Study Guide
For Doctrine of God
By John Frame
Chapter 1, Introduction
Key Terms
Weightlessness of God (2)
Loci (3)
Scholasticism (4-5)
Philosophical imperialism (7)
Controlling motifs (8)
Sola Scriptura (9-11)
Traditionalism (10)
Speculation (good and bad) (10)
Covenant Lordship (11-12)
Theology from below/above (14-15)
Discussion Questions
1. "The Reformation doctrine of God was not nearly as drastic a revision of the pre-Reformation doctrine as was its doctrine of salvation." (4) Explain. Give examples. Evaluate.
2. Describe the difference between Aquinas and Calvin in their relative stress on the doctrine of God (4-5).
3. List and respond to some common criticisms of scholasticism (5).
4. How did Schleiermacher, Kierkegaard, and Barth try to avoid the problems of scholasticism (5-6)?
5. List and evaluate some ways in which Reformed theologians have tried to avoid the problems of scholasticism (6-9).
6. Should systematic theology be controlled by redemptive history? Explain (7-8).
7. Critically evaluate the practice of basing theology on controlling motifs (8).
8. Does the sola Scriptura principle help us to deal with the issues raised by scholasticism? Explain (9-11).
9. What are the advantages in using covenant Lordship as a controlling motif (11-12)? Disadvantages?
10. Summarize Frame's response to open theism (13).
11. Describe how Frame changes the traditional order of topics in the doctrine of God. What does he hope to gain by these changes? (13-15)
12. Summarize the triadic structure of DG (15-17).
Chapter 2, The Lord
Key Terms
"I am He" passages (22, n)
Lordship salvation (24)
Person (25-27).
Absolute principle (26-27)
Holiness (27-29)
Covenant headship (30-35)
Covenant (30-31)
Suzerainty treaty (31-32)
Historical prologue (31)
Stipulations (31)
Sanctions (31)
Covenant continuity (31)
Covenant document (31-32)
Hesed (34)
Discussion Questions
1. Why does Frame say that Lordship is central to the biblical teaching about God (21-25)?
2. Do any theologians object to the assertion that God is Lord? Describe the views of Moltmann, Johnson, Pinnock (22-24).
3. "First and foremost, Yahweh is the name of a person." Explain, evaluate (25-27.
4. "Only in biblical religion is there an absolute principle that is personal" (26-27). Explain, evaluate.
5. "God's holiness, then, which initially seems so forbidding and judgmental, is the means of our salvation" (29). Explain, evaluate.
6. "Some might think that the relational character of Lordship disqualifies it as a central theological motif (30)." Why might they think this? Are they right or wrong?
7. Show how the decalogue follows the suzerainty treaty pattern (31).
8. Explain the role of the covenant document within the covenant relationship (32-33).
9. "God's
covenant Lordship is not limited to
Chapter 3, The Lordship Attributes: Control
Key Terms
Ehyeh (36)
Adon (36)
Control (42)
Authority (42)
Presence (42)
Ani hu passages (41)
Discussion Questions
1. In Ex. 3:14, does God in effect refuse to answer Moses' question? Explain (37-38).
2. Describe and evaluate the Thomistic view of Ex. 3:14 (38-39).
3. What is the "recent consensus" interpretation of Ex. 3:14? Discuss pros and cons (39-40).
4. List some passages that expound the meaning of Yahweh (41-43).
5. Give evidence that the meaning of Yahweh includes "covenant control" (43-46). Evaluate.
Chapter 4, God's Control: Its Efficacy and Universality
Key Terms
Efficacy (47)
Universality (50-51)
Election (71)
Foreknowledge (72)
Effectual calling (74)
Regeneration, new birth (74)
Discussion Questions
1. List some Bible passages that indicate the efficacy of God's control (47-50).
2. List some Bible passages that indicate the universality of God's control (50-79, esp. 76-79).
3. "Scripture also teaches the sovereignty of God by showing his purposeful discrimination in natural events" (52). Explain, evaluate.
4. "Jesus emphasizes that this divine control extends to the smallest details" (52). Explain, evaluate.
5. Does God bring about human decisions? Present evidence (54-59, 61-64).
6. Does God ever foreordain human sins? Present evidence (64-69).
7. Discuss the role of human choice in salvation. Is there any? If so, what? (71-72).
8. Is election based on foreknowledge? Discuss relevant Bible passages (72)?
9. Is faith a gift of God? Discuss relevant passages (70-76).
10. Expound four summary passages that indicate the universality of God's control (76-79).
Chapter 5, The Lordship Attributes: Authority
Key Terms
Authority (80-81)
Absolute (86-89)
Sola Scriptura (88-89)
Discussion Questions
1. How do control and authority imply one another (80-81)?
2. How is God's authority related to his ownership of all things (81-82)?
3. Does might make right for God (82n)?
4. Show how God's covenant Lordship implies authority (83-86).
5. How is God's authority absolute (86-89)?
6. "The Bible is a story of God's word to human beings and their
response to that word in belief or unbelief." Explain, evaluate, discussing relevant texts (90).
7. How do Matt. 28:18-20 and Phil. 2:9-10 "put to rest any talk of pluralism" (93)?
Chapter 6, The Lordship Attributes: Covenant Presence
Key Terms
Covenant presence (94-95)
Presence in time (97-99)
Presence in place (99-100)
Presence in blessing and judgment (100-101)
Discussion Questions
1. "In a number of the Yahweh texts, time is problematic." Give examples
(97-99). Expound.
