Unsystematic Theology

I have decided to begin a study of theological topics. I once began reading a couple books presenting a systematic theology, but found them too scholarly and too dry to hold my interest. I'm no biblical scholar, though one who loves to rea and loves the bible (and the Lord) can't help but learn a smattering of their language. Maybe enough of it to locate a restaurant or Men's Room.

And when they get to the topic of God, and go through all the usual suspects of arguments for/against His existence, the cosmological, or the cosmological or ontological or Hey-you-just-put-me-to-sleepological… I didn't remember all of them in Philosophy in college any longer than past the date of a test.

I'm more interested in what the bible itself teaches about these topics, and I can see the value in studying that, and in others' viewpoints, too.

I chose the bible as my first topic, noted several pertinent verses, added a brief note of my own and tucked them into an e-sword topic file:

All Scripture is breathed out (inspired) by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2Ti 3:16-17 ESV)

Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: (2Sa 23:1 ESV)
"The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. (2Sa 23:2 ESV)

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4 ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Heb 4:12 ESV)
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Heb 4:13 ESV)

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." (Gal 3:8 ESV)

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. (Jas 2:23 ESV)

For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." (1Pe 2:6 ESV)

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, (2Pe 1:19 ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. (2Pe 1:20 ESV)
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2Pe 1:21 ESV)

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, (Joh 8:31 ESV)


It should be clear to the reader that the bible's own claims for itself, expressed by Jesus and his disciples/apostles, include claims of authority, inerrancy, and mystical power, among other concepts.
Indeed, the bible reader/seeker who approaches with a prayerful aspect may experience the truth of scripture as the Holy Spirit leads him into a knowledge of truth.

My hope is that one/some of you may add scriptures and/or your own comments, or suggestions on the topic of the bible. Hopefully, we will work together to assemble something we all may find helpful, then move on to the next topic. Also, I will quickly add an incomplete list of topics, and you can help make sure we don't miss important ones:

The Bible
God
Man
Jesus
Holy Spirit (Does anyone miss the Holy Ghost of our youth? if you're a senior like me, I mean.)
Salvation
Heaven
Hell
Future Prophecy

I invite you to join in.

Not sure what you're looking for exactly, but I guess I'll just post a passage I find impactful, with regard to one of your categories:

Isaiah 46 -

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 DECLARING the end
FROM the beginning,
and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure

Yes .Not what do men say but how can we hear the Holy Spirit who is not a man. ?

Good place to start. .The bible the living law that works in us to both will and do His good pleasure and not after the philosophical theories of men . It has no equal.

It is there that we first hear the good commandments of God drawing us to hear .Like the commandment; come all ye that labor . I will give you rest. (the gospel)

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If we do not treat it as ears to hear his understanding. Like the calling of Samuel 3 times before he was given the faith to answer . Then we are still infancy the milk of the word that teaches us he is gracious. Doers of the word (meat) show the Spirit of Christ is working with the believer in order to perform his good pleasure. .

We do not know Christ after the philosophies of men .The kind of reasoning we seek after is two walking in agreement to one. as it is written.

The perfect law made up of two .

There are two main branches of Theology. Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology. You seem more designed for Biblical Theology. https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-biblical-theology/

It
You are correct; thanks for the link.

Diversify your study.
Study by what your calling is .

What you are drawn to is a clue to your calling.
What you hate is a clue to your calling.

Study that is overly generalized will bring burn out.

Our walk is an adventure. Study can be fun and addictive. Dry study should be outlawed

Treat yourself to some Chuck Missler teaching.
Never look back. You will love it.

1. Biblical theology is different than systematic and historical theology.

Yes, my purpose in beginning this study is practice - like a football player doing tackle drills, ie, working on fundamentals. As I read the link Dave L posted, I realized that most of I want to do is listed there, though I intend to proceed in a less structured manner than some aspects presented in the link. We'll see.


2. Biblical theology emphasizes God’s progressive revelation.

Excellent. So does the bible itself.


3. Biblical theology traces the storyline of the Bible.

Like most of you, I have read the bible through many times. I took a college course of OT Survey, taught by a seminary professor. I have a pretty good grasp of the storyline of the bible, though not a scholarly one. I have quite a few books that I have indeed read. One that helped me early on is Hester's The Heart of Hebrew History, an easy and interesting read. I have given away copies to those who lack an overview of OT history, and those who read it found it helpful for them, too. (A used book store I once frequented always seemed to have a copy, and they priced it low - a reflection of their customers, not the book itself.)


