Biblical & Systematic Theology: Mutually Regulating

There has been a lot of dust raised about the relationship of systematic theology (referred to as dogmatics outside the US) to biblical theology since the latter's introduction into the theological encyclopedia (all the various sub-disciplines of theology such as exegetics, church history, etc) in the eighteenth century for classical Liberalism and in the late nineteenth century in orthodox Reformed circles. In fact, Geerhardus Vos, who first held the chair in biblical theology at Old Princeton, raised this issue in his inaugural address at that institution.

Before we can consider the relationship of these two disciplines we should define what each discipline is in itself. Systematic theology is typically concerned with the logical relation of the various segments (called "loci") of theology because as we quickly learn, when you tinker with one part of theology (say, your doctrine of God) you will end up with changes in another (if not all other) area(s) such as your doctrine of Scripture. All doctrine is interrelated with all other doctrine. It may not always be readily apparent that one area effects another, but experience teaches that it is definitely so. Additionally, systematic theology is concerned with what the Bible as a whole says on any given topic. Systematics used to be called the queen of the sciences. This is a controversial idea these days. Systematic theology also draws upon the insights and results of the other theological disciplines.

Biblical theology is historically driven. That is, it is concerned with how divine revelation unfolds over time. It has been said that systematics works in a logical circle and biblical theology on a line. Up front I should note that I am using the term biblical theology in its technical sense as over against the other theological disciplines. In a general sense, every theological discipline should be "biblical".  Nor does the use of the expression intend to suggest that biblical theology is more biblical than systematic theology. Both when done properly are equally biblical in different ways. Biblical theology will be concerned with the theologies of the Old and New Testaments, the different segments of each Testament, the later Old Testament's use of earlier portions of the Old Testament, the New Testament use of the Old, and the progression of themes and motifs from Genesis to Revelation.

Now that we have clear definitions of systematic and biblical theology we can talk about how they can and ought to relate. The first thing that should be said is that they ought to be mutually correcting and strengthening. Systematic theology has often been molded according to philosophical principles or historical questions and there is a place for these, namely philosophical and historical theology. But systematics should be reliant upon all the other disciplines but subordinate to Scripture. Otherwise systematics goes off the rail and becomes philosophy under another name. Biblical theology ought to keep the deliverances of systematics in view as well. There is nothing wrong with showing how the results of biblical theological research relates to, say, a given historically significant confession (say the Westminster Standards, Three Forms of Unity, or the 1689 London Baptist Confession). Such an attempt would actually bring into conversation systematics, church history, historical theology, exegetics, and biblical theology.

The relation of systematic and biblical theology is just one instance of the fragmentation of the intellectual disciplines.  Due to the information overload in the world and the over specialization of things like psychology, sociology, and the like, scholars in these fields rarely if ever talk to one another about their work. This general trend has spilled over into the theological world. Theology exists to glorify God and to build up the saints. This fragmentation is neither good nor healthy. Specialists in systematics need to be kept apprised of the latest and best scholarship in biblical theology along with the other disciplines and the same is true in the other direction.

At the end of the day, we need both Systematic and Biblical theology with their different interests. This is not to say that we aim for being experts in every field but that we are familiar with the lay of the land in the other fields and are in touch with the people and resources which will enable us to our work well.

Jeffrey C. Waddington (Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary) is stated supply at Knox Orthodox Presbyterian Church.  He also serves as a panelist at Christ the Center and East of Eden and is the secretary of the board of theReformed Forum.  Additionally he serves as an articles editor for the Confessional Presbyterian Journal.