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Spiration

Biration,

knowledge that is absolutely essential for salvation" Labatism-pietism --reppudiates all existing churches as "babylon" Sesecter Sectarainsim, leads to erosion & disappearance of church consc the sene that separation from the church is a sin has all but disappeared, one have or joins casually, exercise of disciple thus becomes virtually impossible, it loes its very character.. Intro.. 1) distinctin btw orig and transc.. 2) distinctn btw .s.s. NT Infall/Insp.. doct of inspirat ass une " an insation of an organic nature which extends not only to the ideas but plode words of pre so the Holy Scritpure in its entierty iis the wWord of God written" Doct of Intf Infallibility 1 & NT are tw canonical books "against which nothing can be alleged" that we are to belive w/o a doubt all tings contained in them... that Scr in its whle exten is the infallible & indld Word of Gdo (239) Divine Auth--on what matters does Scr speak with divine auth and trustowrthiness.? On all matters which have direct or indirect bearing on the self-disclosure of God.." Spiration ---God be the supreme auth ofall Scr (267) Infallible (283) a) non-failingnness?? b) non deceptivness.. Al Words of Scripture, speaking inthe ordered sequence are to be received as wholly trustworthy (286) Canonical vs Apocryphal.. canonical is sacred, apocrypha is non-sacred Plenary & Verbal.. Historical chracter..--we have acknowedge that the hist charcter of the divinely inspired Bible and have been willing to use the Idlld of sci resrchto illumin it meaning (515) talks abt necessit of hist, linguistic, contextual hermeneutics.. NT REport 44 Nature & Exten of Bib Auth (1972)

Inspiration,

ANSELM Wily God B/C MANNT ANSELM

Freedom

Pouble

grave

Evama

Augustine

Berkhower

7

HX Ch

NT Anself why God be man.. aka Cur Deus Homo is life born austria.. intial grim educ exp..later gave in to wordly amusements..saved by Islsl monastery.. bec allowed fr comp con on God be abbot.. bc archbishop of canterbury... refused to pay simony.. kig refuses to grant him Rome visit.. Anselm defies bc exile ..finishes WGBM in.. cone wants to excom king. Anselm pleads no, new king exile (2) later returns (9) after death honored epitomy of a saint "rectitude of will, justie' (13) writings onprayers.. 1) change in prayer style effusiveness.. on faith 1) on the s essence of God and attributes of God (15) monologiaon..rationale of the faith--would describe much of his writings well..uses Augustineas reference, but is original in additon On God 1) Faith seeking understanding all about exit of God, attributes of God, on Grammar, On truth conc: that there is one supreme truth (18) re Freedom of choice Freedm "the power not presrving rectitude of willfor the sake of rectitude itself" [rejects the view that the power of choosing evil is an element of freedom] (18) the fall of on... the dv. shows keen insight into the nature of evil, and the relation fo the free willto be an attraction towards good & happiness (19) the incarnation of the word, actually more about the trinity, lon the procession of the Holy Spirit. on predest & grace & free choice.. On Cur Deus

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pietism

Apocryphal

rect. of the will, rectitude of The will

behaviour in observed in community.. G) How community uses lang.. (387)0 Note Iskf slk parable to wstoff be of the greater responsibility, also kids femphasizes "my hunch".. Demythologizing the popular misconception of Calvins' focs on mans' depravity, this is only in regars to man w/o CHrist.. Ho Exploring Heritage of J. Cavn... fr D. Holwerda..Exploring the Heritage of J. Calvin 1976 M. Beversluis.. "it is not uncommon to read opinions similar to that exxpressed by M. Beverslis that hte root of calvinism is the doctrine of man's damnableness' 9(79)0 Double grace.--namely that being reconciled to God thorugh CHrists lamelnesssness, we may have in heaven instead a of a judge a graceois Pasher, and secondly, that sanctified by Christ's spirit we may cultivate blamelessness & purity of life (88))0 the big untill until we are made new in Christ" (101) Mental heat Ith..--a religion whichpromotes a mentally healthy perspecitve increases rather that lessens the enjoyment of life.. In spite of all the Iskd of Calvin as an austere and rigid sort of person, it must be said that Clvin promed joyful living BL. Vos).. Berkhouwer..--take away from Calvin his n his basic position in regard to garace, and his great comprehensiveness.. from grace and then trnaslate this..total judgements into merely moralistic terms and the resit can only be called pessimistic and black.. Calvin--he oppoes those who think that it is a matter of modesty and humility not to be sure of hte presence of the Spirit in us saying "it is a token of the most miserable blindpess to charge wit arrogacne Christins who dare to glory in

End result.....

