This theological journal focuses on the main themes of two topics covered thus far: the doctrines of...

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This theological journal focuses on the main themes of two topics covered thus far: the doctrines of revelation and of God.For this assignment, you will utilize the journal document entitled "HTH-515-TheologicalJournal-1-RevelationandGod" containing the questions and activities you will need to prepare on your own. These journals are not group activities, as each student will be expected to submit personal theological reflections that arise from his or her own understanding and conversations with others. Theological journals will interact with material from course lectures, textbooks, and the ongoing theological discussions in the course. Each question should be answered in at least 150-200 words.

Grading and Submission Guidelines:

Full credit for this and other theological journal activities will depend on the following:

Full responses to every question/activity in the theological journal

Thoughtful, personal, and creative responses signaling more than merely filling in blanks

Critical engagement and reflection demonstrating your theological growth

Prepare this assignment by responding to the questions/activities in the Theological Journal document. PLEASE FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. I HAVE INCLUDED RESOURCE HELP. PLEASE MAKE SURE ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND SPELLING IS CORRECT.

Introduction and Overview: This information will assist students in completing the progressive theological term paper assignment. The purpose of this assignment is for every student to acquire greater critical theological skills in discerning the challenges and dangers of speaking dogmatically of second and third order doctrines. Overall, the main idea of this research paper is for students to learn to think deeply about a second or third order doctrine before committing to a theological viewpoint and to continue to assess and reassess their theological convictions from a wider ecumenically informed evangelical perspective. Due to the depth of this process, the assignment has been divided into three parts so students can research, critically reflect, and successfully complete the assignment. Additionally, it affords instructors an opportunity to provide helpful feedback prior to the final paper submission in Topic 7. Topic 3 - Theological Term Paper Part 1: Working thesis & Outline The first part of the progressive assignment is located in Topic 2, and requires students to develop a title, a working thesis, and an outline. Consider the following questions before completing this assignment: 1. After analyzing lists of second and third order doctrines, what doctrinal viewpoint on those lists do you have strong convictions about? 2. Have you ever considered the significance of understanding this viewpoint as secondary or tertiary? 3. How might you take what you are learning in this course to assess and critique your own theological convictions regarding this doctrine? When thinking through these questions, remember that the purpose of the paper is not to simply establish what the student believes and reject any position that differs. Rather, this paper aims to lead students to think more critically about their own beliefs and to be more appreciative of opposing theological viewpoints. a. Sample descriptive paragraph and brief outline: Washing the Feet of the Saints: Object Lesson or Ordinance Though many consider the doctrine of the washing of the feet as merely a symbolic act, in some traditions it is considered an ordinance. Realizing the majority of denominations do not practice Jesus’ washing of the feet of his disciples in John 13:1-17 as an ordinance, it may lead some to have doubts as to the priority of this doctrine. Seeking clarity on this viewpoint, this essay will explore opposing perspectives that consider the washing of the feet as merely an example of Jesus’ humility in order to ascertain whether or not it should be considered a church ordinance. This paper will demonstrate that due to the lack of Scripture evidence establishing the practice of the washing of the feet as an ordinance the teaching should be considered a tertiary doctrine. The theological support for this assertion will rest on the first order doctrines of Scripture and Christology, which help to frame the practice not as an ordinance but as an object lesson of the servant leadership Jesus modeled for us. b. Sample descriptive brief outline: I. Introduction: a. I will present the main issue, my thesis and briefly outline my paper as stated in the paragraph above. I. Object Lesson or Ordinance: the doctrine of the washing of the feet a. Here mention will be made of denominations and Christian movements that historically have held to the washing of the feet as an ordinance and others that have opposed it. I will be important for me to understand the reasoning behind each position. II. Theological Analysis of John 13:1-17 & other relevant passages a. This section will wrestle with various theological readings of the main passage in question and others that may be tangentially related. III. Jesus’ Prime Example of Servant Leadership a. After my analysis of Scripture, I will demonstrate how the passage should be read as an object lesson of servant leadership. I will further establish my findings on the doctrines of Scripture and Christology. IV. Conclusion a. I will restate my thesis and argument, and provide some practical insights for understanding and applying this doctrine. For more on writing effective outlines, refer to Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab, “Four Main Components of Effective Outlines” located at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/ Topic 5 - Theological Term Paper: Pt. 2 Annotated Bibliography This section of the paper focuses on finding, reviewing, and selecting references to support writing the theological term paper outlined in Topic 3. For this assignment, critically evaluate the selected resources select for relevance and credibility before incorporating them into the annotated bibliography. Make sure every source focuses directly on an aspect of the theological topic. Moreover, the sources should include at least one of the following types of references (journal articles, theological monographs, chapters in books, theological dictionary articles, and biblical commentaries). So long as you have one of each, you may reach the list of ten sources using any combination of references. For additional assistance in writing an effective annotated bibliography, visit Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab, “Annotated Bibliographies” at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/. Topic 7: Theological Term Paper Part 3: Final Draft The last component of the multi-stage, progressive theological term paper assignment requires students to put their thoughts and ideas into the final paper. As was noted in the Topic 3 thesis development assignment, this original theological work focuses on second and third order doctrine, and will assist in safeguarding against speaking dogmatically regarding second and third order doctrine. Additionally, this paper should provide a firm foundation for being theologically consistent before committing to position about a second or third order doctrine. This final component to your term paper must be between 2,000-2,500 words and requires a minimum of 10 academic sources from the GCU Library. Ensure all previous feedback from the thesis and outline assignments in Topics 3 and 5 so that it may be incorporated in this paper. Additional sources outside of the GCU Library may be used with the instructor’s approval prior to usage. Some helpful tips include: 1. Access the Turabian Style Guide and Template located in “The Writing Center” in the Student Success Center; this template, along with the outline you previously developed for the assignment in Topic 3, are required to write the final draft of your term paper. Carefully review all the comments and suggestions your instructor provided in the graded thesis & outline portion of the term paper you submitted. 2. Once you have written your paper, “make and take” sufficient time to ensure that your points are clearly stated and that everything included in your paper is working cohesively to prove your thesis. Before you submit your term paper, read through your completed paper with a critical eye, looking for repeated phrases, weak or no transitions leading the reader from one thought to another, and redundancy. Are you saying the same thing over and over but with different words? For transition ideas, see the “Transitions Resource”, also located in The Writing Center in the Student Success Center. 3. Next, simplify your paper, paying close attention to the word count on the assignment criteria. 4. Lastly, make sure you have cited all your sources in the paper and listed them in the reference section of your paper.

unifolks_636595835100559077_117006_1.docx

Shivangi · Accepted Answer

Name: 
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Theological Journal #1Revelation& God
I. Ranking Christian Doctrines Activity and Reflection
Without doing any prior research, use the chart below to organize the following 20 doctrines by placing them under the category you think they best fit.
Election	Sinful nature	Baptism	Rapture	Church government
Justification	Hell	Trinity	Atonement	Jesus’ Virgin Birth
Young earth	Predestination	Inspiration	Lord’s Supper	Deity of Jesus	
Demonology	Millennium	Sanctification	Origin of evil	Gifts of the Spirit
	Ranking Christian Doctrines Chart
	First Order
	Second Order
	Third Order
	
1. Trinity
2. Deity of Jesus
3. Jesus’ Virgin Birth
4. Justification
5. Sinful nature
6. Millennium
7. Hell
8. Atonement
9. Predestination
10. Authority of Scripture
11. Humanity of Jesus Christ
	
1. Baptism
2. Young earth
3. Demonology
4. Gifts of the Spirit
5. Atonement
6. Sanctification
7. Millennium
8. Inspiration
	
1. Origin of evil
2. Church government
3. Young earth
4. Lord’s Supper
5. Sinful nature
6. Jesus’ Virgin Birth
7. Election
8. Rapture
After you have finished placing the 20 doctrines in the chart, do some research and reconsider where you placed each doctrine. If you decide to change a doctrine from where you originally placed it, cross it out using the strikethough function and retype it in red in the category where it was moved.Also, feel free to add other doctrines that you might encounter. Place these additional doctrines in blue. Finally, what did you learn as you thought through your original ordering? Are there doctrines you are still unsure where to place? If so, why? [100-150 words]
Doctrines in simple language mean preaching. Doctrine with lack of practice is stale and dry. For having a proper unity, we much acknowledge the different levels a doctrine has and on which level it falls. Conflicts arise when people start grading the truth according to their superiority in importance. The truths are ranked in various orders as per their belief. The first order truth indicates a universal Christian faith. Second order indicates a more local Christian faith and the third level indicated Christian conflicts. The given 20 doctrines are categorized in the specified categories accordingly. The thing I learned is that there is a very slight difference in these categories. You have to have the deep knowledge of each doctrine in order to categories them.
II. Key Issues Regarding the Inspiration and Authority of Scripture
Skim through pages 160-184 of Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith. Outline some key issues regarding the inspiration and authority of Scripture. Why are these doctrines so important? What is at stake if these doctrines are not given priority? [150-200 words]
III. Five Strategies for Using Scripture in the Theological Task
Often Christians believe to be simply interpreting Scripture when they read the Bible. However, at times our intellectual presuppositions and prior denominational convictions prevent us from truly placing Scripture in the place of authority it deserves. Reflecting on this, think of five strategies you will use to help you discern if you are arriving at your theological conclusions through Scripture and to guard against the danger of reading into Scripture what you already believe. [100-150 words]
1) Comprehension- One should have the true knowledge of one’s believes or disbelieves before starting to read. They should strive to know the fullness of the truth of god not only for themselves but for others too.
2) Construction- A language of faith must be constructed as a tool firstly to make the contribution. People seeking God primarily seek and then encounter God by language of faith which cultivates and forms faith.
3) Communication- After acquiring a language of faith, we ought to communicate with others in order to make faith heard and comprehended by others.  The communication is found in two forms which are expression and dialogue. In spite of different meanings the same purpose is served.
4) Criticism- Criticizing social injustice & unrighteousness by the word of God and God’s people will help in realizing the in-depth meaning.
5) Practice- Nothing exists alone. The relation with others is perceived as one’s existence. Not even a believer can practice faith alone. So it is suggested it practice faith in relation to God, other people & creatures and to self.
IV. The concept of Trinity in the Bible and early church tradition
