Lectures on theology

Prefatory Note

These Lectures are printed, not published. They are a first essay at the preparation of a general scheme of instruction in systematic theology. They constitute a mere outline, to be filled in by extemporaneous illustration. They will also be modified and expanded, as occasion arises, by the dictation of additional matter.

The references appended to the successive sections of the notes are not given as authorities. They are intended simply to facilitate further investigation on the part of the student, by directing him to other sources of information or suggestion. It has been the aim, in general, to mention not only the authors whose views are favored, but also those who best represent the views combated, in the text.

For these reasons, the success of the student will greatly depend upon the amount of private reading and thought devoted to the topics under review, and upon his consequent ability to enter into the discussions, and to appropriate whatever may be valuable in the more full expositions, of the class-room.

Chapter I. — Idea op Theology, 1- 8 I. — Definition of Theology, 1

II.— Aim of Theology, 1

III. — Possibility of Theology — grounded in : 2- 6

1. The existence of a God, 2

2. Man's capacity for the knowledge of God, 2-4

3. God's revelation of himself to man, 5- 6

IV. —Necessity of Theology, 6- 7

V.— Relation of Theology to Religion, 7-8

Chapter I. — Preliminary Considerations, 31-38 I.— Reasons a priori for expecting a Revelation from God, 31-32

II — Marks of the Revelation man may expect, 32-33

III. — Miracles as attesting a Divine Revelation, 33-36

1. Definition of Miracle, 33

2. Possibility of Miracles, 33-34

3. Probability of Miracles, 34

4. The amount of Testimony necessary to prove a Miracle, _ . . 34-35

5. Evidential force of Miracles, 35

6. Counterfeit Miracles, 35-36

IV.— Prophecy as attesting a Divine Revelation, 36-37

V. — Principles of Historical Evidence applicable to the proof of

a Divine Revelation, 37-38

1. As to Documentary Evidence, 37-38

2. As to Testimony in General, 38

Chapter II. — Positive Proofs that the Scriptures are a Divine Revelation, 39-49

I. — Genuineness of the Christian Documents, 39-43

1. Genuineness of the Books of the New Testament, 39-43

1st. The Myth-theory of Strauss, 41-42

2d. The Tendency-theory of Baur, 42

3d. The Romance-theory of Renan, 43

2. Genuineness of the Books of the Old Testament, 43

II. — Credibility of the Writers of the Scriptures, 43-45

III. — Supernatural Character of the Scripture Teaching, 45-48

1. Scripture Teaching in General, 45-46

2. Moral System of the New Testament, 46

3. The Person and Character of Christ, 46-47

4. The Testimony of Christ to himself, 47-48

IV. — Historical Results of the Propagation of Scripture Doctrine, 48-49

Chapter III. — Inspiration of the Scriptures, 50-59 I. — Definition of Inspiration, 50

II. — Proof of Inspiration, 50-51

III. — Theories of Inspiration, 51-53

1. The Intuition-theory, 51

2. The Illumination-theory, 52

3. The Dictation-theory, 52-53

4. The Dynamical-theory, 53

IV. — The Union of the Divine and Human Elements in Inspiration, 53-54

V. — Objections to the Doctrine of Inspiration, 54-59

1. Errors in matters of Science, 55-56

2. Errors in matters of History, 56

3. Errors in Morality, 56-57

4. Errors of Reasoning, ■. 57

5. Errors in Quoting or Interpreting the Old Testament, 57

6. Errors in Prophecy, 58

7. Certain Books unworthy of a Place in inspired Scripture, _ 58

8. Portions of the Scripture Books written by others than the

Persons to whom they are ascribed, 58

CONTENTS. Vll

9. Sceptical or Fictitious Narratives, 58-59

10. Acknowledgment of the Non-inspiration of Scripture Teachers and their Writings, 59

Chapter I. — The Attributes of God, 60-71 I. — Definition of the term Attributes, 60

