Systematic Theology

310 Pages·1953·5.23 MB·English

by  Ernest S. Williams

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VOLUME ONE
BIBLIOLOGY
ANGELOLOGY
THEOLOGY
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By
ERNEST SWING WILLIAMS
Former General Superintendent
General Council of the Assemblies of God
02-0643
Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, Mo,
CONTENTS
Part 1: Bibliology ....................................................... ix
Part 2: Angelology .................................................... 85
Part 3: Theology......................................................... 151
Notes .............................................................................. 279
Index .............................................................................. 295
Copyright 1953 by the
Gospel Publishing House
Springfield, Missouri 65802-1894
Printed in the United States of America
APPRECIATION
The Reverend Frank M. Boyd has given his untiring
labors to the editing and arranging of the material in
this book. To him the author owes a debt of gratitude
which he can only acknowledge, never pay. Page by page
Reverend Boyd has given the most careful attention to
every sentence, and, where expressions have been used
that might not be clear to those who read, he has sought
to make the meaning clear. Having worked side by side
with him as he has gone over much of the material, I
can only say, “I thank you,” which by no means expresses
the appreciation which I feel in my heart. If these notes
prove of blessing to any, Reverend Boyd should share in
credit for the same equally with the author who has had
the pleasure of gathering the material which the notes
provide.
Ernest Swing Williams
v
PREFACE
When I began compiling the material in these notes, I
had no idea that it would ever appear in print. The notes
were prepared in the simplest form for use in the class­
room. The time came when it was suggested that they be
arranged for printing. It was in response to this sug­
gestion that the task was undertaken.
Most of my life has been devoted to the study and
ministry of the Word of God, but this task was much
different from arranging the Scriptures for use in the
classroom. In so arranging these studies it was my desire
that my students might receive, not the theological thought
of one school of interpreters only, but a general view; also
that they might know the various doctrinal positions, and
the reasons why they were believed. While doing this,
the desire also has been to hold before the students and
others who might read this book that form of doctrine
which is most surely believed among us, while never
attempting to coerce anyone to my personal way of
thinking.
I have noticed that some attack the beliefs of others,
while they know little as to the reasons why others hold
to beliefs which differ from their own. It is my opinion that
many who oppose the teaching of eternal security know
little as to the fundamental reasons for believing this
teaching. I think it possible also that among those schooled
in this teaching, there are many who do not know why
others oppose it. Students of Scripture need information.
Where there are differences among God’s devout children,
we do well, as far as we are able, to understand the nature
of these differences.
Such knowledge ought to lead to better understanding
which, it is hoped, might provoke closer fellowship rather
than separation. Much good has come to me through
reading the works of different writers. On some subjects
I have seen things differently, but at the same time I have
been enabled to understand the position of others better.
This enables me to appreciate them more.
For one thing we may all be thankful. Every born-
again believer in our Lord Jesus Christ has full confidence
in the fundamental truths of Holy Scripture and full
reliance on the efficacy of the redemption which our Lord
Jesus came to bring.
It is unfortunate that the terms Calvinistic and Armin-
ian have to be used to describe theories concerning which
many disagree. Calvinism teaches that man’s salvation is
the result of Divine decree which determined, before man
existed, who should be saved and who were to be rep­
robate, or damned. Arminians present the belief that
the invitation to eternal life is to “whosoever will.” When
Calvinism and Arminianism are spoken of in these notes,
two theories will be the matter of consideration, not two
men.
Having advanced this information it is with pleasure
that the fruit of my studies and the further fruit resulting
from class discussion are presented. Much do I owe to my
students for stimulation of thought.
Ernest S. Williams

BIBLIOLOGY OUTLINE
Chapteh One
INTRODUCTION 1
Man Will Worship—Man by Nature Religious—Results of the Fall—
The Knowledge of God—The Knowledge of Sin—Knowledge of the
Need of Sacrifice—Place of the Scriptures—Natural Theology—
Need of Revealed Theology.
Chapteh Two
BIRTH OF THE BIBLE 9
Calling of Abraham—Calling of Moses—Laws of Hammurabi—
The Early Chaldeans—The Babylonian Genesis—The Bible Writers—
Meaning of Bible—Original Manuscripts—The Apocryphal Books—
Reasons for Rejecting the Apocrypha from the Canon—The
Science of Scripture—Concerning Evolution—Population Before the
Deluge—Geology, or Science of the Earth and the Bible—Original
Creation.
Chapter Three
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS 19
Old Testament Scriptures—A Sketch of the Books—The Law—The
Pentateuch the First Division of the Hebrew Bible—The Prophets,
Jewish Classification—The Early Prophets—The Later Prophets—
The Major Prophets—The Minor Prophets—The Poetical Books—
The Historical Books.
Chapter Four
THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON 27
Meaning of Canon—Test as to Canonicity—Need of the Old Testa­
ment Canon—Establishment of the Old Testament Canon—Josephus
on the Canon of the Old Testament—Books of the Old Testament
Canon.
Chapter Five
THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON 31
How’ Instruction Was First Given—Period in Which the New Testa­
ment Was Written—Need of an Authoritative New Testament—
Books Worthy of Acceptance—Development of the Canon—The Dio­
cletian Persecution—Romish Error—Steps in Accepting the New
Testament Books—The Work Called the Vulgate—Use of the Bible
in the Dark Ages—The Bible in the Reformation—The Authorized
Version.
Chapter Six
DIVINE REVELATION 43
The Revelation of the Scriptures—The Interpreter of the Scriptures—
Accepting the Mysteries of God—Conscience and Scripture Are in
Agreement—Why a Divine Revelation—The Bible Meets Human
Needs—The New Testament Foretold by Jesus—Testimony of Early
Church Fathers.
Chapter Seven
ETERNAL EVIDENCES 51
Miracles—Definition of Miracle—Value of Miracle—Miracles in the
Old Testament—Miracles Testify the Moral Attributes of God—
Miracles of Jesus—Miracles in the Christian Church—Miracles Alone
Are Not Enough—Prophecy—Present and Future Fulfillment—
General Laws of Prophetic Prediction.
Chapter Eight
INTERNAL AND COLLATERAL EVIDENCES
OF DIVINE REVELATION 65
The Bible Unfolds the Nature and Attributes of God—The Bible
Discloses the Moral Condition of Man—The Bible Discloses the
Doctrine of Atonement—The Bible Reveals the Work of the Holy
Spirit—Collateral Evidences.
Chapter Nine
INSPIRATION 73
Meaning of Inspiration—Mystery of Inspiration—Material in
Inspiration—Modes of Inspiration—The Inspired Scriptures—Inspira­
tion in the Old Testament—Inspiration in the New Testament—Ex­
amples of Inspiration—The Completed Plan.
X