Compact Lecture on Theology Proper (Doctrine of God)
**Introduction to Theology Proper**
**Definition**:
Theology Proper, also known as the Doctrine of God, is a branch of systematic theology that focuses specifically on
understanding the nature, attributes, and works of God. It seeks to explore who God is, what God is like, and how God
relates to the world.
**Purpose**:
- To systematically explore and articulate the nature and attributes of God.
- To understand the relationship between God and creation.
- To provide a foundation for other areas of theological study, as all other doctrines flow from the doctrine of God.
**Major Themes**:
1. **Existence of God**
- Philosophical and theological arguments for God's existence, including:
- **Cosmological Argument**: Asserts that everything that exists has a cause, ultimately leading to a First Cause (God).
- **Teleological Argument**: Observes design and purpose in the world, inferring the existence of an intelligent Designer.
- **Ontological Argument**: Argues that the very concept of God implies His existence.
- **Moral Argument**: Claims that the existence of moral values and duties points to a moral Lawgiver (God).
2. **Attributes of God**
- **Incommunicable Attributes**: Qualities unique to God.
- **Aseity**: God's self-existence and independence.
- **Immutability**: God's unchanging nature.
- **Eternity**: God's transcendence over time.
- **Omnipresence**: God's presence everywhere simultaneously.
- **Communicable Attributes**: Qualities that humans can reflect, though imperfectly.
- **Omniscience**: God's all-knowing nature.
- **Omnipotence**: God's all-powerful nature.
- **Holiness**: God's absolute purity and separateness from sin.
- **Love**: God's benevolent and self-giving nature.
3. **Trinity**
- Doctrine that God is One in essence but exists eternally as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Emphasizes both the unity and diversity within the Godhead.
- Key biblical foundations: Matthew 28:19, John 1:1, and 2 Corinthians 13:14.
4. **God's Works**
- **Creation**: God's act of bringing the universe into existence out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo).
- **Providence**: God's ongoing involvement with and governance over creation.
- **Preservation**: God's maintenance of the existence of the created order.
- **Concurrence**: God's cooperation with created things in every action.
- **Governance**: God's guidance of all things toward His purposes.
5. **Revelation**
- **General Revelation**: Knowledge of God available to all people through nature, history, and human conscience.
- **Special Revelation**: Knowledge of God provided through Scripture and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
**Methodology**:
1. **Biblical Exegesis**
- Careful interpretation of biblical texts to understand their original meaning and theological significance.
- Key sources: Old and New Testament scriptures, with a focus on passages that describe God's nature and actions.
2. **Historical Theology**
- Study of how the doctrine of God has been understood and articulated throughout church history.
- Key figures: Augustine, Aquinas, the Reformers, and contemporary theologians.
3. **Philosophical Theology**
- Engages with philosophical arguments and concepts to clarify and defend the doctrine of God.
- Addresses challenges such as the problem of evil, divine foreknowledge and human freedom, and the coherence of divine
attributes.
4. **Systematic Theology**
- Integrates insights from biblical exegesis, historical theology, and philosophical theology into a coherent and
comprehensive doctrine of God.
- Seeks to articulate the doctrine of God in a way that is faithful to Scripture, logically coherent, and relevant to
contemporary issues.
**Key Figures and Contributions**:
- **Augustine of Hippo**: Developed key ideas about the Trinity and the nature of God in works like "Confessions" and "The
City of God."
- **Thomas Aquinas**: Systematized theological and philosophical thought about God in his "Summa Theologica."
- **John Calvin**: Emphasized the sovereignty and majesty of God in his "Institutes of the Christian Religion."
- **Karl Barth**: Focused on God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ and the centrality of the Trinity in his "Church Dogmatics."
**Challenges**:
- **The Problem of Evil**: Reconciling the existence of a good and powerful God with the presence of evil and suffering in
the world.
- **Divine Hiddenness**: Addressing why God might seem hidden or distant to some people.
- **Anthropomorphism**: Avoiding overly human-like depictions of God while still using relatable language.
- **Cultural Context**: Articulating the doctrine of God in ways that are meaningful and understandable within diverse
cultural contexts.
**Conclusion**:
Theology Proper provides a foundational understanding of the nature and attributes of God, shaping how we view all other
aspects of theology. By engaging in biblical exegesis, historical and philosophical theology, and systematic reflection,
theologians seek to deepen our understanding of who God is and how God relates to the world. This pursuit not only
enriches theological discourse but also enhances the faith and practice of believers as they seek to know and worship God
more fully.