2. How can God's "presence in place" be seen in Scripture (99-100)?
3. Expound God's "presence in blessing and judgment (100-101).
4. Show the relation between God's covenant presence with his people and his presence in all creation (101-102).
Chapter 7, Transcendence and Immanence
Key Terms
Transcendence (biblical) (103-106, esp. 104)
Immanence (biblical) (103-106, esp. 104)
Transcendence (non-biblical) (107-114)
Immanence (non-biblical) (107-114)
Deism (110-111)
Pantheism (111)
Panentheism (111).
God's "consequent nature" (111)
Noumenal (112)
Phenomenal (112)
Wholly other (112)
Wholly revealed (112)
Rationalism (115)
Irrationalism (115)
Discussion Questions
1. Transcendence and immanence are not biblical terms. Should we
simply reject the use of them? If not, how shall we use them (103-106)?
2. "It is not biblical, therefore, to interpret God's transcendence to mean merely that he is located somewhere far away, in heaven." Why not? What's the alternative (105-106)?
3. Describe and discuss the views of divine transcendence found among Greek philosophers and church theologians (107-114).
4. Describe and evaluate the view of divine immanence in process theology (111).
5. Compare Kant's view of God with that of Barth. Evaluate the two views (112).
6. Describe Moltmann's view of transcendence (112).
7. Reproduce Frame's rectangle, interpreting each line and point (113).
8. "The history of twentieth-cenury theology is the history of the degree of emphasis placed on transcendence and immanence, respectively." Explain, evaluate (114).
9. How are transcendence and immanence related to rationalism and irrationalism (115)?
10. How is one's view of transcendence and immanence related to his religious stance (114-115)?
Chapter 8, Human Responsibility and Freedom
Key Terms
Responsibility as accountability (119-125)
Responsibility as liability (125-126)
Responsibility as integrity (119n)
Indicative (123)
Imperative (123)
Ability (126-135) (various meanings)
Preventers (132)
Logical possibility (133)
Physical possibility (133)
Metaphysical ability (133)
Moral freedom (135)
Compatibilist freedom (136)
Determinism (136)
Libertarianism (137-138)
Open theism (143)
Freedom in the
Confession (145)
Creaturely otherness (146)
Integrity of creatures (148)
Middle knowledge (150-51)
Mono-perspectivalism (151-152)
Accommodation (152n)
Pilot/co-pilot model (154)
Teacher/classroom model (154)
Primary/secondary cause model (155)
Commander/troops model (155)
Author/character model (156-159)
Discussion Questions
1. "To ask the question of the ‘relation between divine sovereignty and human responsibility' is initially to ask about the relationship between two Lordship attributes." Explain, evaluate (120).
2. "Indeed, we are even responsible for our moral nature." Explain, evaluate (120).
3. List some passages that affirm both divine sovereignty and human responsibility (121-124). Why do the biblical writers find it so natural to bring these themes together (124-125)?
4. Some Calvinists think that since evangelism is the work of God, we should not seek "effective means" of bringing people to Christ. Reply (122-23).
5. Is the Christian life a matter of "letting go and letting God?" If not, why not, if God is sovereign? (122-23).
6. Does ability ever limit responsibility? Explain your answer (126-131).
7. Does Scripture regard ignorance as an excuse for sin? Explain. (127-29).
8. "The distinction between accountability and liability breaks down when we are speaking of God's judgment" (130). Explain, evaluate.
9. What kinds of inability never limit responsibility (130-31)? Explain.
10. Could Jesus sin (134)? Explain.
11. Can unregenerate people believe in Jesus apart from grace (134)? Explain.
12. When somebody forces somebody else to do something, does the second person act according to his strongest desires (136-37)? Explain. Compare 144, n40.
13. Reply to a libertarian (138-145).
14. What does the Westminster Confession teach about free will? Is its concept of freedom relevant to moral responsibility? If so, how? (145)
15. Is it so bad to be a robot created by God (146-47)? Discuss.
16. "There is in God's mind a reciprocity between foreknowledge and foreordination" (150). Explain, evaluate.
17. "In this sense, we can say reverently that human beings… influence God's eternal plan" (152). Explain, evaluate.
18. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the various models of divine and human agency (154-59).
Chapter 9, The Problem of Evil
Key Terms
Problem of evil (160)
Logical problem of evil (160)
Emotional problem of evil (161)
Natural evil (161)
Moral evil (161)
Defense (162n)
Theodicy (162n)
Privation (163)
Effectual permission (166, 177-78)
Confusing sin with finitude (168)
Greater good defense (169)
Orderly universe defense (169)
Soul-making defense (169)
Free will defense (169)
Second-order goods (169-70)
Best possible world defense (170-71)
Deficient cause (174)
Author of sin (174-75)
Cause of sin (175-77)
Permission of sin (177-79)
Ex lex defense (181n)
Discussion Questions
1. Refute the claim that evil is an illusion (162-63).
2. Define and discuss the claim that evil is a privation (163-68).
3. Discuss the view that created things tend to slip into nonbeing (167).
4. What does it mean to "reduce evil to metaphysics" or "confuse sin with
finitude" (168)? Is this good or bad? How may the privation theory be accused of this?
5. What are some of the good purposes of evil mentioned in Scripture (169-70)?
6. Respond to the "orderly universe," "soul making," and "best possible world" defenses against the problem of evil (170-71).
7. "It is important for us to define ‘greater good' theistically" (171). Explain, evaluate.
8. "Unless God's standards govern our concept of goodness, there can be no talk of good or evil at all" (171). Explain, evaluate.
