Author: Richard

  • Pentecostal Theology

    Richard

    Pentecostalism had its humble beginning in Topeka Kansas. In 1900, Charles Fox Parham started Bethel Bible School, of which he was the only teacher. A few years earlier, both Parham and his son had fallen ill. He refused all medical treatment and placed his faith in the Holy Spirit’s power of divine healing. At Bethel, he Read more

  • Fundamentalist Theology

    Richard

    The term fundamentalism can apply in a general religious sense and also in a specific Christian sense. In a general sense, Rik Peels characterizes fundamentalist movements as exemplifying the following: (1) a rejection of liberal ethics; (2) a literal and infallible view of authoritative texts; and (3) an interpretation of events in a grand narrative of Read more

  • Evangelical Theology

    Richard

    The term evangelicalism derives from the Greek word euangélion (εὐαγγέλιον), literally means good news. In Old English Bible translations, euangélion was translated as gōdspel (gōd = good + spel = news). Middle English Bible translations modified this to gospel, which is still used in modern translations. In terms of etymology, evangelicalism and gospel are synonymous Read more

  • The Origen of Man

    Richard

    The primary components to the theology of man’s origin are that God created man, that God created man in His own image, that mankind is elevated above the lower animals, and that each person consists of a physical body and a spiritual soul. God says, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our Read more

  • The Nature of Man

    Richard

    Scripture teaches that a human has both an earthly element and a spiritual element. The earthly element is our physical makeup and something we share with the lower animals. The spiritual element relates to what the Bible refers to as our soul and/or our spirit. There are two main theological opinions with regards to soul Read more

  • Man as the Image of God

    Richard

    The very first chapter of Genesis has God saying, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gn 1:26). Mankind being made in the image of God is commonly referred to by the Latin phrase imago Dei. But what does being made in the image of God mean, and does being made Read more

  • Fallen Man

    Richard

    As discussed above, man was originally created “very good” and therefore had original righteousness. Adam and Eve then directly disobeyed God’s command in eating the forbidden fruit and thereby committed the first sin. The serpent temps them by saying they can become like God, but the original sin was disobedience. Genesis describes the direct impact to Adam and Read more

  • Sin and the Impact of Sin

    Richard

    Sin can be thought of in a philosophical sense and in a moral sense. Philosophical explanations of sin seek to answer metaphysical questions such as whether it is a privation, a defect, a negation, a physical or spiritual essence, a selfish feeling, and so forth. Although intellectually interesting, philosophical theories about sin are only of secondary Read more

  • Grace

    Richard

    Grace is something positive that is bestowed to someone underserving, such as a gift, a blessing, or love. In theology, grace typically refers to the good things that God bestows upon undeserving humanity. This divine grace can further be divided into grace that God gives to everyone, called common grace, and grace that relates to Read more

  • Introduction to the Creeds

    Richard

    [Click here for a YouTube video introduction to the Creeds and the Rule of Faith] A creed is an authoritative summary of beliefs. The earliest Christian creeds were written in Greek and consisted of short sections, each beginning with “I believe,” which is a translation of the Greek word pistévo (πιστεύω). This word is related Read more