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Systematic Theology: Brief Introduction

Systematic Theology: Brief Introduction. Theology – from two Greek words, “ theos” meaning God and “logos” meaning discourse or reason. Theology, therefore, is the discourse or reasoning about God . (Foundations of Pentecostal Theology by Duffield and Van Cleave, page 49).

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Systematic Theology: Brief Introduction

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  1. Systematic Theology: Brief Introduction Theology– from two Greek words, “ theos” meaning God and “logos” meaning discourse or reason. Theology, therefore, is the discourse or reasoning about God. (Foundations of Pentecostal Theology by Duffield and Van Cleave, page 49). Systematic Theology – is any study that answers the question, "What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic (Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, page 21).

  2. Purpose of Systematic Theology to life Systematic Theology focuses on summarizing each doctrine as it should be understood by present-day Christians. By its definition, “what the Bible teaches us today?” implies that application to life is a necessary part of the proper pursuit of systematic theology. Therefore, it is the purpose of this to enrich and deepen the Christian life (Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, page 23). Is it not sufficient to read and learn from the Bible by reading regularly everyday of our lives? Why should Christians study systematic theology?

  3. Why study Systematic Theology Read Matthew 28:19-20. What does this passage tells us? The task of fulfilling the Great Commission includes not only evangelism but also teaching. And the task of teaching all that Jesus commanded us is, in a broad sense, the task of teaching what the whole Bible saysto us today. To effectively teach ourselves and to teach others what the whole Bible says, it is necessary to collect and summarize all the Scripture passages on a particular subject (Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, page 27). What is a doctrine? A doctrineis what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic that should govern our belief system and way of life as followers of Christ. Example, the doctrine of God teaches what the whole Bible says about His person and works in relation to His creation. We worship God because the whole Bible teaches us (explicitly and implicitly) that God is our Creator who is also perfect in all His being.

  4. What is a doctrine? (using a word study of the Bible) Using KJV (a literal word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew and Greek Manuscripts of the Bible) and The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible we find the following. • Old Testament Hebrew words for doctrine “leqach”-mentally received instruction (a message or teaching). Ex. The Law of Moses. See Deut 32:21 / Prov 4:2 / Is 29:24 “shemuwah”– something heard like an announcement. See Is 28:9. “muwcar (moo-sawr)”– (literally)chastisement; (figuratively) reproof, warning, restraint, instruction, discipline (NASB). See Jer 10:8.

  5. New Testament Greek words for doctrine “didache” – used 12 times in the Gospels, 4 times in Acts, 2 times in Paul’s Pastoral Letters or Epistles - when used with a passive voice (action being done on the word), it means the teaching itself and stresses the authority of the teaching. “didaskalia” – used 15 times in the Pastoral Letters or Epistles of Paul and 2 times in the Gospels. - simply mean teaching (like didache) but when used with an active voice (act is being done by the word) it means the act of teaching. “logos” – used once in Heb 6:1. It means something said (including the thought given to it), a topic, a discourse, a reasoning

  6. The Doctrine of God • The knowability of God (from the Foundations of Pentecostal Theology by Duffield and Van Cleave) Is God Incomprehensible? Is He knowable? • God is Incomprehensible “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33 NASB). Obviously, we cannot comprehend the fullness of God’s Nature, nor can we know completely His plans and designs. (See also Is. 40:18, 25 / Ps. 36:6). God is the infinite one. In one sense He is incomprehensible. Read Deut. 29:29. What does this verse teaches us?

  7. The Doctrine of God B. God is knowable On the other hand, Scripture affirms that God is knowable although He is not fully comprehensible. “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” Hebrews 1:1-2 NASB. See also Jn. 1:18, 17:3 / 1 Jn.5:20. We are able to know God only up to the extent of His revelation of Himself to us. We were saved because God revealed His Son who, in turn, revealed the Father and His way of salvation to us.

  8. What do you think are some important lessons learned from the Knowability and Incomprehensibility of God?

  9. The Doctrine of God • The Existence of God (Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) How do we know that God exists? • By humanity’s inner sense of God All persons everywhere have a deep, inner sense that God exists, that they are His creatures, and that He is their Creator. Look at what Paul says about the Gentiles. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21 NASB. Read also Acts 17: 22, 23. Scripture also tells us that there are people who deny this inner sense of God. See Ps. 14:1, 53:1, 10:3-4 / Ro. 1:18, 20. For Christians, however, the inner awareness of God becomes stronger and more distinct.

  10. The Doctrine of God • The Existence of God (Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) How do we know that God exists? • By the evidence found in Scripture and Nature Nowhere does the Bible argue of God’s existence. Everywhere, the Scriptures assumes God’s existence as an accepted fact (Foundation of Pentecostal Theology). Read Gn. 1:1 / Rv. 1:1. The world also gives abundant evidence of the existence of God. Read what Paul says in Ro. 1:20. We can’t see God because He is spirit but we have a personal intimate experience of Him by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Read Heb. 11:6.

  11. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • Introduction to the Study of God’s Character Classifying God’s Attributes. In the study of God’s Character, it does makes the job a lot simpler by categorizing the attributes of God in two: Incommunicable Attributes and Communicable Attributes. Incommunicable Attributes - attributes that God does not share or “communicates” with us. Examples are God’s eternity, God’s immutability or unchangeableness, God’s omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence. Communicable Attributes - attributes that God shares or “communicates” with us. Examples are attributes of love, mercy, justice. Note: This classification of God’s attributes simplifies our study although it is not perfect. This is because there is no attribute of God that is completely communicable, and there is no attribute of God that is completely incommunicable. God’s wisdom, for example, is shared with us but not fully. God’s unchangeableness may also have some likeness in us because our individual identities, personal traits, for example, do not change over many years.Incommunicable – less shared; communicable – more shared.

  12. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God • Independence. This is sometimes called self-existence or his aseity (from the Latin words a se, which means “from himself”). Independence means, “God does not need us or the rest or creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation can glorify him and bring him joy.” • God is absolutely independent and self-sufficient. Read Acts 17:24-25. • God is not dependent upon any part of creation for his existence or his nature. • God would still be infinitely loving, infinitely just, eternal, omniscient, Trinitarian, and so forth even without creation. He has no beginning and no end and unchanging. He has the exact nature now as before he created everything. Q: Did God create us because he is lonely or in need of someone to love him? Read John 17:5, 24. What does this passage tells us? Among the persons of the Trinity there has been perfect love and fellowship and communication for all eternity.

  13. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God (Cont.) • Independence • God’s being is qualitatively different from all of creation. • All else can pass away in an instant, he necessarily exists forever. • While He doesn’t need us or the whole of Creation for anything, we need Him in everything for our existence and for salvation. Q: If God does not need us for His existence, does it mean that we are not meaningful or significant to Him? Read Isa. 43:7; Eph 1:11-12; Rev 4:11What do these verses teach us? We are very meaningful because God created us and he has determined that we would be meaningful to him. Although God did not have to create us, he chose to do so in a totally free choice. He decided that he would create us to glorify him. Is. 43:7. It is also true that we are able to bring real joy and delight to God. Read Is. 62:3-5.

  14. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God (Cont.) • Unchangeableness or Immutablity. Unchangeableness means God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations. • Evidence in Scripture • Unchanging with respect to his being and perfections.Psalm 102:25-27 / Mal 3:6 / James 1:17. His perfections are His attributes or the various aspects of His character like love, patience, long-suffering, mercy, justice. Of old you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like garment. You change them like raiment, and they pass away; but you are the same, and your years have no end. Psalm 102: 25-27 RSV. For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Mal. 3:6 RSV.

  15. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God (Cont.) • Unchangeableness or Immutablity. • Unchanging with respect to his being and perfections. Psalm 102:25-27 / Mal 3:6 / James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 NASB. • Unchanging with respect to his purpose. Psalm 33: 11 / Mt 13:35 / Eph 1:4, 11 ; 3:9, 11 / 2 Tim 2:19 / 1 Peter 1:20 / Rev 13:8 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Psalm 33:11 NASB. “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no one like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it. Isaiah 46:9-11 NASB.

  16. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God (Cont.) • Unchangeableness or Immutablity. • Unchanging in His promises. • God is not a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that he should repent; Has He said, and He will not do it? Or has He spoken, and He will not make it good? Numbers 23:19 NASB. • “Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind. 1 Samuel 15:29 NASB. • Does God sometimes change his mind? • Read Exodus 32:9-14 / Isa 38:1-6 / Jonah 14:10. Do these passages tells us that God is changing? • No. These passages simply tell us that God responds differently to different situations. • The situation with Hezekiah in Isaiah 38:1-6 , God said Hezekiah will die. This is a true declaration, provided the situation remains the same. Then the situation changed. Hezekiah sought the LORD in a sincere prayer for healing. God answered and Hezekiah lived for 15 years more.

  17. The Doctrine of God • The Character of God (Reference: Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem) • The Incommunicable Attributes of God (Cont.) • Unchangeableness or Immutablity. • Deuteronomy 28 tells us of the two-way response of God to obedience and disobedience. What He determined and purposed here doesn’t change in response to either obedience or disobedience. He does not change His mind, rather He changes His response to certain actions of man. • This is also not to say that God’s decisions depends on man’s actions for He had already decided how to deal with man even before man chose to act. Rather, man’s actions are determined by the commands of God. • God feeling sorry in Gen 6:6 or 1 Samuel 15:10 can be understood as expressions of God’s present displeasure toward the sinfulness of man. This expressions imply that God’s previous action led to events that, in the short term, caused him sorrow, but that nonetheless in the long term would ultimately achieve his good purpose. These verses don’t imply that God committed a mistake on His previous action or decision. God is perfect in knowledge and wisdom. • Q: What do you think is the importance of God’s unchangeableness?

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