9. "The burden of proof is on the objector to show that the evils of this world cannot be part of an overall good plan" (172-73). Explain, evaluate.
10. Does the end justify the means for God (173)? Why or why not?
11. Evaluate the greater good defense (173).
12. What term(s) would you use to designate the agency of God in regard to sin and evil? Defend your choice against alternatives (174-82).
13. "God is the remote cause of sin; creatures are the proximate cause" (176). Does this distinction absolve God of blame for sin? Why or why not?
14. Does the author/character model help us in considering the problem of evil (179-82)? Discuss.
15. Does Romans 9 help us in our consideration of the problem of evil (181)? Explain.
Chapter 10, Ethics
Key Terms
Philosophy (185)
Theology (185)
Metaphysics (186, 214)
Epistemology (186)
Value theory (186)
Meta-ethics (187)
Existential ethics (187)
Teleological ethics (189)
Deontological ethics (191)
Naturalistic fallacy (191-92)
Discussion Questions
1. "In my vocabulary, then, the relationship between ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics is ‘perspectival'" (186). Explain, evaluate.
2. Describe and evaluate existential, teleological, and deontological ethics (187-92).
3. Describe and evaluate some approaches to ethics that mix existential, teleological, and deontological motifs (192-94).
4. Describe and evaluate a tri-perspectival Christian ethic (194-96).
Chapter 11, Epistemology
Key Terms
Incomprehensibility (200-207)
Incomparable (202)
Shepherd's circle (202n)
Way of remotion, via negativa (202-203)
Essence of God (203-205, cf. 220)
Univocal (208)
Equivocal (208)
Analogy (Aquinas) (208)
Analogy (Van Til) (209n26)
Subjectivism (212)
Empiricism (212)
Rationalism (212)
Irrationalism (212)
Illumination (212)
Natural revelation (212)
Special revelation (212)
Spectacles of Scripture (212)
Discussion Questions
1. "Sometimes Scripture notes a mysteriousness also in the things that have been revealed" (201). Explain, evaluate.
2. Can we know God by his essence (203-205)? Why or why not?
3. If we recognize God's knowability, do we thereby make him our "possession," "manipulate" him, "control" him (205-207)? Discuss.
4. "It is as if their general agnosticism gave the theologians license to speculate at will" (206). Explain, evaluate.
5.
Describe and respond to the issues raised in the
6. Frame says that Aquinas's doctrine of analogy is inconsistent, an inconsistency which "can be pressed either toward global agnosticism or toward some level of literal knowledge about God" (208). Explain, evaluate, mentioning Frame's alternative.
7. Is there any reason why we should not regard some human language about God as literal (209)?
8. Describe and evaluate Barth's view of the inappropriateness of words about God (209-210).
9. Describe and evaluate a Christian epistemology in terms of three perspectives (213).
Chapter 12, Metaphysics
Key Terms
Emanation (216)
Monism (217)
Dualism (217)
Essence (220)
Substance (221)
Attribute (221, 226, 387-88)
Being (two senses) (221)
Form (221-222)
Matter (222)
Potentiality, potency (222-23)
Actuality, act (223)
Necessity (223)
Contingency (223)
Simplicity (scholastic) (225-230)
Necessary existence (230-31)
Defining, essential attributes, (232)
Divine freedom (232-236)
Necessary will (236)
Free will (in God) (236)
Necessary knowledge (236)
Free knowledge (236)
Necessary speech (236)
Free speech (236)
Discussion Questions
1. Name some of the tendencies contributing to the metaphysical skepticism of contemporary thinkers (214-216).
2. Can we describe God in terms of his roles or functions, and not according to his nature (215-216)? Explain.
3. Describe and evaluate the God-world relation in neo-Platonism and Gnosticism (216-220).
4. How can creator and creature be completely distinct, if God can become man (217)?
5. "God's knowledge… is not only more extensive than ours; it is also different in character" (218-220). Explain, evaluate.
6. Discuss some of the difficulties in Aquinas' theistic metaphysics (223-25).
7. Describe and evaluate Aquinas's doctrine of divine simplicity (225-28).
8. Does Scripture teach divine simplicity? How, and in what sense (228-230)?
9. "All of God's attributes have divine attributes!" (226). Explain, evaluate.
10. Is God's existence logically necessary (231)? Discuss.
11. How is God free (230-36)? Defend your answer.
12. How do the three perspectives illumine God's attributes (237)?
Chapter 13, Miracle
Key Terms
Narrative (241, 242-43)
Authoritative descriptions (241-42)
Inner Triune life (241-42)
Miracle (preliminary definition) (245-46)
Natural law (four definitions) (248-250)
Immediate power of God (251)
Miracle (theologically enhanced def.) (260)
Power (revealed in miracle) (258)
Sign (in miracle) (259-60)
Wonder (miracle) (260)
Semi-cessationist (263-64)
Semi-continuationist (265)
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the three ways in which Scripture reveals God (241-42). How are these "perspectival" (242)?
2. Why does Frame move from God's acts to God's attributes, rather than using the opposite order (242-43)? Evaluate.
3. Enumerate the kinds of divine acts described in Scripture (243).
4. How does Frame suggest we go about defining miracle (245-46)? Why does he suggest this method? Evaluate.
5. How did Hume define miracle? How did Warfield respond to this definition (246-47)? What are your conclusions?
6. Are miracles exceptions to natural laws in any of the four senses mentioned (248-250)? Discuss.
7. Are miracles "wrought by the immediate power of God" (251-53)? Discuss.
8. Do miracles in the Bible attest messengers of God? Do they always do that? Should this attestation be included in the definition of miracle? Why or why not (253-56)?
