Theology essay plans
1. Sources of Wisdom and authority
Explain different Christian views concerning the nature of the Bible (15 marks)
Intro: Conservative approach (Catholic), Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth) and Liberal
- The issue of authority and the nature of the Bible is complicated by the fact there is multiple
types of literature within the Bible. The main interpretations are:
P1: Conservative approach (Catholic)
- Bible was written by humans but inspired by God this inspiration relates to the Bible as a
whole
- Distinguish between the key messages in the Bible regarding salvation which is without error
and the accounts of individual authors which need to be understood in context
Genesis 1 never intended as a scientific or factual account - author used genre of myth to convey
truths about the nature of God as creator and the nature of humanity
- Guidance in interpreting the bible comes from tradition and magisterium as well as individuals
informed conscience and reason.
- Evangelical Protestantism-> Where evangelicals hold that Christians are saved by grace
(God’s free gift), through faith in Jesus’ atonement.
- Part of the theology of St Paul, who held that after the original sin of Adam, God and the world
became ‘reconciled’ by the sacrificial death of Jesus.
Evaluation:
The Bible for Evangelical protestants has authority (only source of authority is sola scripture)
Catholics believe it does, through apostolic tradition and magisterium
P2: Neo-Orthodoxy (Karl Barth)
- reject belief in bible inerrancy as they argue that there are lots of historical and scientific
errors, and contradictions.
- God does not reveal himself in the words of the bible, but in Jesus, who is the word became
flesh.
- Bible not the word of God but contains it and is the way which humans experience God.
realising their need for forgiveness and divine mercy shown through Jesus.
- It is not inerrant and respect to science, history and religions as its writers were products of
their time and subject to limitations of intellect
- Barth emphasises the importance of scripture for understanding God’s revelation
Evaluation: Yes it’s a source of authority for the individual experiencing it, but not an inerrant
document. There is truth in the bible, but not the entire truth
P3: Liberal view
- Liberalism - umbrella term for any Christian that rejects the idea that the bible is literally the
inspired word of God.
- Views the bible as a historical document, subject to interpretation.
- God written by human ideas
- Some believe God guided the authors or others believe it is an entirely human document
consisting of what writers believed about God and purposes for humanity
- Liberalism - Sea of Faith network
claims faith is a purely human creation so the bible has no authority other than the authority
an individual would give it
- Process theology: explores the concept of God, suggests reality is not fixed or static. God is
seen to actively engage in the world, evolving and growing along with creation.
- Social gospel movement: apply Christian principles to social issues.
Evaluation: Social gospel movement has authority as a guide on how to live, but not down to specific
rules.
Process theology isn’t as it can be inspirational but not the word of God.
,Examine different Christian views on the authority of the Church (10 marks)
P1: Church’s authority
- God is all powerful, Bible is seen as ‘special revelation’ from god. Reason and conscience are
seen as ‘general revelation’ from God.
- Authority of church is from scripture
- Authority of Church tradition- each church ahs a body of holy tradition that is part of its
authority, and some Churches claim that their authority goes right back to the tradition that
comes directly from Jesus and his apostles.
P2: Catholic view
- Rests on Apostolic tradition and succession.
- Apostolic tradition stems from Jesus’ apostles. Commanding them to preach his word to all
men, which was done orally from the teachings of Jesus and the holy spirit
- 2 Timothy 2 ‘what have you heard from me before many witness entrust to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also’
- Jesus’ apostles appointed bishops to be their successors to continue this.
- Authority is held between tradition and scripture, because the Church (and the Church alone)
have authority to interpret scripture correctly.
Tradition: “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions
even as I have delivered them to you”. (1 Corinthians 11:2)
P3: Protestant view
- Rests on the doctrine ‘sole scripture’ e.g. scripture alone.
- Formed by Martin Luther during protestant reformation
- Claimed that the only true authority is ‘the word of God, through which alone we obtain
whatever knowledge we have of God and divine things’
- Church cannot judge scripture, Luther opposed the idea of Salvation (being saved and
entering heaven) is mediated through Priesthood.
- ‘But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood’ 1. Peter 2:9
Different Christians understandings of the authority and inspiration of the Bible and Church stem from
the inevitable fact that religious beliefs can be interpreted differently.
