C2.1 Bible

• eisegesis: interpreting a text subjectively - reader makes scripture say what they want it to say
• exegesis: objective critical interpretation of a text - reader makes scripture say what God wants it to say
• hermeneutics: branch of knowledge dealing with interpretation
• natural theology: gaining knowledge of God through reason and observation
• revealed theology: gaining knowledge of God when he chooses to reveal himself directly (e.g. scripture, religious experience)
• Bible quote in support of natural theology:

  "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" (Romans)
• Francis Bacon view on revealed and natural theology

  2 books, 1 author: (1) "book of God's word" = revealed; (2) "book of God's works" = observation of nature
• 3 theological criticisms of nat theo args for God

  1. God of phil diff to God of theo - impersonal cause vs personal
  2. Aug: flawed, Fall
  3. Barth: nat theo too independent of God - only know thru self-rev
• give a response to this theological criticism of nat theo args for God:

  God of phil diff to God of theo - impersonal cause vs personal relation

  Acts 17: God of phil can be built on to produce God of theo (just don't know enough yet)
• give a response to Barth's criticism of nat theo:

  too independent of God - can only know him thru self-revelation

  McGrath: nat theo guided by God's self-rev + rev theo, not independent
• Bible passage supporting nat theo from a priori/innate knowledge

  Acts 17: altar inscription "to an unknown God" - innate sense of God (even if don't know exactly what it is)
• Bible passage supporting nat theo from a priori/innate knowledge

  Acts 17: altar inscription "to an unknown God" - innate sense of God (even if don't know exactly what it is)
• Calvin on nat theo from a priori/innate knowledge

  • sensus divinitatis
  • knowledge of self leads to knowledge of God - know our deficiencies = know opposite (God)
  • but Fall means not perfect knowledge - need rev
• 1 strength of Calvin's sensus divinitatis

  religs in all societies thru history -> knowledge of God innate
• give a criticism of this strength of Calvin's sensus divinitatis:

  religs in all societies thru history -> knowledge of God innate

  Reza Aslan: relig instinct evolved; not knowledge from God, just survival
• give a response to this criticism of Calvin's sensus divinitatis:

  Reza Aslan: relig instinct evolved, doesn't mean innate from God

  God guided evolut to give us innate knowledge of him
• Emil Brunner view on nat and revealed theo

  sensus divinitatis = partial knowledge; revelation = true knowledge
• Emil Brunner view on nat and revealed theo


  sensus divinitatis = partial knowledge; revelation = true knowledge
• give Barth's criticism of Emil Brunner's arg for nat theo:

  sensus divinitatis = partial knowledge; revelation = true knowledge

  Barth: human mind corrupted by Fall - nat theo leads to immoral beliefs
• Bible evidence for Bible as word of God: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy)