the 511 new testament theology class i: introduction to new testament theology & intro to...

THE 511 NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

CLASS I: INTRODUCTION TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY & INTRO TO

THEOLOGY OF THE GOSPELS

INTRO TO NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY

1.1 Introduction to NT Theology

• My favorite theological theme in NT and why?

• Theological topic/theme that is most troublesome

• Controversial themes in NT theology?

• Predestination & free will

• Role of women in ministry/home

• Spiritual gifts (tongues, prophecies, miracles)

A good reason to study NT theology


• Test your knowledge in NT theology1. Which two evangelists emphasize the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

2. Which NT books focus on cosmic Christology?

3. NT author that highlight “justification by faith”

4. NT book that describes the advance of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit

5. This epistle is about “faith in action”

6. This epistle compares Christ to high priest and OT institutions

7. This book of the NT uses sharp dualism of light-darkness, above-below, truth-falsehood

8. Epistle that contains the most profound theology of suffering in the NT

9. Book that demonstrates Christ’s ultimate victory over all evil

10. Gospel that focuses on practical righteousness


• More challenging topics in NT theology

• Relationship between the testaments

• How to synthesize different aspects of NT into NT theology

• Challenging topics

• Eschatology (Millennial views & rapture question)

• The role of Mosaic Law in ethics and salvation (Matthew & Paul)

• Faith and works (Paul & James)

• Spiritual gifts

• Christology of different authors


• FMatt 5:17-18 Eph 2:15 (cf. Rom 10:4)

Jam 2:25

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (NASB)

He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace (NRSV)

For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing

The Role of Mosaic Law in NT Theology


• Interpretative paradigms and NT Theology

• Presuppositions and pre-understanding in NT theology

• Church/theological tradition

• Socio-cultural and personal history

• Two evangelical systems

• Covenant theology

• Dispensational theology

• Classical

• Revised

• Progressive


• Theological systems, hermeneutics and NT theologyIssue Interpretation of the kingdom of

heaven?

Covenant Same as kingdom of God; rule of God displayed through the church

Classic disp.

Davidic theocratic kingdom – postponed to Millenium due to rejection by Jews

Revised disp.

Davidic kingdom in the past and offered to Jews by Jesus; in mystery format currently the church; and in the millenium

Progressive disp.

As covenant theology – identical w/ kingdom of God; already inaugurated during Jesus’ ministry and church but fully consummated in the millemium


• lIssue Interpretation of the sermon of the Mount.

Covenant Way of life for the church

Classic disp.

Way of life in the Millenium; moral application to church

Revised disp.

As above

Progressive disp.

Way of life for believers now though fully realized in the millenium


• lIssue Interpretation of the restoration of Israel and prophecy

Covenant 1) Partial fulfillment in return from Exile 2) typologically fulfilled in church 3) spiritual fulfillment in eternal state

Classic disp.

Literal fulfillment in the millennium

Revised disp.

As above

Progressive disp.

Partial fulfillment in church and fully in the millennium


1.2 The Nature of New Testament theology

• NT theology among the theological disciplines

• Systematic theology

• Systematic presentation of doctrines

• Historical theology

• Development of doctrine across the centuries

• Dogmatic theology

• Authoritative pronouncements of the church(es)

• Contemporary theology

• Post-Reformation developments in theology

• Practical theology

• Pastoral theology, homiletics, missiology, counseling


• Biblical theology (modernist paradigm)

• Historical and biblical

• Emphasis on descriptive historical development – focus on the process

• E.g. son of God in OT and NT (Gen 6:1-2; Ex 4:22; 2Sam 7:14; Ps 2:7; Hos 11:1; Lk 3:38; Jh 1:49; Matt 26:63-64; Heb 1:1-3)

• Uses concepts found in the Bible

• John’s and Paul’s Christology – not two natures per later dogma

• Emphasis on human character and agency (cf. Luke 1:1-4)

• The process of writing Luke’s gospel

• Progressive nature of revelation (cf. Heb 1:1)

Generally not focused on application or relevance


• Biblical theology and NT theology

Exegesis of texts

OT theology NT theology

Biblical theology

NT theology

Exegesis biblical theology systematic theology


2.1 Historical Development of NT theology – Briefly

• From church Fathers to Medieval Theology

• Regula fidei as a guide (Church Fathers)

• Dogma of the Church (Medieval period)

• Five-fold sense of the Scripture


• Reformation and biblical theology

• From dogma to biblical theology

• Historical/literal meaning

• Inadequately applied (esp. OT)

• Sola Scriptura principle

• Later Protestant orthodoxy largely reverted back to dogmatism

• Pietism & subjectivism

• Holiness-Pentecostal movement & charismatic hermeneutics

• Evangelicals and fundamentalist-liberal controversy


• Birth of modern biblical theology

• Historical-criticism as catalyst

• J.P. Gabler (1787) and birth of biblical theology

• Biblical vs. dogmatic theology

• Historical discipline

• Descriptive task

• Freedom from the dogma of the church

Foundation for the modern biblical theology


2.2 Recent approaches to NT theology

• Historical-critical approaches

• Historical-criticism and theology

• Developmental and evolutionary approaches

• Is NT theology possible? (H. Räisänen 1990, 2002; cf. W. Wrede)

