Journal: Conservative Theological Journal
Volume: CTJ 04:11 (Apr 2000)
Article: A Case For Systematic Theology
Author: Robert P. Lightner

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CTJ 4:11 (April 2000) p. 33

A Case For Systematic Theology

Robert Lightner

Visiting Professor of Theology
Tyndale Theological Seminary

An Address Given Before the:
Conservative Theological Society
2nd Annual Meeting, August 3, 1999
Tyndale Seminary, Ft. Worth, Texas

Systematic Theology Defined

My presentation is listed on the program as “A Model of Systematic Theology.” I would prefer to refer to it as a “case.” I will establish “A Case for Systematic Theology.”

First, I have several definitions of systematic theology. I brought with me Volume 1 of the original Chafer theology mainly because I have so many notes in it. I, also, highly recommend the 4-volume Kregel edition of Chafer. It is an exact reproduction of the original 7-volume set, even in volumes and pagination.

Chafer gives a number of definitions here, and I want to review some of these with you. I’m going to read through these definitions, and then, point out a common denominator or a common thread that runs through most of them. For example, Lindsay Alexander defines systematic theology as “…the science of God. A summary of religious truth scientifically arranged [that’s important] or as a philosophical digest of all religious knowledge.”

Strong, the great Baptist standard bearer of days gone by, defines systematic theology as “the science of God and of the relations between God and the universe.”

Charles Hodge declared that the object of systematic theology is “To systematize [that is a key word] the facts of the Bible and ascertain the principles or general truths, which those facts involve.”

Griffith Thomas, who had a lot to do with the founding of Dallas Theological Seminary, said this about theology:

It is a science. Science is the technical expression of the laws of nature. Theology is the technical expression of the revelation of God. It is the province of theology to examine all the spiritual facts of revelation, to estimate their value and to arrange them into

CTJ 4:11 (April 2000) p. 34

a body of teaching. Doctrine, thus corresponds with generalizations of science.

Emphasis again is on science and the scientific method, which I am going to say more about later. W. G. T. Shedd, another classic theologian, defines systematic theology as:

A science that is concerned with both the infinite and the finite with both God and the universe. The material, therefore, which it includes is vaster than any other science. It is also the most necessary of all the sciences.

Augustine denotes theology to b...

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