Investigating the General and Specific Communication of God Theology Matters

I. Important Questions to Consider II. Basic Terminology III. Various Opinions IV. Examining the Scriptures V. Systematic Conclusions VI. Apologetics VII. Practical Applications

1. Apologetics 2. Conscience 3. Cosmology 4.Concordism 5.Empiricism 6. Epistemology

7. General Revelation 8. Natural Theology 9. Objective Truth 10. Pantheism 11. Syllogism 12. Teleology

13. Theology 14. Total Depravity

OVERVIEW CHART Does General Revelation Exist? Can Unbelievers Grasp General Revelation (Natural Theology)? Can Believers Grasp General Revelation (Natural Theology)? How Corrupt is the Human Mind? Aquinian View Y Y Y Corrupt Barthian View N N N Radically Corrupt Alternative Reformed View Y N Y Radically Corrupt Religious Liberal View Y Y Y Mildly Corrupt - Basically Good The Dominant Protestant View Y Y Y Radically Corrupt

Why is it important to study more than one view? How should we determine which view is right? How should we treat those who adhere to a different view than our own? Which view on General Revelation do you believe is correct?

Take out a piece of paper. Answer the following question: How is General Revelation similar to and different from the claim of natural theology? How does Thomas Aquinas’s perspective on G.R. and N.T. differ from Karl Barth’s view? Take out a piece of paper. Answer the following question: How is General Revelation similar to and different from the claim of natural theology? How does Thomas Aquinas’s perspective on G.R. and N.T. differ from Karl Barth’s view?

GOING DEEPER Perspective #1 – Aquinas’ Perspective HistoryBeliefs “Dumb Ox” “Angelic Doc” Summa Theologica 1.Human beings, made in the image of God, are endowed with the power of a rational mind. 2.The mind was not seriously affected by the fall. 3.God’s existence is similar or analogous to human existence; therefore, God can be comprehended (Strict, Lost, Analogous).

Perspective #2 – Barth and the Neo-Orthodox Tradition HistoryBeliefs Confessing Church Deported to Switzerland Famous Work: Church Dogmatics 1.There is an infinite essential difference between God and persons. God’s creation does not reflect His being because it is utterly dissimilar to God. There are no connecting associations. 2.The human race lost the Imago Dei because of the Fall; thus, the reason of man is incapable of comprehending the transcendent. 3.Aquinas’ perspective on the resemblance between the Creator and humans is erroneous

Perspective #3 – The Alternative Reformed Tradition HistoryBeliefs Dutch Reformed View Up until the mid-1900’s, the Dutch Reformed Church was the most prevalent denomination in the Netherlands; eventually, it was outnumbered by the Roman Catholic Church. 1.These theologians argue in favor of the reality of General Revelation. 2.Having said this, they assert that General Revelation cannot be sensed by the human mind because of the radical effects of sin. 3.An individual must be redeemed before he or she can truly comprehend General Revelation

Perspective #4 – Liberal Perspective HistoryBeliefs Epistemological Switch Authority 1.Science 2.Reason 3.Bible 3 Groups Liberals Neo-Liberals Post Liberals The Bible is not inerrant. For this reason, it is placed under other sources of truth. -Science (empiricism) -Logic -Cultural Consensus

Perspective #5 – The Dominant Protestant Perspective HistoryBeliefs This view has been the dominate view within Protestantism since the Reformation. 1.General Revelation exists. 2.Each aspect of every person has been radically corrupted by sin. 3.God pours out common grace on all individuals in order to help depraved minds see Him. 4.All persons do in fact grasp God’s General Revealtion (Natural Theology), and they reject it; hence, they are deserving of judgement and in need of redemption.

THE PENTATEUCH Reference Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God …” Context Initial Verse Historic Creation Account Apologetic of Moses Significance Creation Ex Nihilo (Includes Matter, Space, and Time) Cosmological Implications

WISDOM LITERATURE WISDOM LITERATURE Reference Job 36:24-33: While speaking to Job about God’s evidences in creation, Elihu states, “Everyone has seen it.” Context After Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zopher give counsel to Job, ELIHU enters the conversation. “Remember to extol his work” (24) because “all humanity has seen it” (25). Significance Reference God’s powerful works of creation Every eye has seen it Psalm 14:1-3: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” “They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” David cries out for salvation to come back to Zion. Fools declare that there is no “God.” Or That God is far off – allowing them to get away with evil. The word fool describes an individually who intentionally closes his mind to God, usually for moral reasons. To be a fool, you must first understand … then reject. The passage also describes the radical corruption of a person, even the mind.

WISDOM LITERATURE (CONTINUED) Reference * Psalm 19:1-6: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.” Context The psalmist David initially praises God for his glorious handprint on nature (1-6). He then praises God for his perfect law (7). I light of this, David writes, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me” (13). Significance The created realm reveals non- verbal information about God. The existence and glory of God our seen. The verbs declare and proclaim are participles. General Revelation is continuously displayed. Universal – “nothing is deprived of its warmth” (6).

Acts – The Early Church Reference Act 14:15-17: Act 14:15-17: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Context In Lystra, Paul healed a man that had been crippled from birth. In response, the people attached deity to Barnabas and Paul. They believed that Barnabas was Zeus, and they assumed that Paul was Hermes. Paul responded by referring to God. He argued that God is evident to all. Significance Unbelieving Audience “God has not left Himself without testimony” (17) Paul taught that God is evident to all because His creation testifies of Him. 2. His kindness (sending rain, providing harvest, gladness, etc.) is apparent.

Pauline Epistle Reference Romans 1:18-21: “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Context Paul begins his letter to the Romans by expressing his eagerness to “preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome” (15). He then explains that in the Gospel “the righteousness of God is revealed” (17). After describing the cure for God’s creatures, he then offers his thesis on the human condition. Paul declares all persons guilty for their willful opposition to their creator. Significance Paul makes the following assertions: 1. All persons, even unbelievers, have a rudimentary understanding of God as creator (verse 19). 2. This understanding is acquired by reflecting on the natural world (verse 20). 3. The sinful heart continually suppresses the knowledge of God as creator (verse 28). Idolatry = willful rejection of the truth. 4. A person’s willful suppression of God, who is clearly evidenced in nature, establishes human guilt (verse 20). General Revelation & Natural Theology are affirmed.

Pauline Epistle Reference * Romans 2:14-16: “(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.). This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” Context Paul sheds light on hypocritical judgment. Jews should not condemn Gentiles for certain actions, while they are committing the same actions. God does not show “favoritism” (11). In the midst of describing the written law of the Jews, Paul describes how even the Gentiles have the law of conscience. Both Jews and Gentiles need a heart change. Paul concludes by claiming that a real Jew is “one inwardly” (29). Significance Paul acknowledges the reality of an internal evidence of God. = God-given conscience