The Concept of Systematic Theology (Part 3)

3. The Christian Disposition Required for the Study of Systematic Theology

 

The study of theology requires more than intellectual ability. Because the subject concerns God and His revelation, the condition of the heart matters greatly. A person can possess considerable theological knowledge and yet use that knowledge in a way that dishonors God. Scripture therefore gives us principles concerning not only how theology should be studied but also the spiritual disposition with which it should be pursued.

 

3.1 A Prayerful Dependence Upon the Holy Spirit

Systematic theology should be approached as a spiritual activity that requires dependence upon God. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in bringing God's people to understand the things that God has revealed. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 2 that the things of God are understood through the Spirit who searches the deep things of God, and he prays for believers in Ephesians 1:17–18 that God would give them “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” and enlighten the eyes of their understanding. This does not mean that the Christian should neglect disciplined study and simply wait for a subjective spiritual impression. The Spirit ordinarily works through the means God has provided: the Scriptures themselves, careful observation, sound reasoning, faithful teaching, prayer, and the fellowship of the Church. Nevertheless, the Christian must recognize that intellectual ability alone is insufficient. We may possess the linguistic knowledge, historical information, and theological resources necessary to examine a passage and still fail to understand its significance properly.

For this reason, the student of theology should cultivate a life of prayer and devotion. When Scripture is difficult, we should not merely reach for another book; we should also seek God in prayer. When we encounter doctrines that challenge our assumptions, we should ask God for wisdom and humility. When we discover truths that expose our sin or correct our thinking, we should be willing to submit ourselves to that correction. The study of theology should therefore take place within the context of a personal walk with God. The goal is not simply to accumulate information but to know the God who has revealed Himself through His Word.

 

3.2 A Humble Spirit

Humility is particularly important because theological knowledge can easily become an occasion for pride. A person who has spent years studying Scripture may know biblical doctrines that another Christian has never encountered in detail. That difference in knowledge can either become an opportunity for service or an occasion for arrogance. Peter commands believers to “be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5), while James describes wisdom from above as pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits (James 3:17). These qualities should characterize the Christian theologian as much as the Christian pastor or missionary. Paul's warning in 1 Corinthians 8:1 is especially relevant: “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” He was not arguing against knowledge. The wider New Testament clearly commands believers to grow in knowledge and understanding. His concern was knowledge that becomes detached from love and produces an inflated view of oneself.

The study of systematic theology should have the opposite effect. As we learn more about God's holiness, wisdom, sovereignty, mercy, patience, and grace, we should become increasingly aware of our dependence upon Him. As we understand more deeply the seriousness of sin and the greatness of salvation, we should become less self-righteous and more grateful for grace. Theological understanding should therefore make us more patient with other believers, more careful in our judgments, more willing to admit error, and more committed to speaking truth in love. If our theological knowledge consistently produces contempt for other Christians rather than love for them, we should seriously examine whether we have allowed knowledge to become detached from the purpose for which God gave it.

 

3.3 A Willingness to Be Corrected

A serious student of Scripture must also possess the willingness to have previously held beliefs challenged and, where necessary, corrected. This is one of the most difficult disciplines in theological study because human beings naturally become attached to conclusions that they have held for a long time.

The authority of Scripture, however, means that our loyalty must ultimately be to God's Word rather than to our own theological history. If careful study reveals that a belief we have inherited from our tradition, denomination, favorite teacher, or even our own previous study is inconsistent with Scripture, then our responsibility is to submit to Scripture. This does not mean that every disagreement proves that our previous understanding was wrong. Many theological disagreements arise from legitimate differences in interpretation, particularly concerning passages where Scripture does not speak with the same degree of explicitness. Nevertheless, the student of theology must remain intellectually honest enough to examine opposing arguments rather than dismissing them merely because they challenge familiar conclusions.

This willingness to learn and be corrected is one of the reasons God has placed teachers within the Church. Other believers may notice weaknesses in our interpretation that we have overlooked. The theological writings of previous generations may expose assumptions that we have never examined. Serious engagement with opposing positions can sometimes strengthen our convictions because it forces us to demonstrate that our beliefs are actually grounded in Scripture rather than merely inherited.