9. Describe the views of miracle set forth by Kuyper and Diemer (256-57).
10. Can the Lordship attributes illumine the biblical concept of miracle (258-60)? Discuss.
11. Why do theologians often want to distinguish miracles sharply from providence? Does Scripture authorize such a distinction? Discuss (261-62).
12. Have miracles ceased? Why or why not (262-66)?
13. Whether or not miracles have ceased, it would seem that they are rarer now than, say, during the earthly ministry of Jesus. Are there biblical reasons why that might be so (264-65)?
14. Are there biblical reasons for which God might continue to do miracles in our time (265-66)?
15. Why are miracles possible? Probable (267)?
16. Describe Hume's arguments against the evidence for miracles, and reply (267-71).
17. Do miracles constitute evidence of the truth of Christianity? Reply to contrary views (271-73).
Chapter 14,
Key Terms
Metaphysical preservation (278-79)
Redemptive-historical preservation (279-82)
Covenant preservation (282-84)
Eternal preservation (284-5).
Perseverance of the saints (285)
Concurrence (287-88)
Discussion Questions
1. Show how God's acts of providence, like his miracles, are "wonderful" (261-2, 275).
2. How do God's providential goals bear on human ethics (277-78)?
3. Expound preservation from Scripture in its various senses (278-85).
4. Does providence provide guidance to the Christian (286)? Discuss.
5. Describe the biblical basis of the doctrine of concurrence, and reply to objections (287-88).
Chapter 15, Creation
Key Terms
Creation (Aquinas) (289)
Creation (Frame) (290)
Original creation (291)
Subsequent creation (291)
New creation (296)
Creation ex nihilo (298-302)
Normal day view of Gen. 1 (302)
Day-age view of Gen. 1 (302)
Framework view of Gen. 1 (302)
Abiogenesis (304, n 26)
Young earth view (307-310)
Old earth view (307-310)
Apparent age (308-310)
Nefesh Hayyah (310-311)
Discussion Questions
1. Why does Aquinas define creation as he does (289-291)? Evaluate.
2. How does Scripture relate creation to worship (291-293)?
3. How does creation display God's Lordship attributes (291-95)?
4. Expound biblical parallels between creation and redemption (295-98).
5. Defend creation ex nihilo from Scripture (298-302).
6. Formulate and defend your view of the length of the days in Gen. 1 (302-306).
7. Is the earth old or young? Defend your position (307-310).
8. Describe and evaluate Frame's reasons for rejecting the theory of evolution (310-312).
Chapter 16, God's Decrees
Key Terms
Decrees (314)
Election (317)
Historical election (317-325, 329-30)
Covenant lawsuit (319)
Remnant (320-322)
Eternal election (325-330)
Unconditional election (328)
Book of life (two meanings) (328)
Reprobation (330)
Preterition (330)
Precondemnation (330)
Historical reprobation (331)
Eternal reprobation (331)
Order of the Decrees (334-339)
Supralapsarianism (336)
Infralapsarianism (336)
Creatable (336. 338)
Discussion Questions
1. Are God's decrees eternal, or only historical and temporary? Give biblical evidence (316, 325-330).
2. How do God's decrees display his Lordship attributes (316)?
3. How does historical election differ from eternal election? Give biblical evidence (317-325).
4. Expound the biblical doctrine of the remnant (320-325).
5.
Is the election of
6.
Is the election of
7.
Is the election of
8. List similarities and differences between historical and eternal election (329-30).
9. Does Scripture teach reprobation? Present evidence (330-34). Distinguish historical from eternal reprobation.
10. Respond to the question of the order of the decrees, taking into account Frame's arguments (334-339).
Chapter 17, Names of God
Key Terms
Names (343-44)
Images (343-44)
Attributes (343-44)
God's name (347-48)
Adon (353)
Elohim (353-56)
Theos (353)
Elohe Yisrael (354)
El Elohe Yisrael (354)
Kurios (353)
El (356)
El Shaddai (356-57)
Yahweh Tzeva'oth (358)
El Elyon (359)
Hypsistos (359)
Yahweh Yir'eh (359)
Yahweh Rof'eka (360)
Yahweh Meqaddishekem (360)
Yahweh Shalom (360)
Yahweh Tsidqenu (361)
Yahweh Shammah (361)
Discussion Questions
1. What is the difference between names and descriptions of God (343-344)?
2. Distinguish names, images, attributes (343-344).
3. How is God's name related to God himself (347-50)? Discuss.
4. How do God's names reflect his Lordship attributes (350-52)?
5. Does God limit his sovereignty when he makes promises to his people (351n)? Explain.
6. How does Paul use the divine names to express the Trinity (349)?
7. Explain the plurality of Elohim (355-56).
8. "Since the divine names are all names of the same person, their meanings tend to converge" (352). Explain and give examples.
9. Does Elohim represent God extra-covenantally (354)? Defend your answer.
Chapter 18, Images of God
Key Terms
Image (362)
Anthropomorphisms (366)
Cosmomorphism (367)
King (368-69)
Warrior (370)
Judge (370)
Lawyer (371)
Legislator (371)
Father (371)
Husband (373)
Redeemer (373-74)
Shepherd (374-76)
Light (376)
Rock (377)
Ishtar (379)
Power-over (379)
Discussion Questions
1. "Images always require more explanation than literal descriptions." Reply (362-64).
2. Describe the relation of images to names and attributes (362-64).
3. Does the second commandment forbid divine images? Explain, making necessary distinctions (364-66).
4. "All Scripture is anthropomorphic." Explain, evaluate (367).
