Editing Systematic theology

{{Short description|Orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith}}
{{redirect|Systematic Theology|the book by Wayne Grudem|Systematic Theology (book)}}

'''Systematic theology''', or '''systematics''', is a discipline of [[Christian theology]] that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the [[doctrine]]s of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topics or what is true about God and His universe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Carson |first=D. A. |title=NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, eBook: Follow God's Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture |publisher=Zondervan |year=2018 |isbn=9780310450436 |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan}}</ref> It also builds on biblical disciplines, [[church history]], as well as [[Biblical theology|biblical]] and [[historical theology]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garrett |first=James Leo |title=Systematic Theology, Volume 1, Fourth Edition |publisher=[[Wipf and Stock Publishers]] |location=Eugene, Oregon |year=2014 |isbn=9781498206594 |pages=20}}</ref> Systematic theology shares its systematic tasks with other disciplines such as [[constructive theology]], [[dogmatics]], ethics, [[apologetics]], and [[philosophy of religion]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berkhof |first=Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jFqJaODKwIoC |title=Systematic Theology |date=1996-09-24 |publisher=[[William B. Eerdmans Publishing]] |isbn=978-0-8028-3820-9 |publication-place=Grand Rapids, Michigan |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Webster |first=John |title=Oxford Handbook of Systematic Theology |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2007 |location=New York City|chapter=Introduction}}</ref>

== Method ==
{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2024}}
With a methodological tradition that differs somewhat from [[biblical theology]], systematic theology draws on the core [[sacred texts]] of Christianity, while simultaneously investigating the development of Christian doctrine over the course of history, particularly through philosophy, ethics, social sciences, and natural sciences. Using biblical texts, it attempts to compare and relate all of scripture which led to the creation of a systematized statement on what the whole Bible says about particular issues. In other words, "In reconstructing Christian teaching, systematic theology proceeds by a process of conceptual abstraction and schematization."<ref name=":2" /> 

In a seminal article, "Principles of Systematic Theology," [[Anglican]] theologian [[John Webster (theologian)|John Webster]] describes systematic theology as proceeding along a series of principles, which he draws from various theologians including [[Thomas Aquinas]]:

* The Trinity: The Ontological Principle (''principium essendi'')
* Scripture: The External/Objective Cognitive Principle (''principium cognoscendi externum'')
* The Redeemed Intelligence of the Saints: The Internal/Subjective Cognitive Principle (''principium cognoscendi internum'')<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Webster |first=John |title=Principles of Systematic Theology |url=https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2400.2008.00423.x |journal=International Journal of Systematic Theology |date=2009 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=56–71|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2400.2008.00423.x |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Webster has also considered the task of all systematic theology as articulating the Creator/creature distinction, known also as the Categorical Distinction or the [[Infinite qualitative distinction|Infinite Qualitative Distinction]], a concept also explored from the perspective of [[Compatibilism|compatiblistic metaphysics]] by [[Kathryn Tanner]] in ''God and Creation in Christian Theology'' (1988).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tanner |first=Kathryn |title=God and Creation in Christian Theology |publisher=Fortress Press |year=1988 |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Webster |first=John |title=Distinguishing Between God and Man: Aspects of the Theology of Eberhard Jüngel |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |location=Cambridge, England |year=1982 |type=doctoral dissertation}}</ref>

Within Christianity, different traditions (both intellectual and ecclesial) approach systematic theology in different ways impacting a) the method employed to develop the system, b) the understanding of theology's task, c) the doctrines included in the system, and d) the order those doctrines appear. Even with such diversity, it is generally the case that works that one can describe as systematic theologies begin with revelation and conclude with eschatology.

Since it is focused on truth, systematic theology is also framed to interact with and address the contemporary world. Many authors have explored this area, including [[Charles Gore]], [[John Walvoord]], Lindsay Dewar, and [[C. F. D. Moule|Charles Moule]]. {{Clarify span|The framework developed by these theologians reviews the postbiblical history of a doctrine, following a treatment of the biblical materials.|date=July 2024}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garrett |first=James Leo |title=Systematic Theology, Volume 2 |publisher=[[Wipf and Stock Publishers]] |location=Eugene, Oregon |year=2014 |isbn=9781498206600 |pages=138}}</ref> This process concludes with applications to contemporary issues.

