SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
"What is systematic theology?"
“Systematic” refers to something being put into a system. Systematic theology is,
therefore, the division of theology into systems that explain its various areas.
In the context of Christianity, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY is a discipline of Christian theology
that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian
faith and beliefs.
Systematic Theology refers to the topical collection and exploration of the content of the
Bible, in which a different perspective is provided on the Bible's message than that
garnered simply by reading the biblical narratives, poems, proverbs, and letters as a
story of redemption or as a manual for how to live a godly life.
Systematic theology draws on the foundational sacred texts of Christianity, while
simultaneously investigating the development of Christian doctrine over the course of
history, particularly through philosophy, science and ethics. Inherent to a system of
theological thought is that a method is developed, one which can be applied both broadly
and particularly.
Systematic theology then also has major implications in the area of interpreting
scripture. One advantage of this approach is that it allows one to see all that the Bible
says regarding some subject (e.g. the attributes of God), and one danger is a tendency to
assign technical definitions to terms based on a few passages and then read that
meaning everywhere the term is used in the Bible (e.g. "justification" as Paul uses it in his
letter to the Romans is allegedly different from how James uses it in his letter (Romans
4:25, Romans 5:16-18 and James 2:21-25). This latter objection must be taken into
account with other interpretive mechanism such as Exegesis and Hermeneutics.
For example, many books of the Bible give information about the angels. No one book
gives all the information about the angels. Systematic theology takes all the information
about angels from all the books of the Bible and organizes it into a system called
angelology. That is what systematic theology is all about—organizing the teachings of the
Bible into categorical systems.
For another example, the doctrine of the Trinity is not gathered from one passage of the
Bible. Instead, the Trinity is an authoritative interpretation of what all of scripture says.
Or, as David Yeago puts it, scripture contains "a pattern of implicit and explicit judgments
concerning the God of Israel and his relationship to the crucified and risen Jesus of
Nazareth." Although some passages in the New Testament may appear to show a clear
distinction between Jesus and God the Father (e.g. John 17), other passages that clearly
teach monotheism (e.g. Ex. 20:3; Deut. 6:4) must be taken into account before a final
interpretation can be concluded. A correct interpretation of scripture must take into
account all relevant passages in the Bible, and this is done through the method of a
systematic reading of scripture.
Systematic theology is an important tool in helping us to understand and teach the Bible
in an organized manner.
*******************************************
General areas of systematic theology
* Prolegomena - the study of methods and presuppositions before
one does systematic theology (sometimes this involves the study of
how God reveals himself).
* Bibliology - the study of the Bible.
* Theology Proper - the study of the doctrine of God.
* Paterology - the study of God the Father - Theology Proper
* Christology - the study of Jesus. (God the Son)
* Pneumatology - the study of (God) the Holy Spirit.
* Anthropology - the study of humanity.
* Soteriology - the study of Salvation.
* Ecclesiology - the study of the Church.
* Eschatology - the study of last things or end times.
* Angelology - the study of the angelic beings.
* Christian Demonology - the study of demons from a Christian perspective.
* Christian (Theological) Anthropology - the study of humanity.
*Hamartiology is the study of sin.
Other subjects might include:
* Israelology
* Hermeneutics
* Exegesis
* Sacrament
* Christian life
* Heaven and Hell, afterlife, next world
* Interfaith examination and statements on other religions.
Materially the systematic presentation of Christian teaching is very much older than
modern evangelical systematic theology. It was already the object of Gnostic systems in
the 2nd century, and although it remained merely implicit in the works of the early
Apologists, and anti-Gnostic fathers like Irenaeus, Origen presented his work on origins
(peri-archon) in the form of a systematic presentation of the Christian doctrine of God."
Reference (Link): Systematic theology - Theopedia, an encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity
*******************************************
Systematic Theology Study Helps:
Systematic Theology: 101
Here are a few introductory insights into what Systematic Theology is generally all about.
