CONSERVATIVE APPROACH NEO-ORTHODOXY LIBERAL
EVANGELICAL Karl Barth An umbrella term used to refer to
Fundamentalist: infallible word Isnt word of God, contains the the views of Christians who reject the
of God, authors directly inspired word of God idea that the Bible is literally inspired.
by God, verbal plenary Is the way through which
inspiration suggests God inspired all humans may experience God, 1) Social Gospel movement: founded on
of scripture. realising their need for Prot intellectuals at the end of the 19th
Apparent contradictions are due forgiveness and divine mercy Century, where the idea was to use
to limitations of human intellect. shown through Jesus. Christian ethics to address social issues.
All agree 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Isn't inerrant with respect Bible was authoritative to how they should
CATHOLIC to science, history and religion, live.
Inspired by God but written as it's writers were product of 2) Process theology: God is not the creator
by human beings under the their time and subject to he exists panetheistically. God is not
inspiration of the holy spirit limitations of intellect. omnipotent because he can do no more
Inspiration relates to the Bible as God does not reveal himself in than persuade matter
a whole rather than to each word the words of Bible rather, God does not intervene- there
of verse through Jesus see in miracles, Jesus is not
Genesis 1 was never meant to Scripture is a vehicle through incarnate
be scientific- author used genre which God may Bible is
of myth to convey truths about be experienced. an entirely human document.
nature of God as creator of the Scripture is fully human as well
nature of humanity and the as final divine.
created world.
Guidance in interpretating
comes from Magisterium.
Jesus as son of Man Jesus as Son of God Value as role model
Title of humility (man) Divine son of God Sermon on the mount ‘love thy
Using son of man is Title used for kings thought to neighbour’ ‘be perfect’ ‘turn the other
humble, he needed to stay be adopted by God at cheek’
humble as long as possible to their accession. - Encourages love,
‘spread the word of God’ Immaculate conception (only compassion and
Liberalism- he was God can be conceived miraculously) selflessness
literally a man Crucifixion- curtain of the Gandhi states he did not
‘Servant of God’- temple torn in two – resurrection believe Jesus was the divine
authority is human “This man must be the son of but was ‘the greatest teacher
'Suffering servant'- given god” humanity has ever had’
authority both in present and St Paul without the Pacifist- did not engage with
the future. resurrection, Christianity fighting, resisted authority
Jesus referred to himself is meaningless which may have inspired
as this, used in all four gospels Behold the son of God (song)- Martin Luther to use non
and seeks to highlight his shows Jesus is subordinate to God violent protests.
humanity. Mark 1.11 ‘thou art my beloved son with thee I Hick- Jesus is the incarnate ‘father
‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air am well pleased’ and son are one’- the more human
have nests; but the Son of man has In NT: indicates Jesus' unique he is the greater relevance.
nowhere to lay his head’ divine authority, at beginning of For some Christians (Evangelical
Believed he tried to hide Mark's Gospel, Jesus is referred to Christians) have adopted the
his divinity, at this time to be the as the Son of God and he's said to slogan What Would Jesus
son of God was be 'my beloved Son' in the visions of Do, reminding them to act in
blasphemous an perhaps Jesus his baptism and transfiguration accordance with Jesus’ principle of
was trying to In OT: reflect God's justice, love, applied in all situations.
escape persecution. 'Messiah'- chosen by God to rule on
After his death, ‘Truly this his behalf.
man was the son of God’- Mark.
Most Christians accept that this title
shows that Jesus was both fully human
and fully divine.
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, inerrant. 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’.
