoorthodox objection to the use of proof texts reflects a deep theological prejudice . . . rather than a rebuttal of a false method of scholarship. . . . The mere listing of proof texts is of no value unless each verse is underwritten by sound exegetical work. . . . Many of the older theologians were guilty of citing a verse in the Old Testament to prove something with reference to salvation and justification, and treating it as if it were as clear and lucid as something in Romans and Galatians. This is one of the most unhappy features of the older theologies which has been happily corrected by a much better sense of historical and progressive revelation, nor can the beneficial influence of dispensationalism be gainsayed at this point” (Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation (Boston: Wilde, 1950], pp. 175-8).
AREA OF THEOLOGY | CENTRAL PASSAGES | THEMES IN THOSE PASSAGES |
PROLEGOMENA | ||
1 Cor. 2:10-16 | Need for the Spirit’s teaching | |
GENERAL REVELATION | ||
Ps. 19:1-6 | Revelation is worldwide and continuous | |
Rom. 1:18-32 | Revelation of the wrath of God | |
Acts 14:17 | The providence of God | |
Matt. 5:45 | The goodness of God | |
Acts 17:28-29 | God is intelligent and living | |
THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD | ||
His attributes | Ps. 90:2 | Eternality |
James 1:17 | Immutability | |
Ps. 99 | Holiness | |
Ps. 139:7-11 | Omnipresence | |
1 John 1:7 | God is light | |
1 John 4:8 | God is love | |
John 4:24 | God is spirit | |
His names | Gen. 1:1 | Elohim |
Ex. 3:14 | Yahweh | |
His triunity | Deut. 6:4 | The unity and uniqueness of God |
Isa. 48:16 | Suggestion of Trinity | |
Matt. 28:18-20 | Oneness (name) and threeness | |
2 Cor. 13:14 | Trinitarian benediction | |
THE BIBLE | ||
Its Inspiration | 2 Tim. 3:16 | Bible is God-breathed |
2 Peter 1:21 | Spirit moved human authors | |
1 Tim. 5:18 | Deut. 25:4 and Luke 10:7 linked together as “Scripture” | |
2 Peter 3:16 | Paul’s writings called “Scripture” | |
1 Cor. 2:13 | Words of Bible are inspired | |
Its Inerrancy | Matt. 4:4 | Every word came from God |
Matt. 5:17-18 | Jot and tittle | |
Matt. 22:23-33 | Tense of verb is accurate | |
Matt. 22:41-46 | Letters of words are accurate | |
Gal. 3:16 | Singular is accurate | |
Its Canonicity | Luke 11:51 | The limits of the O.T. canon |
Its Illumination | John 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:9-3:2 | The Spirit’s ministry in understanding the Bible |
ANGELS | ||
Eph. 3:10 | Their ranking and organization | |
Gen. 3:24 | Cherubim | |
Isa. 6:2 | Seraphim | |
Luke 1:26 | Gabriel | |
Jude 9 | Michael the archangel | |
Ex. 3 | Angel of Yahweh | |
Heb. 1:14 | Their service | |
SATAN | ||
Ezek. 28:11-19 | His creation and sin | |
Isa. 14:12-17 | Details of his rebellion | |
Matt. 4:1-11 | His temptation of Christ | |
John 12:31 | Ruler of the world | |
Rev. 12:10 | Accuser of the brethren | |
2 Cor. 4:4 | Blinding unbelievers | |
Eph. 6:11-18 | Armor for believers | |
DEMONS | ||
Matt. 17:18; cf. Mark 9:25 | Demons are unclean spirits | |
Eph. 6:12 | Their ranking and organization | |
1 Tim. 4:1 | Doctrines of demons | |
Matt. 25:41 | Destiny in lake of fire | |
MAN | ||
Gen. 1:26-27 | His creation by God | |
Ex. 20:11 | The days of Creation | |
Matt. 19:4-5 | Christ and creation of man | |
1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12; | Aspects of the immaterial nature of man | |
Gen. 3:1-7 | Original sin | |