‘The Church is the most important source of authority for twenty first century Christians’
Evaluate this claim (15 marks)
P1: Church as a source of authority
Catholic view: Apostolic tradition and succession. Seen in the Bible: ‘What you have heard from me
before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also’
Authority is held between tradition and scripture, because the church and the church alone have
authority to interpret scripture correctly.
Protestant view: Rests on the doctrine ‘Sola scripture’, through scripture alone. Formed by Martin
Luther ‘Word of God, through which alone we obtain whatever knowledge we have of God and divine
things’.
- Church teachings are in line with the Bible.
- Luther opposed the idea that salvation is mediated through the priesthood. He taught that all
believers were priests and stand equally before God; ‘You are the chosen race, a royal
priesthood’.
P2: Bible as the source of authority
Conservative: Evangelical protestants- literal word of God, innerant. Catholics- word of God written
through the inspiration of the holy spirit, using human authors (the apostles), Catholics believe in
Apostolic tradition.
,Neo-orthodoxy: Barth rejects the idea that bible is inerrant, he sees the bible as full of historical and
scientific errors. Contains the word of God. Through the Bible people can experience Jesus.
Liberalism: Social gospel movement- 19TH Century, founded by Protestant intellects, rather than
seeing the bible as text with strictly rules to follow, they believed that the bible gives recommendations
on how to live.
P3: Jesus as a source of authority
Nicene creed ‘we believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God… of one being with the
father’.
Authority as God’s authority-> ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’.
Examine Jesus as a role model
The more human he is, the more relevant he is, but the less authoritative he is. The
more divine, the more authoritative, but the less relevant, because it is hard to emulate
a divine creature.
P1: Sermon on the mount taught ‘love thy neighbour’ ‘be perfect’ ‘turn the other cheek’, Mathhew
became a tax collector
- Encourages love, compassion and selflessness. Love their enemies and forgive others.
- Taught fellow Christian’s pacifist views
- ‘The trinity’
- Not only Christians viewed Jesus as a role model, Gandhi a devout Hindu leader, did not
believe Jesus was the divine but stated him to being ‘the greatest teacher’s humanity has
ever had’.
- He did not engage with fighting, but he certainly resisted authority and found himself in
conflict with them in many occasions. May have inspired Christians such as Martin Luther to
use non-violent protest to further this cause.
P2: Hick ‘what is revealed is the heart of Jesus’ life and teaching’.
- Direct revelation- Jesus was chosen by God ‘This is my son’
- Jesus is the incarnate as ‘father and son are one’. The more human he is the greater
relevance, although perhaps it is then less authorative. Conversely, perhaps the more divine
Jesus is, the more irrelevant his example is (since no human could do likewise), but the more
authority it has.
- For some Christians (Evangelical Christians) have adopted the slogan what would Jesus do,
reminding them to act in accordance with Jesus’ principle of love, applied in all situations.
- Nicene creed
Explain the authority of Jesus for Christians (10 marks)
P1: Liberal
- Jesus authority based on claim he was god incarnate, human based on divine
- Liberal approach- question Jesus authority through view of inspiration and authority of the
Bible.
- Son of God- interpret the title of son of God in light of the Old Testament, meaning that the
title is used in a way represents God’s authority such as Angels- If Jesus was someone close
to God, Jesus was close to God as a great teacher but not God.
- Gospels are a product of thinking about Jesus’ life
- Influence in Greek philosophy and mystery religious led to human Jesus transforming into a
divine figure, which is reinforced by modern science which rejects miracles, Jesus a human
being like all others, though his deeply spiritual nature give his teaching authority.
P2: As teacher from Sermon on the mount
- Message of love, compassion and selflessness.
, - Jesus encourages his listeners to love their enemies, to forgive others and to care for the
poor and marginalized.
- Passage shows Christians must: do nothing to resist an evil person who attacks them, give
freely more than is asked to anyone who makes a demand from them, be perfect, love their
enemies. Many Christians are guided by these roles e.g many Christians are pacifists.
- OT title was used of Kings reflecting nature of kings (linked to title of Messiah), indicated
Jesus’ unique divine ability.
- ‘God said ‘my beloved son’ in the visions at his baptism.
- Ambiguous nature made it less likely for his to be a future of power ‘suffering servant’ spoken
in the OT and to his God-given authority both in the present and future.
- Jesus as messiah, Hebrew term for ‘one who has been anointed’ usually for King, in the NT.