• Moderate approaches (J. Gnilka; P. Stuhlmacher; U. Schnelle)

• Characterized by emphasis on diversity (and disunity)

• Based on historical reconstruction

Some discount the possibility of revelation


• Conservative & moderate NT theologies – history & theology

• Importance of revelation

• Basic unity of the NT theology affirmed

• Extent of diversity disputed

• Importance of exegesis - history and theology

• Some more prominent NT theologies

• G.K Beale (2011); I. H. Marshall (2004)

• F. Thielman (2008); L. Morris (1990)

• F. Matera (2007); T. Schreiner (2008)

• N.T. Wright (1992-); G. Ladd (1974)

• D. Guthrie (1981); Caird and Hurst (1994)

• Zuck and Dowery (1994); L. Helyer (2008)


• Postmodern approach to NT theology (A. K. M. Adam)

• Criticizes

• Historicism & lust for novelty and progress

• Elitism and antipopulism

• Starting point w/ community’s sense of the NT

• Explicit theology that “makes sense” to a

particular group

All biblical theology is perspectival


2.3 Problems of Method and Approach

• How and where to start?

• OT history and theology?

• Biblical theology of the NT

• Intertestamental history and background?

• Jesus (historical Jesus)?

• Early church?

• Occasional nature of NT documents

• E.g. 1 Cor

• History, culture, theology intertwined


• Unity and Diversity in NT

• Diverse perspectives within the unity

• Is there a center of NT theology?

• Death and resurrection of Jesus? Justification by faith?

• Holiness? God’s glory and worship?

• Mission? Salvation?

• Kingdom of God

What to do with the material that is non-center?


• Approach and organization of materials1) Collection of materials according to themes (e.g. righteousness)

• Older approach of systematic theology (and early Pentecostals)

• Largely abandoned

• Problems

• Assumes uniformity of thought in the NT

• Little consideration of historical context

• Little consideration of diversity of perspectives


2) Categories from systematic theology (D. Guthrie)

• Categories of systematic theology

• Historical context and author’s perspective

• Possible problems

• Imposing systematic categories on NT authors

• Lack of relevant data on certain topics

Matthew Paul James

Creation Creation Creation

Lord’s supper Lord’s supper -

- Spiritual gifts -


3) Historical development approach

• Importance of historical reconstruction

• Some problems:

• Hypothetical reconstruction

• Focus on history more than theology

Jesus Jerusalem church

Gentile churches

Early Catholicism

Kingdom of God

Kerygma Kerygma Doctrine

Prophet &

Messiah

Christology Christology Christology

12 disciples

12 apostles & hellenists

Charismatic church structure

Formalized structure


4) Author/Book centered approach

• Theology of each book & each author/block

• Synthesis

• Some problems

• How to combine various “blocks”?

• Jesus or the Gospels? Paul and Acts?

• How to synthesize the various perspectives into a whole?

Paul (Rom, Gal etc)

Luke (Luke-Acts) John (Jh, 1-3 Jh, Rev)

Creation Creation Creation

Justification - -

(Kingdom of God) Kingdom of God -

Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Holy Spirit


• Concluding comments

• Historical perspective important

• Respect the perspective of each book & author

• Synthesis needs to be done carefully

• Conscious emphasis on certain parts (contextual realities)

• General synthesis remains on high level of abstraction

• More than one legitimate approach and outcome

NT theology always a reconstruction to some extent


3.1 Introduction to the theology of the Gospels

• Some important issues and questions

• Why four gospels?

• Dilemma of sources and historicity(?)

• Should we talk about…

• Theology of Jesus or of each gospel? (esp. Luke-Acts; John)

• Relationship b/w gospels and the rest of NT

• Why does Paul hardly ever refer to Jesus’ earthly life?

Is there a disconnection between the epistles and gospels?


• Connections b/w gospels and epistles

• Luke and Acts (Luke-Acts)

• John’s writings (esp. Gospel and epistles)

• Allusions to Jesus’ teachings in James and 1 Peter

• Some references to Jesus’ words in Paul (e.g. 1 Cor 11)

Epistles pastoral responses to pressing issues

Different purpose of gospels and epistles


• Starting point of the theology of the synoptic Gospels

• Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God

• Summons of people to faith & repentance in light of the kingdom (Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection)

• Mediated through the unique perspective of each evangelist

• Mark: gospel in light of in-breaking kingdom

• Matthew: righteousness required by the kingdom

• Luke: salvation and reversal of fortunes brought by the kingdom


• John’s unique perspective

• Eternal life instead of kingdom

• Incarnation & sending of the pre-existent Son by the Father

John’s gospel treated together w/ epistles and Revelation


• l

the 511 new testament theology class i: introduction to new testament theology & intro to...

Documents

nt theology slide

nt theology presuppositions

nt theology relationship

new testament theology

new testament theology

nt books

new testament theology

profound theology of