systematic theology
The theological discipline that seeks to summarize what the whole Bible teaches us on any particular subject.

• From Biblical versus Systematic Theology? by Donald Macleod:

  The premise of Systematic Theology …  is the unity of Scripture: what the Westminster Confession (1:5) calls ‘the consent of all the parts’. This in turn rests on the premise that all Scripture was breathed out by God, and while he may breathe out variety he will not breathe out contradiction. Precisely because Scripture in its entirety is the word of God it is the revelation of one saving will and of one plan of salvation. Systematic Theology assumes this unity, takes the whole of divine revelation as its field, and seeks to collate all that God has told us so far, striving towards the point where it can say to the church, ‘This is the whole counsel of God. This is what you are to preach.’ 

• From Systematic Theology by Robert Letham:

  Systematic theology is indispensable. How else can the church defend itself against heresy or evangelical anti-intellectualism? The church fathers found that the gospel was threatened by unthinking repetition of biblical words and phrases. A challenging intellectual response was required in order to defend “the sense of Scripture” from those who would use its words to overturn essential elements of the faith.    

Learn more:

1. Theopedia: Systematic Theology
2. Scott Swain: 10 Things You Should Know About Systematic Theology
3. Monergism.com: What is the difference between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology?
4. Gerald Bray: Systematic Theology
5. Michael Horton: Who Needs Systematic Theology? 
6. Joel Beeke and Paul M. Smally: Why We Need Systematic Theology
7. Benjamin Warfield: The Indispenableness of Systematic Theology to the Preacher (pdf)
8. Kevin DeYoung: Why Should We Study Systematic Theology? and Systematic Theology Review
9. Peter Sammons: Why Every Believer Needs Systematic Theology

Related terms: 

• anthropology
• biblical theology
• christology
• eschatology
• pneumatology
• soteriology
• theology proper

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