· Prolegomena ·

Lecture One:  What is Theology?

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Introduction

II. The Concept of Theology

A. The Term “Theology”

· theos

· logos

· “Theology”

B. Three Elements Common to the Concept of Theology

1. Theology is Intelligible

2. Theology Requires Explanation

3. Theology Finds Its Source in the Bible

C. A Definition of “Theology”

“Theology, then, is the discovery, systematizing, and presentation of the truths about God.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 13)

III. The Varieties of Theology

A. By Era

B. By Viewpoint

C. By Focus

1. Biblical Theology

“Technically, biblical theology … deals systematically with the historically conditioned progress of the self-revelation of God in the Bible.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 14)

“Biblical thoelogy gives special attention to the teachings of individual authors and sections of Scripture, and to the place of each teaching in the historical development of Scripture.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systeamtic Theology, 22)

a. Biblical Theology is a Systematic Study

b. Biblical Theology Pays Attention to the Historical Setting in which an Author Wrote

c. Biblical Theology Recognizes Progressive Sequence to Revelation

d. Biblical Theology Finds its Source Material in the Bible

2. Historical Theology

“Historical theology focuses on what those who studied the Bible thought about its teachings either individually or collectively as in the pronouncements of church councils.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 14)

3. Philosophical Theology

4. Systematic Theology

“Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, ‘What does the whole Bible teach us today?’ about any given topic.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 21)

“Systematic theology correlates the data of biblical revelation as a whole in order to exhibit systematically the total picture of God’s self-revelation.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, 15)

“[E]ven 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 . . .”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 22)

IV. Theology and Doctrines

“A doctrine is what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.”  (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 25)

V. Application