SR Blog

“Seminary word” of the day: Imputation

To "impute" is "ascribe to" something. It is from Latin imputare: in (which means, well, "in") and put (which means "to settle an account"). In theology, imputation usually refers to the doctrine of Justification. Charles Hodge writes, "The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the believer for his justification. . . . To impute is to ascribe to, to reckon to, to lay to one’s charge."

Protestants believe that this includes the imputation of Christ's righteousness (a kind of credit placed in the believer's "account"). Imputed righteousness is the declaration of a believer's righteousness.   This righteousness is not the believer's own, however. Roman Catholic theology emphasizes that God justifies in accord with an infused righteousness merited by Christ. Hodge responds that, "It seems unnecessary to remark that this does not, and cannot mean that the righteousness of Christ is infused into the believer, or in any way so imparted to him as to change, or constitute his moral character. Imputation never changes the inward, subjective state of the person to whom the imputation is made."

Why is such imputation necessary? Because sin, it seems, is also imputed. Charles Ryrie writes that, "The debate centers around the meaning of Romans 5:12 and especially the last words in that verse—“all sinned.” Do they mean that all are sinners (which is essentially saying that all have a sin nature) or do they mean that in some way all mankind sinned when Adam sinned? If the latter, then this is imputed sin."

Imputed sin, however it is understood, along with man’s personal sin is why, without imputed righteousness, no one would enter heaven.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
(2 Cor. 5:21)

 "Seminary Word" of the Day: a priori / a posteriori.

The distinction between a priori and a posteriori knowledge has to do with what counts toward its truth value. The phrases "a priori" and "a posteriori" are Latin phrases meaning "from what comes before" and "from what comes later" with reference to experience.

A priori knowledge is knowledge is discovered rationally -independent of experience, and rests on rational intuitions, or insights. For example,"All triangles have three sides" can be known a priori because it is simply true by definition.

A posteriori knowledge is found empirically - dependent on sensory experience. The statement "There is a green box in my office" cannot be known simply by reflecting on the nature of boxes.

“Seminary word” of the day: Hypostatic Union

From the Greek hupostasis meaning "that which lies under." BAGD has "substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality (often in contrast to what merely seems to be)" as its primary meaning, but it can also mean "confidence, basis, foundation" etc.

Paul uses the term in 2 Corinthians 9:4 and 11:17 in terms of "confidence," but Hebrews 1:3-3:14 speaks of Jesus as “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” The doctrine of the "hypostatic union" is an explanation of how Jesus could be both God and man at the same time.   Athanasius used the term to describe Jesus' two united natures as well. The teaching was firmly established during the christological heresies. The Council of Chalcedon declared that in Jesus Christ there are two natures united in one person. Jesus will forever be the God-man, fully God and fully human, two distinct natures in one Person. Jesus' humanity and divinity are not mixed, but are united without loss of separate identity.

For more information see: Two Natures of Christ

“Seminary word” of the day: Scientism

From the Latin scientia meaning “knowledge.”

Scientism is the view that science alone provides facts about the world and conclusions from any other discipline are just opinions (”Science” is being used here in the popular sense of it being an empirical discipline that excludes the more speculative disciplines of history, philosophy, theology, etc.). Scientism is neither a science nor is it a conclusion from science. That is, there is no experiment that can be performed to prove Scientism. Scientism is therefore necessarily false.

For more information see: Science: The House That Philosophy Built