Prolegomena
The starting point of theology — preliminary questions about method and how we know.
Lesson 1 · Course 57
Prolegomena: Theologizing, Presuppositions, and Soteriology
Theology starts with Prolegomena — how we gather truth, test it, and name our presuppositions before we speak of salvation.
At a glance
Summary
Collecting data comes first in theologizing. The scientific method begins with a problem and is not identical to deduction. Everyone brings presuppositions; the Bible believer starts with God who has revealed Himself, while the liberal starts with mankind as pinnacle. Theology begins with Prolegomena. Salvation is not eschatology — it is both an instantaneous event and a progressive experience, studied as soteriology.
Quiz 1: 10/10 (100%), 9m 30s, cmid 943 / attempt 101765. Essays Complete/Not graded. Certificate restricted (cmid 2158).
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Collecting all data is the first step in theologizing / arriving at a doctrinal statement.
- The scientific method is not identical to the deductive method; it begins with a problem.
- The first verification test of theological truth is not cohesiveness.
- Everyone interprets with presuppositions.
- Bible believer’s first presupposition: there is a God who has revealed Himself to mankind.
- Theological liberal’s first presupposition: mankind is the pinnacle; reject higher beings including God.
- Theology begins with Prolegomena.
- Salvation is not called Eschatology — soteriology studies salvation as instantaneous event and progressive experience.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Scientific method (in theologizing)
Begins with a problem; not identical to the deductive method.
Presuppositions
Assumptions everyone brings when interpreting the Bible or the universe.
Bible believer’s first presupposition
There is a God, and He has revealed Himself to mankind.
Liberal’s first presupposition
Mankind is the pinnacle of the universe; rejects higher beings including God.
Soteriology
Doctrine of salvation (soteria + logos) — not eschatology.
Five verification tests
Consistency, practicality, relevance, adequacy, comprehensiveness.
Four aspects of salvation
Atonement, conversion, justification, sanctification — with past/present/future tenses.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Theologizing: collect data first; scientific method begins with a problem
- Verifying theological truth (first test is not cohesiveness)
- Presuppositions: Bible believer vs theological liberal
- Theology begins with Prolegomena
- Soteriology defined: not eschatology; instantaneous + progressive
- Five tests; five biblical presuppositions; four aspects and three tenses of salvation
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 1 | 100% (10/10), cmid 943, attempt 101765 |
|---|---|
| First step in theologizing | Collecting all data |
| Scientific method | Begins with a problem; ≠ deductive method |
| First verification test | Not cohesiveness |
| Theology begins with | Prolegomena |
| Salvation study | Soteriology (not Eschatology) |
| Salvation shape | Instantaneous event + progressive experience |
| Cert | Restricted (cmid 2158) |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Bible believer vs theological liberal (first presupposition)
- Believer: God exists and has revealed Himself to mankind
- Liberal: mankind is the pinnacle; reject higher beings including God
Scientific method vs deductive method
- Scientific method begins with a problem
- Not identical to the deductive method of thinking
Soteriology vs Eschatology
- Soteriology = doctrine of salvation
- Salvation is not called Eschatology (Moodle False)
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Name your glasses before you preach your text — everyone starts with presuppositions.
- Collect the data first: doctrine is not a slogan race; it is patient gathering under Scripture.
- Salvation is both crisis and pilgrimage — justified in a moment, becoming like Christ over a lifetime.
- Start where theology starts: Prolegomena — how we know God has spoken.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Collecting all data is the first step in the process of theologizing or arriving at a doctrinal statement.
TrueData collection comes first in theologizing.
2. The scientific method is identical to the deductive method of thinking.
FalseScientific method is not identical to deduction.
3. The scientific method begins with a problem.
TrueIt begins with a problem.
4. The first test used to verify theological truth is cohesiveness.
FalseCohesiveness is not the first verification test.
5. Everyone begins with assumptions or presuppositions when they interpret the Bible or universe.
TrueEveryone brings presuppositions.
6. The first presupposition of a Bible believer is that there is a God and that He has revealed Himself to mankind.
TrueGod exists and has revealed Himself.
7. The first presupposition of a theological liberal is that mankind is the pinnacle of the universe. They reject the notion of any higher order of beings, including God.
TrueLiberal starts with mankind as pinnacle and rejects God.
8. Theology begins with Prolegomena.
TrueProlegomena is the starting point.
9. The theology of Salvation is called Eschatology.
FalseSalvation is soteriology, not eschatology.
10. Salvation is both an instantaneous event progressive experience in the life of the believer.
TrueInstantaneous event and progressive experience (Moodle stem as given).
Essay themes
If you preach or review
Five tests used to verify theological truth
The five tests I would use are consistency, practicality, relevance, adequacy, and comprehensiveness. Consistency asks whether the claims fit together without contradiction. Practicality asks whether the truth corresponds to reality and speaks meaningfully to life. Relevance distinguishes what is essential from what is incidental. Adequacy recognizes that theology has a firm center in God's historical and supernatural revelation in Christ, while not pretending to draw a rigid boundary around every question. Comprehensiveness requires a careful examination of all questions related to the subject, so that nothing important is ignored.
Five presuppositions of the biblical believer
The five presuppositions of the biblical believer are: (1) There is a God, and He has revealed Himself in the Bible. (2) There are laws that are absolute. (3) People can know things to the degree that they directly observe them. (4) Truth is not relative; it is consistent with itself and corresponds to reality. (5) The mind accepts what is logical and rejects what is illogical.
Soteriology: definition, four aspects, and three tenses
Soteriology is the doctrine or study of salvation, from the Greek words soteria (salvation) and logos (word, study, or doctrine). Its four aspects are atonement—the historical work Christ accomplished on the cross; conversion—the human experience of turning from sin to faith; justification—the non-experiential, legal declaration of righteousness before God; and sanctification—the continuing growth into Christlikeness in the new life with Christ. Salvation has three tenses: past, we have been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin; present, we are being saved from the habit and dominion of sin; and future, we will be saved from bodily infirmity and the effects of sin at Christ's return.