At its core, systematic theology is the organized study of the doctrines of the Christian faith. Rather than focusing on the historical timeline of the Bible (as Biblical Theology does) or the development of ideas over centuries (Historical Theology), systematic theology seeks to categorize what the entire Bible teaches about specific topics.
It functions as a topical filing system for truth, taking scattered references from Genesis to Revelation and synthesizing them into a coherent, logical framework.
The goal of this discipline is clarity and consistency. Without a systematic approach, it is easy to emphasize one verse while ignoring another that provides necessary balance.
For example, a systematic approach prevents someone from looking only at verses about God’s mercy while ignoring verses about His justice. By looking at the “whole counsel” of Scripture, the Christian builds a worldview that is internally consistent.
Traditionally there are nine categories, they are as follows;
Bibliology: The study of the Bible (its inspiration, inerrancy, and authority).
Theology Proper: The study of God the Father (His attributes, the Trinity, and His decrees).
Anthropology: The study of humanity (our origin, nature, and the “image of God”).
Hamartiology: The study of sin (its origin, nature, and effects on the world).
Christology: The study of Jesus Christ (His divinity, humanity, and His work on the cross).
Pneumatology: The study of the Holy Spirit (His personhood and role in the believer’s life).
Soteriology: The study of salvation (grace, faith, justification, and sanctification).
Ecclessiology: The study of the Church (its mission, ordinances, and structure).
Eschatology: The study of “last things” (death, judgment, and the return of Christ).
This study will not be about applying these principles, but rather why we believe what we believe, where we can find that in the whole counsel of God, how they intersect and strengthen one another, and who we are as believers. If we study these well, it will be the foundation for the remainder of your Christian lives. There are two things that we must study to provide a foundation to begin this study; the five solas, and the three types of law
