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CLASS NOTES FOR ST591 -- SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY I BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Robert J. Dunzweiler, Professor
Note: These class notes have been prepared for use in the classroom, not
only as a guide for orderly coverage of the content, but also as a tool to
encourage students to think theological problems through to scriptural
solutions. As such, these pages contain statements and quotations which may
not represent the viewpoint of the seminary or that of the professor. These
statements and quotations should not be taken out of the context of the
abovementioned purpose of these notes. The positive contributions of these
materials should not be treated like a published book, and should not be
quoted out of context or reproduced without permission. However, this is
not intended to be a ban on the use of these materials. Rather, students
are encouraged to adapt them to their own needs and modes of expression,
and to make profitable use of them.
OUTLINE OF THE CLASS NOTES PROLEGOMENA I. Introduction to the Study of Theology
A. Objectives of Theological Study
B. Definitions of Theology
C. Branches of Theological Study
D. Sources of Theology
E. Bibliography for Systematic Theology F. Liberalism in Theology 1. Liberal Theology
2. Dialectical Theology (Barthianism)
3. Existential Theology
4. Process Theology
5. Liberation Theology (Marxist, Black, Feminist) ?Systematic Theology I page 2
G. Approaches to Theology
H. Necessity of Systematic Theology
I. Divisions of Systematic Theology
J. Method in Systematic Theology
II. Revelation and Theology
A. General Revelation
B. Natural Theology
C. Special Revelation
D. Scripture THEOLOGY PROPER I. The Knowability of God
II. The Characteristics of God's Nature
III. The Trinity of God PROLEGOMENA I. Introduction to the Study of Theology A. Objectives of Theological Study In our studies we will pursue four basic objectives: 1. To develop and maintain a distinctive climate, marked by the
following characteristics: a. Openness of discussion
b. Seriousness of attempts to understand differing ideas,
positions, and systems
c. Stimulation of the critical faculty and encouragement of its
development
d. Gracious, nonjudgmental acceptance of disagreement within the
bounds of evangelical orthodoxy, coupled with gracious but
uncompromising discernment and rejection of heresy
?Systematic Theology I page 3 e. Awareness of the influence of the personal-subjective aspect of
interaction with the truths of God's Word.
f. Dependence on the Holy Spirit for illumination to spiritually
understand the revealed truths of Scripture
g. Reverence and joy at the truthfulness, goodness, beauty, unity
and utility of the teaching of Holy Scripture
2. To develop and employ a distinctive theological approach and
method, characterized by the following features:
a. An organic approach to the study of Scripture that emphasizes
the need to organize the individual teachings of Scripture into a
self-consistent, coherent, interrelated whole, in much the same
way that organs in a living organism are interrelated.
b. Inductive studies of a representative number of or all
"commonplaces" related to a particular doctrine or doctrinal area,
in order to ascertain the scope of meaning and the "drift" of the
biblical data
c. A method of forming and testing theological proposals,
theories, and constructions that consists in studying the
scriptural facts, devising theories to explain them, and testing
those theories by logic and additional facts
d. Attempts to employ relevant insights, proposals, frameworks,
and constructs provided or suggested by other disciplines
e. A technique involving the raising of questions, defining of
problems, identifying of alternative proposals, and tracing of
implications, in order to clarify issues, delimit responses, and
facilitate understanding
f. The use of various teaching styles, including posing of
questions to stimulate discussion, directed discussion, open
discussion to stimulate creative and analytical thought,
highlighting of class notes, line-by-line examination of class
notes, review of readings, and lecture
g. The employment of visual aids of various types, including charts
and diagrams 3. To develop and employ learnings and skills, including the following: a. The ability to use the lexicographical and concordential tools
available to the student of Scripture
b. Familiarity with the literature relevant to each area of
theological study
c. A working knowledge of the contents of Scripture, together with
a firm grasp of those texts considered key or classic with respect
to its major themes and emphases
d. The ability to effectively articulate and communicate
theological
?Systematic Theology I page 4 concepts, insights, and prop_osals 4. To develop and exemplify specific qualities, including the
following: a. Theological literacy
b. Theological knowledgeableness and awareness
c. Theological preciseness
d. Theological perspicacity
e. Theological self-reliance
f. Theological integrity
g. Theological humility
B. Definitions of Theology
1. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words ???? and
?????. The compound means "word, speech, language, or expression
concerning God".
2. Various definitions of theology have been offered:
Augustine defined theology as "rational discussion respecting
the deity."
David Hollaz observed different meanings in the term:
The word Theology is employed in a fourfold sense: (a) most
comprehensively, for every doctrine concerning God, whether
true or mixed with error; (b) comprehensively, for true
Theology, either in itself considered, or as communicated;
either of men on earth or of saints in heaven; either natural
or revealed; (c) specifically, of revealed Theology, that
guides mortal man to eternal life; (d) most specifically, of
the doctrine concerning the one and triune God.
Johann Quenstedt stated, "Theology, if you consider the force
and usage of the word, is nothing else than ... what is said
about God and divine things, as ???v????????? is what is said
about spirits, and ??????????, what is said about the stars."
Friedrich Schleiermacher defined theology as "the science which
systematizes the doctrine prevalent in a Christian Church at a
given time."
Charles Hodge defined theology as "the science of the facts of
divine revelation."
Augustus Hopkins Strong defined theology as "the science of God
and of the relations between God and the universe."
Abraham Kuyper defined theology as "the science of God."
?Systematic Theology I page 5 Herman Bavinck defined theology as "the scientific system of the
knowledge of God." Karl Barth defined theology (which he called "dogmatics") as "the
science in which the Church, in accordance with the state of its
knowledge at different times, takes account of the content of its
proclamation critically, that is, by the standard of Holy Scripture
and under the guidance of its Confessions." Paul Tillich defined theology as "the methodical interpretation of the
contents of the Christian faith." Louis Berkhof defined theology as "the systematized knowledge of God
in His various relations to the universe." He further states: Theology... is the effect which the divine revelation, embodied in
Scripture, produces in the sphere of systematic thought. Theology is
the fruit of the reflection of the Church on the truth, revealed in
the Word of God. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. defines theology as "the study which treats
directly of God and His relationship to the world and to man." L. Harold DeWolf defines Systematic Theology as "the critical
discipline devoted to discovering, expounding and defending the more
important truths implied in the experience of the Christian
community." John Macquarrie defines theology as "the study which, through
participation in and reflection upon a religious faith, seeks to
express the content of this faith in the clearest and most coherent
language available." Gordon Lewis and Bruce Demarest define theology as "the topical and
logical study of God's revealed nature and purposes." They further
state: Systematic Theology not only derives coherent doctrines from the
entirety