Please note that this introduction is intentionally presented from an Evangelical
perspective. Although we realize that this perspective may not represent the convictions
of some of our visitors, we strongly believe that this introduction provides a very
accurate insight into the types, scope and general characteristics of systematic theology.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Nature of Theology
2. Areas of Systematic Theology
3. The Necessity of Systematic Theology
Bibliology
1. Introduction
2. The Bible as Revelation
Introduction
Types of Revelation
General Revelation
Special Revelation
3. The Inspiration of the Bible
4. The Authority of the Bible
5. The Canonicity of the Bible
6. The Illumination of the Bible
7. The Doctrine of Animation
Theology Proper
Introduction
The Definition and Existence of God
Anti-Theistic Arguments
The Essence/Nature of God
The Attributes of God
The Unity and Trinity of God
The Decree of God
The Works of God
Anthropology
The Material Part of Man/Woman (Body)
The Non-Material Part of Man/Woman
The Basic Composition of Man/Woman
The Fall of Man/Woman
The Imputation of Adam/Eve's First Sin
The Guilt and Penalty of Sin
Christology
Introduction
Preexistence and Deity of the Son
The Preincarnate Appearances and Ministry of the Son
The Revelation of Christ in Types and Prophecies
Prophecies about Christ in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
The Early Life of Jesus
The Public Ministry of Jesus
The Sufferings and Death of Jesus
The Resurrection of Jesus
The Ascension and Present Ministry of Jesus
The Return and Reign of Jesus
Soteriology
Introduction
The Possibility and Need for Salvation
God's Provision for Salvation
The Person and Work of Christ
The Call and Message of Salvation
The Preparatory Work of the Holy Spirit for Salvation
The Condition/Requirement for Salvation
The Content of Past Salvation
The Content of Present Salvation
The Content of Future Salvation
Reference (Link): http://www.theologywebsite.com/systheo/
***********************************************
Other References:
Reference (Link): Systematic theology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Wherefore all theology, when separated from Christ, is not only vain and confused, but is
also mad, deceitful, and spurious; for, though the philosophers sometimes utter excellent
sayings, yet they have nothing but what is short-lived, and even mixed up with wicked
and erroneous sentiments."
~ John Calvin (1509 – 1564)
"What is systematic theology?"
“Systematic” refers to something being put into a system. Systematic theology is,
therefore, the division of theology into systems that explain its various areas.
In the context of Christianity, SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY is a discipline of Christian theology
that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian
faith and beliefs.
Systematic Theology refers to the topical collection and exploration of the content of the
Bible, in which a different perspective is provided on the Bible's message than that
garnered simply by reading the biblical narratives, poems, proverbs, and letters as a
story of redemption or as a manual for how to live a godly life.
Systematic theology draws on the foundational sacred texts of Christianity, while
simultaneously investigating the development of Christian doctrine over the course of
history, particularly through philosophy, science and ethics. Inherent to a system of
theological thought is that a method is developed, one which can be applied both broadly
and particularly.
Systematic theology then also has major implications in the area of interpreting
scripture. One advantage of this approach is that it allows one to see all that the Bible
says regarding some subject (e.g. the attributes of God), and one danger is a tendency to
assign technical definitions to terms based on a few passages and then read that
meaning everywhere the term is used in the Bible (e.g. "justification" as Paul uses it in his
letter to the Romans is allegedly different from how James uses it in his letter (Romans
4:25, Romans 5:16-18 and James 2:21-25). This latter objection must be taken into
account with other interpretive mechanism such as Exegesis and Hermeneutics.
For example, many books of the Bible give information about the angels. No one book
gives all the information about the angels. Systematic theology takes all the information
about angels from all the books of the Bible and organizes it into a system called
angelology. That is what systematic theology is all about—organizing the teachings of the
Bible into categorical systems.
For another example, the doctrine of the Trinity is not gathered from one passage of the
Bible. Instead, the Trinity is an authoritative interpretation of what all of scripture says.
Or, as David Yeago puts it, scripture contains "a pattern of implicit and explicit judgments
concerning the God of Israel and his relationship to the crucified and risen Jesus of
Nazareth." Although some passages in the New Testament may appear to show a clear
distinction between Jesus and God the Father (e.g. John 17), other passages that clearly
teach monotheism (e.g. Ex. 20:3; Deut. 6:4) must be taken into account before a final
interpretation can be concluded. A correct interpretation of scripture must take into
account all relevant passages in the Bible, and this is done through the method of a
systematic reading of scripture.
