Lecture One—Prolegomena: A Word before We Begin

IA. A Prolegomena to Transformative Theology 1B. Introduction: “The State of the Union” 1C. Screwtape Learns A Lesson—C. S. Lewis, The ScrewTape Letters The Junior demon was not to teach people to think…about anything! 2C. Mark Noll—The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind The “scandal” is that there is no mind. 3C. Os Guinness—Fit Bodies and Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don’t Think and What To Do about It Guinness gives eight influences affecting evangelicals—influences leading to an evangelical “ghost mind.” 2B. Doing Transformative Theology and Other Trades 3B. Definitions and Goals: Theological Vision 1C. Various Uses of the Term ‘Theology’ 1D. Natural Theology 2D. Dogmatic Theology 3D. Historical Theology 4D. Biblical Theology 5D. Systematic Theology 6D. Apologetic Theology 2C. Definitions of Systematic Theology 1D. Stanley Grenz and Roger E. Olson “Christian theology is reflecting on and articulating the God-centered life and beliefs that Christians share as followers of Jesus Christ, and it is done in order that God may be glorified in all Christians are and do.”1 2D. Millard J. Erickson Theology is “that discipline which strives to give a coherent statement of the doctrines of the Christian faith, based primarily upon the Scriptures, placed in the context of culture in general, worded in a contemporary idiom, and related to the issues if life.”2 3D. John H. Leith “Christian theology is critical reflection about God, about human existence, about the nature of the universe and about faith itself in the light of the revelation of God recorded in Scripture and particularly embodied in Jesus Christ, who is for the Christian community the final revelation, that is, the definitive revelation which is the criteria of all other revelations.”3 4D. Charles Hodge4 (1) “Theology therefore, is the exhibition of the facts of Scripture in their proper order and relation, with the principles or general truths involved in the facts themselves which pervade and harmonize the whole; (2) theology…[is] the science of the facts of divine revelation so far as those facts concern the nature of God and our relation to him, as his creatures, as sinners and as subjects of redemption. All of these facts, as just remarked are in the Bible. But as some of them are revealed by the works of God, and by the nature of man, there is so far a distinction between natural theology, and theology considered distinctively as a Christian science.”5 3C. The Goal of Doing Transformative Theology 4B. Ideas Do Matter! 5B. Categories of Systematic Theology: A Helpful Grid 1C. An Important Note 2C. Bibliology: The Bible 3C. Theology Proper: God 4C. Christology: The Person and Work of Christ 5C. Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit 6C. Angelology: Holy and Fallen Angels 7C. Anthropology: Man 8C. Hamartiology: Sin 9C. Soteriology: Salvation 10C. Ecclesiology: The Church 11C. Eschatology: End Times 6B. Sources for Doing Transformative Theology 1C. Scripture: The Primary Authority 2C. Tradition: A Voice from the Past and Present 3C. Culture/Reason: The “Frog in the Kettle” IIA. The Person Doing Transformative Theology 1B. Personal Character and Context 1C. Christlike Beliefs 2C. Christlike Virtues 3C. Christlike Habits 4C. Christlike Relationships: The Centrality of Biblical Community in the Theological Task 2B. Personal Skills and Knowledge 1C. Differing Conceptions of Truth 2C. Sources of Knowledge 3C. Biblical Language and the Nature of God 1D. Univocal Language 2D. Equivocal Language 3C. Analogical Language 4C. Developing Reasoning Skills 1D. Creative Thinking 1E. Misconceptions about Creative Thinking 2E. A Creative Idea 3E. Facts about Creative Thinking 2D. Critical Thinking 1E. Misconceptions about Critical Thinking 2E. The Need for Critical Thinking 3E. Facts about Critical Thinking 3D. A Holistic Model: Combining Creativity and Critical Awareness 1E. Exploration 2E. Expression 3E. Investigation 4E. Idea Production 5E. Evaluation and Refinement 4D. Understanding Argumentation 1E. Induction and Deduction 2E. The Structure of An Argument 1F. The Claim(s) 2F. The Ground(s) 3F. The Warrant(s) 4F. The Backing 5F. The Qualifiers 6F. The Rebuttals 3E. Informal Fallacies To Watch For 1F. Fallacies of Relevance 2F. Fallacies of Presumption, Ambiguity, and Grammatical Analogy 3F. Fallacies of Ordinary Language 2C. Developing an Understanding of Philosophy 1D. The History of Philosophy 1E. Ancient Philosophy 2E. Medieval Philosophy 3E. Modern Philosophy 4E. Contemporary Philosophy 2D. The Main Ideas Studied in Philosophy 1E. Reality/Metaphysics 2E. God 3E. Experience 4E. Death 5E. Logic, Knowledge, and Truth 6E. Ethics and Value 7E. Meaning IIIA. The Practice of Doing Transformative Theology 1B. Prayer and Alertness 2B. A Method 1C. Exploration 1D. Ask Questions (5 W’s) 2D. Search the Scriptures for Relevant Passages and Themes 3D. Read One or Two Dictionary Articles 2C. Expression 1D. The Central Questions in the Discussion 2D. The Major Answers Given to the Questions 3C. Investigation 1D. Read The Most Important Works (Cited in Dictionary Article or from Research) 2D. Outline Their Arguments: Weak Points/Good Points/Foundational Points 4C. Idea Production 1D. Review the Biblical Data 2D. Review the Major Questions and Answers 3D. Think through Creative Alternatives and New Solutions 4D. Think Laterally (Correlation Is Key!) 5D. State, Explain, and Defend Your Solution 5C. Evaluation and Refinement 1D. Think through the Practical Consequences of Your Idea. 2D. Does It Line Up with Scripture, Christian Theology (i.e., the gospel) and Is It Internally Consistent? Why Is It Better than Other Solutions? 