Why Systematic Theology?

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."(2 Timothy 25, NIV)

1. Introduction

Theology: theos = God + logos = a word or doctrine

Christian theology is, broadly speaking, the doctrine of God, His universe and His plan of salvation.

Not to be confused with ethics (conduct), psychology (behaviour), religion (worship of God or gods) or philosophy (lit. love of wisdom).

Theology can be approached from five perspectives:
  1. Exegetical - study of Biblical texts for meaning (in language, culture, timing, place, people)
  2. Historical - the history of God's people (their origins, practices, beliefs, organisation, the lives of the Patriarchs, Israel and the church)
  3. Dogmatic - fundamentals of the faith, as set out in various creeds (not to be confused with "dogmatism")
  4. Practical - application of theology to life (eg ethics, Christian education, missions, worship and the raft of secular applications)
  5. Systematic - arrangement of Biblical facts in logical order under major topics (to understand the doctrines of the Christian faith more fully)
Some people oppose the study of doctrine (not to be confused with "doctrinaire"). They see it either as too academic, theoretical, dry, or too much of a distraction from evangelism.

Others don't want to be emphatic - age of "relativism", nor to use theology as a basis of disagreement. "Love is enough." "Religious differences are too divisive."

Others, still, are conscious of the (sometimes violent) history of theological differences in the Christian church and want to smooth over these by focussing on points of agreement.

Jesus criticised the Pharisees for not knowing the Word of God.

The existence of heresies (Chilean case study) makes it all the more important that we, as leaders, know what (and why) we believe. We do so because we believe the Bible to be infallible, trustworthy, the Word of God - everything hangs off that - but we are fallible.

We study mathematics, biology, physics and other disciplines "systematically" (imagine if we approach them randomly); the "systematic treatment of Biblical themes" has a similar approach.

2. Why Study Theology?

  1. To enable us to have a clearer understanding of Biblical topics. The human mind organises things into logical systems. The Bible is full of theology, but it is often approached as an open field, where there are many types of grasses; it is easy to view the whole but (if we are to be more than spectators, or tourists) we also need to see the component parts. Surveys of the Bible look at the whole panorama. Within the panorama the Bible has a lot to say about God, Jesus Christ, sin, faith, salvation, the nature and purpose of the church.
    • Systematic theology is like a botanical garden compared with the pristine forest; it draws together Biblical teaching in reasonable chunks of related material (thematically), to help us understand.
    • Much of the Bible is groups thematically, eg the Ten Commandments, the Law, the Psalms, Proverbs, Prophetic writings, the records of Moses (the Pentateuch). Many Christians read the Bible but need assistance working through its teachings. As the work of the botanist is to draw samples together, classify, study/analyse, record and explain, our role is to draw together and explain what God has said.
  2. To help us apply the Bible to our modern lives. "What does the Bible say about x?" is not always answerable by a single verse, but makes sense thematically. Would you go to a medical practitioner who merely reads medical journals and relies on "common sense" instead of "dry" academic study? Systematic Theology draws truth from throughout the Bible, confirming the uniqueness of this book and the possibility of applying it in daily life. Intellectual commitment to a list of doctrines is not enough, but it clarifies what we believe. Add the reality of the Holy Spirit and it becomes "spirit and life".
  3. To enable us to understand what others have said and written about the Bible. Much of the literature requires a prior working knowledge of theology and an understanding of language/concepts.
  4. To equip others to refute false doctrine. In the NT the Galatian believers strayed because of erroneous teaching (Galatians 1:6-9). "The time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:3). This has tremendous implications for all believers, in part because it permits the growth of false doctrine and praxis. Many cults base key beliefs on verses from the Bible that are taken out of context, eg Mormon baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). False doctrine usually involves a variation on a familiar theme (another Jesus, a different Spirit, a different Gospel, cf 2 Corinthians 11:4). We need to be able to compare one with the other. Biblical checks and balances are essential.
    • Theological courses are taught as academic disciplines in many universities, but they are often theologically "liberal", sometimes agnostic. We need a Christian-faith alternative.
    • To equip us for practical ministry. "My pastor isn't a theologian; he is a preacher" is a misconception. Some Christian leaders have an aversion to doctrinal preaching; emphasis on edification, oratory instead. We are commanded to preach good doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9).

3. Divisions of Theology

Overview of topic outline

4.Revelation

Revelation = apokalypsis = uncovering what was previously hidden. (The opposite is "occult", which means "hidden".)

Reasons

Paul reminds us that God is not far from any one of us.

The Extent of Revelation

In revelation:
God did reveal Himself to man, but rebellion led to sin (Romans 3:23). It is impossible for man by himself to find God (Titus 1:15).

General Revelation

God has not left Himself without witnesses in the world: Why general relevation? Issues of insufficiency. General revelation:

Special Revelation

God has progressively revealed Himself

The Bible as God's Revelation

Byblos = books (many religions have oral traditions; oral is limited, changes over time).

