Theology Proper

This opening lesson defines theology from its Greek roots (theos and logos) and distinguishes natural, biblical, and systematic theology. It weighs God's knowability, holding Him incomprehensible yet truly knowable enough for salvation, and surveys five classic arguments for His existence: from reason (cause and effect), nature, history, the human soul, and Scripture, noting the Bible never argues God's existence but simply declares, 'In the beginning God.'

Turning to the nature of God, this lesson offers a working definition of God as an infinite, eternal, unchangeable Spirit and examines four aspects of His divine nature: God is spirit, perfect, personal, and one. Along the way it explains anthropomorphisms and theophanies, illustrates God's unchanging holiness from Moses and David, and closes by contrasting seven erroneous views of God, including atheism, agnosticism, materialism, pantheism, polytheism, deism, and dualism.

Here students study the names of God as windows into His character. The lesson unpacks Elohim (the strong and mighty One) with its compounds El Elyon, El Olam, and El Shaddai, then Adonai (Lord and Master), the redemptive name Jehovah/Yahweh drawn from 'I AM,' and Hatsur, the Rock. It concludes with compound Jehovah titles such as Jireh, Rapha, Nissi, Shalom, and Tsidkenu, plus the New Testament names Theos, Kurios, and Pater.

This lesson categorizes the attributes of God as absolute (belonging to God alone) and moral (shared in limited measure with redeemed people). The absolute attributes covered are self-existence, immutability, eternity, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and sovereignty, balanced against human free will. The moral attributes are holiness, righteousness and justice, love with mercy and goodness, and truth, illustrated by texts such as Malachi 3:6 and Psalm 139.

Focusing on the works of God, this session traces His divine purpose, creation, and providence. It discusses predestination grounded in foreknowledge, the gap theory and creation of Genesis 1, and the fall of Lucifer, then details nine areas of God's providential care, from governing the universe and nations to numbering the hairs of our heads. Students are urged to trust God's plan, noting He answers prayer with yes, no, or wait.

This lesson introduces the triunity, or Trinity, of God, tracing early denials such as Monarchianism and Sabellianism and the church's response in the Nicene Creed and Westminster Confession. It gathers Old Testament intimations, plural names like Elohim and the 'let us make man' passages, alongside New Testament proofs including Jesus' baptism, the Upper Room discourse of John 14, the baptismal formula of Matthew 28, and the benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14.

Examining the persons of the Trinity, this lesson considers God the Father as eternal Father of the co-existent Son, then concentrates on Jesus Christ. It defends the virgin birth from Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, and Matthew 1, and affirms Christ's two natures, fully human and fully divine, in one person. It closes with His threefold office as prophet, priest (after the order of Melchizedek), and king.

The final lesson studies God the Holy Spirit, establishing His personality through personal pronouns, intelligence, emotion, and will, and His deity as co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Son. It ascribes to Him divine works such as creation, prophecy, intercession with groanings, and the inspiration of Scripture, warns of grieving or blaspheming Him, and reviews His symbols, including wind, oil, dove, water, fire, and wine.