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Systematic Theology at TEDS: Why it Matters

Systematic theology (ST, to its friends) is faith thinking hard yet joyfully about what the gospel means, how the truths connected with the gospel – about God and humanity, sin and salvation, Christ and the church – all fit together, and about how best to express the meaning and truth of the gospel in ways that people today can understand. ST is about everything: not everything about everything, but everything in relation to God and the gospel of God.

I’ve heard all the objections: “ST is unbiblical”; “ST is western”; “ST is impractical”; “ST is unspiritual.” None of these is true of the way we teach ST at TEDS.

In the first place, ST is as biblical as biblical studies, just differently. Your exegesis courses will teach you to learn Greek and Hebrew grammar so that you can understand what the biblical authors are saying. Your theology courses will teach you the grammar of God so that you can understand what, and who, the biblical authors are talking about.

Second, ST at TEDS is not narrowly Western but broadly catholic, interested in how all God’s people in all places and at all times have contributed to the great tradition expressed in the ancient creeds and reaffirmed by the Reformers and their Protestant successors.

Third, although A. W. Tozer was on to something important when he said the most important thing about us is what comes into our mind when we think about God, ST at TEDS is interested not simply in knowledge about God but in knowing, and loving, God in response to his personal overture to us in his word, written (Scripture) and living (Christ). Knowledge without enthusiasm is empty; enthusiasm without knowledge is blind. What ST teaches of God and the gospel is doctrine, and doctrine ultimately serves the purpose of making disciples, people who know what to say and do to demonstrate their understanding of and obedience to God’s word. If the church is the body of Christ, theology is the medicine that ensures its health.

The fourth objection, about ST being unspiritual, is a symptom of an anti-intellectualism that isn’t sure what the mind has to do with Christianity. The fact is, done rightly, ST leads naturally to doxology: the praise of God. Jesus tells us that God wants people who can worship him in Spirit and in truth. Similarly, Paul says he wants to pray and sing not only with his spirit but also with his mind (1 Cor. 14:15). ST helps us to praise God with both body and mind.

In sum, learning ST, particularly the riches that are in Christ Jesus, will help you become mature in your own faith, minister God’s word, and build up the faith of others. The banner under which we teach ST at TEDS is simply this: seek understanding; get wisdom; serve the church. Against such things, there is no law (Gal. 5:23) – or objection…