==Categories==
Since it is a systemic approach, systematic theology organizes truth under different headings<ref name=":0" /> and there are certain basic areas (or categories), although the exact list may vary slightly. These are:<ref name="The Grace Institute">{{Cite web |title=Categories of Theology |url=http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/theology/introduction-2.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401000036/http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/theology/introduction-2.php |archive-date=1 April 2015 |access-date=18 September 2014 |website=www.gcfweb.org}}</ref>

*[[Angelology]] – The study of angels
*[[Bibliology]] – The study of the Bible
*[[Creationism]] – The study of creation
*[[Hamartiology]] – The study of sin
*[[Christology]] – The study of Christ
*[[Ecclesiology]] – The study of the church
*[[Eschatology]] – The study of the end times
*[[Pneumatology (Christianity)|Pneumatology]] – The study of the Holy Spirit
*[[Soteriology]] – The study of salvation
*[[Theological anthropology]] – The study of the nature of humanity
*[[Theology proper]] – The study of the character of God, which is composed of [[Paterology]] (the study of [[God the Father (Christianity)|God the Father]]), [[Christology]] (the study of [[Jesus Christ]]) and [[Pneumatology (Christianity)|Pneumatology]] (the study of the [[Holy Spirit]]).

==History==

The establishment and integration of varied Christian ideas and Christianity-related notions, including diverse topics and themes of the Bible, in a single, coherent and well-ordered presentation is a relatively late development.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sheldrake |first=Philip |title=Christian Spirituality and Social Transformation |publisher=Oxford Research Encyclopedias |year=2016}}</ref> The first known church father who referred to the notion of devising a comprehensive understanding of the principles of Christianity was [[Clement of Alexandria]] in the 3rd century, who stated thus: "Faith is then, so to speak, a comprehensive knowledge of the essentials."<ref>Clement of Alexandria, ''Stromata'', book 7, ch. 10</ref> Clement himself, along with his follower [[Origen]], attempted to create some systematic theology in their numerous surviving writings. The first systematic theology in Latin was Lactantius's ''Divine Institutes,'' and the term ''Intitutio'' would set a precedence for works of systematic theology in the western tradition.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lactantius |title=The Divine Institutes |publisher=The Catholic University of America Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0813215679 |translator-last=McDonald |translator-first=Mary Francis}}</ref> In [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]], an early example is provided by [[John of Damascus]]'s 8th-century ''Exposition of the Orthodox Faith'', in which he attempts to set in order and demonstrate the coherence of the theology of the classic texts of the Eastern theological tradition.

In the West, [[Peter Lombard]]'s 12th-century ''[[Sentences]]'', wherein he thematically collected a great series of quotations of the [[Church Fathers]], became the basis of a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[Scholasticism|scholastic]] tradition of thematic commentary and explanation. [[Thomas Aquinas]]'s ''[[Summa Theologiae]]'' best exemplifies this scholastic tradition. The [[Lutheran scholasticism|Lutheran scholastic]] tradition of a thematic, ordered exposition of Christian theology emerged in the 16th century with [[Philipp Melanchthon]]'s ''[[Loci Communes]]'', and was countered by a Calvinist scholasticism, which is exemplified by [[John Calvin]]'s ''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]''.

The 17th century saw a boom in focused systematic theologies within a renaissance of [[Scholasticism|the scholastic method]]. [[Francis Turretin]]'s ''Institutes of Elenctic Theology'' (1696) and [[Petrus van Mastricht]]'s ''Theoretical-Practical Theology'' (1680) became touchstone works in the field, profoundly influencing later theologians like [[William Cunningham (theologian)|William Cunningham]], [[Jonathan Edwards (theologian)|Jonathan Edwards]], [[Charles Hodge]], and [[Herman Bavinck]]. Similarly, [[William Ames]]'s systematic treatise, ''The Marrow of Theology'' (1629)'','' would become the standard textbook for Harvard and Yale in their nascent years.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marsden |first=George |title=The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |pages=39–44}}</ref>

