SBTS Systemati Theology II Final Exam
Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Systematic Theology - ANSWERSThe application of God's Word by persons to all areas of life.
Attempts to think God's thoughts after him and bring every thought captive to Christ.
Summarizes what the Bible teaches as a whole.
Biblical Theology - ANSWERSThe study of the teaching of the individual authors and sections of the Bible
and of the place of each teaching in the historical development of the Bible
Intratextual Reading of Scripture - ANSWERSAdopting Scripture on its own terms rather than bringing
outside concepts to the text.
Works inductively from the biblical text and seeks to make connections within the canon.
Reason - ANSWERSHas a ministerial function.
We are free to use it to draw conclusions from Scripture as long as these conclusions do not contradict
the clear teachings of another passage.
Rationalism - ANSWERSHuman reason, rather than divine revelation, establishes religious truth. Reason
is the final authority.
Place of Mystery - ANSWERSResult of our ignorance about the interconnections. Because we do not
know all truth, we do not know all the interconnections between the truths.
Our knowledge is true, but finite. It is limited by our created status.
,Mystery vs. Contradiction - ANSWERSMystery is ignorance of how two or more biblical truths fit
together, whereas contradiction is the internal inccoherence of one proposition, namely, that it both is
and is not in the same way at the same time. Mystery is acceptable and contradiction is not.
Progressive Revelation - ANSWERSScripture, as God's self-revelation, involves historical progression and
comes to us as God's story.
Redemption is an activity of God that unfolds over time and not all at once or uniformly.
Word-Act Revelation - ANSWERSGod's revelation is always in deed and in word. He reveals things about
him through the means of language and in his mighty acts.
3 Horizons in Reading Scripture - ANSWERSTextual
Epochal
Canonical
Textual Horizon - ANSWERSWhere we start with any text
Setting, characters, plot, etc.
Epochal Horizon - ANSWERSWhere are we in the unfolding story
Canonical Horizon - ANSWERSWhere the text fits in light of the whole canon
Shows continuity between the promises of God and their fulfillment.
Typology - ANSWERSthe study and interpretation of types and symbols that from a theological
perspective views Old Testament people and stories as foreshadowing New Testament events
Miracles - ANSWERSGod's mighty signs, wonders, and works that show his covenant Lordship.
They reveal God's character and attributes and also demonstrate God is uniquely present.
, Opera ad intra - ANSWERSWorks that terminate within God's own being
Opera ad extra - ANSWERSWorks that terminate outside God's own being.
Efficient Causation - ANSWERSThe set of circumstances necessary to bring about a specific occurrence.
Extraordinary vs Ordinary Providence - ANSWERSBasically the difference between miracle and normal
occurrences.
Panentheism (Process Theism) - ANSWERSViews God as an event. He is in everything, so God and the
world are inseparable, but not identical. It is a relationship of mutual dependence.
God doesn't direct the world, but lures and shapes it.
God is finite and evolving.
Panentheism and Divine Action - ANSWERSRejects biblical view and states it is mythological to talk of
God intervening in history.
Argues that God provides the initial aim but cannot guarantee the outcome.
Libertarian/Indeterministic View of Human Freedom - ANSWERSFor any given action, I could have done
otherwise.
God gave humans free will and thus limited himself in what he can and cannot do. He cannot control the
actions of humans if they are free actions.
Compatabilistic View of Human Freedom - ANSWERSGod is sovereign over all things and man is
responsible for his actions.
Questions & Answers 2024/2025
Systematic Theology - ANSWERSThe application of God's Word by persons to all areas of life.
Attempts to think God's thoughts after him and bring every thought captive to Christ.
Summarizes what the Bible teaches as a whole.
Biblical Theology - ANSWERSThe study of the teaching of the individual authors and sections of the Bible
and of the place of each teaching in the historical development of the Bible
Intratextual Reading of Scripture - ANSWERSAdopting Scripture on its own terms rather than bringing
outside concepts to the text.
Works inductively from the biblical text and seeks to make connections within the canon.
Reason - ANSWERSHas a ministerial function.
We are free to use it to draw conclusions from Scripture as long as these conclusions do not contradict
the clear teachings of another passage.
Rationalism - ANSWERSHuman reason, rather than divine revelation, establishes religious truth. Reason
is the final authority.
Place of Mystery - ANSWERSResult of our ignorance about the interconnections. Because we do not
know all truth, we do not know all the interconnections between the truths.
Our knowledge is true, but finite. It is limited by our created status.
,Mystery vs. Contradiction - ANSWERSMystery is ignorance of how two or more biblical truths fit
together, whereas contradiction is the internal inccoherence of one proposition, namely, that it both is
and is not in the same way at the same time. Mystery is acceptable and contradiction is not.
Progressive Revelation - ANSWERSScripture, as God's self-revelation, involves historical progression and
comes to us as God's story.
Redemption is an activity of God that unfolds over time and not all at once or uniformly.
Word-Act Revelation - ANSWERSGod's revelation is always in deed and in word. He reveals things about
him through the means of language and in his mighty acts.
3 Horizons in Reading Scripture - ANSWERSTextual
Epochal
Canonical
Textual Horizon - ANSWERSWhere we start with any text
Setting, characters, plot, etc.
Epochal Horizon - ANSWERSWhere are we in the unfolding story
Canonical Horizon - ANSWERSWhere the text fits in light of the whole canon
Shows continuity between the promises of God and their fulfillment.
Typology - ANSWERSthe study and interpretation of types and symbols that from a theological
perspective views Old Testament people and stories as foreshadowing New Testament events
Miracles - ANSWERSGod's mighty signs, wonders, and works that show his covenant Lordship.
They reveal God's character and attributes and also demonstrate God is uniquely present.
, Opera ad intra - ANSWERSWorks that terminate within God's own being
Opera ad extra - ANSWERSWorks that terminate outside God's own being.
Efficient Causation - ANSWERSThe set of circumstances necessary to bring about a specific occurrence.
Extraordinary vs Ordinary Providence - ANSWERSBasically the difference between miracle and normal
occurrences.
Panentheism (Process Theism) - ANSWERSViews God as an event. He is in everything, so God and the
world are inseparable, but not identical. It is a relationship of mutual dependence.
God doesn't direct the world, but lures and shapes it.
God is finite and evolving.
Panentheism and Divine Action - ANSWERSRejects biblical view and states it is mythological to talk of
God intervening in history.
Argues that God provides the initial aim but cannot guarantee the outcome.
Libertarian/Indeterministic View of Human Freedom - ANSWERSFor any given action, I could have done
otherwise.
God gave humans free will and thus limited himself in what he can and cannot do. He cannot control the
actions of humans if they are free actions.
Compatabilistic View of Human Freedom - ANSWERSGod is sovereign over all things and man is
responsible for his actions.
