INTRODUCTION TO DOGMATIC THEOLOGY

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1. CONCEPT AND OBJECT OF THEOLOGY

The word theology, according to its etymology, means "teaching concerning God’’. (De divinitate ratio sive sermo: St. Augustine, De Civ. Dei VIII I). Thus theology is the science of God.

a) MATERIAL OBJECT (SCOPE OF STUDY)

 It is firstly God, and secondly, created things under the aspect of their relation to God:

b) FORMAL OBJECT ( angle from which the object is studied)

 A distinction must be made between natural and supernatural theology:

a)The formal object of natural theology is God, as He is known by natural reason from creation;

b) The formal object of supernatural Theology is. God,. as He is known by faith from revelation

2. THE DIVISION OF THEOLOGY

Theology is a single science focused on God and the created world as revealed through Divine Revelation. It is divided into various branches and departments based on its different functions, all of which are sub-divisions of the same theological science.

a) Dogmatic Theology, which includes Fundamental Theology, i.e., the basis of Dogmatic Theology.

b) Biblical-historical Theology: Biblical introduction, Hermeneutics, Exegesis; Church History, History of Dogmas, l-history of Liturgy, Church Legal History, Patrology.

c) Practical Theology: Moral Theology, Church law, Pastoral Theology, including Catechetics and Homiletics

3. CONCEPT AND METHOD OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY

Dogmatic theology can be defined as "the scientific exposition of the whole theoretical doctrine revealed by God about God Himself and His activity and ,which we accept on the authority of the Church.''

THE METHOD OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY IS BOTH POSITIVE AND SPECULATIVE

a) POSITIVE DOGMATIC THEOLOGY is concerned with doctrines that have been proposed to our belief by the Teaching Authority of the Church (dogmatic factor) and that are contained in the sources of Revelation, Scripture and Tradition (Biblical-Patristic factor). In so far as it defends the doctrine of the Church against false conceptions, it becomes controversial theology (apologetic or polemic factor)

b) SPECULATIVE DOGMATIC THEOLOGY, which is identical with the so-called scholastic theology, strives as far as possible for an insight into the truths of faith by the application of human reason to the content of revelation.

4.THE CONCEPT OF DOGMA

Dogma is the truth immediately revealed by God which has been proposed by the Teaching Authority of the Church to be believed as such.

TWO FACTORS OR ELEMENTS MAY BE DISTINGUISHED:

a) An immediate Divine Revelation of the particular Dogma (revelatio immediate divina or revelatio formalis), i.e., the Dogma must be immediately revealed by God either explicitly (explicite) or inclusively (implicite), and therefore be contained in the sources of Revelation (Holy Writ or Tradition).

b) The Promulgation of the Dogma by the Teaching Authority of the Church (propositio Ecclesiae). This implies, not merely the -promulgation of the Truth, but also the obligation on the part of the Faithful of believing the Truth.

5.CATHOLIC, PROTESTANT AND MODERNIST CONCEPTION OF DOGMA

ASPECT	CATHOLIC	PROTESTANT	MODERNIST
SOURCE OF TRUTH	IMMEDIATE AND FORMAL REVELATION FROM GOD.	BIBLICAL REVELATION	SUBJECTIVE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE WHERE GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO MAN.
TEACHING AUTHORITY	PROPOSED BY THE CHURCH TEACHING AUTHORITY.	REJECTS THE CHURCH'S TEACHING AUTHORITY.	CHURCH AUTHORITY APPROVES OF THE FORMULA, BUT THE BASIS IS SUBJECTIVE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.
NATURE OF REVELATION	SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION.	SCRIPTURE.	INTERPRETATION OF RELIGIOUS FACTS ACQUIRED BY THEOLOGICAL MENTAL WORK.
CONNECTION BETWEEN DOGMA AND CHURCH	DOGMAS ARE PROPOSED BY THE CHURCH AND MUST BE BELIEVED BY DIVINE AND CATHOLIC FAITH.	THERE IS A CONNECTION TO UNITY OF DOCTRINE, BUT THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHURCH IS NOT RECOGNIZED.	THE CHURCH FORMALLY APPROVES THE FORMULAS, BUT THE TRUTH IS NOT SEEN AS COMING DIRECTLY FROM HEAVEN.
VISION ON REVELATION	DOGMA MUST BE CONTAINED IN THE SOURCES OF REVELATION.	BIBLICAL REVELATION IS SELF-SUFFICIENT.	CONCEPTIONS ARE THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FACTS.

 6. CLASSIFICATION OF DOGMAS

CLASSIFICATION OF DOGMAS
ACCORDING TO THEIR CONTENT	General dogmas (dogmata generalia)	Fundamental truths of christianity.
	Special dogmas (dogmata specialia)	Individual truths contained in general dogmas.
ACCORDING TO THEIR RELATION WITH REASON	Pure dogmas (dogmata pura)	Known only through divine revelation, e.g.: the trinity (mysteries).
	Mixed dogmas (dogmata mixta)	Also known by natural reason, e.g.: the existence of god.
ACCORDING TO THE MODE BY WHICH THE CHURCH PROPOSES THEM	Formal dogmas (dogmata formalia)	Proposed for belief by the teaching authority of the church as truths of revelation.
	Material dogmas (dogmata materialia).	Not proposed by the church teaching authority; they are not dogmas in the strict sense.
ACCORDING TO THEIR RELATION WITH SALVATION	Necessary dogmas (dogmata necessaria)	They must be explicitly believed by everyone to achieve eternal salvation.
	Non-necessary dogmas (dogmata non-necessaria)	Implicit faith (fides implicita) is sufficient.

