Scot McKnight
The newest kid on the block for framing theology is missional theology. That needs explanation.
One way of doing theology is to frame theology by the Creed. So one takes the Apostles’ Creed or the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (the official name for the Nicene Creed) and fills in the lines and blanks with more theological reflection. Thus, Calvin’s
Institutes.
Another way of doing theology is to frame theology by Topics. So one lists the major topics in some order: God, Humans, Christ, Sin, Salvation, Ecclesiology, Eschatology. Then one maps each of these topics.
Another way of doing theology is “nothing but Bible, baby, nothing but the Bible.” The Bible is our only Creed kind of people. No one actually does this, so I’ll drop it. Why? Because everyone’s theology is shaped by one’s past, one’s community, one’s previous learnings.
I believe in the Holy Spirit. (Apostlesâ Creed)
âI believe in the Holy Spirit.â With these words, the Apostlesâ Creed introduces our belief in the third person of the Trinity as an essential element of the Christian faith. Unlike the statements on the Father and the Son, however, the Creed does not elaborate explicitly on the person and work of the Spirit.
The earliest church fathers focused most of their energy on defining and defending the correct understanding of the person and work of Christ, so they did not give as close attention to the person or work of the Holy Spirit as they did to Christology. Yet they recognized that the Scriptures fully affirm the deity of the Spirit.
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Academic Dean, Bethlehem College & Seminary
I believe in Jesus Christ. . . . He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. (Apostlesâ Creed)
âJusticeâ is a matter of urgent concern in our nation, from the streets of Minneapolis to the halls of the Supreme Court. We long for a just world, yet live in a world marred by sin and its effects. We recognize the gap between how things
are and how they
ought to be. We may hope for systemic reforms, new laws, and better leaders and judges for the good of our society. But no legislation, election, or political appointment can satisfy the ache in our hearts for true righteousness and justice. We long for the Judge of all the earth to do what is right (Genesis 18:25).
Staff writer, desiringGod.org
I believe in Jesus Christ. . . . He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. The third day he rose again from the dead. (Apostlesâ Creed)
None of the disciples signed up to see this part of the creed fulfilled.
They thought they were on the victory march, the Triumphal Entry, the precipice of ushering in the kingdom. They thought they were returning home from war in celebration, not heading straight into the heart of enemy territory. They considered the âHosannasâ that greeted them at the gate as only appropriate (Mark 11:9). They did not expect the cross, even though Jesus predicted it plainly on several occasions: