THEO 525 Reply to Jamelle

Replies: Read your classmates’ threads and post a reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads (200–250 words) by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 2. Provide thoughtful analysis and evaluation of the threads. Also, make sure you interact theologically and critically to the posts. 

B. A Demarest defines systematic theology as “the attempt to reduce religious truth to a coherent and relevant whole for the church (Elwell 2001, 1162).” In doing this, systematic theology incorporates the entirety of biblical revelation along with biblical truths extending beyond Scripture and doctrines of the church to exegete scriptural texts in a manner that is historically, grammatically, and culturally sound (Elwell 2001, 1162). Systematic theology organizes the theology of the Bible into logical coherent topics. It is theology because it produces a logical view that studies the truth about God and the things that pertain to God and His Word (Cleaver n.d.). It is systematic because it produces an intellectual, yet spiritual “world-and-life view for Christ-centered living (Elwell, 2001, 1162).”

Biblical theology and systematic theology are similar in that both disciplines have a specific way they approach biblical texts. Biblical theology seeks to understand and chronologically present the gradual unfolding of truth in the Bible as taught throughout history, whereas systematic theology looks at the Bible as a whole and attempts to “arrange the theology of the Bible under orderly topics (Durden n.d.).” Durden notes that biblical theology serves as the preliminary method on which systematic theology is built (Durden n. d.). Biblical theology often resembles systematic theology because it systematically focuses on describing periods, settings, persons and topics in Scripture.

Historical theology seeks to understand the historical identity of the Christian faith by surveying what Christians and theologians have believed about theology over the centuries. It differs from systematic theology in that its primary sources are not limited to the Bible or nature but rather “the systematic theologies held and taught by various theologians throughout the history of the church (Erickson 2013, 12).” Historical theology is helpful for systematic theologians because evaluating specific ideas and studying how other theologians have done theology allows one to become more conscious, critical, and aware of ones’ own beliefs and assumptions.

Philosophical theology can be used to “(1) supply content for theology, (2) defend theology or establish its truth, and (3) scrutinize its concepts and arguments (Erickson 2013, 14).” Systematic theologians can employ philosophical theology to justify an attempt to strengthen a claim. Philosophical theology may help to provide a greater understanding of biblical revelation however its contribution is not greater than the revelation itself.

Systematic theology is the most important disciplinary approach in my current ministry context because it is topical, biblical, and full (Durden n.d.). As I teach topics from the Bible, it is important to demonstrate the rationality and relevance of scripture. It is my goal to develop each topic I teach as fully as possible through the utilization of biblical data, nature, concordances, other theologians, and doctrinal confessions. It is critical to me that the members of our congregation be intimately exposed to the entirety of the Bible in a manner that is sound and reasonable. I am wary of those who make it a practice of pulling scriptures out of context to validate their claims without an understanding of how those scriptures specifically relate to and can be supported throughout the entirety of the Bible.

References

Cleaver, Ken. N. D. “Goal and Method of Theology.” Liberty University. Presentation.

Durden, John. N. D. “Introduction to Systematic Theology.” Liberty University. Presentation.

Elwell, Walter A. 2001. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Erickson, Millard J. 2013. Christian Theology. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.