Systematic Theology Course

LESSON 1: Intro

What is theology?

Theology simply means the study of God

Theology simply means the study of _______

What is systematic theology?

Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic.

This definition indicates that systematic theology involves collecting and understanding all the relevant passages in the Bible on various topics and then summarizing their teachings clearly so that we know what to believe about each topic.

Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the __________ __________ teach us today?” about any given topic.

1. Relationship to Other Disciplines

There are other ways to study the Bible --- here are three ways that we will NOT be studying it

As my definition indicates, the emphasis of this book will not be on

historical theology (a historical study of how Christians in different periods have understood various theological topics) or

philosophical theology (studying theological topics largely without use of the Bible, but using the tools and methods of philosophical reasoning and what can be known about God from observing the universe) or

apologetics (providing a defense of the truthfulness of the Christian faith for the purpose of convincing unbelievers).

These three subjects, which are worthwhile subjects for Christians to pursue, are sometimes also included in a broader definition of the term systematic theology.

Historical study informs us of the insights gained and the mistakes made by others previously in understanding Scripture; philosophical study helps us understand right and wrong thought forms common in our culture and others; and apologetic study helps us bring the teachings of Scripture to bear on the objections raised by unbelievers. But these areas of study are not the focus of this volume, which rather interacts directly with the biblical text in order to understand what the Bible itself says to us about various theological subjects.

What three subjects would we include if we wanted to take a broader approach to systematic theology?

Moreover, even though historical and philosophical studies do contribute to our understanding of theological questions, only Scripture has the final authority to define what we are to believe, and it is therefore appropriate to spend some time focusing on the process of analyzing the teaching of Scripture itself.

2. Application to Life

Defining systematic theology to include “what the whole Bible teaches us today” implies that application to life is a necessary part of the proper pursuit of systematic theology.

Thus a doctrine under consideration is seen in terms of its practical value for living the Christian life. Nowhere in Scripture do we find doctrine studied for its own sake or isolated from life. The biblical writers consistently apply their teaching to life. Even those books of the Bible that have the most doctrinal content (such as Romans, Ephesians, and Hebrews) contain much material that is also directly applicable to the Christian life.

Spiritual growth must occur as you study the Bible. Systematic theology helps us accomplish this

Spiritual _______________ must occur as you study the Bible.

3. Systematic Theology VS. Disorganized Theology

Everyone does theology.

_____________ does theology.

If you have a thought about God (which everyone does) then you are doing theology.

Systematic theology is just a way to organize how we study the Bible.

Systematic theology is just a way to __________ how we study the Bible.

The problem with disorganized theology (even if it is right) can be easily misinterpreted because it typically lacks accuracy or complete definitions.

It can become ramblings and antidotes instead of a built Biblical case.

4. Beliefs Must Be Based on Scripture, Not Human Authorities or Traditions

It is of utmost importance therefore that each person beginning such a course firmly resolve to abandon as false any idea found to be clearly contradicted by the teaching of Scripture.

But it is also very important for each person to resolve not to believe any individual doctrine simply because this textbook or any other textbook or teacher says that it is true, unless this book or the instructor in a course can convince the student from the text of Scripture itself.

It is Scripture alone and not “conservative evangelical tradition” or any other human authority that must function as the normative authority for what we should believe.

Please, do not believe any of this just because I said it.

Build your backbone with Scripture and built a case and an understanding for why you believe what you believe

Build your backbone with Scripture and built a case and an understanding for ______ you believe ______ you believe

2 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

We MUST know our theology to be able to stand in this culture

5. What Are Doctrines?

A doctrine is what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.

A doctrine is what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular _________.

So systematic theology is the idea of the complete picture of what the Bible teaches. But it is made up of Doctrines.

If systematic theology was a house, then doctrines are the pillars that hold the house in place.

If systematic theology was a house, then doctrines are the _______ that hold the house in place.

For example: this book is made up of these 7 doctrines … we probably will not cover all of them.

Part 1: The Doctrine of the Word of God

Part 2: The Doctrine of God

Part 3: The Doctrine of Man in the Image of God

Part 4: The Doctrines of Christ and the Holy Spirit

Part 5: The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption

Part 6: The Doctrine of the Church

Part 7: The Doctrine of the Future

Studying systematic theology will help us grow as Christians. The more we know about God, about his Word, about his relationships to the world and humankind, the better we will trust him, the more fully we will praise him, and the more readily we will obey him. Studying systematic theology rightly will make us more mature Christians. If it does not do this, we are not studying it in the way God intends.

