In Defense of Systematic
Theology and Biblical Systematics in General
What is systematic
theology?
The Bible is no more a
system of theology, than nature is a system of chemistry or
physics. We find in nature the facts which the chemist and
physicist has to examine, and from them to ascertain the laws by
which they are determined. So the Bible contains the truths
which the theologian has to collect, authenticate, arrange, and
exhibit in their internal relation to each other. This
constitutes the difference between biblical and systematic
theology. The office of the former is to ascertain and state the
facts of Scripture. The office of the latter is to take those
facts, determine their relation to each other and to other
cognate truths, as well as vindicate them and show their harmony
and consistency. This is not an easy task, or one of slight
importance.
Why is systematic theology
necessary?
It may be naturally asked,
why not take the truths as God has seen fit to reveal them, and
thus save ourselves the trouble of showing their relation and
harmony?
The answer to this question is, in the first place, that it
cannot be done. Such is the constitution of the human mind that
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, than
by the mere accumulation of isolated facts. It is one thing, for
example, to know that oceans, continents, islands, mountains,
and rivers exist on the face of the earth; but it is a much
higher thing to know the causes which have determined the
distribution of the land and water on the surface of the globe;
the configuration of the earth; the effects of that
configuration upon climate, on the races of plants and animals,
on commerce, civilization, and the destiny of nations. It is by
determining these causes that geography has been raised from a
collection of facts to a highly important and elevated science.
What is true of other sciences is true of theology. We cannot
know what God has revealed in his Word unless we understand, at
least in some good measure, the relation in which the separate
truths therein contained stand to each other. It cost the Church
centuries of study and controversy to solve the problem
concerning the person of Christ; that is, to adjust and bring
into harmonious arrangement all the facts which the Bible
teaches on that subject.
Third, We have no choice in the matter. If we would discharge
our duty as teachers and defenders of the truth, we must
Endeavour to bring all the facts of revelation into systematic
order and mutual relation. It is only thus that we can
satisfactorily exhibit their truth, vindicate them from
objections, or bring them to bear in their full force on the
mind of men.
Fourth, Such is evidently the will of God. He does not teach men
astronomy or chemistry, but He gives them the facts out of which
those sciences are constructed. Neither does He teach us
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 and women 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 points, but systems, cycles, and epicycles, in unending
harmony and grandeur.
Besides all this, although the Scriptures do not contain a
system of theology as a whole, we have in the Epistles of the
New Testament, portions of that system wrought out to our hands.
These are our authority and guide.
The above were selected
from Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Volume I, Part 1,
pages 1-3.
See also:
Gordon H. Clark, In
Defense of Theology, Trinity Foundation, 1984.
Rousas J. Rushdoony, "The
Necessity of Systematic Theology," in Systematic Theology,
Volume I, Chalcedon Press, pages 1-58.
Additional Thoughts
Challenge: For those who would
argue that system in theology, ethics, or any other area of
knowledge is not necessary are challenged to "prove the virtue
of disjointed truths," to quote from Gordon Clark in his
Introduction to Christian Philosophy.
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