SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY CLASS Session 1 What is systematic
- Slides: 31
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY CLASS Session 1
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. ” (John Frame)
Why study it?
1. Jesus commanded us to make disciples and teach them all he taught 2. It helps us overcome wrong (and rebellious) ideas 3. It helps us make better decisions later regarding questions about doctrine 4. It helps us grow as Christians
The Scriptures The Triune God the Father Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit Man The Gospel Man’s Response To The Gospel Man’s Inheritance Through The Gospel Sanctification The Church Ordinances of the Church The Family The Consummation
The Scriptures (Bibliology)
Chapter 1
THE SCRIPTURES
The Bible contains the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. The Old Testament can be broken into 5 main divisions: Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets and Minor Prophets. Genesis – Deuteronomy Joshua – Esther Job – Song of Songs Isaiah – Daniel Hosea – Malachi Law History Poetry Major Prophets Minor Prophets
However, a Jew of the 1 st Century would have only known 3 Divisions: 1. The Law a) Genesis - Deuteronomy 2. The Writings a) Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles 3. The Prophets a) History + Major Prophets + Minor Prophets
HOW WERE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CHOSEN? The Jewish people carefully recorded their history and transcribed their Scriptures During this time, many books were written that were never considered Scripture. In fact, it never seems as though it were a debate.
Books continued to be added until about a century after being led off into captivity and then they stopped. By the time Jesus was born, everyone knew they had gone hundreds of years without a prophet. The “Old Testament” we have today are exactly the same Scriptures Jesus had.
When the temple was destroyed in AD 70, a group of Jewish Rabbis got together at the Council of Jamnia and simply reaffirmed what the Jewish people already believed to be Jewish Scripture.
The New Testament can be broken into 5 main divisions as well: Gospels, History, Pauline Epistles, General Epistles and Apocalypse. Matthew – John Acts Romans – Philemon Hebrews – Jude Revelation Gospels History Pauline Epistles General Epistles Apocalypse
HOW WERE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHOSEN? First Century Christians saw the words of Jesus and his apostles as Scripture like the Old Testament.
After the apostles died, the church saw a greater need to preserve correct doctrine because many heretical writings were coming into circulation. Books accepted had to be written by an apostle or the associate of one.
HOW WERE BOOKS EVALUATED? Quoted from Geisler and Nix 1. Is it authoritative – did it come from the hand of God? (Does this book come with a divine “thus saith the Lord”? ) 2. Is it prophetic – what it written by a man of God?
3. Is it authentic? [The fathers had the policy, “If in doubt, throw it out. ” This enhanced the “validity of their discernment of canonical books. ”] 4. Is it dynamic - did it come with the life transforming power of God? 5. Was it received, collected, read and used - was it accepted by the people of God?
All the books of the New Testament were written in the first century. The Muratorian Canon (A. D. 170) shows that almost all (22/27) of the New Testament we have today was being considered the “New Testament” by then. In A. D. 393, church leaders came together at the Synod of Hippo to formalize what was already a reality in churches – the 27 books of the New Testament.
THE DOCTRINE OF SCRIPTURE Scripture is: 1. Authoritative 2. Clear 3. Necessary 4. Sufficient
SCRIPTURE IS AUTHORITATIVE When Scripture speaks, God speaks (Hebrews 1: 1) Scripture is inspired (verbal plenary inspiration) by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5: 17 -18, John 14: 26, 2 Timothy 3: 16) Scripture is inerrant (Psalm 19: 7 -11). Scripture is infallible (John 17: 17)
DEFENDING THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE 1. The gospels are historically reliable (too early, countercultural, unhelpful) 2. The gospels tell us Jesus rose from the dead 3. You should listen to people who rise from the dead 4. In the gospels, Jesus affirms the whole ‘Old Testament’ 5. The New Testament is written by Jesus’ chosen representatives (Apostles) or associates of them
SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR “Although some passages may at first seem difficult to grasp, the Bible is written in such a way that all things necessary to become Christian, live as a Christian and grow as a Christian are clear” (Grudem, 16). This involves spiritual eyes more than physical ones (1 Cor. 2: 14)
SCRIPTURE IS NECESSARY Everyone can know something about God through nature, but we can only know God through His own self-disclosure, Scripture itself (Romans 10: 14 -17).
SCRIPTURE IS SUFFICIENT Scripture contains all you need “to become a Christian, live as a Christian and grow as a Christian” (Grudem, 18) (2 Tim. 3: 16 -17). This means you don’t need Bible + Tongues or “Prophetic Word”, for example.
THE SCRIPTURES We accept the Bible, the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is the only essential and infallible record of God’s self-disclosure to mankind. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired by God. Therefore, as originally given, the Bible is free of error in all it teaches. Each book is to be interpreted according to its context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through it in living power.
THE SCRIPTURES (cont. ) All believers are exhorted to study the Scriptures and diligently apply them to their lives. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice, and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded, or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation, or worldly wisdom. Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture. Exodus 24: 4; Psalm 19: 7 -11; 119: 11, 89, 105, 144; Isaiah 40: 8; Matthew 5: 17 -18; John 16: 13 -15; 2 Timothy 3: 16; 2 Peter 1: 19 -21
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