in the

(103

not stand It Insts III xiii 1 &2 II, ii. 10., NT Bolt Lect 1 Presene of the Holy Spirt, without whcih glorifying Christianity itself does

t 16 ... skdjf theol as eternal r verity.. refomatin corrupt "try to g forget the past" It...--theol amnesia.. losss of sense of continuity in tradition..Trdiiton ..certain works --Augustine "De Civitate Dei"-- Augustine "summa theologia" Calvin "Institutes" Newmans' Essay on Deveopment" NT--Inro to Syst theol-Bekhoff. Dogma..--dogma is the fruit of the attempt to express a s certain relation of the life of hte chuch in the language of the intellect (23).. Rationalism- pietism --cold rationism and sentimental pietism are inimal to the of formation of dogmas mas (24).. Speculative-c -deducive Bacon" --the rationalists are like the spiders, they spin all out of their own bowels (68) that we we have. some intelligent t experience, ant that it is veridical is taken for granted, ..human reason is teh very soure for thought... N NT Intro to Syst theol N baker 1979.. L. Berkhouwer.. Synnthetic method-doct of God (theol )--Man ( (anthropl) Christ (Christology) Salvation ( (soteriology) church (ecclesiology)- last things (eschatlogy0--- NT manule of refrmd doctrine berkhof.. (75).. True preaching, 2) right admin of sacraments 3) faithfulexercise of discipken (286) NT NEW Dict of theol--"today the whole weght of emphasis is placed on relativistic, comparative studies, an of religous nd beliffs, an outlook which can use systematic theol as a resources too, but which is fund. hostile to i o it as a serious intellectual discipline (672).. Biblical 1 Theol-- n movement after WWII. 1) rediscovery of the theol dimension 2) unity of whole Bible 3) reelation of God in hist..4) distinctiveness of Biblical menttohighly ality(Hebrew thought in contrast to Greek)--5) contrast of Bible to environment.. NT M>N.W. Greenway.. Typical american city of 30000 inhabitants. 62 hurches. only 6000 worshipers.. practicing Chrs Chrs-only 15 to 2 20 pere cent.. while 70 to 85 % are highly secularix Chrls. 3 key elements 10 colaboring 20 co-sufffering 3) o co-witnessing (25) elements of longsufffering.. third world belivers. 3 3 primary challenges 1) the billions, spirituallly lost 2) billions dsprtly poor 3) secularism.. 4 Indications 1)% of active Chr's compared to toher religions 2) potential for proclamation 3) external barriers 4) strength of national church, avail of and avail of miss visas 9102) Burukina Faso---in top five of abs poor, percentage wise- top --lowest GNP (103) Sierra Leone top 5 --highest infant moratality

18

Absolutely! Here’s section 22 expanded into a more detailed 4-part summary to reflect the richness and length of your notes:

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1. Narrative

Section 22 focuses on the doctrines of Scripture, inspiration, and infallibility, while also situating these within broader historical, theological, and practical frameworks. It begins by discussing the dangers of sectarian movements such as Labadism and pietism, which rejected all established churches as “Babylon.” Such sectarianism, Bolt notes, erodes church consciousness and makes the exercise of discipline nearly impossible, leading to a casual or fragmented approach to spiritual life. The erosion of communal accountability diminishes the very character of the church.

The section then transitions into detailed theological reflection on Scripture. Bolt distinguishes between original and transcendent Scripture, and emphasizes the difference between Old and New Testament understandings of inspiration. Scripture is presented as an organic process, where the ideas and words of the Holy Spirit are fully infused into the text. This provides the foundation for the doctrines of infallibility and divine authority: Scripture is wholly trustworthy, non-deceptive, and authoritative for all matters relevant to God’s self-revelation. Canonical texts are sacred, whereas apocryphal writings are not. The plenary and verbal nature of Scripture is highlighted, showing that divine inspiration extends to both content and the specific wording, though historical-critical methods (linguistic, contextual, and hermeneutical) can illuminate meaning.

Historical theological figures are used to illustrate these concepts. Anselm, particularly in Cur Deus Homo, is discussed extensively. Bolt recounts Anselm’s life, including his education, monastic formation, exile, and later recognition as a saint. Anselm’s theological contributions include “faith seeking understanding,” a nuanced view of freedom of the will (freedom as the power to preserve rectitude for its own sake), and insights on the nature of evil and moral choice. His writings also explore the incarnation, the Trinity, predestination, and grace.

Bolt also surveys Calvin’s contributions, especially his doctrine of double grace. First, through Christ’s blamelessness, believers are reconciled to God; second, sanctification enables a life of moral and spiritual purity. Calvin’s approach balances the seriousness of human depravity with the joy and practical life of faith. Bolt critiques simplistic moralistic interpretations of Calvin, emphasizing the holistic, grace-centered, and life-affirming dimensions of his theology.

