A note on the use of biblical references in OCR essays: There is NO expectation that you need to quote the bible at length, or that you memorise specific chapters/verses. So learning that would be a waste of time. You simply need to remember the name of the book and to be able to summarise the message. That said, you should ensure that any references taken from epistles (letters) are accredited to Paul (e.g. Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans…). However, the authorship of the four gospels and the Acts of the Apostles is less certain, so it would be a mistake to write, ‘Luke writes in his Gospel…’; instead, write, ‘The author of Luke’s Gospel…’ or simply ‘Luke’s Gospel…’. Jimmy MacBounds Newham College

 So, if in an essay you are quoting (for example) the passage below as biblical justification for natural theology, you could write something like:

 ‘In his epistle to the Romans, Paul writes that God’s ‘invisible’ qualities have been capable of being evident to all people since the start of time. However – people’s ‘foolish’ hearts were ‘darkened’ as a result of man’s sinful nature, and so man has not worshipped God in the way that they should have done’

Romans 1:18-21 God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

What points are being made about Natural Theology in this passage?

Acts 17:16-34 New International Version (NIV). In Athens

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b] 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

What points are being made about Natural Theology in this passage? HINT: It’s exploring ‘innate’ knowledge of God. Think about the significance of the range of different people – from different cultures and faiths – present in the city. It also making some points about the way in which God could be known, and a particular ‘proof’ of God’s nature – what is it?

Some additional biblical references exploring natural theology. What points are being made and where could you use them in an essay?

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; the heavens proclaim the work of God’s hands.

John 3:1-10 Nicodemus Visits Jesus

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

Romans 10:14

 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him ^uof whom they have never heard?³ And how are they to hear ^vwithout someone preaching?

Romans 8:7

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

2 Peter 1:19

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

The following two passages are often used to critique Natural Theology, but on different grounds:

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.

John’s Gospel 14:6

‘I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through me

“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 

 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1