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Introduction to Analytic Theology

• Analytic theology: Newer field (since ~2009); applies rigorous logic, philosophy, and clear reasoning to theological questions.

• Goal: Clarify doctrines, avoid fallacies, test arguments precisely.

• Complements other theologies: Biblical (content), systematic (synthesis), historical (precedents), comparative (alternatives).

• Key tool: Logic – careful reasoning that avoids errors and draws valid conclusions in pursuit of truth.

What Is Logic?

• Informal logic: Everyday reasoning (e.g., “If I eat too much, I feel bloated”).

• Formal logic: Symbolic, rigorous analysis using syllogisms.

• valid vs. invalid arguments

Major Types of Fallacies (5 Categories)

1. Fallacies of Relevance: Premises irrelevant to conclusion

• 1. Ad hominem (attack person, not argument)

  2. Appeal to authority/emotion/popularity

  3. Red herring, straw man, genetic fallacy

1. Fallacies of Presumption: Assume what needs proving

   1. Begging the question

   2. False dilemma

   3. Suppressed evidence

   4. False cause (post hoc, correlation ≠ causation)

2. Fallacies of Ambiguity: Unclear language

   1. Equivocation (word used two ways)

   2. Amphiboly, composition, division

3. Fallacies of Weak Induction: Insufficient evidence

   1. Hasty generalization

   2. Slippery slope

   3. Weak analogy

   4. Appeal to ignorance

4. Formal Fallacies: Errors in logical structure

   1. Affirming the consequent (If A→B, B true → A true)

   2. Denying the antecedent (If A→B, A false → B false)

7-Step Method for Analytic Evaluation of a Doctrine

1. Clearly identify the doctrine

2. Express the doctrine’s logical structure (premises → conclusion).

3. Identify assumptions and define key terms

4. List main reasons supporting the doctrine

5. Identify difficult texts / counter-evidence

6. Identify logical defeaters (objections) and offer explanations/counter-arguments

7. Revise doctrine in light of objections; invite feedback

Benefits of Analytic Approach

• Makes arguments precise and transparent.

• Reveals hidden assumptions and weak links.

• Hardens position against criticism or shows where revision needed.

• Encourages humility: Logic shows where we might be wrong.

Conclusion

• Analytic theology uses logic to evaluate doctrines rigorously.

• Strengthens restorationist method by testing coherence and validity.

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Recap from Biblical Theology

• Biblical theology highlights differences, developments, and author-specific emphases.

• Systematic theology seeks unity/coherence across all books.

• Quote (Köstenberger & Goswell): Bible’s unity grounded in God’s unity; diversity from time, genre, authors, circumstances.

Defining Systematic Theology

• Wayne Grudem: “Any study that answers, ‘What does the whole Bible teach us today?’ about any topic.”

• Summarizes Scripture in brief, clear, carefully formulated statements.

• Focuses on present-day understanding for Christians.

• May use terms/concepts not in single author but from combining teachings.

Key Assumptions of Systematic Theology

• God inspired authors so Bible reflects what He wanted (no coercion).

• Coherence exists: One divine mind behind Scripture → consistent thought.

• Possible to identify “final form” (mature teaching) by considering all verses.

• Progressive revelation means later texts clarify earlier (development allowed).

• Bible shapes our thinking/categories (not vice versa).

Why Do Systematic Theology?

• Organizes jumbled ideas into shelves (categories).

• Helps detect contradictions or gaps.

Standard categories (traditional 8–10 volumes):

• Bibliology (Bible)

• Theology proper (God)

• Angelology/demonology

• Anthropology (humans)

• Hamartiology (sin)

• Christology

• Pneumatology (Spirit)

• Soteriology (salvation)

• Ecclesiology (church)

• Eschatology (end times)

Bible Is Organic, Not Systematic

• Scripture grows naturally (like a tree), not in neat textbook chapters.

• Our categories are helpful tools, not perfect boxes.

• Rule: If forced to shoehorn Bible into doctrine OR accept less precision, choose Bible.

• Never change Scripture to fit beliefs; change beliefs to fit Scripture.

Practical Value

• First learned categories → organized chaotic ideas.

• Allows deeper thinking on topics.

• Reminds us doctrines approximate God’s mind; stay humble.

Conclusion: Systematic theology synthesizes whole Bible for coherence.

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Introduction to Theology Series

• This begins a 5-part theology section (5th floor of the tower).

• Theology = discourse about God (θεος + λογος); broadly any Christian belief/doctrine.

Preliminaries before doing theology

• Pray for help/illumination from the Spirit.

• Be willing to change beliefs if Bible evidence is strong.

• Truth has nothing to fear; hold beliefs loosely.

• Never force Bible to fit your theology (example: never alter 1 John 5:7).

• Better to live with uncertainty than adopt a flawed position.

Defining Biblical Theology

• Bible is not flat/one-time revelation (unlike Koran or single-lifetime texts).

• Written over ~2,000 years; God progressively revealed Himself and His story.

• Biblical theology studies both what Bible teaches and how teaching develops over time.

• Key quote (Michael Lawrence): Bible reveals progressively; biblical theology traces developments in redemptive history.

• Highlights diversity among authors (different focuses, emphases, vocabularies).

• Two main ways to do it:

  • Study theology of one book/author.

  • Trace major themes across whole Bible (e.g., kingdom, covenant, sin, redemption).

Progressive Revelation Explained

• God reveals more and more over time (e.g., OT shadows → NT fulfillment in Christ).

• Not contradiction, but development and maturity.

• Must read earlier texts in light of later revelation (final form matters).