The section further addresses the role of dogma and systematic theology. Dogma is described as the church’s intellectual attempt to articulate its life in rational terms, avoiding both cold rationalism and sentimental pietism. Bolt references the synthetic method of Berkhof and Berkhouwer, which organizes theology around God, humanity, Christology, soteriology, ecclesiology, and eschatology.

Finally, Bolt notes post-WWII trends in theology: relativistic and comparative approaches to religion have marginalized systematic and rigorous theological study. Practical implications include attention to global Christian challenges, particularly in mission contexts, where believers face spiritual loss, extreme poverty, and secular opposition. Bolt emphasizes the importance of “co-suffering,” “co-witnessing,” and collaboration in mission work. Mental and spiritual health are also emphasized, highlighting that a robust, grace-informed Christian life fosters joy rather than austerity or fear.

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Notes & Observations – Systematic Theology & Missiological Contexts

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1. Inspiration and Biblical Authority

• Inspiration (Spiration): God as the supreme author of Scripture; divine origin ensures absolute authority.

• Infallibility: Scripture is non-failing, non-deceptive; all words and ideas are trustworthy.

• Plenary & Verbal Inspiration: Includes both the ideas and exact words of Scripture.

• Canonical vs. Apocryphal: Canonical texts are sacred and authoritative; apocryphal texts are non-sacred.

• Historical, Linguistic, Contextual Hermeneutics: Essential for proper understanding of Scripture.

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2. Anselm of Canterbury (Cur Deus Homo)

• Faith seeking understanding: Rational exploration of God’s attributes and human salvation.

• Freedom and Will: True freedom is choosing good and preserving rectitude of will; evil is not necessary for freedom.

• Incarnation & Trinity: Theological reflection on the Word made flesh, predestination, grace, and free choice.

• Moral & Spiritual Rectitude: Emphasis on living rightly and cultivating virtue through divine grace.

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3. Pietism & Labatism

• Labatism/Pietism: Radical separation from established churches (“Babylon”), often undermining community and discipline.

• Sectarianism: Leads to erosion of church identity; casual membership weakens discipleship.

• Goal: Emphasizes personal holiness but risks isolation from corporate faith life.

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4. Calvin & Reformed Thought

• Misconception of Calvin: Not merely about human depravity; central focus on grace and joy in Christ.

• Double Grace:

  1. Reconciliation through Christ’s atonement.

  2. Sanctification through the Spirit for holy living.

• Mentally Healthy Religion: Promotes joy and full engagement in life, not austere pessimism.

• Spirit Assurance: Christians may confidently rejoice in the Spirit’s presence; humility should not obscure awareness of God’s work.

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5. Systematic Theology & Dogma

• L. Berkhouwer / NT Baker:

  • Emphasizes synthetic approach: God, man, Christ, salvation, church, last things.

  • Dogma expresses life of the Church in rational terms.

  • Rationalism and cold pietism are insufficient for formation of dogma.

• Post-WWII Movements:

  • Rediscovery of theological dimension.

  • Unity of Scripture.

  • Historical revelation of God.

  • Distinctiveness of biblical thought vs. Greek/modern environment.

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6. Missiological Context

• Urban Secularization: Example: city of 30,000 with 62 churches, only 6,000 active worshippers.

• Threefold Mission Elements:

  1. Collaborating.

  2. Co-suffering.

  3. Co-witnessing.

• Primary Global Challenges:

  1. Spiritually lost billions.

  2. Desperate poverty.

  3. Secularism and apathy.

• Indicators for Mission:

  • Percentage of active Christians vs. other religions.

  • Potential for proclamation.

  • External barriers.

  • Strength of local church infrastructure and access to missionary resources.

• Socioeconomic Context: Burkina Faso among top 5 poorest countries; Sierra Leone among top 5 for highest infant mortality.

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Keywords / Concepts

• Inspiration, infallibility, plenary, canonical, Apocryphal

• Anselm, Cur Deus Homo, rectitude of will, freedom

• Pietism, Labatism, sectarianism

• Calvin, double grace, joy in faith

• Systematic Theology, dogma, rationalism, synthetic method

• Urban secularization, co-suffering, co-witnessing, global mission, poverty, evangelism

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This set of notes links biblical authority, theological reasoning, and global mission realities, emphasizing how systematic theology undergirds practical engagement with the spiritually and materially poor in a secularizing world.

2. Notes

• Labadism / Pietism: sectarian movements rejecting the institutional church; lead to isolation, weak discipleship, erosion of church identity.

• Inspiration (Spiration): Scripture as divinely authored; organic infusion of ideas and words; God as supreme authority over all Scripture.

• Infallibility: non-failing, non-deceptive, plenary (full), verbal (word-level); applies to canonical Scripture only.

• Canonical vs Apocryphal: canonical = sacred, authoritative; apocryphal = non-sacred, supplementary.

• Historical & Hermeneutical Methods: necessary for illuminating meaning, including linguistic, historical, and contextual analysis (p. 515).

