Toward a Quaker Systematic Theology

[raschau]

A work in progress to be updated in subsequent posts.

I've been piecing this together using the Richmond Declaration of Faith (1887), the Statement of Faith of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), and assorted Faith and Practices (Manuals/Disciplines) of the Evangelical Friends Church International (to which the Richmond Declaration and the NAE Statement are appended).

Charles Hodge [Presbyterian], in his Systematic Theology (Vol. I, 1871), writes: "Those [Quakers] who call themselves orthodox... differ very little from the great body of evangelical Christians." Following an analysis of some of their core doctrines, he concludes: "It thus appears that the orthodox Friends are in sympathy, on all fundamental doctrines, with the great body of their fellow Christians."

Topical contents: God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Holy Scripture.

Of God

God is one, eternal, omnipresent, unchanging, and personal [Deut. 6:4, Mark 12:29, Psa. 90:1-2, Rom. 1:20, Psa. 129:7-12, James 1:17, Mal. 3:6, John 14:9]; perfect in holiness, wisdom, love, power, and justice [Isa. 6:3, 1 Pet. 1:15-16, Rom. 11:33, 1 John 4:8, 1 Ch. 29:11-12, Isa. 40:26-28, Eph. 1:18-20, Psa. 89:14, Rom. 3:26]; without preceding cause or beginning [Psa. 93:2]; creator [Gen. 1:1, Rom. 11:36] and preserver [Psa. 93:2, Col. 1:16-17] of all things, visible and invisible.

He exists as one divine being and yet as a trinity of three distinct persons, identical, inseparable, and equal in divinity, power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit [Matt. 28:19, John 14:16, 18, 23, 2 Cor. 13:14].

God revealed Himself in the past in many and various ways, though supremely in the person of Jesus Christ [Heb. 1:2, John 1:18]. He continues to reveal Himself today through His creation [Rom. 1:19-20], the Holy Scriptures [2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:21], and the workings of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of people [Acts 8:29, 13:2, 15:28, 16:6-10]. He alone is worthy of our worship, honor, praise and thanksgiving, now and forevermore [Gal. 1:5].
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Of Jesus Christ

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Word who was with God and was God [John 1:1-2, Col. 1:16-17], is the only begotten Son of God [John 1:18, 1 John 4:9]. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit [Matt. 1:20, Luke 1:35] and born of the Virgin Mary [Matt. 1:18, Luke 1:34] and is the express image of the invisible God [Col. 1:15]. He combines within Himself both the divine nature of God and human nature in one perfect indivisible personality, the God-man [John 1:14, Col. 2:9].

He lived and suffered in the world to show the Way of Life [John 14:6, Rom. 5:10, Eph. 5:2, 1 Pet. 2:21]. He was crucified and died as the atonement for the sins of the whole world [Rom. 3:23-25, 1 John 2:2], making the only provision whereby people can find forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all unrighteousness [Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:13-14, Titus 2:14].

He died in our place [1 Cor. 15:4, 1 John 4:10] and was raised the third day for our justification [Rom. 4:25, 1 Cor. 15:4]; He ascended into heaven [Acts 1:9; Eph. 4:8] and sits at the right hand of God, ever living as our only Mediator and High Priest making intercession for us [Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25, 9:24], and from there will return again to receive His church unto Himself [1 Thess. 4:15-17] and to judge the world in righteousness [Rom. 2:16, 2 Tim. 4:1].
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Of the Holy Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit, not as an impersonal principle or influence, but as a divine person [John 14:16-17, 26, 16:13-14], and though distinct from the Father and Son, proceeding from both [John 15:26, 16:7], with whom He is equal in authority, power, glory, and titles [Matt. 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14].

He is the divine agent in conviction of sin [John 16:8], regeneration [John 3:5], sanctification [1 Cor. 6:11], and the believers' assurance [Rom. 8:15-16, Gal. 4:6].