II. — Relation of the Divine Attributes to the Divine Essence, 60-61

III. — Methods of Determining the Divine Attributes, 61-62

IV. — Classification of the Attributes, 62-63

V. — Absolute or Immanent Attributes, 63-67

First Division. — Spirituality, and Attributes therein involved, 63-65

1. Holiness, 64

3. Truth, 65

Second Division. — Infinity, and Atttributes therein involved, 65-67

1. Self -existence, 66

2. Immutability, 66

VI. —Relative or Transitive Attributes, 67-70

First Division.— Attributes having relation to Time and

Space, 67

1. Eternity, 67

2. Immensity, 67

Second Division. — Attributes having relation to Creation, 68-69

1. Omnipresence, 68

2. Omniscience, 68-69

3. Omnipotence, 69

Third Division. — Attributes having relation to Moral Beings, 69-70

1. Justice, or Transitive Holiness, 69-70

2. Goodness and Mercy, or Transitive Love, 70

VII. — Concluding Remarks, 70-71

1. Each of the Attributes qualified by all the others, 70

2. Holiness the fundamental Attribute, 70

3. The Reconciliation of Justice and Mercy, 71

4. The Holiness of God the Ground of Moral Obligation, ... 71 Chapter II. — Doctrine of the Trinity, 72-85

I. — In Scripture there are Three who are recognized as God: ... 72-77

1 . Proofs from the New Testament, 72-76

A. The Father is recognized as God, 72

B. Jesus Christ is recognized as God, 72-75

C. The Holy Spirit is recognized as God, 75-76

2. Intimations of the Old Testament, 76-77

A. Passages which seem to teach Plurality of some

sort in the Godhead, ■ 76

B. Passages relating to the Angel of Jehovah, 77

C. Descriptions of the Divine Wisdom and Word, 77

D. Descriptions of the Messiah, - 77

Vlll CONTENTS.

II. — These Three are so described in Scripture, that we are compelled to conceive of them as distinct Persons, 78-79

1. The Father and the Son are Persons distinct from

each other, 78

2. The Father and the Son are Persons distinct from the

Spirit, 78

3. The Holy Spirit is a Person, 78-79

III. — This Tripersonality of the Divine Nature is not merely economic and temporal, but is immanent and eternal, 79-80

1. Scripture Proof that these Distinctions of Personality

are eternal, _ _, 79

2. Errors refuted by the Scripture Passages, 79-80

A. The Sabellian, 79-80

B. TheArian, 80

IV. — While there are three Persons, there is but one Essence, 80-81

V. — These three Persons are Equal, 81-83

1. These Titles belong to the Persons, 81

2. Qualified Sense of these Titles, 82

3. Generation and Procession consistent with Equality, . - 82-83 VI, — The doctrine of the Trinity inscrutable, yet not self -contradictory, but the Key to all other Doctrines, 84-85

