Systematic Theology

Systematic theology is the next stage. It is bringing together all our findings from our previous exegetical studies. We systemise, or synthesis all the key passages we looked at, into a whole or complete statement on the topic that we are studying. This is where we make general conclusions on the theology of the subject.

Systematic means holistic, not in the sense of including knowledge from non-inspired sources (other than scripture), but holistic in the sense of including all the biblical data from all the books of the Bible. In systematic theology, we get the total overall picture on the subject.

This process of systematic theology assumes scripture does not contradict itself when we compare one passage with another. It assumes that God is consistent in His revelation of Himself and His revelation is sensible. God does not reveal Himself in different ways that are conflicting. In scripture there is a consistent revelation of His nature and person.

This presupposition in Bible study is due to the claim of scripture: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine…” (2 Tim 3:16). Jesus took scripture as historical and literal and interpreted it by its plain intention (Mk 10:5-9). The doctrine of scripture, meaning that scripture is God inspired, reliable and has a common sense meaning, is throughout the Bible: Matt 26:56, Luke 24:27, John 13:18, John 19:28, Acts 17:11, 1 Cor 15:3, Gal 3:8, 22, 2 Pet 3:16.

Ezra demonstrated how scripture should be read in its plain sense (Neh 8:8). In Hebrew thought, God’s revelation is supposed to make sense and be understood by its plain historical and grammatical meaning. In Ezra’s example we see plain exegetical and expositional teaching. Expositional means teaching verse by verse from the plain meaning of the passage.

Deut 6:4 says, “The Lord our God is one Lord”, (in Hebrew meaning the Lord is unity) showing there is one revelation from God, which is not self-contradictory. This means our interpretation of scripture should make sense. It is a matter of God’s integrity. He says what He means. He is not leading us astray. He wants us to understand.

If the Bible contradicted itself, that is, did not mean what is said, or could be given several meanings of equal value, then any genuine teaching from scripture would be impossible. It would also mean that any duty on our part, in understating or living truth, would be meaningless.

The commandments “you shall not lie, steal, or commit adultery” are meaningless if we can give a different meaning to them. They assume objectivity in knowledge, a standard of truth that is external to our self, by which we shall be judged. Truth is not culturally relative. There is a universal standard given by one God.

Systematic theology goes by the principle of the analogy of faith. This principle states that scripture has one meaning, one message and one faith. It is not contradictory. James Packer said it like this:

Scripture must interpret scripture. The scope and significance of one passage is to be brought out by relating it to others. Our Lord gave an example of this when He used Gen 2:24 to show that Moses’ Law of divorce was no more than a temporary concession to human hard-heartedness (Matt 3:8 and Deut 24:1).

The Reformers termed this principle the analogy of Scripture. The Westminster Confession states it thus: “The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.”…the various inspired books are dealing with complementary aspects of the same subject.

In theology we start by examining each passage independently and then relate them together for a common meaning. If the scripture is sensible then this process does not lead to contradiction. God intends us to employ all our faculties, mind and spirit, by His guiding grace.

There are mysteries in scripture, at least to the human mind and there are limitations to our knowledge on the context of some of the passages, particularly given our individual learning at any time, but God nevertheless makes its intended message plain to us, as we study it in humility and diligence, guided by the Holy Spirit.

In studying both exegetical and systematic theology there are sources that we should utilize. These include original language lexicons, biblical commentaries and theological dictionaries. We do not have to agree with all the content of these sources, but can benefit from the expertise of people in their own field, whenever they are correct and helpful.