He is given as an indwelling Presence to every believer to be a teacher [John 14:26], guide [John 16:13], and source of comfort [Acts 9:31]. He purifies the heart of the believer [Acts 15:9, 1 John 1:9] and imparts at His own choosing spiritual gifts for service and the building up of the body of Christ [1 Cor 12:4-11, Eph. 4:7-13]. He produces in believers the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5:22-23] so that they may conform to the image of Christ.
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Of Holy Scripture

As with early Friends, we believe that all Scripture [2 Tim. 3:16], both of the Old and New Testaments, is given by inspiration of God, without error in all that it affirms [Psa. 19:7-11], and is the only infallible rule of faith and practice [Psa. 119:4, 105]. It is fully authoritative and trustworthy, fully sufficient for all believers now and always [Psa. 119:89, 1 Pet. 1:25], and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness [2 Tim. 3:16-17].

Thus, the declarations contained in it rest on the authority of God Himself [1 Thess. 2:13], and there can be no appeal from them to any other authority whatever. They are the only divinely authorized record of the doctrines which we are bound as Christians to believe [Rom. 1:16-17], and of the moral principles which are to regulate our behavior [Psa. 119:9]. Only such doctrines as are contained in the Scripture can be regarded as Articles of Faith [John 17:17]. The Holy Spirit, who inspired the Scripture, must ever be its true interpreter [John 14:26, 16:13, 2 Pet. 1:21]. Whatever any person says or does which is contrary to the Scripture, though under profession of the guidance of the Spirit, must be reckoned and accounted a delusion [2 Pet. 1:20, 1 John 4:1].

The Scripture demands of believers complete obedience [Psa. 119:4, 1 Cor. 4:2] and is made increasingly open to those who study and obey it [1 Cor. 2:4-5, 12].​

 

[raschau]

Topical contents: Creation, Satan, Humanity.

Of Creation

We believe creation to be that free act of the triune God [Gen. 1:1, 1:26-27], the Father [Heb. 1:2], Son [Col. 1:16], and Holy Spirit [Job 33:4, Psa. 104:30], by which in the beginning and for His own glory [Psa. 19:1, Col. 1:16] God made, without use of pre-existing material [Heb. 11:3], the whole visible and invisible universe [Neh. 9:6, John 1:3].
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Of Satan

We believe in the existence of the Evil One, -- that old serpent which is the Devil, and Satan [Rev. 20:2], the old deceiver who by his own choice rebelled against God [Rev. 12:7-9] and became evil, who tempted our first parents to sin [Gen. 3:1-6, 2 Cor. 11:3], and who through their disobedience brought about the fall of the human race [Rom. 5:12, 15-19], with all its attendant degeneracy, unhappiness, and misery [Gen. 3:17-19, Rom. 8:18-22].

Satan demonstrated his evil character and purpose in his perpetual opposition to Christ by the temptations in the wilderness [Matt. 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-15], and to His people and to His kingdom [2 Cor. 4:4, Eph. 2:2]. But Satan's power is limited [Job 1:12, 2:6, 1 Cor. 10:13], and in God's own time he will be chained and finally cast into the lake of fire [Rev. 20:1-3, 10].

While Satan is active in this world, Christians through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them are able to resist Satan's temptations and have victory over him [1 Cor. 10:13, 1 Pet. 5:8-11, 1 John 4:4].
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Of Humanity

The Creation: We believe that by a definite act God created man and woman in His own image, holy and capable of knowing and obeying God's will, in order to glorify God and enjoy His fellowship forever [Gen. 1:26-27, 31, 2:7, James 3:9b].

The Fall: We believe that Adam and Eve fell from this original state by a voluntary act of disobedience [Gen. 3:6-24], thus suffering the immediate loss of a perfect relationship with God [Gen. 2:17] and making self the center of their lives. By this act, they suffered spiritual death, and sin entered the world and death by sin, so that death passed upon all [Eze. 18:19-20, Rom. 5:12-14, 17-19, 6:23a, Psa. 51:5, 58:3].

We further believe that as a consequence of the Fall, all people are born with a nature which is thoroughly sinful [Isa. 53:6] and not subject to the law of God, so that only through the operation of the grace of God can they repent and call upon Him. However, by God's grace infants are not under condemnation but are heirs of salvation [Matt. 18:3].
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[raschau]

Topical contents: Salvation, Justification [the Atonement], Regeneration, Sanctification.

