Systematic Theology

Systematic Theology Wayne Grudem-Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today about any given topic?” Doctrine-What the whole Bible teaches us today about a particular topic. Doctrines: God, man, Jesus, Holy Spirit, etc. We should: approach with humility, prayer, and a broad concept (whole Bible.)

Word of God-Jesus Jesus is referred to as the Word of God a few times Revelation 19:13-He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. John 1:1-In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14-And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 1 John 1:1-That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life

Word of God-Speech Decrees Genesis 1:3-And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Personal Address Genesis 2:16-17-And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Matthew 3:17-and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Using Humans Deuteronomy 18:18-20-I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not give heed to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ Jeremiah 1:9-Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 1 Samuel 15:3-Now go and smite Am'alek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.'" 1 Kings 20:36-Then he said to him, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall kill you." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met him and killed him.

Bible Exodus 31:18-And he gave to Moses, when he had made an end of speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Joshua 24:26-And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the LORD. Isaiah 30:8-And now, go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness for ever. John 14:26-But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 1 Corinthians 14:37-If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.

Bible Psalm 1:1-2-Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Joshua 1:8-This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 2 Timothy 3:16-All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

Why do we need written Word? Do not add or detract How would we know what to obey? How would we know its from God?

How did we get written Word? Starts with 10 Commandments Deuteronomy 31:24-26-When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, "Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. Exodus 17:14-And the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Am'alek from under heaven.” Exodus 24:4-And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel

Other writers 1 Samuel 10:25-And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel 2 Chronicles 26:22-Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote. Jeremiah 30:2-"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.

OT Malachi written around 435 BC along with Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther Probably no further additions after this Books of Maccabees (Jewish Rebel soldiers) were excluded Apocrypha-In the Roman Catholic Bible but never accepted by Jews or Protestant Bible. Jerome included them in the Vulgate In 1546 at the Council of Trent, the Catholic church adopted the Apocrypha

NT Primarily written by the apostles from their recall from the Holy Spirit John 14:26-But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 16:13-14-When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

NT 1 Corinthians 2:9-13-But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him, ”God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.

NT 5 books not written with apostolic authority: Mark, Luke, Acts, Jude and possibly Hebrews Hebrews was the last to be accepted due to unknown authorship In 367 Athanasius presented a letter of the 27 books in NT that was accepted by the eastern church. In 397 at the Council of Carthage the Western church followed.

Why is the Word of God important? Sole authority that trumps all other authority How do we know we have the right books? God’s written Word cannot be added to Does God still speak audibly? How do we measure things like prosperity gospel? We test against the Word of God. Is the Bible the only way God speaks to us today? Does God appear in dreams and visions? Does God only speak through pastors?