In fact, the Bible often connects sound doctrine with maturity in Christian living: Paul speaks of “the teaching that accords with godliness” (1 Tim. 6:3) and says that his work as an apostle is “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1). By contrast, he indicates that all kinds of disobedience and immorality are “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10).

6. What is the right way to study the Bible?

-Prayer

-Humility

-Reason

-Help from others

-Throughly

-Rejoicing and Praise (with Passion)

What are the 6 things needed to study the Bible?

HOMEWORK:

Read 2 Timothy 4

LESSON 2: The Word of God

Lesson 1 recap

What are the different forms of the Word of God? Are there different forms?

There are 2 things that are referred to as the “Word of God:” 1) A Person and 2) Speech by God

1. The Word of God as a Person: Jesus Christ

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 19:13 ESV

13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

Jesus is called the “Word of God.”

Among the members of the Trinity, it is especially God the Son (Jesus) who, in his person as well as in his words, has the role of communicating the character of God to us and of expressing the will of God for us.

Jesus shows us, through his actions and words, the character and will of God.

Jesus shows us, through his _________ and _________, the character and will of God.

2. The Word of God as Speech by God

A. God Decrees

How did God create the world? He spoke it into existence.

Genesis 1:3 ESV

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Psalm 33:6 ESV

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

These can be called decrees.

A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to happen.

A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to _________.

Everything we see and will ever see is upheld by God’s word.

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

God also speaks to us personally

B. God’s Words of Personal Address

God sometimes communicates with people on earth by speaking directly to them. These can be called instances of God’s Word of personal address.

Genesis 2:16–17 ESV

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Another prominent example is God giving the ten commandments

Exodus 20:1–3 (ESV)

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Matthew 3:17 ESV

17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

These are rare instances in Scripture when it is God’s audible voice that is spoken to people personally.

These are rare instances in Scripture, when it is God’s ________ voice that is spoken to people personally.

C. God’s Word as Speech Through Human Lips

Throughout the Old Testament, God would raise up prophets to speak His words to His people.

Throughout the Old Testament, God would raise up __________ to speak His words to His people.

Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Jeremiah 1:9 (ESV)

9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.

Today, preachers teach from the Bible (the Word of God) through the revelation of the Holy Spirit in order that people might understand God’s Word (the Bible more clearly)

Romans 10:14–17 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The context of faith coming to people is through preaching.

The context of faith coming to people is through ________________.

D. God’s Words in Written Form (the Bible)

God used Moses to write His law and read it to His people.

Deuteronomy 31:9–13 ESV

9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

The first 5 books of the Bible (called the Pentateuch, or the Torah) were written by Moses and became the backbone for the rest of the Bible. Everything hinges on the Pentateuch.

Out of all of the ways God speaks, the Bible is the most important and carries the highest authority.

Out of all of the ways God speaks, the Bible is the most important and carries the highest ________________.

God can use flawed people to speak or write His perfect words.

Just like you and I can be used by God to do good and great things, God also used human hands to write His words.

Why is the Bible the Focus?

Of all the forms of the Word of God, the focus of our study in systematic theology is God’s Word in written form, that is, the Bible.

This is the form of God’s Word that is available for study, for public inspection, for repeated examination.

It tells us about and points us to the Word of God as a person, namely Jesus Christ, whom we do not now have present in bodily form on earth.

Jesus is no longer discipling people. That is now the job of the Church.

The other forms of the Word of God are not suitable as the primary basis for the study of theology.

We do not hear God’s words of decree and thus cannot study them directly but only through observation of their effects.

God’s words of personal address are uncommon, even in Scripture. Furthermore, even if we did hear some words of personal address from God to ourselves today, we would not have certainty that our understanding of it, our memory of it, and our subsequent report of it was wholly accurate. Nor would we be readily able to convey to others the certainty that the communication was from God, even if it was.

God’s words as spoken through human lips ceased to be given when the New Testament canon was completed. Thus, these other forms of God’s words are inadequate as a primary basis for study in theology.

It is most profitable for us to study God’s words as written in the Bible. It is God’s written Word that he commands us to study. The man is “blessed” who “meditates” on God’s law “day and night” (Ps. 1:1–2). God’s words to Joshua are also applicable to us: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8). It is the Word of God in the form of written Scripture that is “breathed out by God” and is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

If someone tells you they have a “Word from God,” but it is contradicted in Scripture, throw it in the trash.

If someone tells you they have a “Word from God,” but it is contradicted in Scripture, throw it in the _______________.

God absolutely uses people to speak, to preach, to write helpful devotionals, all of which help us understand God’s Word. But NONE OF THEM carry the same authority as the Word of God — As the Bible.