Not a book about: but about God. Supernaturally given in order to:

5. The writing of the Bible

".... you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed (theopneustos) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

The Holy Spirit led to God's word being revealed and recorded.

Old Testament - Deuteronomy 4:2; Jeremiah 1:9
New Testament - Luke 1:23; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:1, 2; 1 John 5:10, 11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Theories of Inspiration

Natural - merely super-insight about God, moral and religious truth. Not supernatural. "Inspired" like masterpieces, with human endowments. This theory places low value on Scripture and its authority in human life. Susceptible to human weakness. Sometimes called the "intuition theory".

Plenary - God inspired the writers; they wrote what they received. Did not by-pass human intellect (vocabulary, style, culture, language).

Partial - Inspired in some places. The principles are inspired, but there are errors, eg geography, history, making it untrustworthy and acceptance/interpretation untrustworthy, ie who judges? who is truly objective? We are left with little confidence in the book.

Mechanical Dictation - Writers were merely secretaries for God, who recorded His dictation, eg "This is what the Lord says" (Exodus 34:27). Infers that God by-passed their human intellect. One issue that arises is the inclusion of material that does not comes from God, eg words by Satan, practices such as bigamy in the OT. Vocabulary and style vary widely. 40 authors over 1600 years; many different walks of life, 3 major languages, yet unified.

Implications of Plenary Inspiration

Nothing profound in God's eternal truth comes to us without revelation. Only the Holy Spirit can illuminate our hearts (1 Corinthians 2:11) and impart understanding (cf Matthew 16:17). This is necessary because of spiritual darkness that exists outside of Christ (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18; 5:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:19; John 1:5; Colossians 1;13). Without God's help we cannot understand spiritual things. This, in turn, releases faith (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit is our teacher (2 Corinthians 2:9-13; John 16:13; 1 John 2:27).

Discussion: What if someone claims a new "revelation from the Holy Spirit? Consider Paul's warning in Galatians 1:8.

Canonicity

Who decided which books should be in the Bible?

The term "canon" describes those writings that are divinely inspired, the 66 books in our Bibles. Determining the canon was undertaken over a long period of time by Jewish scholars and early Christians. We believe that ultimately, it was God who decided what books belonged in the Bible. Hebrew believers recognized God's messengers and accepted their writings as inspired by God. For the New Testament, the process began in the first centuries of the Christian church. Canonicity took the following into account.
  1. Was the author an apostle/did they have a close connection with an apostle (eg Luke, Paul)?
  2. Was the work accepted by Jesus Christ (eg the Law and prophets he regularly cited)?
  3. Was the book accepted by the body of Christ?
  4. Was it read in churches and quoted in the writings of the early church fathers?
  5. Did it contain consistency of doctrine?
  6. Did it agree with overarching rules of faith?
  7. Did it bear internal evidence of high moral and spiritual values that would reflect a work of the Holy Spirit?
  8. Did it edify when read publicly and generate a positive heart response
Stephen Langton (1155/56 - 1228), a Paris theological professor, was the first to make chapter divisions to help his work with Bible commentaries. In 1240, Cardinal Hugo of St. Cher published the first Latin Bible with the chapter divisions that exist today.

Creeds

What does your church teach about the Bible?

Two examples:
  1. Assemblies of God
    We believe that the Bible is God's Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our every day lives.
  2. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)
    1. Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation; therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church; and afterwards for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which maketh the holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased.
    2. Under the name of holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament, which are these:
      Of the Old Testament:
      Genesis
      Exodus
      Leviticus
      Numbers
      Deuteronomy
      Joshua
      Judges
      Ruth
      I Samuel
      II Samuel
      I Kings
      II Kings
      I Chronicles
      II Chronicles
      Ezra
      Nehemiah
      Esther
      Job
      Psalms
      Proverbs
      Ecclesiastes
      The Song of Songs
      Isaiah
      Jeremiah
      Lamentations
      Ezekiel
      Daniel
      Hosea
      Joel
      Amos
      Obadiah
      Jonah
      Micah
      Nahum
      Habakkuk
      Zephaniah
      Haggai
      Zechariah
      Malachi

      Of the New Testament:
      The Gospels according to
      Matthew
      Mark
      Luke
      John
      The Acts of the Apostles
      Paul's Epistles to the
      Romans
      Corinthians I
      Corinthians II
      Galatians
      Ephesians
      Philippians
      Colossians
      Thessalonians I
      Thessalonians II
      Timothy I
      Timothy II
      Titus
      Philemon
      The Epistle to the Hebrews
      The Epistle of James
      The First and Second Epistles of Peter
      The First, Second, and Third Epistles of John
      The Epistle of Jude
      The Revelation

      All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.
    3. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the Canon of Scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.
    4. The authority of the holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or Church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the Author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.
    5. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverent esteem of the holy Scripture; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.
    6. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word; and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and the government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.
    7. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.
    8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old), and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as in all controversies of religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto, and interest in, the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner, and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.
    9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture, is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.
    10. The Supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.

Content

Section OverviewArticle List