Systematic Theology: It's Kind of a Big Deal

What is Systematic Theology and Why is it a big deal?

Systematic Theology seeks to form a coherent and cohesive understanding of reality from a theistic (or perhaps more specifically, a Christian) perspective. In my view, systematic theology has at its core a concern to understand God and how humans are to relate to him and their world in light of him. It also has, as a primary concern, how humans (and maybe more specifically, Christians) should understand themselves in light of God.

A helpful distinction in understanding Systematic Theology is contrasting it with Biblical Theology. The distinction isn't to say that Systematic Theology is not biblical, but to say that they are two different kinds of tasks. While they are distinct the two disciplines are still closely inter-related.

One way to see it is in the kinds of questions practitioners of the two disciplines seek to answer. The biblical theologian asks the same questions the biblical authors where concerned about and exegetes those authors’ responses to those questions. The systematic theologian asks the questions that are facing the world today and formulates creative answers. They do so by drawing on how the biblical authors answered the questions of their day and how past theologians and contemporary theologians of different contexts answered the questions they faced. The systematic theologian also draws on the work of other disciplines, such as philosophy, psychology, political science and sociology in responding to contemporary and contextual theological issues.

While Systematic Theology draws from multiple sources, biblical theology is its foundation (or at least it ought to be). The systematic theologian is not only responsible for avoiding contradiction with the theology of the Bible, but must also seek to develop a system that rightly brings to life the theology of the Bible in present day terms. It takes the message of God as understood in scripture and translates that into models and language that meets the cognitive framework of the context in which the theologian finds herself. In addition to that, it takes those concepts and informs Christians how to act and interact in their context.

While Systematic Theology is often viewed as a game of the ivory tower with little real world impact, in truth it plays a couple of critical functions in the mission of Christianity. First, it helps us make disciples of nations. It does so by essentially updating the gospel language. I do not mean that they change the gospel (though certainly some do), I mean that they couch the biblical message in terms that make sense to the world around us.

For example, Paul talks about justification, but what does that mean? First, the biblical theologian has to figure out what Paul meant by using that language in his context. Once the biblical theologian does that work, the systematic theologian takes the concept of justification in the Bible and fleshes out what that means with all of its consequences for contemporary people. Explaining such an elemental part of the gospel as justification to 1st Century Jewish and Greco-Roman people is a different task that requires different language and cognitive models than explaining the same truth to 18th Century Europeans or 21st Century Africans. As a result, as long as we are still awaiting the resurrection the Systematic Theologian will play a critical role in disseminating the good news.

The second critical function Systematic Theology has for Christianity is that it teaches Christians themselves. It is not just non-Christians who need theological truths translated into contextually meaningful terms, but Christians need the same service. This is not only important for understanding the reality we find ourselves in, but is also critical for encouraging biblical and godly ethics. Without the careful work of systematic theologians, we are bound to either melt into the surrounding culture, taking on ungodly ethics, or disengaging from our surrounding culture and giving up on the great commandment. It only takes a quick glance at church history and the present day Christian landscape to see both paths.

Given these two essential functions of the discipline, it is important that churches get back to appreciating and engaging in dialogue with the Christian academy. Just as well, the academy needs to effectively communicate their research to church leaders and laity. It is a symbiotic relationship, in which both parties need the other to effectively play their role. Systematic theologians need the churches to tell them what theological questions are facing Christianity today. Conversely, the churches need to value the work of the educated professionals dedicated to the task of thinking through those questions. In order to re-establish that relationship humility is required on both sides, but that is a small price to pay for the benefit that can be reaped for the glory of God.