Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Geisler Vol 2 Chaps 2 and 3

    Uploaded by

    Mark E. Hardgrove
    126 views13 pages
    This document summarizes chapters 2 and 3 from Norman Geisler's book "Systematic Theology II". Chapter 2 discusses God's pure actuality and simplicity, explaining that God exists in act with no potentiality and is indivisible without parts. Chapter 3 covers God's aseity and necessity, defining that God exists of Himself independently and cannot not exist, unlike contingent creatures. Key biblical support is cited for each divine attribute.

    Original Description:

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    This document summarizes chapters 2 and 3 from Norman Geisler's book "Systematic Theology II". Chapter 2 discusses God's pure actuality and simplicity, explaining that God exists in act with no potentiality and is indivisible without parts. Chapter 3 covers God's aseity and necessity, defining that God exists of Himself independently and cannot not exist, unlike contingent creatures. Key biblical support is cited for each divine attribute.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    126 views13 pages

    Geisler Vol 2 Chaps 2 and 3

    Uploaded by

    Mark E. Hardgrove
    This document summarizes chapters 2 and 3 from Norman Geisler's book "Systematic Theology II". Chapter 2 discusses God's pure actuality and simplicity, explaining that God exists in act with no potentiality and is indivisible without parts. Chapter 3 covers God's aseity and necessity, defining that God exists of Himself independently and cannot not exist, unlike contingent creatures. Key biblical support is cited for each divine attribute.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 13

    Geisler, Norman

    Systematic Theology II
    Chapters 2 and 3

    SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY II
    WEEK 1, SESSION 2
    Chapter 2

    God’s Pure Actuality and Simplicity

    Pages 30-57
    For test purposes pay close attention to biblical
    support for the attributes highlighted in chapter 2.
    God’s Pure Actuality and Simplicity

    Actuality—that which is in act or that which is


    (existence). This is in contrast to “potentiality”—
    that which can be, or potential for existence.
    Pure actuality is that which has no potential to not
    exist or to be anything other than it is.
    Pure actuality has no potential of any kind, to say
    nothing of the potential to cease to exist.
    It is pure act.
    Biblical Basis for God’s Pure Actuality

    God exists independently of all else: Gen. 1:1; Col.


    1:17; Ps. 90:2; Rev. 1:8; Rev. 1:17; John 17:5, cf.
    17:24; Rev. 13:8; 17:8.
    God gives existence to everything else: Gen. 1:1; Gen.
    1:21; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11; Acts 17:25; Rom.
    11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:2; Heb. 2:10.
    God is pure existence: Ex. 3:14; John 8:58, 59.
    The Theological Basis for God’s Pure Actuality

    Pure actuality follows from God’s


    “uncausality.” God is the uncaused Cause of
    everything that exists.
    Pure actuality follows from God’s Necessity.
    A necessary Being is by definition on who
    cannot not exist.
    God’s Simplicity

    “Simp
    le mea
    has pa ns wit
    rts can hout p
    means come a ar t s , f o
    indivis part. S r what
    capabl ible; th imple
    e o f be at is, G also
    ing div od is n
    ided.” o t
    Geisle
    r, p. 39
    Conclusion

    God’s pure actuality is fundamental to the classical


    orthodox view of God, from it all the other basic
    metaphysical attributes can be derived.
    The simplicity (indivisibility) of God is also a
    fundamental attribute of classical theism. Simplicity
    undergirds not only many of the other crucial
    attributes of God but also all other doctrines based
    on them.
    Chapter 3

    God’s Aseity and Necessity

    Pages 48-73
    For test purposes pay close attention to biblical
    support for the attributes highlighted in chapter 2.
    God’s Aseity

    Definition of God’s Aseity: “Aseity comes


    from the Latin aseite, meaning literally “of
    oneself.” Used of God, it denotes that He
    exists in and of Himself, independent of
    anything else. He is self-existent.”
    ~Geisler, p. 58
    God’s Necessity, p. 64

    A necessary Being is one whose nonexistence is


    impossible; that is, if a necessary Being exists, then He
    must exist necessarily. This can be stated in at least
    four ways. A necessary Being is

    (1)A Being whose nonexistence is not possible;


    (2)A Being whose existence is essential;
    (3)A Being whose essence is to exist;
    (4)A Being whose essence and existence are identical.
    God’s Necessity, p. 64

    In contrast to a necessary Being, a contingent being is

    (1)A being whose nonexistence is possible;


    (2)A being whose existence is not essential;
    (3)A being whose essence is not to exist;
    (4)A being whose essence and existence are not
    identical.

    {Be able to discuss the contrast between a necessary


    Being and a contingent being.}
    Biblical and Theological
    Basis for God’s Necessity
    Biblical Basis
     Gen. 1:1
     Ps. 90:2
     John 1:3
     Acts 17:25
     Rom. 11:36
     Col. 1:16
     Rev. 1:8; 3:14
    Summary

    “God has both aseity and necessity; His


    existence is inherent and necessary. He exists
    in Himself, and He cannot not exist. Unlike
    creatures, whose existence is derived from
    another and is contingent, God’s existence is
    both uncaused and independent.”
    ~Geisler, p. 72

    You might also like