The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum a Definition of systematic theology

I am looking for a definition in the use of the term, systematic theology, by the Reformed.

John

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology

Tom

While wikipedia can be useful for some things, I would venture to add that Systematic theology is the development of the teaching of Scripture which rests on the conviction that God is consistent in his teaching and actions.

This means that it is possible to gather together all the passages of Scripture on a particular topic and distill the teaching so that the relationship of each of its parts may be seen and appreciated. So, for example, when we look at the teaching of Scripture on murder we discover that God makes a distinction between killing as a judicial act (commanded by God for those who take the life of another) and killing another human being. We also discover that murder is an act which has as its basis a planned determination to put the other person to death - rather than an act where someone is killed either by accident or as an un-premeditated response.

That the killer was to be pursued by the Avenger of Blood and that God made a provision for his life (in case the death was un-premeditated). That the death penalty was to be enforced if premeditation could be proved and that in all other cases the person was to be confined to the City of Refuge till the death of the High Priest.

There are other provisions but these suffice to show how the development of a systematic understanding of the theology of the Bible proceeds. I hope this is of some assistance.

The Westminster Theological Seminary description of the study of Systematic Theology renders the following:

"The task of systematic theology is to set forth in orderly and coherent manner the truth respecting God and his relations to men and the world. This truth is derived from the data of revelation, and revelation comprises all those media by which God makes himself and his will known to us men. All other departments of theological discipline contribute their findings to systematic theology and it brings all the wealth of knowledge derived from these disciplines to bear upon the more inclusive systematization which it undertakes."
– John Murray

Systematic theology seeks rightly to divide the Word of truth, particularly the holy Scriptures. It aims at formulations which correctly understand the Scriptures, through proper exegesis, and applies those formulations to the needs of the church and the issues of the day.
To that end, the Systematic Theology curriculum enables students:
• To understand and be able to articulate “the whole counsel of God” in the form of the system of doctrine taught in Scripture
• To grasp the way this system of doctrine derives from sound interpretation that does justice to the unity of Scripture in its historical and authorial diversity
• To understand the history of doctrine, primarily the theological heritage of the Reformed Churches and their confessional documents, especially the Westminster Standards
• To recognize within the theological heritage of the Reformed Churches what is perennial and undoubted and what is not yet settled
• To value the Westminster Standards as a summary of the system of doctrine taught in Scripture and, where appropriate, be prepared ex animo to subscribe to them as such
• To embrace the system of doctrine taught in Scripture in a way that enhances devotion to God and service to the church and the world, and so, in all, “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”

Mike,

All that you said is true. But it could have been said in far less words by simply affirming what the Reformers and Puritans learned from Scripture itself; the hermeneutical principle that guides ALL study of Scripture: The Analogy of Faith. Even more simply put it is the comparing of all Scripture with Scripture.

Unfortunately, there have always been those who are content to study the Bible "academically"; like a science and that is all. But "theology" in its true sense is the application of the Bible to all of life. (Col 1:9,10)

You will find people who err on both counts everywhere you go. You will find people who are content to "doctrinize" the Bible by looking outside the Bible for evidence to show that what the Bible teaches isn't sufficient to know God's truth. And on the other hand you will find those who ignore and even deny the teachings of Scripture because they say doctrine isn't necessary. What is most important is to just love Jesus and your neighbor. Of course, HOW one is to do that is left to one's own imagination and not the inspired Scriptures from which truth itself is to be found. (Jh 17:17)