Overview
This lecture explains the concept of prolegomena—foundational philosophical preconditions necessary before studying theology—and highlights its importance for interpreting the Bible and developing sound doctrine.
What is Prolegomena?
- Prolegomena means "things spoken before," referring to philosophical groundwork laid before doing theology.
- It involves establishing fundamental truths about God, humans, and communication before interpreting the Bible.
- Prolegomena seeks independent rational justification for theological preconditions, not merely presuppositions from scripture.
Preconditions for Theology
- Three main areas: the existence and nature of God, the nature of human beings, and the adequacy of language for revelation.
- God must exist as a necessary, uncaused, eternal, and unchanging being.
- Humans are a unity of body and soul, capable of knowing absolute truth via intellect and senses.
- Language must be sufficient to convey absolute truth, with meaning rooted in the text itself.
Goals and Application
- Ensure philosophical assumptions agree with scripture and support full biblical inerrancy.
- Prolegomena helps distinguish between literal and figurative passages, aiding proper interpretation (hermeneutics).
- A correct view of God prevents theological errors like open theism or anthropomorphic conceptions (e.g., Dake Bible).
Distinguishing Prolegomena, Apologetics, and Theology
- Apologetics defends the truth of Christianity; prolegomena provides the philosophical approach needed before doing theology.
- Prolegomena assumes apologetics has established God's existence and scripture’s reliability.
Common Pitfalls and Theological Errors
- Failing to establish sound preconditions leads to misinterpretations, e.g., viewing God as changing or finite.
- Errors like trichotomy (instead of dichotomy) in human nature lead to problematic theology (e.g., deliverance ministries).
- Misunderstanding language’s role can result in subjective or relativistic interpretations.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Prolegomena — Foundational philosophical issues and truths established before engaging in theology.
- Necessary Being — A being that exists by necessity and is uncaused (i.e., God).
- Dichotomy — The view that humans are a unity of body and soul.
- Anthropomorphism — Attributing human characteristics to God for understanding, often metaphorically.
- Absolute Truth — Truth that is universally valid, not relative to individuals or cultures.
- Inerrancy — The doctrine that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review "Prolegomena to Evangelical Theology" by Potter and Geisler for foundational understanding.
- For deeper study, consult Geisler’s full "Systematic Theology."
- Prepare to study hermeneutics and related foundational topics in future lectures.
- Download the free ebook at sees.edu/alisa for more resources.