1. The Mode of this triune Existence is inscrutable, 84

2. The Doctrine of the Trinity is not self-contradictory, 84

3. The Doctrine of the Trinity has important Relations to

other Doctrines, 84-85

Chapter III. — The Decrees op God, 86-91 I. — Definition of Decrees, 86

II. — Proof of the Doctrine of Decrees, _ - 86-88

1. From Scripture, 86

A. From the Divine Omniscience, 87

B. From the Divine Wisdom, 87-88

C. From the Divine Immutability, 88

D. From the Divine Benevolence, 88

III. — Objections to the Doctrine of Decrees, 88-91

1 . That they are inconsistent with the Free Agency of Man, 88-89

2. That they take away all Motive for Human Exertion, 89-90

3. That they make God the Author of Sin, 90-91

IV. — Concluding Remarks, 91

1. Practical Uses of the Doctrine of Decrees; 91

2. True Method of Preaching the Doctrine, 91

Section I. — Creation, 92-103 I. — Definition of Creation, - 92

II.— Proof of the Doctrine, 92-94

1. Direct Scripture Statements, 92-93

2. Indirect Evidence from Scripture, 93-94

CONTENTS. IX

III.— Opposing Theories, 94-97

2. Emanation, 95

3. Creation from Eternity, 95-96

4. Spontaneous Generation, 96-97

IV.— The Mosaic Account of Creation, 97-100

1. Its Twofold Nature, 97-98

2. Its Proper Interpretation, 98-100

V.— God's End in Creation, 100-102

1. The Testimony of Scripture, ._„ 100-101

2. The Testimony of Reason, 101-102

VI. — Relation of the Doctrine of Creation to other Doctrines,.-- 102-103

1. To the Holiness and Benevolence of God, 102

2. To the Wisdom and Free Will of God, 102

3. To Providence and Redemption, 102-103

Section II. — Preservation, 103-106 I. — Definition of Preservation, 103

II. — Proof of the Doctrine of Preservation, 103-104

1. From Scripture, 103-104

III. — Theories which virtually deny the Doctrine of Preservation, 104-105

2. Continuous Creation, 105

IV. — Remarks upon the Divine Concurrence, 105-106

Section III. — Providence, 106-113 I. — Definition of Providence, 106

II.— Proof of the Doctrine of Providence, 106-108

1. Scriptural Proof, , 106-107

2. Rational Proof , 107-108

III.— Opposing Theories, 108-110

1. Fatalism, 108

3. Theory of a merely General Providence, 109-110

IV. — Relations of the Doctrine of Providence, 110-113

1. To Miracles and Works of Grace, 110-111

2. To Prayer and its Answer, 111-112

3. To Christian Activity, 112-113

4. To the evil Acts of Free Agents, 113

Section IV. — Good and Evil Angels, 114-120 I. — Scripture Statements and Intimations, 114-118

1. As to the Nature and Attributes of Angels, 114-115

2. As to their Number and Organization, 115-116

3. As to their Moral Character, 116

4. As to their Employments, 116-118

A. The Employments of Good Angels, 116-117

B. The Employments of Evil Angels, 117-118

II. — Objections to the Doctrine of Angels, 118-119

1. To the Doctrine of Angels in General, 118

2. To the Doctrine of Evil Angels in Particular, 118-119

III. — Practical Uses of the Doctrine of Angels, 119-120

1. Uses of the Doctrine of Good Angels, 119-120

2.' Uses of the Doctrine of Evil Angels, 120

X CONTENTS.

Chapter I. — Preliminary, 121-129 I.— Man a Creation of God, 121-122

II. — Unity of the Race, 122-124

1. Argument from History, 122

2. Argument from Language, 123

3. Argument from Psychology, 123

4. Argument from Physiology, 123-124

III. — Essential Elements of Human Nature, 124-127

1. The Dichotomous Theory, 124-125

2. The Trichotomous Theory, 125-127

IV.— Origin of the Soul, 127-129

1. The Theory of Preexistence, 127

2. The Creatian Theory, 128

3. The Traducian Theory, 128-129

Chapter II.— The Original State of Man, 130-135 I.— Essentials of Man's Original State, 130-132

1. Natural Likeness to God, or Personality, 130

2. Moral Likeness to God, or Holiness, 130-1 32

A. The Image of God as including only Personality, 131

B. The Image of God as consisting simply in Man's

Natural Capacity for Religion, 132

II. — Incidents of Man's Original State, : 132-135

1. Results of Man's Possession of the Divine Image, 132-133

2. Concomitants of Man's Possession of the Divine Image, 133-135

1st, The Theory of an Original Condition of Savagery, 134

2nd. The Theory of Comte as to the Stages of Human

Progress, 134-135

Section III. — Universality op Sin, 146-148

I. — Every human being who has arrived at moral consciousness, has committed acts or cherished dispositions contrary to the Divine Law, 146-147

CONTENTS. XI

II. — Every member of the human race without exception, possesses a corrupted nature, which is the source of actual

sin and is itself sin, 147-148

Section IV. — Origin of Sin, 148-151 I. — The Scriptural Account in Genesis, 148-149

