Theology Questions for Next Learning Party

Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

One question I have for the next learning party pertains to what we read in Turning Points chapter 1: Is there any value in reading texts that were not canonized? Would it have similar value to reading a Christian book today? Why don't we read them, and should we read them?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Why have there been so many denominations of Christianity formed and how do you think people chose what they believe for the most part?

The Apostles' Creed says, "he(Jesus) descended into hell"
Is that accurate? Where did Jesus go and what did He do while He was dead?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

How was it decided which texts would be canonized when there were so many being used by the early Christian Church?

Bethany Hutson wrote:

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Why have there been so many denominations of Christianity formed and how do you think people chose what they believe for the most part?

Bethany, this is an important question, thank you for asking it. Let's wait to discuss this later as we continue reading Turning Points. The rise of denominations is a relatively recent phenomenon that will be highlighted in chapters 6-8. I will also circle back around and address this at the end of the year to make sure we understand where the various denominations came from. But how about you keep an eye out for how the church handled differences of opinions as the story unfolds, and what major questions tend to divide the groups.

-Josh

The apostles would purely preach from the Old Testament in light of Jesus' life, and they would write those teachings in epistles. So my question is when did people start treating their writings as scripture and canon? Also I am aware that there are several other writings from the apostles and my question is why aren't those as well treated as such?

hstrelow wrote:One question I have for the next learning party pertains to what we read in Turning Points chapter 1: Is there any value in reading texts that were not canonized? Would it have similar value to reading a Christian book today? Why don't we read them, and should we read them?

This is a question I've always considered. The best answer that I've come to concerning books like the Apocrypha and other New Testament writings is that they are more so informative and helpful for expanding and perhaps giving context to when scripture was written.
Take for instance a couple of books from the Jewish apocrypha: 1 and 2 Maccabees. These books aren't included in Protestant canon as scripture, so they aren't on the level of say 1 and 2 Chronicles. However that doesn't mean they aren't helpful. These two books are actually a great history lesson during the 2nd Temple period, which I believe is helpful because there is at least a 400 year gap between the Testaments and I personally believe that reading the Apocrypha (being written within that gap) is helpful for understanding Jewish beliefs and background around the time of Jesus.

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Is it more effective to describe the Gospel extensively with lots of detail or to give a short summary of what it means?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

I feel like this is a loaded question that I am going to try to ask clearly because my mind is very scattered with it.

In Genesis 3:22 God says “The man has now become more like one of us, knowing good and evil…” This statement concludes that prior to eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil they didn’t have this knowledge. So did they have the knowledge to know the serpent was a liar...or evil? Seems like they could have this discernment since they were made in God’s image… so did having the knowledge of good and evil revealed their sinful nature only? Why did the fall lead to Adam and Eve becoming more like God?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

It seems that the Catholic Church is given much light in this chapter, having been founded by Peter. What led to the Catholic Church having creeds and being the standard over the Coptic Church in Egypt, founded by Mark? I've heard that both churches are similar and founded at similar times. Why the rise of one and not the other?

amiddleton wrote:

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Is it more effective to describe the Gospel extensively with lots of detail or to give a short summary of what it means?

I had the same question. I feel like the book had a very long and in depth definition of the gospel and then a very short and concise one. I normally share a shorter version of the gospel when talking to non believers but is that less beneficial to them, than an in depth definition?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

Prior to reading the Evangelical Theology textbook, I didn't realize that there was any other way to view and build theology other than through a gospel lens.
If Evangelical theology is is built upon the foundation of the gospel, what is the foundation for other forms of Christian Theology?

My question is how should we approach these differences in Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant doctrines especially when ministering to people with these backgrounds? What is the common truth to rest on?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

How does one practice good theology, by way of tradition, without the traditions becoming legalistic?

Admin wrote:Write a question from this month's material that you are interested in discussing at the next learning party.

How do we reconcile the fact that there is little hard evidence for the about a half century from the New Testament era to about 130 in the history of the church? How do we account for this missing piece? How do we account for the bias of the interpreters of this time or for our own bias in interpreting the history of Christianity?