Refers to human leader, and thus serves to stress the humanity of Jesus.
‘Bible is inspired by God’ Assess this view (15 marks)
P1: AGAINST Neo-orthodoxy
- God does not reveal himself in the words of the bible but in Jesus. Karl Barth
- Through the Bible people can experience Jesus, it is the vehicle through which we feel the
presence of God.
- Bible does contain words of God, but not the word. Is the way that humans experience God,
realising their need for forgiveness and divine mercy shown through Jesus.
- Not inerrant and respect to science, history and religions as its writers were products of their
time and subject to limitations of intellect.
- Barth rejects Biblical irrenancy, how can a perfect God write an incorrect Bible?
Counter: Liberalism
- Umbrella term for any Christian that rejects that the bible is the literal word of God.
- Some believe god guided the authors or others believe it is a human document consisting
about what writers believe about God and purposes for humanity.
- Liberalism- sea of faith network claims faith is a purely human creation so that Bible has no
authority other than the authority an individual would give it.
P2: FOR Conservative view
Catholic:
- Bible was written by humans but inspired by God
- Distinguish key messages in the bible regarding salvation which is without error and the
accounts of individual authors which need to be understood in context.
- Approach to Genesis 1- ever intended as a scientific or factual account- author uses genre of
myth to convey truths about the nature of God as creator and the nature of humanity.
- Guidance in interpretating the Bible comes from tradition and magisterium as well as
individuals informed conscience and reason.
Regard the Bible as written by the holy spirit through human authors. As such it is impossible
to get away from the human dimensions of the scriptures. In each different book of the Bible
we can hear the authors’ unique voice and style, therefore important to study the human
contribution to the Bible.
Evangelical Protestants:
- Regard scripture as the literal word of God (even passages which go against science), they
believe Bible was dictated by God to the apostles, bible is inerrant (without error).
Authority of Jesus as son of God vs son of Man (10 marks)
Son of God Son as Man
- Divine son of God - Title of humility (man)
- Title used for kings thought to be - Using son of man is humble, he needed
adopted by God at their accession. to stay humble as long as possible to
- Immaculate conception (only God can ‘spread the word of God’
1. Sources of Wisdom and authority
Explain different Christian views concerning the nature of the Bible (15 marks)
Intro: Conservative approach (Catholic), Neo-Orthodoxy (Barth) and Liberal
- The issue of authority and the nature of the Bible is complicated by the fact there is multiple
types of literature within the Bible. The main interpretations are:
P1: Conservative approach (Catholic)
- Bible was written by humans but inspired by God this inspiration relates to the Bible as a
whole
- Distinguish between the key messages in the Bible regarding salvation which is without error
and the accounts of individual authors which need to be understood in context
Genesis 1 never intended as a scientific or factual account - author used genre of myth to convey
truths about the nature of God as creator and the nature of humanity
- Guidance in interpreting the bible comes from tradition and magisterium as well as individuals
informed conscience and reason.
- Evangelical Protestantism-> Where evangelicals hold that Christians are saved by grace
(God’s free gift), through faith in Jesus’ atonement.
- Part of the theology of St Paul, who held that after the original sin of Adam, God and the world
became ‘reconciled’ by the sacrificial death of Jesus.
Evaluation:
The Bible for Evangelical protestants has authority (only source of authority is sola scripture)
Catholics believe it does, through apostolic tradition and magisterium
P2: Neo-Orthodoxy (Karl Barth)
- reject belief in bible inerrancy as they argue that there are lots of historical and scientific
errors, and contradictions.
- God does not reveal himself in the words of the bible, but in Jesus, who is the word became
flesh.
- Bible not the word of God but contains it and is the way which humans experience God.
realising their need for forgiveness and divine mercy shown through Jesus.
- It is not inerrant and respect to science, history and religions as its writers were products of
their time and subject to limitations of intellect
- Barth emphasises the importance of scripture for understanding God’s revelation
Evaluation: Yes it’s a source of authority for the individual experiencing it, but not an inerrant
document. There is truth in the bible, but not the entire truth
P3: Liberal view
- Liberalism - umbrella term for any Christian that rejects the idea that the bible is literally the
inspired word of God.
- Views the bible as a historical document, subject to interpretation.
