Systematic Theology: The Doctrine of God

1 Systematic theology The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda July, 2012 i Systematic theology : The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda Donald F. McNeill Systematic theology The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda July, 2012 ii The Doctrine of god Table of Contents I. The name of god 30 II. OT Names of god 31 A. EL or Elohim 32 B. El Elyon and El Shaddai 32 C. Yahweh 33 1. The active presence of god 33 2.

2 The aseity of god 34 3. The immutability of god 34 4. The redemptive name of god 34 D. Compound Names which Include Yahweh 35 1. Yahweh-Sabaoth 36 2. Yahweh-Jireh 36 3. Yahweh-Shalom 37 4. Yahweh-Nissi 38 5. Yahweh-Tsidkenu and Yahweh-Mekkodishkim 39 6. Yahweh-Rapha 39 7. Yahweh-Raah 39 8. Adonai 40 III. New testament Names of god 40 A. Theos 40 B. Kurios 40 C. Pater 40 D. Jesus (Jesus Christ) 44 1.

3 The incarnate manifestation of god 44 2. The name exalted above all other names 44 3. The exclusive name by which men must be saved 45 E. Son of Man 45 F. Holy Spirit 46 IV. The Attributes of god 47 A. The Focus upon the Essential Nature of god in Contrast to His Creation 49 1. The Aseity of god 49 2. The Infinity of god 49 3. The Immutability of god 49 4. The Incorporeality of god 50 B. The Focus upon the Essential Nature of god in His Authority over Creation 50 1.

4 The Supremacy of god in Providence (Omnipotence) 50 2. The Supremacy of god in Knowledge (Omniscience) 51 3. The Supremacy of god in Wisdom 51. C. The Focus upon the Essential Nature of god in His Interrelationship with Creation 52 1. God s Moral Conduct in Relation to His Creation 52 a. Holiness 52 b. Righteousness 54 c. Truth 55 d. Wrath 57 2. God s Goodness to His Creation 58 a. Liberality 58 Systematic theology The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda July, 2012 iii b.

5 Mercy 58 c. Love 59 d. Grace 62 e. Patience 64 f. Faithfulness 64 D. The Goodness of god and the Problem of Evil 64 1. Best-Possible-World Explanation of Evil 65 2. Free-Will Explanation of Evil 66 3. Character-Building Explanation of Evil 67 4. The Indirect-Cause Explanation of Evil 67 5. The ex Lex Explanation of Evil 67 6. The ad Hominem Defense 68 7. The Biblical Response to the Problem of Evil 68 8. The Biblical Response to the Problem of Evil 69 V.

6 The Holy Trinity 70 A. The Doctrine of the Trinity in the old testament 71 B. The Doctrine of the Trinity in the New testament 71 C. The Distinction between the Ontological Trinity and the Economic Trinity 72 1. The Ontological Trinity 72 2. The Economic Trinity 73 a. God the Father 73 b. God the Son 74 c. God the Holy Spirit 75 D. Unity and Diversity in the Godhead Practical Implications of the Trinity 76 1. The basis for love in all human relationships 77 2.

7 The basis for the proper functioning of the family 77 3. The basis for social justice and the protection of civil rights 78 4. The basis for the proper functioning of the church 78 VI. The Works of god 79 A. The Work of god in Predestination and Election 81 1. Election in the old testament 81 2. Election in the New testament 83 3. Objections to the Doctrine of Election 86 a. It is not fair to elect some and not others. 86 b. If someone desperately wants to be saved, he can t unless he is one of the elect.

8 87 c. The Doctrine of election teaches fatalism. 87 d. If men are predestined for salvation, there is no need to evangelize and preach the gospel. 87 e. The Doctrine makes us robots. 88 f. Unbelievers should not be held responsible for their unbelief, since they were not the elect. 88 g. The Doctrine contradicts other passages of Scripture which seem to teach the opposite. 89 4. Conclusion to the Doctrine of Election and Predestination 89 B. The Work of god in Creation 90 1.

9 The Type of Literature in Genesis 1-11 91 2. The Outline of Genesis 1-4 91 3. Absolute Creation 92 4. The Manner of Creation 93 5. Six Day Creation 95 Systematic theology The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda July, 2012 iv a. The First and Second Day Separation of Firmament from the Waters 95 b. The Third Day The Seas are Collected in One Place, Dry Land Appears, Plant Life Appears 96 c. The Fourth Day Sun, Moon, and Stars in the Firmament 98 d.

10 The Fifth Day Life in the Seas and the Skies 98 e. The Sixth Day Life on Earth and the Creation of Man 98 6. Conclusion 101 C. The Work of god in Providence 102 1. The Scope, Extent, and Purpose of Providence 102 2. Providence and Secondary Causes 103 3. Other Acts of Providence 105 4. The Necessity of Prayer 105 Systematic theology The Doctrine of god Christ s Community Study Center Mbarara, Uganda July, 2012 30 The Doctrine of god I. The name of god In Biblical usage names are not given without purpose but are used descriptively.