Theological Debate in the Bible - 1656 Words

Few subjects in the Bible have been subjected to as much theological debate as the issue of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. Theologians on both sides of the issue have attempted to answer the age old question of whether God chooses who will be â€Å"saved† or if the responsibility falls to man to determine the outcome of their eternal soul. As found in the theories of John Calvin and Joseph Arminius, each theologian attempted to prove their viewpoint on predestination, free-will, and exactly who in humanity will go to an eternal paradise. In this paper, the evidence will be presented from both sides of the debate leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions. The foundation of the debate originates from the Biblical passages found in the book of Romans, chapters nine through eleven. However, for the purposes of this paper, the focus will be primarily on Romans chapter nine. In this section of his epistle, the Apostle Paul wrote of his deep concern for Israel, the seven privileges God gave to Israel, the difference between Jews who naturally descended from Abraham and Jews who are his spiritual seed, the fact that God’s mercy is controlled by his sovereign will, that the Old Testament prophets predicted the spiritual blindness of Israel, and God’s mercy being extended to the Gentiles. (King James Version Bible, Romans 9:1-33) Professor Thomas Schreiner stated that, â€Å"Paul’s words about predestination in these chapters have also precipitated a great deal ofShow MoreRelatedThe Doctrine Of Biblical Inerrancy1076 Words   |  5 PagesThe Bible has challenged many people as a piece of literature containing history, poetry, and written letters. Some would argue that the contents of Scripture are inaccurate, however would still agree that it carries significant value as a piece of literature. Conversely, those who ascribe to the teachings of the Bible are dealt with questions about the authority and inerrancy of Scripture. It is becoming increasingly important that Christians understand and embrace the full inerrancy of ScriptureRead MoreAnalysis Of Blomberg s The King Of The Mountain Scholastic Debate 732 Words   |  3 Pagesscholastic debate using the various scholars who have debated the heaviest in favor of the Markan priority, mainly Streeter. Even as passionately as McKnight stands on this on-going biblical debate, Farmer gives just as obsessive a plea for Matthean priority as he discusses the Griesbach or â€Å"two-gospel† hypothesis. However, Farmer puts his discussion into terms less eloquently than McKnight does. Farmer very succinctly plots his discussion into steps as if teaching to a room of theological second-gradersRead MoreReaffirming Jesus : How Convictions Challenged By Conflicting Evidence Yield Stronger Beliefs1585 Words   |  7 PagesEcumenical Council at Constantinople have helped me to address some fundamental issues with my personal understanding of Jesus, as well as force me to evaluate particular aspects of that understanding. This paper will serve to highlight how the theological and christological themes explored by these theologians have strengthened my ideas of Jesus and Western Christian Tradition. Karen Armstrong, decorated and best-selling author of various books and discussions on religious history, makes a fundamentalRead MoreThe Church Of God A Harmony That Offers Possibilities For Evangelical Theology1226 Words   |  5 Pagesother about all these things that had happened over the past few weeks . Just as these men that were walking down the street to the village of Emmaus, and they did not realize whom this Stranger was†¦ until their eyes were opened†¦, so has the many debates of the Church fathers from the birth of the Church and written Word, and continuing even to this day. Some of the questions that would be asked of the Church fathers may have been: Is the Word or Kingdom future or present? Is it mystical, spiritualRead MoreJohann Gensfleisch And The Movable Type Printing Press1130 Words   |  5 Pagesexperimenting with wooden types and metal types to create the movable printing press that prints accurate and sharp letters, unlike a handwritten one tha t has letters that look different to one another as stated in http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/gutenberg.html, in the second paragraph under â€Å"Gutenberg meets Fust†. This contribution was important because it allowed Europe to be able to have printing presses in all the important cities such as Paris and London. And as the printing pressRead MoreThe Bible And The Middle Ground Is Nonexistent904 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Sin is mentioned throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, there are six different Greek words within the New Testament alone that talk about sin. (Etzel Gutierrez, 2014). However, although the Bible is clear that mankind is born with a sinful nature, there are different types of sin. Furthermore, the authenticity of the sinner dictates the way in which these sins are not only repented, but whether forgiven. My goal is to not only identify these sins types,Read MoreSanta Bibli The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes, Justo L. Gonzalez1513 Words   |  7 PagesIn Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes, Justo L. Gonzà ¡lez invites the reader to read the Bible in fresh ways, and gain insight from the perspective of â€Å"those who claim their Hispanic identity as part of their hermeneutical baggage, and who also read the Scripture within the context of a commitment to the Latino struggle to become all that God wants us and all of the world to be—in othe r words, the struggle for salvation/liberation.† (Gonzà ¡lez 1996, 28-29) Published hot on the heels of theRead MoreThe Church Of The Christian Faith1392 Words   |  6 Pagesillumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Stephen Gunter writes, Perhaps no theological topic has been the focus of more debate with The United Methodist Church over the past quarter century than the Wesleyan Quadrilateral . It should be noted that John Wesley never used the term Wesleyan Quadrilateral to describe his process of theological affirmation. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral has been misinterpreted to mean four equal sides; however, it was never meantRead MoreThe 17th Century Travelogues of Ahmad Bin Qasim and Ilyas Hanna Al-Mawsuli1595 Words   |  7 PagesAmerica), the spread of Christianity had reached all throughout the world. In 1611, a Spanish Muslim named Ahmad bin Qasim, left for France and Holland as a Moroccan ambassador. He recorded his theolog ical and intellectual discussions with the people he encountered in great detail. With his deep knowledge of the bible he was able to use logic, rather than demonizing his counterpart in these interactions. Ilyas Hanna al-Mawsuli was a Chaldean Christian priest from Baghdad, who was able to gain a charterRead MoreQuestions On The Doctrine Of God1067 Words   |  5 Pages LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Final Exam Essay: Issues Relating to the Doctrine of God Submitted to Dr. Isaiah Nengean, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course THEO 626 summer 15 by Harold B. Brewer, Jr. (ID# L24780291) Issues Relating to the Doctrine of God There are many issues facing the church today – some greater than others. However, the three most pressing issues for the Evangelical Christians and academia are a doctrine-less