- God written by human ideas
- Some believe God guided the authors or others believe it is an entirely human document
consisting of what writers believed about God and purposes for humanity
- Liberalism - Sea of Faith network
claims faith is a purely human creation so the bible has no authority other than the authority
an individual would give it
- Process theology: explores the concept of God, suggests reality is not fixed or static. God is
seen to actively engage in the world, evolving and growing along with creation.
- Social gospel movement: apply Christian principles to social issues.
Evaluation: Social gospel movement has authority as a guide on how to live, but not down to specific
rules.
Process theology isn’t as it can be inspirational but not the word of God.
,Examine different Christian views on the authority of the Church (10 marks)
P1: Church’s authority
- God is all powerful, Bible is seen as ‘special revelation’ from god. Reason and conscience are
seen as ‘general revelation’ from God.
- Authority of church is from scripture
- Authority of Church tradition- each church ahs a body of holy tradition that is part of its
authority, and some Churches claim that their authority goes right back to the tradition that
comes directly from Jesus and his apostles.
P2: Catholic view
- Rests on Apostolic tradition and succession.
- Apostolic tradition stems from Jesus’ apostles. Commanding them to preach his word to all
men, which was done orally from the teachings of Jesus and the holy spirit
- 2 Timothy 2 ‘what have you heard from me before many witness entrust to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also’
- Jesus’ apostles appointed bishops to be their successors to continue this.
- Authority is held between tradition and scripture, because the Church (and the Church alone)
have authority to interpret scripture correctly.
Tradition: “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions
even as I have delivered them to you”. (1 Corinthians 11:2)
P3: Protestant view
- Rests on the doctrine ‘sole scripture’ e.g. scripture alone.
- Formed by Martin Luther during protestant reformation
- Claimed that the only true authority is ‘the word of God, through which alone we obtain
whatever knowledge we have of God and divine things’
- Church cannot judge scripture, Luther opposed the idea of Salvation (being saved and
entering heaven) is mediated through Priesthood.
- ‘But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood’ 1. Peter 2:9
Different Christians understandings of the authority and inspiration of the Bible and Church stem from
the inevitable fact that religious beliefs can be interpreted differently.
‘The Church is the most important source of authority for twenty first century Christians’
Evaluate this claim (15 marks)
P1: Church as a source of authority
Catholic view: Apostolic tradition and succession. Seen in the Bible: ‘What you have heard from me
before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also’
Authority is held between tradition and scripture, because the church and the church alone have
authority to interpret scripture correctly.
Protestant view: Rests on the doctrine ‘Sola scripture’, through scripture alone. Formed by Martin
Luther ‘Word of God, through which alone we obtain whatever knowledge we have of God and divine
things’.
- Church teachings are in line with the Bible.
- Luther opposed the idea that salvation is mediated through the priesthood. He taught that all
believers were priests and stand equally before God; ‘You are the chosen race, a royal
priesthood’.
P2: Bible as the source of authority
Conservative: Evangelical protestants- literal word of God, innerant. Catholics- word of God written
through the inspiration of the holy spirit, using human authors (the apostles), Catholics believe in
Apostolic tradition.
,Neo-orthodoxy: Barth rejects the idea that bible is inerrant, he sees the bible as full of historical and
scientific errors. Contains the word of God. Through the Bible people can experience Jesus.
Liberalism: Social gospel movement- 19TH Century, founded by Protestant intellects, rather than
seeing the bible as text with strictly rules to follow, they believed that the bible gives recommendations
on how to live.
P3: Jesus as a source of authority
Nicene creed ‘we believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God… of one being with the
father’.
Authority as God’s authority-> ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’.
Examine Jesus as a role model
The more human he is, the more relevant he is, but the less authoritative he is. The
more divine, the more authoritative, but the less relevant, because it is hard to emulate
a divine creature.
P1: Sermon on the mount taught ‘love thy neighbour’ ‘be perfect’ ‘turn the other cheek’, Mathhew
became a tax collector
- Encourages love, compassion and selflessness. Love their enemies and forgive others.
- Taught fellow Christian’s pacifist views
- ‘The trinity’
- Not only Christians viewed Jesus as a role model, Gandhi a devout Hindu leader, did not
believe Jesus was the divine but stated him to being ‘the greatest teacher’s humanity has
ever had’.
- He did not engage with fighting, but he certainly resisted authority and found himself in
conflict with them in many occasions. May have inspired Christians such as Martin Luther to
use non-violent protest to further this cause.