• Anselm: Cur Deus Homo, faith seeking understanding; freedom of will; rectitude of will; moral knowledge; incarnation; Trinity; predestination; grace; refusal to compromise ecclesial principles.

• Calvin: double grace—1) reconciliation through Christ, 2) sanctification enabling moral and spiritual development; joy in Christian life; critique of purely moralistic readings.

• Dogma: articulation of the church’s life using intellect; synthetic theology: God, man, Christ, salvation, church, last things.

• Systematic Theology: post-WWII marginalization due to relativism, comparative studies, and secular influences; Bolt stresses its continued necessity.

• Practical Application: global Christian challenges include billions spiritually lost, extreme poverty (Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone), secularism; mission work requires long-term engagement, co-suffering, co-witnessing, collaboration.

• Mental & Spiritual Health: theology and faith should promote holistic joy, mental health, and engagement with life.

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3. Key Terms

• Spiration: divine inspiration of Scripture.

• Infallibility: complete reliability of Scripture in matters of faith and salvation.

• Plenary & Verbal Inspiration: all words and ideas are divinely inspired.

• Canonical / Apocryphal: distinction between sacred authoritative texts and non-sacred writings.

• Double Grace: Calvinist doctrine combining reconciliation and sanctification.

• Rectitude of Will: freedom exercised for moral integrity.

• Synthetic Method: Berkhof/Berkhouwer’s systematic approach to theology.

• Co-suffering / Co-witnessing / Collaboration: practices for global Christian mission.

• Dogma: intellectual articulation of the church’s life.

• Faith Seeking Understanding: Anselm’s method linking reason and faith.

• Here’s a refined, seminary-ready set of definitions for your latest Key Terms / Concepts, consistent with your existing glossary style:

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  📘 Key Terms / Concepts

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  Spiration
  The divine inspiration or “breathing forth” of Scripture, emphasizing that God is the ultimate source of biblical truth while recognizing human authorship as the medium through which revelation is conveyed.

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  Infallibility
  The complete reliability and trustworthiness of Scripture in matters of faith and salvation. Infallibility affirms that God’s Word faithfully communicates divine truth, guiding believers without error in what is necessary for life and godliness.

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  Plenary & Verbal Inspiration
  A doctrine affirming that all words (verbal) and all ideas (plenary) of Scripture are inspired by God. This ensures that every part of the biblical text communicates God’s truth, while allowing for literary style and authorial personality.

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  Canonical / Apocryphal

  • Canonical – Writings recognized as authoritative Scripture, forming the official corpus of God’s revelation.

  • Apocryphal – Writings not included in the canonical Bible, often historically or theologically interesting but not normatively binding for faith or practice.

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  Double Grace
  A Calvinist concept describing the twofold work of God in salvation:

  1. Reconciliation (Justification) – restoring the believer to right relationship with God.

  2. Sanctification – ongoing transformation into Christlikeness through the Spirit’s work.

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  Rectitude of Will
  The moral integrity and freedom exercised in alignment with God’s purposes. Rectitude of will involves deliberate choice of virtue, obedience, and ethical consistency, reflecting the believer’s cooperation with divine grace.

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  Synthetic Method
  A systematic approach to theology (e.g., Berkhof, Berkouwer) that integrates biblical exegesis, historical understanding, and doctrinal reflection to produce coherent, unified theological formulations.

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  Co-suffering / Co-witnessing / Collaboration
  Practices essential to global Christian mission:

  • Co-suffering – sharing in the struggles, persecution, or hardships of others in solidarity.

  • Co-witnessing – jointly proclaiming the gospel across cultural and denominational lines.

  • Collaboration – strategic, relational partnerships that honor local contexts while advancing the mission of the church.

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  Dogma
  The formal intellectual articulation of the church’s core beliefs. Dogma provides clarity, consistency, and authoritative teaching that shapes faith and guides practice within the Christian community.

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  Faith Seeking Understanding (Fides quaerens intellectum)
  Anselm’s method emphasizing that faith precedes reason, but true understanding deepens through reflection, study, and inquiry. Belief and intellect work together, with reason clarifying and defending the truths of faith.

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4. Unclear / Questions

• Several shorthand references (e.g., NT Anself, HX Ch, p. numbers like 239, 267, 286, 515) need context for precise meaning.

• Global statistics for Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone are mentioned, but the source or methodology is unclear.

• Mentions of mental health and “mentally healthy perspective” in relation to Calvin’s joy could use further clarification.

• Some abbreviations and lecture shorthand remain opaque (e.g., “Ith..,” “Iskd”).

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If you like, I can start combining sections 16–22 into a single comprehensive 4-part summary next, which will give a full picture of Bolt’s lectures and notes so far. This would help to see themes and connections across sections.

Do you want me to do that next?