5. "Since images of God are taken from human life, they cannot be literally true of God." Evaluate (367-68).
6. "So the images of government, family, and shepherd coalesce, revealing, in different ways, …aspects of God's Lordship…" (375). Explain, evaluate.
7. Frame says that feminists have a problem with the question of whether there are traits of personality or character distinctive to women in some degree. Explain, evaluate (378-80).
8. List some feminine images of God in Scripture (380-83). Do any of them justify the use of "she" and "Mother" to represent God? Discuss.
9. Do racham and splangchnizomai indicate femininity in God? Explain the meanings of the terms and the arguments on both sides (379, n, 382).
10. Does the biblical use of Spirit imply a feminine aspect of God (382)? Explain.
11. Same for Wisdom (382).
12. Is the preponderance of male imagery for God theologically important (383-86)? Discuss.
13. How is the "non-biblical view of transcendence" related to the controversy over femininity in God (384, n 54)?
14. To avoid divisive controversy, why shouldn't we just eliminate all sexually distinctive language in speaking of God (385-86)? Discuss.
15. Has the use of preponderantly male imagery for God resulted in the oppression of women (386)?
16. Frame concludes, "we should follow the Bible's pattern of predominantly male imagery for God, with occasional female imagery" (386). Evaluate.
Chapter 19, God's Attributes
Key Terms
Attribute (387)
Defining attribute (387)
Essential attribute (387)
God in himself (389-90)
God in relation to us (389-90)
Incommunicable/communicable
Attributes (396)
Control attributes (397-99)
Authority attributes (397-99)
Presence attributes (397-99)
Attributes of power (398-99)
Attributes of knowledge (398-99)
Attributes of goodness (398-99)
Dynamic and static (398-99)
Integrity and involvement (399)
Discussion Questions
1. "God's Lordship is grounded in his eternal nature, and therefore in his attributes" (388-89). Explain, evaluate.
2. "The attributes describe God's Lordship from various perspectives" (388, 390-92). Explain, evaluate.
3. Does God have a fundamental attribute (392-94)? List some plausible candidates and evaluate whether they are really fundamental.
4. "…these theologians are wrong to think that the centrality of their favorite attribute excludes the centrality of others" (393). Can there be more than one center in God? Discuss.
5. List some classifications of divine attributes and evaluate them (394-98).
6. Frame says that in classifications of attributes based on the transcendence/immanence distinction, "the concept of transcendence underlying these distinctions appears to be more like the unbiblical than like the biblical concept" (396). Explain, evaluate.
7. Describe and explain Frame's scheme for classifying the divine attributes (397-399).
8. What is Frame's justification for regarding eternity among the powers of God (398)? Discuss.
9. State and evaluate Frame's reasons for beginning with the attributes of goodness (400-401).
10. "God's love is bedrock. There is nothing more basic to his nature." Evaluate (401).
Chapter 20, God's Goodness
Key Terms
Perfection (402-405)
Goodness as perfection (402-405)
Perfect being theology (404-405)
Euthyphro problem (405-406)
Goodness (most common
Meaning in Scripture) (410)
Love (414)
Eros (414)
Agape (414)
Philia (414)
Benevolence (415-16)
Beneficence (415-16)
Complacency (415-16)
Necessary love (416)
Free love (417)
Grace (424-429)
Grace (theological definition) (426)
Common Grace (430)
Patience (432)
Favor (two meanings) (433-34)
Hesed (437-41)
Compassion (441-42)
Gentleness (442-43)
Beauty (443)
Delight (443)
Peace (443-44)
Blessedness (444-45)
Discussion Questions
1. Evaluate Thomas Morris's proposal for a "perfect being theology" (404).
2. Respond to the Euthyphro problem (405-409).
3. To whom is God good? Give biblical evidence (410-413).
4. Is God good to the lost in Hell (413)? Explain.
5. How is the doctrine of the Trinity relevant to the definition of God's love (416-17)?
6. Enumerate the recipients of God's love and discuss (416-423).
7. When are we right to say to people, "God loves you" (419)?
8. "God sent his Son with both hypothetical and categorical intentions" (419-420). Explain, evaluate.
9. "So God's love both initiates the covenant and continues as his people respond in obedience" (421). Explain, evaluate.
10. "The New Testament typically defines love… by reference to the cross of Christ" (421). Give some examples. How is it possible for us to model our love on the saving love of Christ (422-23)?
11. Is God's love unconditional? Why or why not (423)?
12. Does God violate our free will in converting us? Discuss (424).
13. Mention some passages that contrast grace not only with obedience to the law of Moses, but with any reliance on our own works for salvation (428).
14. Is it legitimate to use the term grace to speak of God's benevolence to all creatures (429-30)? Discuss.
15. Distinguish various aspects of common grace, noting biblical evidence (430-437).
16. Why does God not judge sin immediately? Discuss (431-32).
17. "Unregenerate people experience some blessings of the Holy Spirit" (435-37). What blessings? How is this possible, given their rebellion against God?
18. Show how God's hesed is related to his covenant (437-41).
19. "Hesed, then, is typically conditional, in a way that ahabah is not" (440). Evaluate, referring to biblical data.
