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| Visit Lisbon: Portugal |
July 4, 2019
Blessings to my American readers and friends…
I consider myself a philosophical theologian and philosopher
of religion as opposed to a systematic theologian, but there definitely is significant overlap in skill-sets.
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the
University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
This
systemization[1]
(of theology and philosophy) would be a task of systematic theology and
philosophy of religion. Practical and
empirical theology can provide opportunities to evaluate practically systematic
theology and philosophy of religion in regard to the problem of evil.[2]
(As was done
in my MPhil and PhD theses. Philosophical Theology can systematize as well.)
S.W. Sykes
(1999) in his article ‘Systematic Theology’ describes
it as a method by which theology is given a rational and orderly account.[3]
Systematic theology is the systemization
of theological concepts.[4] Erickson explains that systematic theology
draws upon the entire Bible and does not exegete texts in isolation.[5] It attempts to analyze and understand
Scriptural teachings in a harmonized way.[6] I would add that philosophy also plays a part
in systemizing theology. Klein, Blomberg
and Hubbard explain systematic theology attempts to make Christian doctrine
coherent, Biblical, and written in a culturally contemporary way.[7]
Systematic theology will always be influenced by the theological agenda of the
writer.[8]
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994)Christian Theology, Grand
Rapids, Baker Book House.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
KLEIN, WILLIAM W. CRAIG, C. BLOMBERG, AND ROBERT L. HUBBARD,
JR. (1993) Introduction to
Biblical Interpretation, London, Word Publishing.
MCCANT, JERRY W. (1991) ‘The Development of Doctrine in the
New Testament’, in David Alan Black and David S. Dockery (eds.), New Testament Criticism and
Interpretation, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
SYKES, S.W. (1999) ‘Systematic Theology’, in Alan Richardson
and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
WOODWARD, JAMES AND STEPHEN PATTISON (2000)(2007)(eds.), The Blackwell Reader in
Pastoral and Practical Theology, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing.