One God Omnipotent creator and Transcendent Trinity and its importance Jesus is son of God
(monotheism) controller of all things unknowable
‘I am he. Before Descartes believed God Transcendence- Hypostases- God exists as one Paul gives advice
me no God was could do the logically not part of our substance in three persons. on whether eating
formed, nor shall impossible e.g. create a universe, he is All three persons are equal in meat given to idols
there be any after square that is a circle (Vardy, above and power, eternal and uncreated, have is okay, he states it
me’ Isaiah. Puzzle of God says this is beyond it. He is a personal relationship called is and reminds us
absurd) not material and ‘perichoresis’ that idols do not
‘I am the first and Aquinas thinks he can do has a German theologian, Jurgen exist. There is only
the last; apart anything logically possible, necessary Moltmann developed ‘social’ one God and one
from me there is however this leads to existence. account of the trinity- ‘mutual Lord (father and
no God’. questions about free will and indwelling’- emphasis on three Jesus)
determinism because if God ‘I am who I am’ persons existing in a community of Paul using wording
OT, Israel did not is omnipotent and when asked by mutual self-giving and receiving from Shema prayer
believe in omniscient, do people really Moses. love. which equates to
monotheism have free will? It is an one God AND one
straight away, PT deny God’s omnipotence. expression of Trinity makes it possible for Lord.
other God’s ‘With God all things are God’s aseity, humans to have a personal
believed to exist possible’ Matthew God simply ‘is’. relationship with God Disortion about
but they had no Minority ‘ex deo’, known as If we could Jesus as he spoke
power.. ‘Elohim’ pandeism, that God became understand his God- immanent within creation, in Aramaic so what
which is Hebrew the universe and ceased to nature, we answering prayers, performing he said may have
for ‘Gods’- exist as a separate entity- would be as miracles, intervenes in history and been changed in
underlines that many reject this as it limits great as him. relates to persons. the translation into
god may have God as transcendent and Trinity is seen as personhood- Greek in Johns
been seen as the ‘wholly other’ being. seen as model for human Gospel.
head of a Ex nihilo ‘let there be…and relationships.
pantheon of there was’. Imago dei- modelled on trinitarian
Gods. Revised standard translation love (immense value)
fo genesis ‘being without
form and void’-> God
moulded the already existing
chaotic matter rather than
creating it ex nihilo.
Trinity importance:
1. Sin, atonement and redemption
Run through Christianity and bring trinity together
Due to eve’s sin it is necessary for atonement
Father sent son for atonement, son is fully human and God atones for humans by his sacrifice, HS gives new birth
and hope of eternal life to humans
EVANGELICAL Karl Barth An umbrella term used to refer to
Fundamentalist: infallible word Isnt word of God, contains the the views of Christians who reject the
of God, authors directly inspired word of God idea that the Bible is literally inspired.
by God, verbal plenary Is the way through which
inspiration suggests God inspired all humans may experience God, 1) Social Gospel movement: founded on
of scripture. realising their need for Prot intellectuals at the end of the 19th
Apparent contradictions are due forgiveness and divine mercy Century, where the idea was to use
to limitations of human intellect. shown through Jesus. Christian ethics to address social issues.
All agree 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Isn't inerrant with respect Bible was authoritative to how they should
CATHOLIC to science, history and religion, live.
Inspired by God but written as it's writers were product of 2) Process theology: God is not the creator
by human beings under the their time and subject to he exists panetheistically. God is not
inspiration of the holy spirit limitations of intellect. omnipotent because he can do no more
Inspiration relates to the Bible as God does not reveal himself in than persuade matter
a whole rather than to each word the words of Bible rather, God does not intervene- there
of verse through Jesus see in miracles, Jesus is not
Genesis 1 was never meant to Scripture is a vehicle through incarnate
be scientific- author used genre which God may Bible is
of myth to convey truths about be experienced. an entirely human document.
nature of God as creator of the Scripture is fully human as well
nature of humanity and the as final divine.
created world.
Guidance in interpretating
comes from Magisterium.
