About 9 months ago or so, I did an online course entitled “Introduction to Systematic Theology” given by Dr. Scott Swain of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.   Why would I take this?  Systematic theology – what possible use is there for that if you’re not in seminary preparing to be a minister? It sounds boring.  Why bother? 

First, I would echo what R.C. Sproul said, which Jen Wilkin and JT English have also said, You are a Theologian.  Sproul said, “No Christian can avoid theology. Every Christian is a theologian. Perhaps not a theologian in the technical or professional sense, but a theologian nonetheless. The issue for Christians is not whether we are going to be theologians but whether we are going to be good theologians or bad ones.”

So what possible use is there in understanding systematic theology?

Much!  This system provides a framework for understanding theology.  Because within it, there are doctrines that are crucial to know for our walk as a Christian.  Literally, Systematic Theology is a system – a way of dividing things logically and coherently.  As Gerald Bray of The Gospel Coalition says, “Systematic theology is the attempt to put Christian doctrine in a logical order, often starting from one fundamental principle, an approach that goes all the way back to early Christianity.”  Early confessions that used systematic theology include the Apostles Creed, as well as the Nicene Creed. In them there is a Trinitarian pattern – God the Father, followed by God the Son, followed by God the Holy Spirit.   Later, within the Reformation, the Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) became the most highly developed of all confessions. 

Depending on which Systematic Theology book you’re looking at (Berkhof, Grudem) there are different ways of organizing the various doctrines.  Because I’m working off the course I took, I’ll just provide what Scott Swain provided.

1. Doctrine of Scripture – or Bibliology: the teaching that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. Doctrine of God – or Theology Proper: God – His Being and Attributes: God is infinite in his being, attributes, and actions; God is independent.
3. Doctrine of the Trinity – examining the significance of Jesus’s baptism – identifies the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with One God, and distinguishes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by means of their “personal properties”.
4. Doctrine of Creation and Providence: God’s work of creation looking at God’s agency in creation, the act of creation, the character of creation, and the pinnacle of creation; the doctrine of providence – God’s agency, the act of providence, and the connection between providence and human beings.
5. Doctrine of the Person of Christ – under “Christology”:  Jesus is one divine person with two natures, who fulfills a threefold office in four moments of his saving mission from Hebrews 2:10-18; Christological heresies that the Church has battled.
6. Doctrine of the Work of Christ – under “Christology”:  the work of Christ interpreted through the lens of 3 major images: a)The Exodus: here Christ redeemed his people from slavery, adopted them as sons, gave them an inheritance, and dwelt among them (Galatians 3:10 – 14; 4: 4-7) b) Covenant: here Christ forms a relationship with his people with precepts, penalties, and blessing (Romans 5: 12 – 21) c) Sacrifice: here Christ is seen as bearing the burden of sin, receiving the blessing of the Father, and cleansing the stain of his people. (John 1: 29, 36)
7. Doctrine of Salvation – Soteriology: looking at 3 doctrines from within soteriology: justification, sanctification, and glorification. Romans 5: 1 – 10  is used to examine the relationships between these doctrines
8. Doctrine of the Church – Ecclesiology: four key observations: a) Relationship between Christ and the Church helps to understand the nature of the Church b) The story of the Church is that of an ongoing, divine building project c) Description of the Church in 3 parts: 1. A Purpose – kingdom of priests 2. A People – covenant assembly 3. A Place – tabernacle or temple 4. Church allows for ultimate happiness in God with other believers

I’m not going to write about each of these, I just thought it would provide a neat overview of what Systematic Theology is.

If you’re like me – a theology geek 😊 – then here are the doctrines normally covered in one way, shape or form: Theology Proper – the study of God, Bibliology – the study of Scripture, Christology – the study of Christ, Pneumatology – the study of the Holy Spirit, Anthropology – the study of humanity, Hamartiology – the study of sin, Soteriology – the study of salvation, Ecclesiology – the study of the Church, Angelology – the study of angels, and Eschatology – the study of the last things.

Systematic theology, as a way of studying the Bible, gives attention to the unity of biblical teaching, the full scope of biblical teaching (the whole counsel of God), the proportions of biblical teaching (the Bible says something about everything, but not everything about everything), and the relationships between various aspects of biblical teaching/doctrine.

Kevin DeYoung says that systematic theology is nothing if not the pursuit of truth, and truth is essential to biblical Christianity.   Everything in the Bible matters – and in it there is a fundamental unity because it comes from the same Author!   We all come to conclusions about religious questions – like who was Jesus, is there a hell, how can we be saved? – and answering these questions is actually engaging in systematic theology – our minds can’t help but organize things for understanding.   Kevin also states, “The unity of the church demands it. True ecumenicity is not possible apart from robust theological fidelity. Church unity requires doctrinal agreement: ‘There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all’ (Eph 4: 4-6). How can we contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3) if we do not have a deep understanding of that faith?”

People need to hear the Gospel.  The true gospel.  We must know what that true gospel is. And be able to clearly state what our faith is and who it is in and why.  Theology is meant to strengthen faith and godliness. “Theology is the doctrine of living to God by Christ.” (Paul Smalley, Ligonier).

I hope this has piqued your interest.  At this point I am not sure which ones I want to write about – but stay tuned!

Grace and Peace!