1. Its General Character not Mythical or Allegorical but

Historical, 148

2. The Course of the Temptation and the resulting Fall, 148-149 II. — Difficulties connected with the Fall, considered as the personal Act of Adam, 149-150

1. How could a holy Being fall ? 149

2. How could God j ustly permit Satanic Temptation ? 149-150

3. How could a Penalty so great, be justly connected with

Disobedience to so slight a Command ? 150

III. — Consequences of the Fall — so far as respects Adam, 150-151

A. Physical Death, or the Separation of the Soul

from the Body, 150

B. Spiritual Death, or the Separation of the Soul

2. Positive and formal Exclusion from God's Presence, _ _ 151 Section V. — Imputation of Sin, 151-162

I. — Theories of Imputation, 151-160

1. The Pelagian Theory, 151-153

2. The Arminian Theory, 153-154

3. The New-School Theory, 154-156

4. The Federal Theory, 156-157

5. Theory of Mediate Imputation, 157-158

6. Theory of Adam's Natural Headship, 158-160

II. — Objections to the Doctrine of Imputation, 160-162

Section VI. — Consequences of Sin to Adam's Posterity,-.- 162-169 I.— Depravity, 162-164

1. Depravity Partial or Total ? 162-103

2. Ability or Inability ? 163-164

1. Nature of Guilt, 165

2. Degrees of Guilt, 165-167

III.— Penalty, 167-169

1. Idea of Penalty, 167

2. Actual Penalty of Sin, 167-169

Section II. — The Person op Christ, 172-181

I. — Historical Survey of Views respecting the Person of Christ, 172-174

1. The Ebionites, 172

2. TheDocetae, 173

3. TheArians, 173

4. The Apollinarians, 173

5. The Nestorians, 173

6. The Eutychians, 173

7. The Orthodox Doctrine, 174

II.— The two Natures of Christ,— their Reality and Integrity,... 174-175

1. The Humanity of Christ, 174-175

A. ItsReality, 174

B. Its Integrity, 174-175

2. The Deity of Christ, 175

III. — The Union of the two Natures in one Person, 176-181

1. Proof of this. Union, 176-177

2. Modern Misrepresentations, of this Union, 177-179

A. The Theory that the Humanity in Christ is a Con-

tracted and Metamorphosed Deity, 177-178

B. The Theory of a Union between the Divine and

the Human Natures, which is not completed

by the Incarnating Act, 178-179

3. The Real Nature of this Union, 179-181

Section III. — The Two States of Christ, 182-185 I.— The State of Humiliation, 182-184

1. The Nature of Christ's Humiliation, 182-184

2. The Stages of Christ's Humiliation, 1 84

II.— The State of Exaltation, 184-185

Section IV. — The Offices of Christ, 185-199 I.— The Prophetic Office of Christ, 185-186

II.— The Priestly Office of Christ, 186-198

1. Christ's Sacrificial Work, or the Doctrine of the Atone-

A. Scriptural Methods of Representing the Atonement, 186-187

B. The Institution of Sacrifice, especially as found in

the Mosaic System, 187-189

C. Theories of the Atonement, 189-196

1st. The Socinian, or Example Theory of the

Atonement, ' 189-190

2nd. The Bushnellian, or Moral-influence Theory

of the Atonement, 190-191

3rd. The Grotian, or Governmental Theory of the

Atonement, 191-192

4th. The Irvingian Theory, or Theory of a Subjective Atonement, . 192-193

5th. The Anselmic, or Commercial Theory of the

Atonement, 193-194

6th. The Ethical Theory of the Atonement, 194-196

D. Extent of the Atonement, 196

E. Objections to the Doctrine of Atonement, 196-198

2. Christ's Intercessory Work, 198

III.— The Kingly Office of Christ, 199

CONTENTS. Xlll

Chapter II. — The Reconciliation of Man to God, or the Application of Redemption through the Work

of the Holy Spirit, 200-227

Section I. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in its Preparation, 200-203

