What is Systematic Theology?

Today’s conversation introduces the study of Systematic Theology, in the context of other forms of theology.  In particular, we recommend the course at PursueGod called Sys Theo, which introduces 12 broad topics that cover the essentials of systematic theology from a biblical perspective. This episode seeks to answer the basic question of…

What Is Systematic Theology?

Systematic theology is a discipline within Christian theology that seeks to organize and present the beliefs and doctrines of the Christian faith in a systematic and coherent way. Here are four key aspects of systematic theology:

• Doctrinal Organization: The Bible is organized around the central story of God’s redemption, not around a list of topics or categories. Systematic Theology seeks to gather truth from the entire story of the Bible and organize it into thoughtful and consistent categories for reflection and study. Here are some of the typical categories of doctrine and their fancy names:

• Theology Proper: This category deals with the study of God Himself. It includes discussions about the nature and attributes of God, such as His omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and transcendence. [Note: includes a discussion of God’s mission / purpose in the world. Also: discussion of evil and suffering in the world in light of God’s nature.]

• Bibliology: Bibliology is the study of the Bible itself. It covers topics related to the inspiration, authority, inerrancy, and interpretation of Scripture. [Note: In context of the larger question of “revelation”, of which Bibliology is a subset.]

• Creation and Providence: These categories address the doctrine of creation, including the origin and purpose of the universe, as well as God’s ongoing providential care and governance of His creation.

• Christology: Christology is the study of Jesus Christ. It explores His nature, including His divine and human attributes, His role as Savior, His mission, and His relationship to God the Father and the Holy Spirit. [Note: Jesus’ role as Savior is also the topic of a later category, called Soteriology.]

• Pneumatology: Pneumatology focuses on the Holy Spirit. It examines the nature and work of the Holy Spirit in general, but particularly in the life of believers, including the Spirit’s role in regeneration, sanctification, and empowering for ministry. John 3:8 (NLT) The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

• Anthropology: Anthropology focuses on the study of humanity. It includes discussions on the nature of humans, the concept of sin, and the implications of the Fall (the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) on human nature.

• Hamartiology: Hamartiology is related to Anthropology. It is the study of sin. It examines the origin and consequences of sin, as well as the theological understanding of sin’s impact on individuals and society.

• Soteriology: Soteriology is the study of salvation. It delves into topics like the atonement (how Christ’s death reconciles humanity with God) and justification (how people are declared righteous before God).

• Ecclesiology: Ecclesiology concerns the study of the Church. It includes discussions on the nature and purpose of the Church, its leadership structure, sacraments or ordinances, and its role in the world. [Note: also grapples with the question of the relationship between the Church and Israel.]

• Eschatology: Eschatology deals with the study of the last things or end times. This category explores topics like the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection, judgment, heaven, hell, and the final destiny of humanity.

• Angelology and Demonology: These categories explore the existence and nature of angels (good and fallen) and demons (including Satan), including their roles in the spiritual realm and interactions with humanity.

• Covenant Theology: In traditions that emphasize covenant theology, this category explores the biblical covenants as a framework for understanding God’s relationship with humanity. 

• Scriptural Basis: The Bible is typically the primary source for systematic theology. The theologian will analyze and interpret biblical passages to derive theological truths and principles. Different Christian denominations may emphasize different parts of the Bible or interpret them differently, leading to variations in systematic theology.

• Historical Development: Systematic theology often takes into account the development of Christian doctrine throughout history. Theological formulations and debates in the early church, as well as those in later centuries, influence how theologians construct their systematic theologies.

• Creeds and Confessions: Many Christian traditions have produced creeds, confessions, and statements of faith that summarize their core beliefs. Systematic theologians often refer to these documents as they construct their systematic theologies.

Systematic theology serves several purposes, including helping believers deepen their understanding of their faith, providing a basis for teaching and preaching, facilitating theological dialogue and debate, and defending the Christian faith against challenges from other worldviews. It is a rigorous and intellectual pursuit that seeks to explore the richness and depth of Christian theology in a structured and coherent manner.

What Are Other Types of Theology?

In addition to systematic theology, there are several other branches or types of theology that focus on specific aspects of religious study, interpretation, and application. Here are some of the most common types of theology:

• Biblical Theology: Biblical theology seeks to understand and interpret the theological themes and teachings found within the Bible itself. It examines the historical and literary context of biblical texts and traces the development of theological concepts throughout the biblical narrative. [Example: what does John’s gospel – or the complete works of the apostle John – tell us about the nature of salvation? Compared to the contributions of, say, the apostle Paul. Or: what is the development of thought through the Old Testament about eschatology? How do the gospel writers interact with and expand this?]

• Historical Theology: Historical theology explores the development of Christian doctrine and theology throughout the history of the Christian Church. It examines the writings and theological debates of theologians and church leaders from different time periods.

• Comparative Theology: Comparative theology involves the comparison of theological beliefs and practices across different religious traditions. It seeks to understand the similarities and differences between various faiths.

• Natural Theology: Natural theology explores theological questions through reason, philosophy, and observation of the natural world, rather than relying solely on divine revelation. It seeks to find evidence for God’s existence and attributes in nature and human reason.

• Practical Theology: Practical theology seeks to connect the academic discipline of theology more fully to the practices of religion and ministry. One subset of practical theology is ethics. Another is pastoral theology, which includes worship, preaching, Christian education, Christian counseling, and disciple making. Another is missiology, the study of the history and methodology of how God’s people pursue his mission throughout the world.

These are just a few examples of the many branches and types of theology that exist. The choice of which type of theology to study often depends on an individual’s interests, theological tradition, and academic or practical goals within their religious community.

The Takeaway

Our hope is that this introduction will encourage you to tackle the entire Sys Theo course. If you have already decided to do it, we hope this helps you see where this study fits into the larger picture. We hope it creates an anticipation for what lies ahead, and a resolve to study Scripture prayerfully and to think clearly about its themes. We trust you will discover not only how God’s truth fits together, but how it applies in your life.