3D. Why Will People Accept/Not Accept It? How Can You Help Them? 3B. Areas To Think About 1C. Biblical/Theological Issues 2C. Church Praxis Issues 3C. Ethical Issues 4C. Political Issues 5C. Wider Cultural Issues 6C. Apologetics 4B. Implementing Your Ideas IVA. Select Bibliography 1B. Biblical 1C. Commentary Series The NIV Application Commentary Series, Zondervan Tyndale Commentary on the OT/NT, Eerdmans/IVP The New International Biblical Commentary Series (NIBC), Hendrickson The New American Commentary Series (NAC), Broadman and Holman The New International Commentary on the OT/NT (NICOT/NICNT), Eerdmans Baker Exegetical Commentary Series (BEC), Baker The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (EBC), Zondervan Word Biblical Commentary (WBC), Word Publishers The New International Greek New Testament Commentary (NIGNT), Eerdmans 2C. Backgrounds, Introductions and Surveys Carson, D. A. et al. An Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992. Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. Gower, Ralph. The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times. Chicago: Moody, 1987. Hill, Andrew E. and John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991. Jeffers, James S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999. Livingston, G. Herbert. The Pentateuch in Its Cultural Environment. 2nd Ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987. Schürer, Emil. The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ. 4 Vols. Rev. by Geza Vermes et al. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1973. 3C. Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods Alder, Mortimer J. and Charles Van Doren. How to Read a Book. Revised and Updated. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1972. Carson, D. A. Exegetical Fallacies. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996. Fee, Gordon and Douglas Stuart. How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth: A Guide To Understanding the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993. Osborne, Grant R. The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1991. Ryken, Leland. How To Read the Bible as Literature. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Silva, Moisés, ed. Foundations of Contemporary Interpretation: Six Volumes in One. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. Stein, Robert H. A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible: Playing by the Rules. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994. 4C. Biblical Theology Kaiser, Walter C. Toward an Old Testament Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991. Ladd, George Eldon. A Theology of the New Testament. Rev. and ed. by Donald Hagner. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. Zuck, Roy B. and Darrell L. Bock, eds. A Biblical Theology of the New Testament. Chicago: Moody, 1994. 2B. Theological Method and Historical Theology Berkhof, Louis. The History of Christian Doctrines. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1937. Grenz, Stanley J. and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996. Grenz, Stanley and John R. Franke. Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context. Louisville, KY: Knox, 2001. Guinness, Os. Fit Bodies, Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don’t Think and What To Do about It. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994. Hart, Trevor. Faith Thinking: The Dynamics of Christian Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1995. Lints, Richard. The Fabric of Theology: A Prolegomena to Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. Lewis, Donald and Alister McGrath. Doing Theology for the People of God: Studies in Honor of J. I. Packer. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996. McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997. ________, ed. The Christian Theology Reader. Oxford: Blackwell, 1995. Noll, Mark. The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. 3B. Systematic Theologies Bray, Gerald, ed. The Contours of Christian Theology. 9 vols. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993-? Gerald Bray. The Doctrine of God. Robert Letham. The Work of Christ Donald MacLeod. The Person of Christ Paul Helm. The Providence of God Charles Sherlock. The Doctrine of Human Nature Sinclair Ferguson. The Holy Spirit Edmund Clowney. The Church Klaus Runia. The Last Things Peter Jensen. The Revelation of God Elwell, Walter A., ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984. Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985. Ferguson, Sinclair B. and J. I Packer. New Dictionary of Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1988. Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994. Lewis, Gordon R. and Bruce A. Demarest, Integrative Theology: Three Volumes in One. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996. 4B. Logic and Argumentation Barry, Vincent E. and Douglas J. Soccio. Practical Logic. 3rd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1988. Walton, Douglas N. Informal Logic: A Handbook for Critical Argumentation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Fahnestock, Jeanne and Mary Secor. A Rhetoric of Argument. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990. Toulmin, Stephen, The Uses of Argument. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1958. 5B. Reason/Philosophy Adler, Mortimer J. Aristotle for Everybody: Difficult Thought Made Easy. New York: Touchstone, 1978. ________. Six Great Ideas. New York: Touchstone, 1981. ________. Ten Philosophical Mistakes. New York: MacMillan, 1985. Allen, Diogenes and Eric O. Springsted, eds. Primary Readings in Philosophy for Understanding Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox, 1992. Blamires, Harry. The Christian Mind: How Should A Christian Think. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1963. ________. The Post Christian Mind: Exposing Its Destructive Agenda. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1999. Kolak, Daniel and Raymond Martin. The Experience of Philosophy. 3rd ed. Albany: Wadsworth, 1996. Lavine, T. Z. From Socrates to Sartre: The Philosophic Quest. New York: Bantam, 1984. Moore, Brooke Noel and Kenneth Bruder. Philosophy: The Power of Ideas. 2nd ed. Toronto: Mayfield, 1993. Solomon, Robert C. and Kathleen M. Higgins. A Short Introduction to Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. Yandel, Keith E. Christianity and Philosophy. Studies in a Christian Worldview. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984. 6B. Ethics Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: Methods and Models of Argument. 2nd ed. Boston: St. Martin’s, 1990. Curtler, Hugh Mercer. Ethical Argument: Critical Thinking in Ethics. New York: Paragon, 1993. Feinberg, John S. and Paul D. Feinberg. Ethics for A Brave New World. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1993. Geisler, Norman L. Christian Ethics: Options and Issues. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999. Grenz, Stanley J. The Moral Quest: Foundations for Christian Ethics. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997. Holmes, Arthur F. Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions. Contours of Christian Philosophy Series, ed. C. Stephen Evans. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1984. MacIntyre, Alasdair. A Short History of Ethics. New York: Touchstone, 1966. Olen, Jeffery and Vincent Barry. Applying Ethics. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1992. Rae, Scott B. Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000. Ruggiero, Vincent Ryan. Thinking Critically about Ethical Issues. Toronto: Mayfield, 1992. Sterba, James P. ed. Morality in Practice. 3rd ed. Blemont, CA: Wadsworth, 1991. 7B. Politics Beckwith, Francis J., and Michael E. Bauman. Are You Politcally Correct? Buffalo, NY: Prometheus, 1993. Eidsmore, John. Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987. Gaede, S. D. When Tolerance Is No Virtue. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993. Hatch, Nathan. The Democratization of American Christianity. New Haven, CT: Yale, 1991. Maclear, J. F., ed. Church and State in the Modern Age. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. Stone, Ronald H. Reformed Faith and Politics. Washington, DC: University Press of America, 1983. 8B. Cultural Gaede, S. D. When Tolerance Is No Virtue: Political Correctness, Multiculturalism and the Future of Truth and Justice. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993. Hunter, James Davison. Culture Wars. New York: Harper Collins, 1992 9B. Apologetics Craig, William Lane. Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1984. Evans, C. Stephen. The Historical Christ and the Jesus of Faith: The Incarnational Narrative as History. Oxford: Clarendon, 1996. ________. Why Believe: Reason and Mystery as Pointers to God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996. Moreland, J. P. Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1987. Murray, Michael J., ed. Reason for the Hope Within. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999. Placher, William C. Unapologetic Theology: A Christian Voice in a Pluralistic Culture. Louisville, KY: Westminster/Knox, 1989. Wells, David F. God in the Wasteland: The Reality of Truth in a World of Fading Dreams. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994. ________. No Place for Truth or Whatever Happened to Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993. 10B. Public Speaking and Teaching Hendricks, Howard G. Teaching To Change Lives. Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1987. LeFever, Marlene D. Creative Teaching Methods: Be An Effective Christian Teacher. Elgin, IL: David C. Cook, 1985. Litfin, A. Duane. Public Speaking: A Handbook for Christians. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981. Robinson, Haddon W. Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980. Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Wilhoit, Jim and Leland Ryken. Effective Bible Teaching. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988. Williams, Keith and Scott M. Gibson, eds. The Big Idea of Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Stanley J. Grenz and Roger E. Olson, Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996), 49. 2 Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985), 21. 3 John Leith, An Introduction to the Reformed Faith: A Way of Being the Christian Community, rev. ed. (Atlanta: John Knox, 1981), 91. 4 Charles Hodge (1797-1878) was one of the most influential American Presbyterian theologians of the nineteenth century. He taught at Princeton from 1822 until he died. He was a strong Calvinist who wrote commentaries on Romans, Ephesians, 1 and 2 Corinthians as well as various treatises including one against Darwinism. He defended the Bible against inroads from higher criticism and wrote a three volume systematic theology of 2000 pages! See Mark Noll, “Hodge, Charles,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1984), 513-14. 5 Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, 1:19.

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Lecture One—Prolegomena: A Word before We Begin

Greg Herrick

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