Major Example: Kingdom of God

• Begins in Eden (perfect rule).

• Lost through sin.

• Abrahamic promise: land, descendants, blessing.

• Mosaic covenant: Israel as kingdom of priests.

• Davidic covenant: eternal king.

• Prophets: future restoration.

• Jesus announces kingdom arrived (Mark 1:15); demonstrates it with miracles.

• Cross/resurrection: victory over sin/death.

• Church: partial presence now.

• Future: full consummation in renewed world

Major Example: Abrahamic Covenant

• Promises: land, many descendants, blessing to nations (Gen 12, 15, 17).

• Initial fulfillment: Joshua conquers Canaan.

• Exile disrupts; return partial.

• NT: Jesus as Abraham’s seed; Gentiles blessed/grafted in (Gal 3, Rom 4).

• Land promise expands to whole world (Rom 4:13).

• Future: immense multitude inherits earth forever.

Purpose of Biblical Theology

• Understand Bible on its own terms before systematizing.

• Topical/thematic grouping stays close to biblical language and history.

• Quote (Köstenberger & Goswell): Synthesize within original settings; systematic theology goes broader/conceptual.

Conclusion: Biblical theology respects development and diversity within unity.

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Humility in Application

• Be willing to change; Bible critiques us.

• Rules: Text can’t mean what it never meant; same particulars = same application.

• Application can’t contradict NT elsewhere.

• Avoid extremes (over/underspiritualize).

Application Process

• Bridge gap: Comparable particulars vs. cultural customs (e.g., holy kiss = handshake).

• Specific to general principles.

Problems

• Particularizing: Over-apply specifics.

• Generalizing: Ignore details.

• Misgrouping: Too few/many texts, wrong combos.

Questions

• If people switched to this doctrine/practice how would it affect their lives?
• If a church switched to this doctrine/practice how would they implement it?
• If a group of churches switched to this doctrine/practice, what would the implications be?
• Are there any challenges with getting along with other Christians, the government, or other institutions?
• Revise the doctrine/practice accordingly

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Two Steps of Interpretation

• What it meant to them (historical context).

• What it means today (application, next lecture).

• Example: Rom 13:7 (pay taxes) – under Nero’s tyranny.

Avoid Time Problems

• Anachronism: Reading modern ideas back (e.g., Adam’s computer).

• Metachronism: Assuming ancients were primitive.

Historical Context Tools

• Date book/author.

• Research events (e.g., Nero’s reign).

• Cultural insights: Honor/shame, patron-client.

Resources

• Bible dictionaries, encyclopedias.

• Ancient literature: Josephus, Mishnah.

• Archaeology: Ur, Jericho walls.

• Epigraphy: Sennacherib Prism.

• Geography: Visit Holy Land.

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Hermeneutics Overview

• Rules for exegesis (explaining text).

• Approaches:

• 1. Devotional (personal),

  2. allegorical (hidden),

  3. historical-critical (skeptical),

  4. postmodern (perspective-based),

  5. grammatical-historical (authorial intent).

• We’ll be using the grammatical-historical hermeneutic: understand original meaning

7 Steps for Interpretation

1. Pray for illumination.

2. Determine genre (narrative, poetry, etc.).

3. Establish text (variants/translations).

4. Study text: Words, grammar, structure.

5. Explore larger context: Paragraphs, shifts, chiasm, inclusio.

6. Book as whole: Author, audience, occasion, purpose, mode.

7. Biblical intertextuality: Quotes, allusions, related books.

Conclusion: Restorationists seek authorial intent.

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Challenges of Translation

• “Translator, traitor”: Lose/add meaning.

• Every translation is commentary

• English groove from 500 years – hard to break traditions.

Process of Translation

• Critical texts: BHS (OT), NA/UBS (NT).

• Formal equivalence: Literal, word-for-word (e.g., NASB).

• Dynamic: Thought-for-thought, readable (e.g., NIV).

• Review: Committees avoid controversy.

Dangers

• Individual: Bias unchecked.

• Committee: Business-driven, audience-specific.

Detecting Bias

• Types: Evangelical (e.g., NIV adds “Son of God” in Mark 1:1).

• Mainline: Less bias (e.g., NRSV).

• Catholic: NABRE

• Jewish: OT focus (e.g., JPS).

• Unitarian: Removes Trinitarian bias (e.g., REV).

• Examples: Rom 9:5 (Christ as God? Ambiguous).

Conclusion : Compare translations; learn languages if possible.

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Introduction

• Different story from NT; 3 parts: Manuscripts, criticism, examples.

• 3 families:

• 1. Masoretic Text (MT),

  2. Samaritan Pentateuch (SP),

  3. Septuagint (LXX).

Oldest Scrolls

• Silver Scrolls (7th c. BC): Numbers 6:24-26 blessing.

• Nash Papyrus (2nd c. BC): Ten Commandments + Shema.

Masoretic Text (MT)

• 7th-10th c. AD; standardized Hebrew with vowels.

• Leningrad Codex (1008 AD); basis for BHS.

Samaritan Pentateuch (SP)

• Samaritan version of Torah; 2nd c. BC mss.

• 6,000 variants from MT; some ideological.

Septuagint (LXX)

• Greek translation (3rd-2nd c. BC)

• Early mss.: Codex Vaticanus, Sinaiticus.

Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS, 1947)

• 250 BC-68 AD; every OT book except Esther.

• Confirm MT stability; some variants.

Textual Criticism

• Rules: Shorter readings, harmonizations suspect.

• Examples: Deut 32:8 (sons of God), Psalm 22:16 (pierced hands).