THEOLOGY THURSDAY: THOUGHTS, THEORIES AND THE TEXT (Part 1)

 

Last week, I said our topic for today would be Systematic Theology, but my statement was simply premature, but, please know I'm super excited, we at least have a basic understanding of the term Theology. 

Many, many men and women have examined and or produced scholarship in regards to the Biblical Text, often times theses thoughts and theories are recorded, printed and packaged into works we know of as books. Scholarship does not come easy or without sacrifice. 

It's currently the eighth month of the year of 2026 and books are wildly under attack. The sad thing about the attack on books is the Bible is not exclusive of attack. 

Thankfully, Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology book is trending like it's not twenty plus years old!

According to The Moody Handbook of Theology, there are at least five faces to the general concept of Theology. The contents of this handbook are naturally divided by these very same concepts. I have listed and included Paul Enns definitions (brief) for each divisional concept below: 

Biblical Theology is the study of the doctrines of scripture as they were developed.

Systematic Theology is the study of the scriptures as they were assembled and organized throughout the entire biblical text.

Historical  Theology is the study of the doctrines of Christian religion as the doctrines were shaped throughout the centuries.

Dogmatic Theology is the study of the doctrines of known formalized Christian groups throughout church history.

Contemporary Theology is the study of doctrines of Christian groups as they were  developed in the twentieth century.

Looking over the theological books in The Bible Study Studio Library, I would add Reformed Theology to the above list.

Doctrine is a teaching principle or position in a system of belief .

Theology Books from The Bible Study Studio Library

Next Thursday: More on Theology Books and their authors