Choose and list three biblical passages that help define the concept of Trinity. Then, find a quotable quote from a theologian of the early church era who says something significant about the Trinitarian passage and briefly state the main insight it establishes. Make sure you provide a footnote reference in Turabian format to document the source. [150-250 words]
1) Corinthians 8:6[footnoteRef:3] [3:  Florovskii, G. Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View. Nordland, 1972.] 
According to Corinthians, “yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.”
Summary of main insight:  
Trinitarians suppose that the final phrase of the verse,i.e. that all things came through Jesus Christ, helped in supporting their position. But the meaning the verse conveys is that all things came through Jesus from God. As per this verse, Jesus and the Father are not “co-Equal”. This testimony contradicts  Trinitarian doctrine  as it places Jesus in a subordinate role to God.
2) John 1:141
According to John, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Summary of main insight: 
Jesus being a physically, fully, truly human is a critical part of this gospel. The verse uses the name “The Word”, making everything clear that Jesus became flesh residing among humans who are living, real and breathing persons.. This concluded Jesus was neither a ghost disguised as a person nor a hologram. He too would have experienced everything the mortal people do.
3) Luke 1:351
 According to Luke, “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Summary of main insight: 
In this verse Gabriel answers the wonder-filled faith question of Mary. She will be overshadowed by the person of the Holy Spirit. The holy one who is to be born will be different from the rest and will be entitled as the Son of the God.
V. Outline of Three Trinitarian heresies
Choose three Trinitarian Heresies from the early church era. Use the chart below to outline the main understanding of each heresy along with the arguments Christian thinkers used to refute them. Make sure you include Scripture references. [250-350 words]
	
	Trinitarian Heresies Chart
	
	Name of Heretical Movement and main proponent(s)
	Brief description of main heretical beliefs 
	Main arguments and biblical references
given to refute heresy
	
1
	
      Modalism
The main proponent is Tertullian
	The god is three consubstantial persons- the father, the son and the Holy spirit as “one God in three divine people”.  Despite being three distinct people they are one substance, essence or nature.
	Modalism verbally admits a trinity, but denies the real distinction between the persons. It affirms that different names are given to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who are modes, aspects, or energies of one and the same divine Person. He exercises different functions outside the Trinity: creation (Father), redemption (Son), sanctification (Holy Spirit). God, one from eternity, became three in time. According to Tertullian, the identification of Father and Son was so complete in Praxeas's teaching that "the Father Himself came down into the Virgin, was Himself born of her, Himself suffered, indeed was Himself Jesus Christ"
Bibliography: "Modalism." New Catholic Encyclopedia. . Encyclopedia.com. (April 18, 2018). http://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/modalism
	
2
	
Tritheism
The main proponent is LDS church
	
The god is one in essence or being, while its existence is co-eternal and co-equal persons- The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
	In Tritheism, God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three different Gods. 
Tritheism does not believe in one God rather they believe in three Gods. For the God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit are self-existing and independent. Tritheism ignores the unity and accepts the trinity of god.
Bibliography: Feser, Edward C. "Swinburne's Tritheism." International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 42, no. 3 (1997): 175-184.
	
3
	
Arianism
The main proponent is Arius of Alexandar
	
 The Father is the one who generates the Son, who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds. They all are stated to be one in all, co-eternal, co-equal and consubstantial. Each one is wholly and entirely considered to be God.
	As per Arius, The Father was the only God, who was too pure and eternal to appear on earth. Therefore, Christ the Son was produced as the greatest creation that then created the entire universe. Christ was adopted as the Son by God. Being superior in authority and creation, Christ should be worshipped and even be looked upon as God. Few Arians also believe the Holy Spirit was the creation of the Son.
Bibliography: Wiles, Maurice. Archetypal heresy: Arianism through the centuries. Oxford University Press, 2001.

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