 

3.4 A Disciplined and Comprehensive Approach to Study

A responsible study of systematic theology should therefore follow a disciplined process. We begin by identifying the passages that are relevant to the subject, but we do not immediately combine them into a doctrine. Each passage must first be interpreted within its own context. We then compare the various passages, paying attention to similarities, distinctions, development, and the relationship between Old and New Testament revelation. We consider the theological conclusions that can legitimately be drawn from those passages and distinguish between what Scripture explicitly states and what we infer from it. Finally, we formulate a coherent summary of the biblical teaching and consider its implications for Christian life and practice. Specialized resources can be extremely useful throughout this process. Concordances help identify relevant passages; biblical dictionaries provide information concerning words and concepts; commentaries help with difficult passages; historical works provide context; and systematic theology texts allow us to compare our conclusions with the work of other theologians. These resources should function as aids to biblical study rather than substitutes for it.

It is also helpful to consult more than one theological perspective, particularly when studying doctrines over which Christians have historically disagreed. Reading only authors who already agree with us can create the illusion that our position is self-evident when, in reality, there may be serious exegetical questions that need to be addressed. A strong theological conviction should be capable of surviving careful examination from multiple perspectives while remaining accountable to Scripture.

The ultimate objective is not to construct a system that answers every conceivable question. Rather, it is to formulate as accurately as possible what Scripture actually teaches, recognizing that some questions remain beyond the scope of biblical revelation and that some mysteries will not be completely resolved in this present age.

 

3.5 A Heart of Appreciation and Worship

The final disposition required in the study of systematic theology is appreciation for God and His truth. The subject of theology is not an abstract collection of propositions. It concerns the living God who created us, sustains us, reveals Himself to us, confronts our sin, provides redemption through Christ, and brings His people into fellowship with Himself. For this reason, biblical truth should produce wonder and worship. The psalmist repeatedly expresses delight in the Word of God, declaring, “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8), and again, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). His knowledge of God's revelation was not detached from affection for God. The more clearly he understood God's Word, the more deeply he desired it.

Paul provides perhaps the clearest example of this connection between theology and worship. After developing profound teaching concerning God's purposes in salvation throughout Romans 9–11, he concludes with an expression of awe: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). His theological reflection does not end with an intellectual conclusion but with worship: “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). This is where the study of systematic theology should ultimately lead us. As we understand more clearly what Scripture teaches about God, creation, sin, redemption, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the purposes of God, our response should be increasingly characterized by reverence, gratitude, faith, obedience, and worship. The proper study of theology should enlarge our understanding of God without diminishing our sense of His greatness.

 

Conclusion

Systematic theology is the disciplined study of what the whole Bible teaches concerning particular subjects of Christian faith and practice. It seeks to gather the relevant testimony of Scripture, interpret those passages faithfully within their contexts, understand their relationship to the broader history of redemption, and formulate a coherent summary of the biblical teaching. It is therefore both a necessary discipline for the Church and a responsibility that every Christian undertakes to some degree whenever he or she makes claims about what Scripture teaches.

Its authority does not come from the theological system itself. Scripture remains the final authority. Our theological formulations must therefore remain continually accountable to the biblical text, and our deductions must never be treated as though they possess the same authority as the inspired Word of God. This requires careful exegesis, sound hermeneutics, disciplined reasoning, awareness of the whole biblical witness, and humility concerning the limitations of our own understanding.

Systematic theology is also necessary because Christ has commanded His Church to make disciples and to teach them to observe all that He commanded (Matthew 28:19–20). The Church cannot faithfully teach the whole counsel of God without seeking to understand how the many teachings of Scripture fit together. Because we are finite in memory, time, and understanding, we need a disciplined means of gathering and summarizing the biblical testimony so that we can teach it accurately to ourselves and to others.

Yet the proper goal of systematic theology extends beyond intellectual clarity. Sound doctrine should produce spiritual maturity. It should correct error, strengthen faith, deepen our understanding of God, guard the Church against false teaching, and shape the way we live. The great theological passages of Scripture repeatedly demonstrate that doctrine is intended to lead to worship and obedience. Paul could move from the depths of God's saving purposes to an expression of worship because, in biblical Christianity, knowing truth about God and responding rightly to God cannot ultimately be separated.

For this reason, the study of systematic theology should always be undertaken with prayer, humility, intellectual honesty, and a willingness to learn. We should search the Scriptures carefully, listen to the wisdom of faithful teachers, examine our assumptions, distinguish between what Scripture explicitly teaches and what we deduce from it, and remain willing to correct our conclusions whenever the Word of God demands it. Above all, we should remember that the purpose of studying God's truth is ultimately to know and glorify the God who has revealed it.

Systematic theology, rightly pursued, therefore becomes an act of faithful stewardship. God has spoken through His Word, and the Church is responsible for receiving that Word, understanding it carefully, guarding it faithfully, teaching it accurately, and living according to it. The more faithfully we undertake that responsibility, the more clearly we can proclaim the truth of God to the generation in which He has placed us.