Of Salvation

We affirm the truth of John 14:6 that salvation can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [Gal. 1:3-5, Eph. 2:8-9], through the direct and immediate agency of the Holy Spirit [John 3:5, Rom. 5:5], persons may be reconciled to God and recovered from their fallen state through justification [Rom. 4:25, 5:1, Titus 3:7], regeneration [Col. 3:9-11, Titus 3:5], sanctification [2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:2], and ultimately the resurrection of the body [1 Cor. 15:20-22].
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Of Justification

In response to sinners' repentance, surrender of themselves, and sincere faith in the power and sufficiency of Jesus' atoning death and shed blood, [Eph. 1:7, 1 John 1:8-2:2] God pardons them from past sins and declares them righteous, not for anything they have done but because of the obedience and atoning death of Christ [Rom. 3:23-26, 2 Cor. 5:20-21].
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Of Regeneration

In response to sinners' repentance, surrender of themselves, and sincere faith in the power and sufficiency of Jesus' atoning death and shed blood, God also by His gracious power makes them new creatures [2 Cor. 5:17]. By the Holy Spirit they are born again into the family of God [Rom. 8:14-16] to a new life of love to God and to people [John 3:3, 1 John 4:7-21]. Their minds are enlightened to understand His truth [John 16:12-15, Rom. 12:1-2], and their wills are renewed to do His will [1 John 2:17], as He begins to conform them to His image. The evidence of this regeneration of the believer is the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5:22-23].
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Of Sanctification

We believe that children of God at the moment of their conversion do receive the Holy Spirit [John 3:5-8, Rom. 8:14-17, 1 Cor. 12:13]. As they trust in Him and obey His will, they manifest more and more of the fruit of the Spirit, conform more and more to the likeness of God, and thus are being continuously sanctified [Gal. 5:22-25].

It is also the will of God that believers receive the fullness of the Spirit, [Acts 2:38-39, Eph. 3:14-19, 5:18, 1 Thess. 5:23-24] which He will graciously grant in response to their full consecration to His will and their faith in Christ's promises and in His atoning death[Rom. 8:5, 12:1-2]. Sanctification is thus a process in which the Holy Spirit continuously disciplines the believer into paths of holiness and an act in which He cleanses the heart from an imperfect relationship and state [John 17:17, Rom. 6:1-2, 22-23, Acts 15:8-9].
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We further believe that the fullness of the Holy Spirit does not make believers incapable of choosing to sin, nor even from completely falling away from God, yet it so cleanses and empowers them as to enable them to have victory over sin, to endeavor fully to love God and people, and to witness to the living Christ [2 Cor. 7:1, 2 Pet. 2:20-22, Acts 1:8].
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[Michael Snow]

Have you read Barclay's Apology?

 

[KENIK]

These are interesting postings. I must confess that I favor Barclay's Apology. Traditionally, Quakers are rather wary about systematic theology given that it runs counter to the experience of the Spirit which, when the Spirit's leading comes, many times, is poorly put into words. The experience of God is never exhaustive of its meaning and so we must be wary of language statements that seem to somehow define it. What are your thoughts on all this, raschau?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

i went to quaker meetings in mid-missouri for a few years decades ago and found them peaceful, restful, and not contrary to Scripture.

if they had a 'theological' doctrine or not i don't know nor remember.

the other(no other quaker) places i've been (many dozens over the last 45 years) that have and it is clear within a few visits that they have a 'theological' doctrine were far from peaceful and far from restful.

a few other posters, probably many actually(haven't checked), in other threads have noted the same or similar results and very much more descriptive (about other places, not peaceful nor restful) with much more colorful language (like Yeshua and the disciples used at time directly to the object of their description).

the beautiful exceptions(there've been a few), like the beautiful feet of those who bring good news in Scripture, stands out like life in the midst of death.

this is a testimony for those who are looking for the body of ekklesia wherever they live or wherever they are. the presence or the lack of 'theologic' doctrine is NOT an indicator of presence of life. however, it is likewise true that the presence of a 'doctrine' or a practice that is contrary to any Scripture persistently (unrepentant?) IS an indicator of death.

 

[KENIK]

Thank you for your testimony yeshuaslavejeff.

The discursus of our faith that raschau seeks to define in the thread is also a form of testimony. It is the working of the mind to comprehend a certain conceptual wholeness of the faith, a summary of a part of a human experience. It is a recollection, and given that it is an act of memory, it is a form of God's disclosure, when there is the progressive enlightenment derived from a summary of the recollected past. It is also a disclosure of judgement, God's judgement upon that which is recollected. We shall see how it shall work out.