In the 19th century, primarily in [[Protestant]] groups, varieties of systematic theology arose that attempted to demonstrate that Christian doctrine formed a more coherent system premised on one or more fundamental [[axiom]]s, often reasoned out as a form of [[dogmatic theology]]. Such theologies often involved a more drastic pruning and reinterpretation of traditional belief in order to cohere with the axiom or axioms, and continental theology divided between various schools of [[dogmatic theology]], e.g. [[Neo-Lutheranism|Erlangen Theology]] ( e.g. [[Johann Christian Konrad von Hofmann|F.C.K. Hoffman]], [[Gottfried Thomasius|Thomasius]], and [[Gisle Johnson]]), Mediating Theology (e.g. [[Isaak August Dorner|Isaak Dorner]]), classical confessionalism (e.g. [[Hans Lassen Martensen]] and [[Herman Bavinck]]), and liberal theology (e.g. [[Friedrich Schleiermacher]] and [[Albrecht Ritschl|Albrecht Ritschle]]). In the United States, [[Charles Hodge]]'s ''Systematic Theology'' became a popular text in conjunction with his work at Princeton Theological Seminary. Significant for this period, [[Friedrich Daniel Ernst Schleiermacher]]'s ''Der christliche Glaube nach den Grundsätzen der evangelischen Kirche'' (''The Christian Faith According to the Principles of the Protestant Church'' [1821-1822]) espoused the fundamental idea of a universal presence among humanity, sometimes more hidden, sometimes more explicit, of a feeling or awareness of 'absolute dependence,' and this became a focal point of either acceptation, integration, or rejection among theologians.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brock |first=Cory |title=Orthodox yet Modern: Herman Bavinck's Use of Friedrich Schleiermacher |publisher=Lexham Press |year=2020 |location=Bellingham, WA}}</ref> As such, systematic theology in the 19th century became a sophisticated endeavor of developing and articulating theology from certain assumed first principles, often on the back of the philosophical conversations inherited from Hegel, Kant, and Schleiermacher.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Ritschl Dorothea Sattler |first1=Dietrich |title=The Encyclopedia of Christianity |last2=Sattler |first2=Dorothea |publisher=Eerdmans |year=2005 |volume=5 |location=Grand Rapids |at=Systematic Theology}}</ref>