P2: Hick ‘what is revealed is the heart of Jesus’ life and teaching’.
- Direct revelation- Jesus was chosen by God ‘This is my son’
- Jesus is the incarnate as ‘father and son are one’. The more human he is the greater
relevance, although perhaps it is then less authorative. Conversely, perhaps the more divine
Jesus is, the more irrelevant his example is (since no human could do likewise), but the more
authority it has.
- For some Christians (Evangelical Christians) have adopted the slogan what would Jesus do,
reminding them to act in accordance with Jesus’ principle of love, applied in all situations.
- Nicene creed
Explain the authority of Jesus for Christians (10 marks)
P1: Liberal
- Jesus authority based on claim he was god incarnate, human based on divine
- Liberal approach- question Jesus authority through view of inspiration and authority of the
Bible.
- Son of God- interpret the title of son of God in light of the Old Testament, meaning that the
title is used in a way represents God’s authority such as Angels- If Jesus was someone close
to God, Jesus was close to God as a great teacher but not God.
- Gospels are a product of thinking about Jesus’ life
- Influence in Greek philosophy and mystery religious led to human Jesus transforming into a
divine figure, which is reinforced by modern science which rejects miracles, Jesus a human
being like all others, though his deeply spiritual nature give his teaching authority.
P2: As teacher from Sermon on the mount
- Message of love, compassion and selflessness.
, - Jesus encourages his listeners to love their enemies, to forgive others and to care for the
poor and marginalized.
- Passage shows Christians must: do nothing to resist an evil person who attacks them, give
freely more than is asked to anyone who makes a demand from them, be perfect, love their
enemies. Many Christians are guided by these roles e.g many Christians are pacifists.
- OT title was used of Kings reflecting nature of kings (linked to title of Messiah), indicated
Jesus’ unique divine ability.
- ‘God said ‘my beloved son’ in the visions at his baptism.
- Ambiguous nature made it less likely for his to be a future of power ‘suffering servant’ spoken
in the OT and to his God-given authority both in the present and future.
- Jesus as messiah, Hebrew term for ‘one who has been anointed’ usually for King, in the NT.
Refers to human leader, and thus serves to stress the humanity of Jesus.
‘Bible is inspired by God’ Assess this view (15 marks)
P1: AGAINST Neo-orthodoxy
- God does not reveal himself in the words of the bible but in Jesus. Karl Barth
- Through the Bible people can experience Jesus, it is the vehicle through which we feel the
presence of God.
- Bible does contain words of God, but not the word. Is the way that humans experience God,
realising their need for forgiveness and divine mercy shown through Jesus.
- Not inerrant and respect to science, history and religions as its writers were products of their
time and subject to limitations of intellect.
- Barth rejects Biblical irrenancy, how can a perfect God write an incorrect Bible?
Counter: Liberalism
- Umbrella term for any Christian that rejects that the bible is the literal word of God.
- Some believe god guided the authors or others believe it is a human document consisting
about what writers believe about God and purposes for humanity.
- Liberalism- sea of faith network claims faith is a purely human creation so that Bible has no
authority other than the authority an individual would give it.
P2: FOR Conservative view
Catholic:
- Bible was written by humans but inspired by God
- Distinguish key messages in the bible regarding salvation which is without error and the
accounts of individual authors which need to be understood in context.
- Approach to Genesis 1- ever intended as a scientific or factual account- author uses genre of
myth to convey truths about the nature of God as creator and the nature of humanity.
- Guidance in interpretating the Bible comes from tradition and magisterium as well as
individuals informed conscience and reason.
Regard the Bible as written by the holy spirit through human authors. As such it is impossible
to get away from the human dimensions of the scriptures. In each different book of the Bible
we can hear the authors’ unique voice and style, therefore important to study the human
contribution to the Bible.
Evangelical Protestants:
- Regard scripture as the literal word of God (even passages which go against science), they
believe Bible was dictated by God to the apostles, bible is inerrant (without error).
Authority of Jesus as son of God vs son of Man (10 marks)
Son of God Son as Man
- Divine son of God - Title of humility (man)
- Title used for kings thought to be - Using son of man is humble, he needed
adopted by God at their accession. to stay humble as long as possible to
- Immaculate conception (only God can ‘spread the word of God’