Gen. 3:8-24 | Penalties for sin | |
SIN | ||
Rom. 3:23; 1 John 3:4 | The meaning of sin | |
Eph. 2:3 | Inherited sin | |
Rom. 5:12-21 | Imputation of sin | |
Heb. 7:9-10 | An example of imputation | |
Rom. 3:9-18 | Personal sins | |
JESUS CHRIST | ||
John 8:58 | His eternality | |
Matt. 1:23; Luke 1:35 | His Virgin Birth | |
John 1:14 | His Incarnation | |
John 1:1; 10:30 | His Deity | |
Luke 2:52; Gal. 4:4 | His humanity | |
Phil. 2:7 | His kenosis | |
John 8:29; 1 Peter 2:21 | His sinlessness | |
Heb. 4:15 | His impeccability | |
Matt. 28:6 | His resurrection | |
Acts 1:9-11 | His ascension | |
SALVATION | ||
Eph. 1:4 | Pretemporal | |
Election | Rom. 8:29-30 | Predestination |
1 Peter 2:8 | Preterition | |
The Death of Christ | Mark 10:45 | Substitution |
1 Peter 1:18 | Redemption | |
2 Cor. 5:18-21 | Reconciliation | |
1 John 2:2 | Propitiation | |
The Plan of God in Salvation | Matt. 11:28 | General call |
Rom. 8:30 | Effective call | |
John 16:8-11 | Conviction of the Spirit | |
Acts 16:31 | Faith | |
Rom. 3:24 | Justification | |
Titus 3:5 | Regeneration | |
Gal. 4:5 | Adoption | |
2 Cor. 3:7-11 | End of the Law | |
Rom. 6:1-4 | Union with Christ | |
Assurance Security | 1 John 5:10-13 | Based on the Scripture |
Rom. 8:31-39 | Because of the love of God | |
Eph. 4:30 | Because of the Spirit’s seal | |
Extent of the Atonement | 2 Peter 2:1 | Ransom paid for all people |
2 Cor. 5:19 | Reconciliation for the world | |
1 John 2:2 | Propitiation for all | |
THE HOLY SPIRIT | ||
John 16:24; 1 Cor. 2:10-11 | His personality | |
Acts 5:3-4 | His Deity | |
John 14:17 | Contrast between O.T. and N.T. ministry of the Spirit | |
Matt. 12:22-37 | Blasphemy against the Spirit | |
Rom. 8:1; 1 Cor. 6:19 | Indwelling | |
1 John 2:20, 27 | Anointing | |
Eph. 4:30 | Sealing | |
1 Cor. 12:13 | Baptism into the body | |
1 Cor. 12:7-11 | Gifts of the Spirit | |
Eph. 5:18 | Filling | |
John 16:12-15 | Teaching | |
Gal. 5:22-23 | Fruit of the Spirit | |
THE CHURCH | ||
Acts 19:39, 41 | A nonreligious assembly | |
Acts 7:38 | Israel as an assembly | |
Eph. 1:22-23 | Church, the body of Christ | |
Rom. 16:5 | Church in a house | |
1 Cor. 1:2 | Church in a city | |
Acts 9:31; 1 Cor. 15:9 | Church in a region | |
1 Tim. 3:1-13 | Qualifications for elders and deacons | |
Titus 1:7-9 | Qualifications for elders | |
Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 12-14 | Activities of the church | |
Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:6-8 | Discipline by the church | |
THE FUTURE | ||
Postmillennialism | Dan. 2:35, 44 | Stone fills the whole earth |
Amillennialism | Gal. 6:16 | Israel-church |
Premillennialism | Rev. 20:1-7 | 1,000 years mentioned 6 times |
Gen. 15:9-17 | Ratification of unconditional covenant with Abraham | |
2 Sam. 7:12-16 | Covenant with David | |
1 Thes. 4:13-18 | The Rapture | |
Pretribulationalism | Rev. 3:10 | Kept from the hour |
1 Thes. 5:1-11 | Kept from the wrath | |
Against Partial Rapture | 1 Cor. 15:51-52 | All will be changed |
The Millennium | Rev. 19:15 | Christ the ruler |
Isa. 2:1-4 | Jerusalem the capital | |
Isa. 11:4 | Righteousness | |
Isa. 35 | Productivity | |
Isa. 19:24-25 | Peace | |
The Judgments | 1 Cor. 3:10-15 | Of believers |
Ezek. 20:34-38 | Of Jewish survivors of the Tribulation | |
Matt. 25:31-46 | Of Gentile survivors of the Tribulation | |
Rev. 20:11-15 | Of unbelievers at the Great White Throne | |
Matt. 25:46; 2 Thes. 1:8-9 | Punishment is eternal | |