Systematic theology likewise saw a great variety of development into the 20th century, most notably with the advancement of [[Neo-orthodoxy|Neo-Orthodoxy]] and the multivolume ''Church Dogmatics'' of [[Karl Barth]]. [[Helmut Thielicke|Helmuth Thielicke]] wrote his three-volume work, ''The Evangelical Faith,'' as a confessionally-Lutheran theology with existentialist emphases, and [[Wolfhart Pannenberg]]'s three-volume ''Systematic Theology'' is an eclectic example of modernist systematics that attempts to integrate faith and science. [[Robert Jenson]]'s two-volume ''Systematic Theology,'' stands as a final installment of 20th century systematic theology, looking to questions of postmodernity from a Barthian perspective. Several popular-level textbook-style works emerged during this period within Evangelical theology, from [[Lewis Sperry Chafer]]'s eight-volume ''Systematic Theology'' to [[Wayne Grudem]]'s stand-alone title ''Systematic Theology,'' a particularly sophisticated non-textbook example being the epistemological worldview theology of [[Carl F. H. Henry|Carl F.H. Henry]], contained in his six-volume ''God, Revelation and Authority.'' [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed theology]] also saw considerable contributions in the twentieth century, including [[Louis Berkhof]]'s popular ''Systematic Theology'' and [[G. C. Berkouwer|G.C. Berkouwer]]'s multivolume ''Studies in Dogmatics.'' The latter half of the twentieth century also saw the emergence of systematic theologies dealing with critical themes from social, political, and economic perspective, including the [[Liberation theology|Liberation Theology]] of [[James H. Cone|James Cone]] and [[Gustavo Gutiérrez]], the [[Postliberal theology|Post-liberal Theology]] associated with [[Yale Divinity School]], and [[Feminist theology|Feminist Theology]] (e.g. [[Sarah Coakley]]). As such, the variety and perspectives of systematic theology in the 20th century has tracked well with both the broadening of ethical concerns post-World War II, its expansive pluralism, and the advent of postmodernism.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Grenz |first1=Stanley |title=20th Century Theology: God & the World in a Transitional Age |last2=Olson |first2=Roger |publisher=InterVarsity Press |year=1992 |location=Downers Grove, Illinois |pages=11-13, 310-315}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Theology|Bible|Reformed Christianity|Catholicism}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Biblical exegesis]]
*[[Biblical theology]]
*[[:Category:Systematic theologians]]
*[[Christian apologetics]]
*[[Christian theology]]
*[[Constructive theology]]
*[[Dispensationalist theology]]
*[[Dogmatic Theology]]
*[[Feminist theology]]
*[[Hermeneutics]]
*[[Historicism (Christianity)]]
*[[Liberal Christianity]]
*[[Liberation theology]]
*[[Philosophical theology]]
*[[Philosophy of religion]]
*[[Political theology]]
*[[Postliberal theology]]
*[[Process theology]]
*[[Theology of Anabaptism]]
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Resources ==
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* [[Karl Barth|Barth, Karl]] (1956–1975).  ''Church Dogmatics''. (thirteen volumes) Edinburgh: T&T Clark. ({{ISBN|978-0-567-05809-6}})
* [[Hendrikus Berkhof|Berkhof, Hendrikus]] (1979). ''Christian Faith: An Introduction to the Study of the Faith''. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ({{ISBN|978-0-8028-0548-5}})
* [[Louis Berkhof|Berkhof, Louis]] (1996). ''Systematic Theology''. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
* [[Donald G. Bloesch|Bloesch, Donald G.]] (2002–2004). ''Christian Foundations '' (seven volumes). Inter-varsity Press. ({{ISBN|978-0-8308-2753-4}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2754-1}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2755-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2757-2}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2752-7}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2756-5}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8308-2751-0}})
* [[John Calvin|Calvin, John]] (1559). ''[[Institutes of the Christian Religion]]''.
* [[Lewis Sperry Chafer|Chafer, Lewis Sperry]] (1948). ''Systematic Theology''. Grand Rapids: Kregel
* [[Martin Chemnitz|Chemnitz, Martin]] (1591).  ''Loci Theologici''.  St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1989.
* [[Millard Erickson|Erickson, Millard]] (1998). ''Christian Theology'' (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
* [[John Frame (theologian)|Frame, John.]] ''Theology of Lordship'' ({{ISBN|978-0-87552-263-0}})
* [[Arnold Fruchtenbaum|Fruchtenbaum, Arnold]] (1989). ''Israelology: The Missing Link in Systematic Theology''. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries
* [[Arnold Fruchtenbaum|Fruchtenbaum, Arnold]] (1998). ''Messianic Christology''. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries
* [[Norman Geisler|Geisler, Norman L.]] (2002–2004). ''Systematic Theology'' (four volumes). Minneapolis: Bethany House.
* [[Stanley Grenz|Grenz, Stanley J.]] (1994). ''Theology for the Community of God''. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ({{ISBN|978-0-8028-4755-3}})
* [[J. Kenneth Grider|Grider, J. Kenneth]] (1994).  ''A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology'' ({{ISBN|0-8341-1512-3}})
* [[Wayne Grudem|Grudem, Wayne]] (1995). ''Systematic Theology''. Zondervan. ({{ISBN|978-0-310-28670-7}})
* [[Charles Hodge|Hodge, Charles]] (1960). ''Systematic Theology''. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
* [[Robert Jenson|Jenson, Robert W.]] (1997–1999).  ''Systematic Theology''.  Oxford: Oxford University Press. ({{ISBN|978-0-19-508648-5}})
* [[Philipp Melanchthon|Melanchthon, Philipp]] (1543).  ''Loci Communes''.  St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1992. ({{ISBN|978-1-55635-445-8}})
* [[John Miley|Miley, John]]. ''Systematic Theology''. 1892. ({{ISBN|978-0-943575-09-4}})
* [[George Newlands|Newlands, George]] (1994). ''God in Christian Perspective''. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
* [[Thomas Oden|Oden, Thomas C.]] (1987–1992).  ''Systematic Theology'' (3 volumes).  Peabody, MA: Prince Press.
* [[Wolfhart Pannenberg|Pannenberg, Wolfhart]] (1988–1993).  ''Systematic Theology''.  Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
* Pieper, Francis (1917–1924).  ''Christian Dogmatics''.  St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House.
* [[Robert L. Reymond|Reymond, Robert L.]] (1998). ''A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith'' (2nd ed.). Word Publishing.
* [[Friedrich Schleiermacher|Schleiermacher, Friedrich]] (1928).  ''The Christian Faith''.  Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
* [[St. Augustine of Hippo]] (354–430). ''[[De Civitate Dei]]''
* [[Helmut Thielicke|Thielicke, Helmut]] (1974–1982). ''The Evangelical Faith''. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.
* Thiessen, Henry C. (1949). ''Systematic Theology''. Grand Rapids: William B. Erdsmans Publishing Co.
* [[Paul Tillich|Tillich, Paul]]. ''Systematic Theology''. (3 volumes).
* [[Francis Turretin|Turretin, Francis]] (3 parts, 1679–1685). ''Institutes of Elenctic Theology''.
* [[Cornelius Van Til|Van Til, Cornelius]] (1974). ''An Introduction to Systematic Theology''. P & R Press.
* [[Richard Watson (Methodist)|Watson, Richard]]. ''Theological Institutes''. 1823.
* [[Otto Weber (theologian)|Weber, Otto]]. (1981–1983) ''Foundations of Dogmatics''. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

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