1. Proof of the Doctrine of Election, 201

2. Objections to the Doctrine of Election, 201-202

A. Is God's General Call Sincere ? 203

B. Is God's Special Call Irresistible ? 203

Section II. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in its Actual Beginning, 204-223

I. — Regeneration, 204-209

1. Scripture Representations, 204

2. Necessity of Regeneration, 204-205

3. The Efficient Cause of Regeneration, 205-206

4. The Instrumentality used in Regeneration, 207

5. The Nature of the Change wrought in Regeneration, . _ 208-209 II.— Conversion, 209-214

1. Repentance, 210-211

Elements of Repentance, 210

Explanations of the Scripture Representations, 211

Elements of Faith, 212

Explanations of the Scripture Representations, 212-214

III.— Union with Christ, . 214-217

1. Scripture Representations of this Union, 215

2. Nature of this Union, 215-21G

3. Consequences of this Union, 216-217

IV.— Justification, 217-223

1. Definition of Justification, 217

2. Proof of the Doctrine of Justification, 218-219

3. Elements of Justification, 219-220

4. Relation of Justification to God's Law and Holiness, _ . 220-221

5. Relation of Justification to Union with Christ and the

Work of the Spirit, 221-222

6. Relation of Justification to Faith, 222-223

7. Advice to Inquirers demanded by a Scriptural View of

Justification, . 223

Section III. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in

its Continuation, 223-227

I. — Sanctification, 223-226

1. Definition of Sanctification, 223-224

2. Explanations and Scripture Proof, 224

3. Erroneous Views refuted by the Scripture Passages, - _ 225-226

A. The Antinomian, 225

B. The Perfectionist, 225-226

II. — Perseverance, 226-227

1. Proof of the Doctrine of Perseverance, 226-227

2. Objections to the Doctrine of Perseverance, 227

XIV CONTENTS.

PART VII.— ECCLESIOLOGY, OR THE DOCTRINE OF THE Chapter I. — The Constitution of the Church, or Church

