Relationship Between Biblical and Systematic Theology
Biblical theology and systematic theology are distinct yet interconnected disciplines, both drawing their content from the Bible but organizing and presenting it differently. Systematic theology, as defined by Charles Hodge, is concerned with the "facts and principles of the Bible," aiming to arrange and systematize these facts to ascertain the general truths they embody [3]. It treats theology as a science, where facts (from the Bible) and ideas (the mind's organization of those facts) combine to form a coherent understanding [1].
The Bible itself provides the truths that, when properly understood and arranged, constitute the science of theology [2]. Just as the facts of nature are related by physical laws, the facts of the Bible are related and determined by the nature of God and his creatures [2]. God intends for humanity to study his Word to discover the "wonderful organic relation and harmonious combination" of its truths [2]. This inherent relatedness of biblical facts necessitates the construction of theological systems, as humanity is not satisfied with merely possessing "a mass of undigested facts" [9]. The history of the Church demonstrates this need, with systems of theology being produced across various ages and denominations [9].
Systematic theology, therefore, takes the "facts" of the Bible—truths revealed by God through his prophets and organs [7]—and organizes them into a coherent whole. These facts are considered the primary and principal source of divine knowledge [10]. The authority of the Bible is paramount; if philosophical speculations conflict with what the Bible teaches, those speculations are refuted [4]. The disposition to reject biblical teaching in favor of such speculations is inconsistent with Christianity, as salvation requires receiving as true whatever God has revealed in his Word [4]. While science may progress and interpretations of the Bible may need adjustment (as seen in the Copernican theory debate), the Bible itself remains unharmed, and its authority is not diminished [6].
The goal of systematic theology is to exhibit and illustrate the facts and truths of the Bible in their proper relations and proportions [5]. This involves understanding the causal relationships between biblical facts, much like the philosophy of history understands the causal relations between historical facts [1]. The process involves not only intellectual understanding but also the recognition of religious experience, especially when authenticated by Scripture and influenced by the Spirit of God [8]. This can lead to individuals having "two theologies—one of the intellect, and another of the heart" [8].
Sources
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 4: § 1. Theology a Science. In every science there are two factors: facts and ideas; or, facts and the mind. Science is more than knowledge. Knowledge is the persuasion of what is true on adequate evidence. But the facts of astronomy, chemistry, or history do not constitute the science of those departments of knowledge. Nor does the mere orderly arrangement of facts amount to science. Historical facts arranged in chronological order, are mere annals. The philosophy of history supposes those facts to be understood in their causal relations. In”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 4: systematic theology, but He gives us in the Bible the truths which, properly understood and arranged, constitute the science of theology. As the facts of nature are all related and determined by physical laws, so the facts of the Bible are all related and determined by the nature of God and of his creatures. And as He wills that men should study his works and discover their wonderful organic relation and harmonious combination, so it is his will that we should study his Word, and learn that, like the stars, its truths are not isolated poin”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 11: § 1. Its Nature . If the views presented in the preceding chapter be correct, the question, What is Theology? is already answered. If natural science be concerned with the facts and laws of nature, theology is concerned with the facts and the principles of the Bible. If the object of the one be to arrange and systematize the facts of the external world, and to ascertain the laws by which they are determined; the object of the other is to systematize the facts of the Bible, and ascertain the principles or general truths which those facts i”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 21: These are subjects on which philosophy undertakes to speculate and dogmatize; if in any case these speculations come into conflict with what is taught or necessarily implied in the Bible, they are thereby refuted, as by a reductio ad absurdum . And the disposition which refuses to give up these speculations in obedience to the teaching of the Bible, is inconsistent with Christianity. It is the indispensable condition of salvation through the gospel, that we receive as true whatever God has revealed in his Word. We must make our choice bet”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 85: development. While “the mediating theology” concedes all this, it nevertheless admits of a miraculous or supernatural beginning of the world and of the person of Christ, and thus gives up its whole philosophical system. At least the members of one wing of Schleiermacher’s school are thus inconsistent; those of the other are more true to their principles. As Christian theology is simply the exhibition and illustration of the facts and truths of the Bible in their due relations and proportions, it has nothing to do with these speculations. ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 21: resisted the adoption of the Copernican theory of our solar system. They interpreted the Bible in a sense contradictory to that theory. So far as in them lay, they staked the authority of the Bible on the correctness of their interpretation. The theory proved to be true, and the received interpretation had to be given up. The Bible, however, has received no injury, although theologians have been taught an important lesson; that is, to let science take its course, assured that the Scriptures will accommodate themselves to all well-authenti”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 54: § 1. The Word. 1. The word of God, as here understood, is the Bible. And the Bible is the collection of the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. 2. These books are the word of God because they were written by men who were prophets, his organs, or spokesmen, in such a sense that whatever they declare to be true or obligatory, God declares to be true and binding. These topics have already been considered in the first volume of this work, so far as they fall within the limits of systematic theology. 3. The word of God, so far as ad”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: the doctrine of the Bible, and such is the teaching of our religious consciousness when under the influence of the Spirit of God. The true method in theology requires that the facts of religious experience should be accepted as facts, and when duly authenticated by Scripture, be allowed to interpret the doctrinal statements of the Word of God. So legitimate and powerful is this inward teaching of the Spirit, that it is no uncommon thing to find men having two theologies, — one of the intellect, and another of the heart. The one may find ex”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 4: it cannot help endeavoring to systematize and reconcile the facts which it admits to be true. In no department of knowledge have men been satisfied with the possession of a mass of undigested facts. And the students of the Bible can as little be expected to be thus satisfied. There is a necessity, therefore, for the construction of systems of theology. Of this the history of the Church affords abundant proof. In all ages and among all denominations, such systems have been produced. Second, A much higher kind of knowledge is thus obtained, ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 30: primary, immediate, and principal source of divine knowledge; that they are not “to be subjected to the examination either of the outward testimony of the Scriptures, or of the natural reason of man, as to a more noble or certain rule or touchstone;” 58 58 Barclay’s Second Proposition. yet they also teach that nothing not contained in the Scriptures can be an article of faith; that we are bound to believe all the Bible teaches; that everything contrary to its teaching is to be rejected as “a delusion of the devil,” no matter from what sou”