4. Biblical theology uses the categories that the writers of Scripture themselves used.

Sure, good. One of the primary aspects mentioned under this heading involves studying progressive revelation.

5. Biblical theology values the unique contributions of each author and section of Scripture.

How the authors differ, yet present a unified perspective.

6. Biblical theology also values the unity of the Bible.

Check.

7. Biblical theology teaches us to read the whole Bible with Christ at the center.

It's hard to miss, is my first response to the heading.

8. Biblical theology shows us what it means to be a part of God’s redeemed people.

A study that fails to include this meaning would be too dry for me to endure, I fear.

9. Biblical theology is essential for a truly Christian worldview.

I see everything through the prism of Christianity; that is my worldview, and it rules my opinion of everything from love to politics. I see many here share that characteristic. If Christianity doesn't change one's perspective of the world, then it has not become a part of him or her.

10. Biblical theology leads to worship.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!"


So, yes, my approach would be more like biblical theology than any other method of study, but not bound by trying to fit it to someone else's notion of content, other than any Christians here who may want to add their own observations; they are welcomed.

I refuse to be dogmatic about bible translations, I use many. For studies like this, I tend to usually quote from the NASB, the ESV, the (N)KJV, CSB and (N)RSV. I never favored the original NIV, though I have no problem with it. I guess the KJV, which was the bible when I was young, is in my blood, so I favor its modernized language as familair.

However, I also refer to many more translations and even paraphrases at times, though I wouldn't use one as my sole bible. Forced to choose just one, it would be the ESV and the NASB, because I know I would cheat at least that much. Try to sneak in a KJV, too.

Note that the study is about the bible, not about English translations. If you have strong opinions about the version you use, then by all means use it, but this is not the thread for English bible translation debate.

I pray that God may bless my feeble effort.

My purpose is to bring a bit of structure to my study. My calling is the love of the word of God and to equip myself for every good work - to share with others, all who may be interested here, sure, but even more for those who I meet as I go about life. A few individuals with little understanding of the bible have asked me questions about the bible lately (don't know why), and we've forged friendships that easily turn to discussing faith and what the bible teaches. Like I said, this is my tackling drill, and reviewing basics is something I value, especially now under these circumstances. If coach wants to put me in the game, I need to be ready, don't I?

No, this is not dry for me now.

Can you elaborate with some examples?

Or what you love.

I spent a couple of hours on a post last night, and finally having finished, I hit a wrong key somewhere, somehow and lost it all. It was somewhat lengthy, with a good bit of copy-and-paste building from the quotation of John 1:1-5 above, and I will endeavor to reproduce it. When I began typing this, my intention was to do so with this post. However, my wife just informed me that I am going to the Nursery now to help with plant selection for the garden. Hmmm, a study of gardens, from Eve to Gethsemane would be interesting... someday. Note to self.

if THIS EVER HAPPENS TO YOU AGAIN, IF YOU ARE ON WINDOWS, HIT CONTROL AND Z AND IT SHOULD COME BACK, IF NOT DO IT UNTIL IT DOES...

1 John 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

John uses the word in a peculiar sense, here, and in John 1:14 and, in this sense, in these two passages only. The nearest approach to it is in Rev 19:13, where the conqueror is called the Word of God; and it is recalled in the phrases Word of Life, and the Life was manifested. It was a familiar and current theological term when John wrote, and therefore he uses it without explanation. - VWS ed.





In his use of Logos in John 1, he appears to include deeds, as well as thought and speech. As above, where God speaks and it is so. John tells us that Christ is the agency by which all things were created. There is power in the Word.

We will revisit this when we work on the topic of Jesus Christ. We're still on the bible.

Also (depending on your settings), if you accidentally close a tab, you can hit ctrl+shift+t, and it will reopen the tab as long as your on the internet when you do this

If you are not familiar with Nave's Topical Bible (KJV) you should invest in one from Amazon (even though it is available on line). It is an excellent compilation of Scriptures relevant to each and every Bible topic. It also provides sub-topics.

Do tell?

No. The Holy Spirit of my youth is the same Holy Spirit that dwells within me in my last years...........He is all to me!