I.— Definition of the Church, 228-229

1. The Church, like the Family and the State, is an Insti-

tution of Divine Appointment, 229

2. The Church, unlike the Family and the State, is a Volun-

tary Society, 229

I.— Organization of the Church, 229-232

1. The Fact of Organization, 229-230

2. The Nature of this Organization, 230-231

3. The Genesis of this Organization, 231-232

III.— Government of the Church, 232-238

1. Nature of this Government in General, 232-235

A. Proof that the Government of the Church is

Democratic or Congregational, 233

B. Erroneous Views as to Church Government, re-

futed by the Scripture Passages, 233-235

(a) The World-church Theory, or the Ro-

manist View, 233-234

(b) The National-church Theory, or the

Theory of Provincial or National Churches, 234-235

2. Officers of the Church, 235-237

A. The Number of Offices in the Church is two, _ - . 235

B. The Duties belonging to these Offices, 235-236

C. Ordination of Officers, 236-237

(a) What is Ordination ? 236

(b) Who are to Ordain ? 236-237

3. Discipline of the Church, 237

A. Kinds of Discipline, 237

B. Relation of the Pastor to Discipline, 237

IV. — Relation of Local Churches to each other, 237-238

1. The General Nature of this Relation is that of Fellow-

ship between Equals, 237-238

2. This Fellowship involves the Duty of special Consulta-

tion with regard to Matters affecting the common Interest, - 238

3. This Fellowship may be broken by manifest Departures

from the Faith or Practice of the Scriptures on the

part of any Church, 238

Chapter II.— The Ordinances of the Church, 239-255

1. Baptism an Ordinance of Christ, _■ 239-240

2. The Mode of Baptism, 240-242

A. The Command to Baptize is a Command to Im-

B. No Church has the Right to Modify or Dispense

with this Command of Christ, 241-242

CONTENTS. XV

3. The Symbolism of Baptism, 242-243

A. Expansion of the Statement as to the Symbolism

of Baptism, 242

B. Inferences from the Passages referred to, 242-243

4. The Subjects of Baptism, 243-248

A. Proof that only Persons giving Evidence of being

Regenerated, are proper Subjects of Baptism, . . 243-244

B. Inferences from the Fact that only Persons giving

Evidence of being Regenerate, are proper Subjects of Baptism, '. _ _ 244-245

C. Infant Baptism, 245-248

(a) Infant Baptism without Warrant in the

Scripture, 245-246

(b) Infant Baptism expressly Contradicted

by Scripture, 246

(c) Its Origin in Sacramental Conceptions

of Christianity, 246

(d) The Reasoning by which it is supported,

Unscriptural, Unsound and Dangerous

in its Tendency, 246-247

(e) The Lack of Agreement among Pedo-

baptists, 247

(f) The Evil Effects of Infant Baptism,. __ 247-248 II.— The Lord's Supper, 248-255

1. The Lord's Supper an Ordinance instituted by Christ, 248

2. The Mode of Administering the Lord's Supper, 248-249

3. Symbolism of the Lord's Supper, 249-250

A. Expansion of the Statement as to the Symbolism

of the Lord's Supper, 249

B. Inferences from this Statement, 249-250

4. Erroneous Views of the Lord's Supper, 250-251

A. The Romanist View, 250

B. The Lutheran and High Church View, 251

5. Prerequisites to Participation in the Lord's Supper, _ _ _ 251-255

A. There are Prerequisites, 251

B. Laid down by Christ and his Apostles, 251

C. The Prerequisites are Four, 252-253

First, — Regeneration, 252

Secondly, — Baptism, 252

Thirdly, — Church Membership, 253

Fourthly,— An Orderly Walk, 253

D. The Local Church is the Judge whether these

Prerequisites are fulfilled, 253-254

E Special Objections to Open Communion, 254-255

PART VIIL— ESCHATOLOGY, OR THE DOCTRINE OF FINAL

I.— Death Physical, 256-258

That this is not Annihilation, argued,

1. Upon Rational Grounds, : 256-257

2. Upon Scriptural Grounds, 257-258

XVI CONTESTS.

II.— The Intermediate State, 258-260

1. Of the Kighteous, 258-259

2. Of the Wicked, 259

Refutation of the two Errors :

(a) That the Soul sleeps, between Death and

the Resurrection, 259

(b) That the Suffering of the Intermediate

State is Purgatorial, 259-260

III. —The Second Coming of Christ, 260-268

1. The Nature of Christ's Coming, 260

2. The Time of Christ's Coming, 261

3. The Precursors of Christ's Coming, 261

4. Relation of Christ's Second Coming to the Millennium, 262-263 I V.— The Resurrection 263-265

1. The Exegetical Objection, 263-264

2. The Scientific Objection, 264-265

V.— The Last Judgment, 265-267

1. The Nature of the Final Judgment, 266

2. The Object of the Final Judgment, 266

3. The Judge, in the Final Judgment, 266-267

4. The Subjects of the Final Judgment, 267

5. The Grounds of the Final Judgment, 267

VI.— The Final States of the Righteous and of the Wicked, 267-271

1. Of the Righteous, 267-268

A. Is Heaven a Place as well as a State ? 268

B. Is this Earth to be the Heaven of the Saints ?_.. 268

2. Of the Wicked, 268-271

Replies to Objections, 269-271

A. Misinterpretation of Scripture Terms, 268-269

B. Scripture teaches Ultimate Restoration, 269

C. Scripture teaches Ultimate Annihilation, 269-270

D. Eternal Punishment inconsistent with God's Jus-

tice, 270

E. Eternal Punishment inconsistent with God's Be-

nevolence, 270

F. Preaching of Eternal Punishment a hindrance to

the success of the Gospel, 271

LECTURES ON THEOLOGY