Lesson 6: Using The Four Branches of Theology
Systematic Theology
0:00
0:00
Definition
The second branch of theology is systematic theology.
Along with biblical theology, systematic theology keeps the whole Bible in view as you interpret a passage. This is important because no single passage contains all that the Bible says about a particular topic. We need to grasp what the whole Bible cumulatively says.
sys•tem•at•ic the•ol•o•gy noun
“Systematic theology discerns how a passage theologically coheres with the whole Bible.”¹
Systematic theology has a logical focus. It takes a topic or concept of Scripture and studies it in the light of what the Bible cumulatively says.
Principle: Interpret the Bible by what the whole Bible teaches. Collect a number of texts and conclude how they cumulatively answer a theological question.
Details
We can divide systematic theology into ten important categories of doctrine taught in Scripture:²
Title
Doctrine of...
Topics
Theology Proper
God
- the Trinity
- Attributes of God
- Providence
Bibliology
Scripture
- Inspiration
- Inerrancy
- Sufficiency
Angelology
angels and demons
- Angels
- Demons
Anthropology
humanity
- Image of God
- Personhood
- Gender and Sex
Hamartiology
sin
- the fall and original sin
- definition
- effects and consequences
Christology
Christ
- Christ’s person
- Christ’s work
- Christ’s roles
Soteriology
salvation
- work of redemption
- application of redemption
- order of salvation
Pneumatology
the Holy Spirit
- his Deity
- his role in sanctification
- gifts
Ecclesiology
the church
- its mission
- its membership and government
- ordinances or sacraments
Eschatology
the end times
- Christ’s return
- the Millennium
- eternity
Loading...
You don’t need to memorize this list, but these categories will help you identify and study topics in a passage of Scripture.
Biblical Example
5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. —Galatians 3:5–14
In Galatians 3:6–14, Paul is defending his gospel and attacking the false gospel of justification by works with an argument from Scripture.³ He aims to answer the question, “Who receives the blessing promised to Abraham?” So he practices systematic theology: he collects texts and logically fits them together to reveal how the whole Bible cumulatively answers this question.
Let’s look closely at how Paul practices systematic theology:
1. He collects Scriptures from different books.
Paul quotes from six texts from four different books: Genesis 15:6, Genesis 12:3, Deuteronomy 27:26, Habakkuk 2:4, Leviticus 18:5, and Deuteronomy 21:23. He considers what the Bible cumulatively says about the recipients of God’s blessing.
Systematic theology considers what the whole Bible says about a particular topic.
2. He makes one unified point from those several Scriptures (verse 7 and verse 14).
Paul argues that all who believe in Jesus are Abraham’s descendants, the ones who receive the blessing promised to Abraham. This truth isn’t stated explicitly in the Old Testament, but this collection of quotations shows that it is taught implicitly. In other words, understanding the Old Testament data correctly leads to one conclusion: those who believe in Jesus are the descendants of Abraham, whether Jewish or Gentile; they are the ones who receive the promised blessing of the Spirit.
Systematic theology summarizes the Bible’s message on a particular topic.
3. He uses systematic theology alongside biblical theology.
Notice that Paul interprets God’s blessing on the nations using biblical theology in vv. 7–9, and then supports his interpretation by using systematic theology in vv. 10–14. He first connects his readers to the gospel story of the Bible, showing that the Scripture preached the blessing of the gospel to Abraham, and that NT believers receive this same blessing through faith, just like Abraham did. This is biblical theology, understanding where a text lies in the story of redemption through Christ.
Then he collects OT passages to demonstrate what the Bible cumulatively says: the promised blessing can come only through faith. This is systematic theology, taking a concept of Scripture and studying it in the light of what the Bible cumulatively says.
Paul interpreted the Abrahamic promise by using both biblical and systematic theology. With these two branches, Paul preached the good news that God blesses his people through faith alone in Christ alone.
How to Do Systematic Theology: Combine and Summarize
Begin by identifying a key theological topic in a passage you are studying. (You can reference the chart above.) For each theological topic in your passage, follow Paul's example in Galatians 3:6–14:
- Consider how the Bible cumulatively speaks about that topic by collecting Scripture references from the whole Bible.
- Summarize their truth into a single, unified point.
- Interpret your passage in light of that point.
Your Turn
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. —Deuteronomy 6:4–9
Deuteronomy 6:4 teaches a foundational truth about the nature of God: his unity. This is part of the doctrine of Theology Proper. Read Deuteronomy 6:4 carefully, and then answer the following questions in order:
Find five other Bible verses that teach about the unity of God (include 1 Corinthians 8:6).
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Summarize their truth into a single, unified point.
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Interpret what Deuteronomy 6:4 says about God’s unity based on that point.
Log in / create an account to enroll or continue where you left off.
Resources
10 Things You Should Know about Systematic Theology, by Scott SwainTen important facts to help you understand systematic theology
Systematic Theology: The Bible's Answers to Big Questions, by Capitol Hill Baptist ChurchTwenty-six lessons, designed as a course to be taught in an adult Sunday School class, including manuscripts of and handouts for each lesson