BTheol Bachelor of Theology Systematic Theology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The theological concept of 'imago Dei' (image of God) refers to what aspect of humanity?
- Humans uniquely bear God's image, giving them dignity and the capacity for relationship with God (Correct answer)
- Humans physically resemble God in appearance
- Only clergy bear God's image fully
- The image of God was completely lost at the Fall
Correct answer: Humans uniquely bear God's image, giving them dignity and the capacity for relationship with God
Imago Dei (Genesis 1:26-27) teaches that human beings uniquely reflect God's image in rationality, morality, creativity, and relational capacity, grounding human dignity.
Question 2: What is the doctrine of 'sanctification' in systematic theology?
- The ongoing process by which believers are made holy through the Spirit (Correct answer)
- The initial act of being forgiven of sins
- The final glorification of believers in heaven
- The sacrament of baptism
Correct answer: The ongoing process by which believers are made holy through the Spirit
Sanctification is the progressive work of the Holy Spirit transforming believers into the likeness of Christ in character and conduct after conversion.
Question 3: What theological term describes the belief that Scripture is the supreme authority in matters of faith and practice?
- Sola Scriptura (Correct answer)
- Sola Fide
- Sola Gratia
- Solus Christus
Correct answer: Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura ('Scripture alone') is the Protestant Reformation principle asserting that the Bible is the ultimate, self-sufficient authority for Christian doctrine and life.
Question 4: In systematic theology, 'general revelation' refers to knowledge of God available through what means?
- Nature and human conscience, accessible to all people (Correct answer)
- The Bible and apostolic preaching only
- Visions and prophetic dreams
- Church tradition and councils
Correct answer: Nature and human conscience, accessible to all people
General revelation is God's self-disclosure through creation (Psalm 19:1-4) and human moral conscience (Romans 1:19-20), available to all people regardless of Scripture access.
Question 5: What is the 'hypostatic union' in Christology?
- The union of two complete natures—divine and human—in one person, Jesus Christ (Correct answer)
- The union of Father and Son in the Trinity
- The union of Christ and the church as his body
- The union of Old and New Testaments in one canon
Correct answer: The union of two complete natures—divine and human—in one person, Jesus Christ
The hypostatic union, defined at Chalcedon (451 AD), holds that Jesus Christ is one person with two complete natures—fully divine and fully human—without mixture or confusion.
Question 6: What does the Arminian doctrine of 'prevenient grace' teach?
- That God extends enabling grace to all people, making it possible for them to respond to the gospel (Correct answer)
- That grace is given only to the predestined elect
- That grace is conveyed exclusively through sacraments
- That grace can be earned through sincere moral effort
Correct answer: That God extends enabling grace to all people, making it possible for them to respond to the gospel
Prevenient grace (from John Wesley's Arminian theology) holds that God's grace goes before conversion, restoring enough free will to all people to enable genuine acceptance or rejection of the gospel.
BTheol Bachelor of Theology Systematic Theology 2
The theological concept of 'imago Dei' (image of God) refers to what aspect of humanity?