20. If hesed is covenantal, why is it used of God's relationships to the natural order (440-441)?
21. Does Scripture ever refer to God as gentle? Explain (442-443).
Chapter 21, God's Righteousness and Wrath
Key Terms
Righteousness (447-48)
Justice (447-48)
Internal righteousness (448)
External righteousness (448)
Rectoral or legislative righteousness (448)
Distributive righteousness (448)
Remunerative righteousness (448)
Retributive righteousness (448)
Existential righteousness (448)
Normative righteousness (448)
Situational righteousness (448)
Petrus Ramus (447, n 2)
Jealousy (458)
Hatred (460-63)
Wrath (463-68)
Discussion Questions
1. If God is our standard for righteousness, why is it that he may do things he forbids us to do (448-49)?
2. "There is a ‘poetic justice' in God's providence" (450). How, if the righteous often suffer and the wicked prosper?
3. "So righteousness is a kind of elemental fairness" (450). Explain, evaluate.
4. "Righteousness in Scripture is not only a standard governing conduct, but also a means of salvation" (451-58). Discuss biblical evidence.
5. How can God's righteousness save sinners when it is precisely God's righteousness that condemns them (456-57)? Discuss.
6. Is God on the side of the poor (455-56)? Discuss.
7. Describe Martin Luther's insight into the meaning of "righteousness" (456-57).
8. "God's jealousy is part of his love" (458, 459). Explain.
9. What qualification should we keep in mind when we pray the imprecatory Psalms (461)?
10. "God's love and hate do not exclude one another in every respect" (462). Explain, evaluate.
11. How does C.H. Dodd explain the "impersonal" references to God's wrath in the NT? How do you explain them (465-66)?
12. Is there any sense in which God's wrath is a form of his love? How do righteousness and jealousy mediate between God's love and his wrath (466-68)?
Chapter 22, God's Knowledge
Key Terms
Word of God (471)
Necessary words (474)
Free words (474)
Metaphysical truth (475-76)
Propositional (epistemological)
truth (477)
Ethical truth (478-79)
Inerrant (478)
Knowledge (479-81)
Knowing that (480)
Knowing how (480)
Knowing a person (480)
Omniscience (483, and note 41)
Open theism, free will
theism (485-86)
Socinian view of God's
Knowledge (485)
foreknowledge
(2 meanings) (486-87
and note 48)
necessary knowledge (500)
free knowledge (500-501)
natural knowledge (500-501)
knowledge of vision (500-01)
knowledge of intellect (500-01)
middle knowledge (501)
Luis Molina (502)
Contrary-to-fact
Conditional (502)
Wisdom (505)
Mind (509-510)
Logic (510-11)
System of logic (511)
Apparent contradiction (511)
Discussion Questions
1. How does Luke 7:1-10 teach that salvation is by the Word (472, and note 6)?
2. "God and his Word are always present together" (472). Explain, evaluate.
3. Describe the linguistic model of the Trinity (473).
4. "The Word is God (473)." Discuss biblical data relevant to this assertion.
5. Describe the relation between truth and faithfulness (478-79).
6. "If human knowledge is dependent on God, then God's own knowledge depends on God. That is, it is self-attesting, self-referential, self-sufficient" (481). Explain, evaluate.
7. Show how God's knowledge displays his Lordship attributes (481-83).
8. Present exegetical and theological arguments for God's omniscience (483-84).
9. Why have some questioned God's exhaustive knowledge of the future? Reply to them (485-500).
10. List some prophecies that anticipate free human decisions (490-494).
11. Discuss some texts that might seem to imply divine ignorance (494-500).
12. How does God know what is possible? What is actual (500-501)?
13. Why do some theologians believe that God's middle knowledge is distinct from his necessary knowledge (501-505)? Discuss.
14. On Craig's definition, is middle knowledge compatible with libertarian freedom? Discuss (4501-505).
15. Comment on Bavinck's distinction between wisdom and knowledge (506).
16. Is God's thought logical, or rational (510-12)? Discuss. Do we ever need to affirm two sides of a paradox?
Chapter 23, God's Power
Key Terms
Omnipotence (515-518, 521-523)
Absolute power (523-25)
(my distinction, and
Hodge's)
Ordinate power (523-25)
(also two)
Ex lex (523)
God's will (528-29)
Necessary will (529)
Free will (529)
Antecedent will (529-31)
Consequent will (529-31)
Decretive will (531)
Preceptive will (531)
Will of God's good pleasure (531)
Hidden or secret will (531)
Revealed will (531)
Will of wisdom (539-42)
Discussion Questions
1. "Note that here the divine omnipotence is the omnipotence of the Word" (516, note 1). Give biblical examples and discuss.
2. Are there things God can't do? List some proposed inabilities of God and comment on them (518-21). Can God make a stone so big that he can't lift it?
3. Does the definition of omnipotence end in circularity? Discuss, noting implications (521-23).
4. Why is God's omnipotence important to redemption (425-26)?
5. "…the Christian view of providence reveals not only the power of God, but his weakness also" (526-28). Explain, evaluate from Scripture.
6. How have some theologians used the distinction between absolute and consequent wills of God to make a place for libertarian freedom? Do you think they succeed (529-31)?
7. Why is it misleading to speak of God's decretive will as the "will of God's good pleasure" or his "secret will" (531)? Comment.
8. How is the distinction between decretive and preceptive wills similar to that between antecedent and consequent (531-32)? How do these distinctions differ?
9. "Arminians also believe that there are two wills in God" (532). Explain, evaluate.
10. List some passages using the will vocabulary in a decretive sense; in a preceptive sense (532-33).
11. Does God desire the salvation of all? Present logical and textual arguments (534-537).
12. "What is the real will of God?" Is this a legitimate question? If so, answer it (537-538).
13. Is there a third will of God, beyond decretive and preceptive? Discuss (539-542).
Chapter 24, Lord of Time
Key Terms
Infinity (543-45)
Before time (546, note)
Eternity (Boethius' definition)
(546)
Temporalism (549)
Atemporality (546-48)
Procession analogy (556)
Temporal omnipresence (557-59)
Immutability (559-72)
Relent (561-66)
Process theology (572)
Futurism (573-75)
Discussion Questions
1. How do Wolterstorff and others argue for God's temporality? Evaluate these arguments (545-51).
2. How is the current argument for divine temporality related to libertarian freedom (548)?
3. Enumerate some arguments for divine atemporality and evaluate (551-53).
4. "In Scripture, God transcends certain limitations associated with time in human experience." List these and discuss them (553-57).
5. "…God's experience of time, as Scripture presents it, is more like the atemporalist model than like the temporalist one" (557). Reply.
6. "More important than the question of temporality, however, is God's Lordship over time" (557). Explain, evaluate.
7. "I believe too little attention has been paid to God's temporal omnipresence in the discussion over God's temporality. Much of what some writers want to gain by a temporalist view… can be as easily secured through sufficient recognition of God's temporal covenant presence" (558). Explain, evaluate.
8. Some passages say that God does not relent, others that he does. Can these be reconciled? Explain (561-66).
9. How is God unchanging (566-70)?
10. "Whatever change there is, is wholly in the creature" (567). Explain and evaluate.
11. "…as an agent in history, God himself changes" (571). Explain and evaluate.
12. Formulate and evaluate Frame's criticisms of process theology and futurism (572-75).
Chapter 25, Lord of Space, Matter, Light, and Breath
Key Terms
Immensity (576)
Spatial omnipresence (576, 579-83)
Presence (various meanings)
(581-83)
Incorporeality (583-85)
Theophany (585-87)
Incarnation (585-87)
Kenosis Christology (586, note 12)
Invisibility (587-91)
Temunah (588-89)
Essential invisibility (590)
Glory-cloud (592-95)
Glory (592-95)
Spirituality (595-98)
Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the ethical implications of God's immensity (577-78).
2. "But if (God) is extended through space, he cannot be present as a whole person to every creature" (579). Explain, evaluate.
3. "Clearly, God's relation to space is different from ours" (579). Explain, evaluate.
4. "So omnipresence is a direct implication of God's Lordship, in his control and authority, as well as his covenant presence" (580). Explain, evaluate.
5. Expound some Scripture texts that teach God's omnipresence (580-81).
6. Describe and discuss the ethical meaning of God's presence (582-83).
7. Is God incorporeal in his atemporal existence (583)? In his temporal omnipresence (583-85)?
8. "(God's) experience of the world is analogous to the experience of one for whom the universe is his body" (584-85). Explain, evaluate.
9. "God experiences the world, not only from his transcendent perspective and from the perspective of the whole universe, but also from every particular perspective within the universe" (585). Explain, evaluate.
10. Is God unpicturable (589, note 13)? Why or why not?
11. "There is a rather notable difference (with regard to visibility/invisibility) between the inauguration of God's covenant with Moses and the beginning of the new covenant in Christ" (591). Explain the difference and evaluate.
12. "The visibility of God often has an eschatological thrust in Scripture" (591). Explain, evaluate.
13. What does it mean to glorify God? If he has all glory, what can we add to it (593-94)?
14. How do the persons of the Trinity glorify one another (594-95)?
15. Discuss the work of God's Spirit in the world (595-99).
16. Explain the meaning of "spirit and truth" in John 4:24 (599).
Chapter 26, The Self-Contained God
Key Terms
Aseity (600)
Self-existence (601)
Self-sufficiency (601)
Self-containment (601)
Self-caused (601)
Absolute (601, 603)
Self-attesting (602)
Self-justifying (602)
Impassibility (608)
Discussion Questions
1. Describe and evaluate the difference between Bavinck and Frame on God's aseity and independence (601).
2. Formulate and evaluate Frame's exegetical argument for divine aseity (603-608).
3. Does God have feelings? Discuss (608-611).
4. Can God suffer? Discuss (611-616).
Chapter 27, God, Three in One
Key Terms
Basic Trinitarian assertions (621-22)
Unity (various senses (622)
Henotheism (626)
Monolatry (626)
Monotheism (dictionary) (627)
Monotheism (Moltmann) (627-28)
Monotheism (biblical) (630-31)
Hypostatizations (632-33)
Angel of the Lord (633-34)
Discussion Questions
1. Does it matter where in our theological system we discuss the Trinity? Discuss (620-21, and note).
2. "God is one being (quantitatively) because there is only one Lord (qualitatively)" (622). Explain and evaluate. Why is this important?
3. How is God's oneness related to his Lordship (622-25)?
4. Do "gods" exist, other than Yahweh? Explain (625-27).
5. Distinguish the God of Scripture from the "monarchical concept of Greek philosophy" (627-31).
6. "But the worst part of Moltmann's discussion (of monotheism) is that he objects not so much to monotheism as to divine Lordship itself" (630-31). Explain, evaluate.
7. Describe and evaluate OT evidence for divine plurality (631-32).
8. Mention some OT triads that anticipate the Trinity (634-36).
9. "There is, then, no controversy in the NT that its Trinitarianism is consistent with the OT. Indeed, for the NT writers… the Trinity is settled doctrine" (638). Describe the difference between the OT and NT in their presentations of God's Trinitarian distinctions. (See Warfield quotes, 631, 638-39).