Jesus as son of Man Jesus as Son of God Value as role model
Title of humility (man) Divine son of God Sermon on the mount ‘love thy
Using son of man is Title used for kings thought to neighbour’ ‘be perfect’ ‘turn the other
humble, he needed to stay be adopted by God at cheek’
humble as long as possible to their accession. - Encourages love,
‘spread the word of God’ Immaculate conception (only compassion and
Liberalism- he was God can be conceived miraculously) selflessness
literally a man Crucifixion- curtain of the Gandhi states he did not
‘Servant of God’- temple torn in two – resurrection believe Jesus was the divine
authority is human “This man must be the son of but was ‘the greatest teacher
'Suffering servant'- given god” humanity has ever had’
authority both in present and St Paul without the Pacifist- did not engage with
the future. resurrection, Christianity fighting, resisted authority
Jesus referred to himself is meaningless which may have inspired
as this, used in all four gospels Behold the son of God (song)- Martin Luther to use non
and seeks to highlight his shows Jesus is subordinate to God violent protests.
humanity. Mark 1.11 ‘thou art my beloved son with thee I Hick- Jesus is the incarnate ‘father
‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air am well pleased’ and son are one’- the more human
have nests; but the Son of man has In NT: indicates Jesus' unique he is the greater relevance.
nowhere to lay his head’ divine authority, at beginning of For some Christians (Evangelical
Believed he tried to hide Mark's Gospel, Jesus is referred to Christians) have adopted the
his divinity, at this time to be the as the Son of God and he's said to slogan What Would Jesus
son of God was be 'my beloved Son' in the visions of Do, reminding them to act in
blasphemous an perhaps Jesus his baptism and transfiguration accordance with Jesus’ principle of
was trying to In OT: reflect God's justice, love, applied in all situations.
escape persecution. 'Messiah'- chosen by God to rule on
After his death, ‘Truly this his behalf.
man was the son of God’- Mark.
Most Christians accept that this title
shows that Jesus was both fully human
and fully divine.
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, inerrant. 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’.
One God Omnipotent creator and Transcendent Trinity and its importance Jesus is son of God
(monotheism) controller of all things unknowable
‘I am he. Before Descartes believed God Transcendence- Hypostases- God exists as one Paul gives advice
me no God was could do the logically not part of our substance in three persons. on whether eating
formed, nor shall impossible e.g. create a universe, he is All three persons are equal in meat given to idols
there be any after square that is a circle (Vardy, above and power, eternal and uncreated, have is okay, he states it
me’ Isaiah. Puzzle of God says this is beyond it. He is a personal relationship called is and reminds us
absurd) not material and ‘perichoresis’ that idols do not
‘I am the first and Aquinas thinks he can do has a German theologian, Jurgen exist. There is only
the last; apart anything logically possible, necessary Moltmann developed ‘social’ one God and one
from me there is however this leads to existence. account of the trinity- ‘mutual Lord (father and
no God’. questions about free will and indwelling’- emphasis on three Jesus)
determinism because if God ‘I am who I am’ persons existing in a community of Paul using wording
OT, Israel did not is omnipotent and when asked by mutual self-giving and receiving from Shema prayer
believe in omniscient, do people really Moses. love. which equates to
monotheism have free will? It is an one God AND one
straight away, PT deny God’s omnipotence. expression of Trinity makes it possible for Lord.
other God’s ‘With God all things are God’s aseity, humans to have a personal
believed to exist possible’ Matthew God simply ‘is’. relationship with God Disortion about
but they had no Minority ‘ex deo’, known as If we could Jesus as he spoke
power.. ‘Elohim’ pandeism, that God became understand his God- immanent within creation, in Aramaic so what
which is Hebrew the universe and ceased to nature, we answering prayers, performing he said may have
for ‘Gods’- exist as a separate entity- would be as miracles, intervenes in history and been changed in
underlines that many reject this as it limits great as him. relates to persons. the translation into
god may have God as transcendent and Trinity is seen as personhood- Greek in Johns
been seen as the ‘wholly other’ being. seen as model for human Gospel.
head of a Ex nihilo ‘let there be…and relationships.
pantheon of there was’. Imago dei- modelled on trinitarian
Gods. Revised standard translation love (immense value)
fo genesis ‘being without
form and void’-> God
moulded the already existing
chaotic matter rather than
creating it ex nihilo.
Trinity importance:
1. Sin, atonement and redemption
Run through Christianity and bring trinity together
Due to eve’s sin it is necessary for atonement
Father sent son for atonement, son is fully human and God atones for humans by his sacrifice, HS gives new birth
and hope of eternal life to humans
