Context: theology, evangelicalism, doctrine, dogmatics
Confer: biblical theology, historical theology
Systematic theology is a branch of theology that attempts to
organise (or "systematise") religious truth into a
categorical system. Within evangelical Christianity, systematic theology
organises the Bible's teachings into a system of topics, ranks them in
importance, and shows the interrelationships within each of the topics.
Topics within systematic theology can be classified in two broad categories:
(a) topics that are raised by the Bible itself (e.g. the nature of the Trinity),
and (b) topics that are raised by people (e.g. what does the Bible say about
work?). While (a) is generally easier to work with, by virtue that the Bible
says a lot about it for it to be a topic, (b) is more common in practice,
not least because of apologetics.
The development of a systematic theology on a particular topic is a science,
as it uses a form of the scientific method. A hythothesis about the topic
is formulated, and then tested with biblical data. If the hypothesis is found
wanting, it is rejected and a new hypothesis developed. If the hypothesis fits
with all of the biblical data, then it is accepted.
Examples of Systematic-Theological Classifications
Examples of such classifications are generally found in two sources:
Books on Systematic Theology
- John Calvin. 1559. Institutes of the Christian Religion
- The Knowledge of God the Creator
- The Knowledge of God the Redeemer in Christ, first disclosed to the Fathers under the Law, and then to us in the gospel.
- The Way in which we receive the Grace in Christ: what benefits come to us from it, and what effects follow
- The external means or aids by which God invites us into Society of Christ and holds us therein
- Bruce Milne. 1998. Know the Truth, 2nd ed. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press
- The final authority in matters of faith
- The doctrine of God
- Humankind and sin
- The person and work of Christ
- The person and work of the Holy Spirit
- The church
- The last things
Creeds and Doctrinal Statements