Key Passages:

Romans 1:17-23 – God’s revelation to all humankind

Psalm 19:1-6 – The heavens declare God’s glory

Acts 14:15-17 – Goodness of God, even to idolaters

2 Peter 1:19-21 – God’s prophetic message

2 Kings 22//2 Chron. 34 – Prophets speaking falsely in His name

Key questions:

1. What does nature say about God to the nonbeliever? To the believer? Does anyone come to nature without a bias?

2. Science is often seen as being in conflict with the revealed Word of God. How do we mediate between the various models?

a. Accept the Bible as a science book

b. Accept science as overturning the Bible

c. Recognize that the “science” in the Bible is adapted to limited human understanding (the doctrine of divine accommodation or divine condescension)

3. The written word — which method is best?

a. Deductive approach (2 Peter 1:19-21)

b. Inductive approach: Accommodation (2 Chron. 34)

4. Word Incarnate (John 1:14; 14:8-11). How do we discover from the written record the story of a living Lord?

5. God uses other methods. Is our understanding of them shaped by Scripture?

a. Providence

b. Human relationships

c. Holy Spirit