Chapter 28, The Three Are God
Key Terms
Functional Christology (646-47)
Ontological Christology (646-47)
Monogenes (659, note 21, 710-11, and note 53)
Colwell rule (665)
Granville Sharp rule (668-69)
Kenosis theory (670-71, note 34)
Morphe theou (670-71)
Pleroma (671)
Son of man (672-73)
Savior (674)
Holy one (674-75)
Alpha and omega (675)
Discussion Questions
1. Does Scripture present an ontological, or only a functional Christology? Discuss (546-47).
2. Present some examples of how Scripture "takes Jesus' deity for granted" (647-50).
3. Discuss the NT uses of kurios and other ascriptions to Christ of covenant Lordship (650-57).
4. Does Jesus ever use the divine name I AM to refer to himself? Give examples (656-57).
5. Discuss the NT use of Son of God to refer to Jesus (658-61).
6. Is Christ a divine title? Discuss (661-63).
7. Does Scripture ever use the term God to refer to Christ? Give examples, and exegete (663-72).
8. Should John 1:1c be translated "and the Word was a god?" Discuss (664-66).
9. If Jesus is God, why are references to him as God (theos) in the NT relatively few and controversial (671-72)? Discuss.
10. Is savior a divine title? Discuss (674).
11. Show references in the NT to Jesus' sinlessness (675-76).
12. Point out some divine attributes attributed to Jesus by NT writers (675-77).
13. Does Jesus perform distinctively divine acts? Present evidence (677-78).
14. How does Scripture present Jesus as object of faith and worship (679-80)?
15. Discuss passages alleged to be inconsistent with the deity of Christ (680-85).
16. Discuss evidence for the deity of the Spirit in Scripture: triadic texts, application of Yahweh texts to the Spirit, reference to the Spirit as God, ascriptions of divine attributes and actions to the Spirit (685-87).
Chapter 29, Father, Son, and Spirit
Key Terms
"Jesus only" Pentecostals (690, n7)
Sabellianism (688-90)
Huiopator (689)
Circumincessio (693-94)
Perichoresis (693-94)
Coinherence (693-94)
Opera ad extra (694, note 13)
Opera ad intra (694, note 13)
Mutual glorification (694-96)
Ousia (697)
Phusis (697)
Hypostasis (697)
Prosopon (697)
Substantia (696-705)
Essentia (697)
Persona (696-705)
Subsistence (697)
Mode of subsistence (697)
Ontological Trinity (706)
Economic Trinity (706)
Immanent Trinity (706-707, and note 41)
Eternal Generation (707)
Monogenes (710-11)
Paternity (713-14)
Filiation (713-14)
Active spiration (713-14)
Passive spiration (713-14)
Eternal procession (714-16)
Filioque (716-19).
Subordinationism (719)
Ontological subordinationism (719)
Economic subordinationism (719)
Subordinationism of role (719-20)
Fons deitatis (719)
Fons Trinitatis (719)
Personal properties (720)
Psychological Trinitarianism (722-24)
Social Trinitarianism (724-726)
Vestigia trinitatis (726)
Discussion Questions
1. In response to the Sabellian controversy, Frame says, "thus is the doctrine of the Trinity related to the doctrines of God's transcendence and immanence, and, in turn, to the doctrines of God's Lordship and revelation" (689). Describe those relations.
2. Show from Scripture that the Spirit is a person distinct from the Father and Son (691-93). Does 2 Cor. 3:17-18 deny such distinctness?
3. How can we be one as the persons of the Trinity are one (695-96)?
4. Describe some misunderstandings created by the technical terminology for the Trinity (697-705).
5. "I agree with Anselm that when we use words like substance and person to refer to God we do not entirely understand what we are talking about, but we should not embrace total agnosticism about the matter" (699). Explain, evaluate.
6. "The (Trinitarian) terms serve merely to label the concepts we derive from the Bible" (699). Explain, evaluate.
7.
Why did the Eastern church sometimes suspect the Western church of
sabellianism? Why did the
8. What does it mean to define person as a relation within God (701-703)? Evaluate that usage, and Plantinga's critique.
9. Is it ever legitimate to say that God is one person (703-704)? Discuss.
10. Is it correct to say that the immanent Trinity is the economic Trinity and vice versa (706-707)? Discuss.
11. Define eternal generation and describe the biblical basis for the doctrine (707-714).
12. "Jesus' earthly Sonship ought to be appropriate to his divine Sonship" (711-714). Explain and show how this bears on the question of eternal generation.
13. What is the biblical evidence for the eternal procession of the Spirit (714-16)?
14. How would you resolve the controversy over the filioque (716-19)? State the issues and relevant Scriptures.
15. "God has given us a glimpse of his inner life, not a map or treatise" (719). Show some places in Trinitarian theology where theologians have sought to get beyond a mere glimpse.
16. Is there an eternal subordination of role among the persons of the Trinity? Discuss (719-22). How does this discussion bear on feminism? On the organization of society?
17. Discuss the merits and demerits of psychological and social Trinitarianism (722-26).
18. Relate the persons of the Trinity to the Lordship attributes and the history of salvation (726-28, 732-35).
19. Describe and evaluate philosophical analogies of the Trinity in Hegel, Van Til, Poythress (728-32).
Chapter 30, Summary and Conclusion
Discussion Questions
1. Summarize the book (736-39).
2. "The traditional arguments can also be helpful to believers. But the believer's confidence is actually based elsewhere" (740). Explain, evaluate.
3. "Now to someone who thinks biblically, the existence of God is obvious" (741). Explain, evaluate.
4. "So God's Lordship is not only the key to understanding his nature. It is also the key by which we may come to believe in him" (741). Explain, evaluate.
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