BTheol Bachelor of Theology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which council in 325 AD formulated the Nicene Creed to address Arianism?
- Council of Chalcedon
- First Council of Nicaea (Correct answer)
- Council of Trent
- Council of Jerusalem
Correct answer: First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) produced the Nicene Creed to counter Arius's teaching that the Son was a created being.
Question 2: In biblical hermeneutics, 'exegesis' refers to:
- Reading one's own meaning into the text
- Drawing meaning out of the text using careful analysis (Correct answer)
- Translating scripture from Greek to Latin
- Comparing parallel gospel accounts
Correct answer: Drawing meaning out of the text using careful analysis
Exegesis involves drawing meaning out of a text through critical analysis of language, context, and literary form.
Question 3: The Deuterocanonical books are accepted as scripture by which Christian tradition?
- Evangelical Protestantism
- Lutheranism
- Roman Catholicism (Correct answer)
- Eastern Orthodoxy only
Correct answer: Roman Catholicism
Roman Catholicism includes the Deuterocanonical books (also called Apocrypha) as canonical scripture, confirmed at the Council of Trent.
Question 4: Which Reformation principle asserts that scripture alone is the ultimate authority for Christian faith and practice?
- Sola Fide
- Sola Gratia
- Sola Scriptura (Correct answer)
- Solus Christus
Correct answer: Sola Scriptura
Sola Scriptura ('Scripture alone') was one of the five Reformation solas, rejecting the equal authority of church tradition.
Question 5: The theological concept of 'imago Dei' (Genesis 1:26-27) primarily refers to:
- Human mortality inherited from Adam
- Humans being created in the image and likeness of God (Correct answer)
- The indwelling of the Holy Spirit at baptism
- God's covenant with Noah
Correct answer: Humans being created in the image and likeness of God
Imago Dei teaches that humans bear the image and likeness of God, grounding human dignity and moral responsibility.
Question 6: Which type of Psalm is characterized by expressions of trust, lament, and petition for divine help?
- Wisdom Psalm
- Royal Psalm
- Lament Psalm (Correct answer)
- Enthronement Psalm
Correct answer: Lament Psalm
Lament Psalms move from crisis and complaint toward trust and praise, forming the largest category in the Psalter.
Question 7: In Pauline theology, 'justification by faith' means that a sinner is declared righteous:
- After completing a series of sacramental acts
- Through moral improvement over time
- On the basis of Christ's righteousness credited to the believer (Correct answer)
- By following the Mosaic Law perfectly
Correct answer: On the basis of Christ's righteousness credited to the believer
Paul teaches that God imputes Christ's righteousness to believers through faith, not by their own works (Romans 3:21-28).