1. Discuss Biblical and Systematic Theology. The Bible says to not judge unless we be judged. Yet, sometimes making judgements are necessary, even according to the Bible. Literary interpretation is at the level of the text but looks at the themes (statements about topics) or topics. Biblical theology is a subset of literary interpretation, and it is done contextually. Systematic theology categorizes theological statements from all parts of the Bible on a given topic and groups them. Biblical theology usually deals with a question, and its goals are: (1) to search for a unifying principle and (2) to study individual themes. Biblical theology also allows for diversity by being able to look at different books of the Bible on a given topic. Systematic theology involves pulling out Scriptures by verses.

2. Discuss the apparent contradiction in I Samuel 16. In I Samuel 16:29, the Bible uses the expression, "The Strength of Israel will not lie or repent." I Samuel 16:35 says that God repented of making Saul the king of Israel, and verse 26 also hints at this. These three verses form an apparent contradiction, but theologians call this "formal diversity". There is often a difference between appearance and essence, and there are three kinds of diversity: (1) formal diversity (below the surface, the two uses of the same word are sometimes very different. It is not always wrong to judge, for example. In the same vein, there is a sense where God can change when He is dealing with people in finite time), (2) contextual diversity (different statements and different settings or a different way that God relates to humanity. Dispensational theology might be an example of this. We do not still do animal sacrifices because God deals differently with people now than He did before Christ), and (3) substantial/fundamental diversity which is a true contradiction. This third kind of diversity is not in the Bible, while the other two are. True contradiction means the same word, the same use, and the same context when one use takes the negative and the other takes the positive.

3. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Biblical Theology. Some of the advantages of Biblical Theology are: (1) allows for individualism (Bible authors are supplementary and not truly equal. They complement each other, not contradict) and (2) allow for progressive revelation (God does not reveal all of a theology at one time. Themes are traced through books). Some disadvantages are: (1) it discounts an author's use of previous materials (Joel 3:18 - when Messiah comes, we will have bumper crops, water, and signs of plantlife. It will look like Eden. In Genesis 49, Judah will have the sceptre, and that passage hinted at the positive prophesy of Joel 3:18 and also talked about an abundance of wine in Palestine (good grape crop in Palentine). In John 2, Jesus changed water into wine for His first miracle as a sign to the Jews and as a dual fulfillment) and (2) it can detract from the "dual" authorship of Scriptures.

4. Name some related books. A good books is: Theological Diversity and the Authority of the Old Testament.

5. State the case study for Lesson 13. A pastor goes to court and argues the validity of polygamy based on the Old Testament patriarchs and the fact that God does not change. Is he right or wrong, and why?

				Tom of Bethany

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