Systematic theology is an important tool in helping us to understand and teach the Bible
in an organized manner.
*******************************************
General areas of systematic theology
* Prolegomena - the study of methods and presuppositions before
one does systematic theology (sometimes this involves the study of
how God reveals himself).
* Bibliology - the study of the Bible.
* Theology Proper - the study of the doctrine of God.
* Paterology - the study of God the Father - Theology Proper
* Christology - the study of Jesus. (God the Son)
* Pneumatology - the study of (God) the Holy Spirit.
* Anthropology - the study of humanity.
* Soteriology - the study of Salvation.
* Ecclesiology - the study of the Church.
* Eschatology - the study of last things or end times.
* Angelology - the study of the angelic beings.
* Christian Demonology - the study of demons from a Christian perspective.
* Christian (Theological) Anthropology - the study of humanity.
*Hamartiology is the study of sin.
Other subjects might include:
* Israelology
* Hermeneutics
* Exegesis
* Sacrament
* Christian life
* Heaven and Hell, afterlife, next world
* Interfaith examination and statements on other religions.
Materially the systematic presentation of Christian teaching is very much older than
modern evangelical systematic theology. It was already the object of Gnostic systems in
the 2nd century, and although it remained merely implicit in the works of the early
Apologists, and anti-Gnostic fathers like Irenaeus, Origen presented his work on origins
(peri-archon) in the form of a systematic presentation of the Christian doctrine of God."
Reference (Link): Systematic theology - Theopedia, an encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity
*******************************************
Systematic Theology Study Helps:
Systematic Theology: 101
Here are a few introductory insights into what Systematic Theology is generally all about.
Please note that this introduction is intentionally presented from an Evangelical
perspective. Although we realize that this perspective may not represent the convictions
of some of our visitors, we strongly believe that this introduction provides a very
accurate insight into the types, scope and general characteristics of systematic theology.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Nature of Theology
2. Areas of Systematic Theology
3. The Necessity of Systematic Theology
Bibliology
1. Introduction
2. The Bible as Revelation
Introduction
Types of Revelation
General Revelation
Special Revelation
3. The Inspiration of the Bible
4. The Authority of the Bible
5. The Canonicity of the Bible
6. The Illumination of the Bible
7. The Doctrine of Animation
Theology Proper
Introduction
The Definition and Existence of God
Anti-Theistic Arguments
The Essence/Nature of God
The Attributes of God
The Unity and Trinity of God
The Decree of God
The Works of God
Anthropology
The Material Part of Man/Woman (Body)
The Non-Material Part of Man/Woman
The Basic Composition of Man/Woman
The Fall of Man/Woman
The Imputation of Adam/Eve's First Sin
The Guilt and Penalty of Sin
Christology
Introduction
Preexistence and Deity of the Son
The Preincarnate Appearances and Ministry of the Son
The Revelation of Christ in Types and Prophecies
Prophecies about Christ in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
The Early Life of Jesus
The Public Ministry of Jesus
The Sufferings and Death of Jesus
The Resurrection of Jesus
The Ascension and Present Ministry of Jesus
The Return and Reign of Jesus
Soteriology
Introduction
The Possibility and Need for Salvation
God's Provision for Salvation
The Person and Work of Christ
The Call and Message of Salvation
The Preparatory Work of the Holy Spirit for Salvation
The Condition/Requirement for Salvation
The Content of Past Salvation
The Content of Present Salvation
The Content of Future Salvation
Reference (Link): http://www.theologywebsite.com/systheo/
***********************************************
Other References:
Reference (Link): Systematic theology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Wherefore all theology, when separated from Christ, is not only vain and confused, but is
also mad, deceitful, and spurious; for, though the philosophers sometimes utter excellent
sayings, yet they have nothing but what is short-lived, and even mixed up with wicked
and erroneous sentiments."
~ John Calvin (1509 – 1564)
