TH505: Final Exam

Question 1

How many scientific problems exist for Darwinian theory and what are they?

Answer 1

There are at least five scientific problems with Darwinian theory:

1. Rarity Transitional Forms
2. Explosion of life in the Cambrian period
3. Development of complex organisms
4. Existence of harmful mutations
5. Origin of the first living cell

Question 2

How many plausible reasons help explain why Christians suffer, and what are they?

Answer 2

There are at least seven reasons why Christians might suffer:

1. Suffering for the sake of Christ
2. Satan’s affliction / God’s permission
3. Curse on creation and the reality of original sin
4. Chastisement / discipline for personal sin
5. Relationship with a “difficult person”
6. Natural disasters / Unknown cause
7. Foolish or unwise behavior

Question 3

How many conclusions may be drawn from the reasons Christians might suffer, and what are they?

Answer 3

Three conclusions:

1. Avoid simplistic explanations of suffering
2. Avoid dogmatism in dealing with the complexity of life: humble spirit
3. Rom 8:28 - “no wasted pain”

Question 4

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer for the sake of Christ, and what are they?

Answer 4

Suffering for the sake of Christ: Two pieces:

1. Matt 5:10
2. Heb 10:32-34

Question 5

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to Satan’s affliction/God’s permission, and what are they?

Answer 5

Satan’s affliction/God’s permission: 2 pieces:

1. Job
2. II Cor 12:7 - thorn in the flesh

Question 6

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to the curse on creation and reality of original sin, and what are they, and what is the response?

Answer 6

Curse on creation and reality of original sin: 4 pieces
1. John 9:1-3
2. Gen 3:16
3. Rom 8:21-22
Response: Deal with false guilt

Question 7

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to chastisement/discipline for personal sin, and what are they and what is the response?

Answer 7

Chastisement/discipline for personal sin: 2 pieces:
1. David, family
2. Ps 51
Response: insight, repentance, forgiveness

Question 8

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to relationship with “difficult person”, and what are they and what is the response?

Answer 8

Relationship with “difficult person”: one piece:
1. I Peter 2:18
Response: perseverance, witness of faith, development of character, wisdom in judging when to leave a situation

Question 9

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to natural disaster/unknown cause, and what are they?

Answer 9

Natural disaster/unknown cause: 2 pieces:

1. Luke 13:1-5 - Tower of Saloam
2. Job 1:12,19

Question 10

How many pieces of scripture/rationale support the notion that believers may suffer due to foolish or unwise behavior, and what are they?

Answer 10

Foolish or unwise behavior: 1-2 pieces:

1. Prov 6:1-5
2. May not be sinful, but unwise

Question 11

What is the theological significance of the Virgin Birth?

Answer 11

1. Sovereign initiative of God in the salvation of the believer, b/c parallel b/w conception of Christ and conversion of believer
2. “New creation” - Jesus beginning of God’s new creation
3. Affirmation of the sanctity of prenatal life
4. Childbearing and the covenant - motherhood lifted to a place of honor in the divine plan of salvation

Question 12

Why doesn’t Virgin Birth imply docetic Christology?

Answer 12

B/c the objection confuses process with result:

Supernatural process –> natural result, real human nature.

Question 13

If Jesus was God, how could he be limited in knowledge? (Mk 13:32)

Answer 13

1. Limits of his human consciousness - “psychological consciousness does not equal totality of person” (Davis).
2. the Logos asarkos

Question 14

Define providence…

Answer 14

Providence is “that sovereign activity of God by which He sustains all [things] in existence and guides them toward the fulfillment of his eternal plan.” (Davis)

Question 15

What is enhypostatic human nature? Significance?

Answer 15

1. The idea that the human nature of Jesus always existed as part of the Logos of the Trinity
2. It is the human nature “personalized by union with the eternal person of the Son.”
   - Opposes adoptionism.