Table of Contents
Definition: Ontology is the study of being or existence
Etymology: Greek: etymon (true sense/origin) + logia (study) for the former, and on (being) + logia (study) for the latter.
Concept: Ontology of God’s Glory
Source of Inspiration
25 Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the Gentiles, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Romans 16:25-27 (LSB)
Q: Is there a pattern after which, mankind can leverage as a template to oversee well creation?
A: Romans 16:25-27
Context: Romans 16:25-27 is a final doxology [ a liturgical formula, relating to liturgy / public worship, ] that praises God through Jesus Christ's power to strengthen believers through the gospel
Understanding: In order achieve the ultimate purpose for God to receive God’s Glory from mankind, God is the person, who provides the blueprint pattern of the gospel, through the intermediary interface instrument processor between God and Mankind, the God-Man Jesus Christ, by the act and process of preaching of the word of God by Jesus, releases the power out of the words of God in the scriptures, yet only constrained by the politics of sovereign political pressures of faith in YHWH, in creation.
Observation: There are 7 key elements in the text. They are as follows.
| ID | Observation | Verse | Text | Cause | Prepositional Descriptor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | God’s Glory | v27 | be the glory forever | Final Cause | For which something comes into existence |
| 2. | God | v27 | only wise God | Efficient Cause | By which something comes into existence |
| 3. | Gospel | v26 | according to my gospel | Exemplar Cause | After which something comes into existence |
| 4. | Jesus Christ | v27 | through Jesus Christ | Instrumental Cause | Through which something comes into existence |
| 5. | Scriptures | v26 | by the Scriptures of the prophets | Material Cause | Out of which something comes into existence |
| 6. | Preaching | v25 | and the preaching of Jesus Christ | Formal Cause | Of which something comes into existence |
| 7. | Faith | v26 | leading to obedience of faith | Connected Cause | Amid which something comes into existence |
Observational Analysis:
| ID | Observation | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | God’s Glory | Purpose |
| 2. | Gospel | Pattern |
| 3. | God | Person |
| 4. | Jesus Christ | Processor |
| 5. | Scripture | Power |
| 6. | Preaching | Process |
| 7. | Faith | Politics |
Concept of Ontology: Historical & Philosophical Context Definition of Ontology: the branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being. In short, concept of ontology, deals with the idea of how something ... · comes into being · comes into existence · comes to be Historical Context The philosophical conversation on ontology can be traced back as far as Plato. But it is not until Aristotle, circa ~350BC, that more concretely useful language and lexicon are formulated to communicate the philosophy of ontology through his introduction of Four Causes. They are ...
- material (what it's made of)
- formal (its shape or structure)
- efficient (the agent that caused it)
- final (its purpose or goal) Fast forward to 20th century and the philosophical conversation has transformed to Six Causes of Ontology, which can be found in Norman Gieslar’s Systematic Theology. They are as follows ...
- Material Cause, Out of which something comes into being
- Formal Cause, Of which something comes into being
- Efficient Cause, By which something comes into being
- Final Cause, For which something comes into being
- Instrumental Cause, Through which something comes into being
- Exemplar Cause, After which something comes into being Good, but something is missing. Introducing, the 7th cause to complete of ontological taxonomy.
- Connected Cause, Amid which something comes into being. Gieslar provides helpful applied examples. Here, an example with all 7 ontological causes of the logical model, applied to a physical world object and how it comes into existence. Q: How does a “chair” come into existence?
- Final Cause: For which the chair comes into existence | Something to sit on
- Material Cause: Out of which the chair comes into existence | Wood
- Efficient Cause: By which the chair comes into existence | Carpenter
- Exemplar Cause: After which the chair comes into existence | Blue Print
- Instrumental Cause: Through which the chair comes into existence | Tools, saws, etc..
- Formal Cause: Of which the chair comes into existence | Sequencing of other causes into a formal end to end project execution plan as a formal structure to follow
- Connected Cause: Amid which the chair comes into existence | Laws of gravity and others where the chair is to be made, including other external pressures acting as constraints as the carpenter brings the chair into existence. Building a chair on earth will be different from building on the moon. Logical Model: 7 Elements of the Ontology · Final Cause: God’s Glory [ God’s God’s exultation of Son by the Father and the Spirit in Creation ] · Exemplar Cause: Gospel [ God’s Plan executed by Christ ] · Efficient Cause: Only Wise God [ God’s Wisdom manifest in Christ ] · Instrumental Cause: Jesus Christ [ God’s · Material Cause: Scriptures [ God’s Words of Christ in Creation ] · Formal Cause: Preaching [ God’s Teaching of Christ in Creation ] · Connected Cause: Faith [ God’s Unity of all things in Christ in Creation ]
Things are brought into existence, first in the mind, then into physical reality (Creation) Mind – Driven by right desires and motive? – What are the decision action options? – Which decision action will lead to the greatest good/flurishing for mankind? Physical Reality – Our body is the interface into the world – Our actions of speaking, writing, talking, teaching, designing, building, sharing, are ways add value to the supply chain of services for the human flouishing, with prayer that our contributions will lead human flourishing, leading to the praise of God who ultimately source of everything. – Our documentation artifact is the definitive proof value that the work done, as in one has delivered value in the service chain of humanity toward God’s Glory. – Method for Transparent Traceability – Theory: Documentation/Artifact is the proof that the work was done. – Practice: Need tools that share contribution in the service delivery pipeline. –
Christians living in the world, are constrained by two final motive alignment objectives
- Love God a. God here is defined as the ONE and ONLY only true God Yahwah, the Most High God, through Jesus Christ, the Son of God)
- Love Neighbors a. Neighbor is defined as ALL Mankind Individual Christian is always constrained by these two objectives. To be constrained means that every thought that enters into the christians mind, is taken captive and compared is my motive in all decision for action, motivated by Love for God and Love for Man? Christians living in the world, are constrained by two action evaluation alignment objectives
- Does my action “Serve” mankind towards God’s Glory
What is the Purpose for which God Created (Creation, World, Earth and everything) How is God going to get the His Glory from creation?
- Objective: God’s Glory in Creation
- What is/are the “Instrument(s)” God will use for his glory?
- What is/are the “Material(s)” God will use for his glory?
- What is/are the “Plan(s)” God will use for his glory? Is there a chronological ordering Causes in bringing about Creation?
· God’s Glory in Creation Alone · God’s Constraints/Rules in Creation (Heaven and Earth) · How and by God’s Glory in Heaven, Divine Counsel God’s Glory on Earth, Human Counsel God’s Son of the Most High