Featured Systematic Theology

From Wikipedia:

"...Systematic theology organizes truth under different headings[1] and there are ten basic areas (or categories), although the exact list may vary slightly. These are:

Bibliology – The study of the Bible

Theology proper – The study of the character of God
Paterology – The study of God the Father
Christology – The study of Christ
Pneumatology – The study of the Holy Spirit

Teleology – The study of God’s design and purpose for the world and all He created in it
Ecclesiology – The study of the church
Missiology – The study of missionary work

Theological anthropology – The study of the nature of humanity
Hamartiology – The study of sin
Soteriology – The study of salvation

Angelology – The study of angels
Demonology – The study of demons

Eschatology – The study of the end times ​

We spend most of our time on Bibliology, Triune Theology, Soteriology, and Eschatology.

 

Amazing things come from the struggle when two sources of “truth” contradict one another and we must work to find “Truth” on our own from among competing “truths”. In the end, one comes to convictions, at least in some narrow area, that cannot be shaken.

The Biblical imagery of a refiners fire always seemed apt in this case. Once the gold or silver has been refined (Truth has been learned) it is virtually impossible for dross to work its way back into the finished gold/silver (false has no power to shake the truth).

(at least that’s what I observed)

 

One of the advantages of Systematic Theology its flexibility to adapt to modern ideas.
Scripture (and fundamental doctrine) does not change but Systematic Theology adapts, explores, flexes, as it attempts to apply our understanding of Scripture to the world we live in.

We can observe this easily by reading about the doctrine of CREATION (it can be underlined or highlighted in your Bible).
But ST explores how the doctrine of creation interacts with science as well as with various doctrines, original sin, evolution, the age of the earth, etc.
ST is an exploration of theological possibilities.
It can be quite exciting and enlightening.

Rob

 

The problem is that every single group has a bunch of verses highlighted, sometimes the same exact verses. Yet collectively, throughout history, we still manage to separate, excommunicate, and sometimes do violence to each other until we have thousands of schools of thought and denominations. This will continue until we run out of highlighter.

 

Paul spoke of those who ate meat and those who abstained from meat and those who held one day special and those that held every day alike … all as Christian Brothers and all as “honoring God” and NONE as being wrong. Is there a lesson for us in that?

 

This is exactly what I mean. Other people look at the same verses you do and say well, that looks like a covenant to me. I'm not trying to refute you here. I'm just saying we ALL claim to be backed up by scripture. Same with the idea of Christ dying in our stead. I've been in some of those debates. Bottom line, we look at the same scripture and you claim it isn't saying what I think it clearly says. I see penal substitution all over scripture. You don't. I respect that and I could be the one who is wrong but what I do not accept is the claim that you and you alone are the one who only uses scripture. I'm just saying that the other people are too. Thus, we have the development of systematic theologies.

 

I believe I read a Systematic Theology once... I guess it didn't empress me cause I only read one and lets see I've been a Christian for how long?... Over 50 years... I just go to scripture and scripture rightly divided tells me all I want to know or need to know... Saying that I bow out of this discussion... Brother Glen

 

Once again the simple expedient of ask "what is the least God is saying" seem essential to avoid different speculations claimed to be doctrine.

Just because God is able to do a thing does not prove or teach that God did a thing.

For example, God could predestine salvation, that does not support the God actually did predestine individuals for salvation.

 

Yes. I'd refer you back to my post #8. What you need to know to be saved can be gathered from the scripture. Fortunately. So if you're not inclined to that sort of thing then definitely don't go there. But there are verses that say that faith is a gift. That it is a virtue. That it is commanded and so on. To have an overall view in your mind of how this fits together you will, as Jon says above make some use of systematic theology, even if it's unconscious.

The point I am trying to make is that there is just as much contradicting and mutual condemning by those who claim THEY only use scripture as there is by those using systematic theology. If you're in a cynical mood you could say systematic theology is where people who claim they know the true meaning of a scripture find each other, agree to write down the explanation they know is right and then you have systematic theology.

 

That would be stupid. Theologians of various camps would have to express their agreements and objections to the numerous theories out there. Certainly a Christian theologian would give warning to dangerous theories. It would be their duty as a conscientious believer in Christ.

 

All of us are grateful – or should be – to theologians who have over the centuries systematised their knowledge in order to help us get a grasp of it. Yet, as in science, theological systems or paradigms can sometimes become so powerful that they end up defining what Scripture is or is not allowed to mean, so that “taking Scripture seriously” means accepting a particular theological system and fitting all Scripture into it. It is therefore wise to recall that, just as science did not create the universe, systematic theology did not produce the Bible. [John Lennox DETERMINED TO BELIEVE pg 78-79]

 

What is that, Somebody who says, I’m sorry allot? Sounds like an appendage of Wokeness Doctrine and you gotta dissect and expose the content of everything those Kooks say.

 

Yessss

 

You know those of us not as sophisticated as the august members of the BB board could very well dismiss terminology to incorrect conclusions… except for the fact that we are now apparently closed to new membership. Oh well.