7. CATHOLIC TRUTH 

CATHOLIC TRUTHS
THEOLOGICAL CONCLUSIONS (conclusiones theologicae)	Religious truths which are derived from two premisses, of which one is an immediately revealed truth, and the other a truth of natural reason.
	mediately or virtually (virtualiter) revealed	One premiss is a truth of Revelation.
	object of immediate Divine Faith (fides Immediate Divina).	both premisses are immediately revealed truths, then the conclusion also must be regarded as being immediately revealed.
DOGMATIC FACTS  (facta dogmatica)	Historical facts, which are not revealed, but which are intrinsically connected with revealed truth.
	e.g., The legality of a Pope or of a General Council, or the fact of the Roman episcopate of St. Peter.
TRUTHS OF REASON	Have not been revealed, but which are intrinsically associated with a revealed truth.
	e.g., Those philosophic truths which are presuppositions of the acts of Faith (knowledge of the supersensual, possibility of proofs of God, the spirituality of the soul, the freedom of will), or philosophic concepts, in terms of which dogma is promulgated (person, substance, transubstantiation, etc.).

8. THEOLOGICAL OPINIONS

 Theological opinions are free views on aspects of doctrines concerning Faith and morals, which are neither clearly attested in Revelation nor decided by the Teaching Authority of the Church. Their value depends upon the reasons adduced in their favour (association with the doctrine of Revelation, the attitude of the Church. etc.).

A point of doctrine ceases to be an object off free judgment when the Teaching Authority of the Church takes an attitude which is clearly in favour of one opinion.

9.THE THEOLOGICAL GRADES OF CERTAINTY 

DOGMAS	The highest degree of certainty appertains to the immediately revealed truths.
de fide, de fide Catholica; de fide divina et Catholica.     Examples: The Immaculate Conception; all the contents of the Athanasian Creed.	fides divina	Based on the authority of God Revealing.
	fides catholica	Also based on the authority of the Infallible Teaching Authority of the Church.
	de fide definita	Defined by a solemn judgment of faith (definition) of the Pope or of a General Council.
DOCTRINE OF ECCLESIASTICAL FAITH fides ecclesiastica, De fide ecclesiastica definita	A truth not directly revealed by God but closely connected with Divine revelation and infallibly proposed by the Magisterium. Example: The lawfulness of communion under one kind.
PROXIMATE TO FAITH Sententia fidei próxima.	It is a doctrine, which is regarded by theologians generally as a truth of Revelation. but which has not yet been finally promulgated as such by the Church. Example: Christ possessed the Beatific Vision throughout his life on earth.

PERTAINING TO THE FAITH theologically certain, Facto dogmatico.	It is a doctrine, on which the Teaching Authority of the Church has not yet finally pronounced, but whose truth is guaranteed by its intrinsic connection with the doctrine of revelation (theological conclusions). Example: Legitimacy of Pope Pius XI.
COMMON TEACHING Sententia communis	It is doctrine, which in itself belongs to the field of the free opinions, but which is accepted by theologians generally. Example: The true and strict causality of the sacraments.
PROBABLE sententia probabilis, probabilior, bene fundata	A theological opinion which is well founded either on the grounds of its intrinsic coherence or the extrinsic weight of authority favouring it.
TOLERATED  opinio tolerata	The least degree of certainty is possessed by the tolerated opinion (opinio tolerata). which is only weakly founded, but which is tolerated by the Church.

10. THEOLOGICAL CENSURES 

By a theological censure is meant the judgment which characterises a proposition touching Catholic Faith or Moral Teaching as contrary to Faith or at least as doubtful. If it be pronounced by the Teaching Authority of the Church it is an authoritative or judicial judgment (censura authentica or iudcialis). If it be pronounced by Theological Science it is a private doctrinal judgment (censura doctrinalis).

HERETICAL  (propositio haeretica).	Opposed to a formal dogma.
PROXIMATE TO HERESY  (propositio heresi proxima)	Opposed to a truth which is proximate to the Faith (Sent. fidei proxima).
SAVOURING OF OR SUSPECT OF HERESY propositio haeresim sapiens or de haeresi suspecta
ERRONEOUS  (propositio erornea)	Opposed to a truth which is proposed by the Church as a truth intrinsically  connected with a revealed truth (error in fide ecclesiastica) or opposed to the common teaching of theologians (error theologicus)
FALSE (prop. Falsa)	Contradicting a dogmatic fact
TEMERARIOUS  (prop. temeraria)	Deviating without reason from the general teaching;
OFFENSIVE TO PIOUS EARS (prop. piarum aurium ofensiva)	Offensive to religious feeling;
BADLY EXPRESSED (prop. male sonans)	Subject to misunderstanding by reason of its method of expression.
CAPTIOUS PROPOSITION (prop. Captiosa)	Reprehensible because of its intentional ambiguity.
Proposition exciting scandal propositio scandalosa

  

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 🔎SEE ALSO: 

✅IS IT POSSIBLE TO RESIST THE VICAR OF CHRIST?

✅ ''ALL RELIGIONS ARE A PATH TO REACH GOD''- A REVIEW OF 'POPE' FRANCIS' LATEST HERESIES

✅ GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRED SCRIPTURES

✅ THE TYPES OF PAPAL DOCUMENTS

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REFERENCES 

Ott, Ludwig. Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma. 6th ed., B. Herder Book Company, 1954.

Cartechini, Sixtus. "The Church's Theological Notes or Qualifications." On the Value of Theological Notes and the Criteria for Discerning Them, translated and adapted by John Daly