A basic definition can be derived from the very words and root words of Systematic Theology. The word systematic means to have order, and theology is simply the study of God. So Systematic Theology would be defined textually as an orderly study of God. While this definition is not far from the mark, I will fine tune it for us a little more so we can get a good understanding of what exactly Systematic Theology is.

The very first thing we must understand is that we all have a process by which we learn. While each person’s process may vary slightly depending upon the psychological make up of the individual the steps that are required to learn something are basically the same. We must first input information about our subject into our memory. Once we have sufficient information we then begin to process this information using the foundation of knowledge that we have previously built until we have formulated what we feel to be an understanding of the subject.

The part that is most imperative is gaining the proper amount of information about your subject. If you lack information of your subject your eventual understanding will be out of balance. If your understanding then becomes a part of your foundation of knowledge for understanding then every thing else you learn from that point on will be out of balance in some way or the other. Therefore systematic theology is the process of studying God or religious affairs using all of the information possible and then using proper logic, reasoning, and foundational knowledge to bring us to a conscious understanding. In summation; systematic theology is understanding a particular subject by studying what the Bible as a whole has to say about it.

Every serious student of the Bible should be concerned with the process of systematic theology. The very reasons that dictate why Systematic Theology is important also dictate who should be concerned with this method. When I use the term ‘serious student,’ that is a much more inclusive term than one would think. While it may encompass a number of students in the traditional sense; it also includes everyone who may teach the Bible, everyone who daily reads the Bible, and everyone who is interested in finding out for themselves what the Bible says about any given subject.

Bible College students will naturally need to use systematic theology because the Bible will be at the center of the majority of their education and preparation. A good understanding of systematic process and the application of Systematic Theology to each area of study will provide the student with a much deeper understanding of the material, the concepts and the true message that God is communicating to them regarding their course of study. Not only will they be assimilating facts about the Bible into their memories, but will also be using those facts to gain true understanding thereby improving their foundation of knowledge for understanding. This will help in every area of their academic career.

Teachers of the Bible will also need to be concerned with Systematic Theology because must ensure that what they are teaching what the Bible actually says, and not simply what they feel the Bible says to them in particular. The daily Bible reader needs this to ensure that in the course of their daily studies they do not misunderstand an important concept that may lead to a serious doctrinal error later on down the line. Finally, anyone who wants to do topical studies of the Bible MUST use the principles found in Systematic Theology. For many years our churches have been filled with the thunderous voices of sincere men of God who were sincerely wrong because they did not employ a proper systematic process. The result was improper application of principles tied to civilizations millenniums removed from our own culture. Had the proper processes been followed then the whole truth would have been discovered and many false teachings could have been avoided.

The individual benefits from the proper processes. In the handling of Biblical issues as outlined above, the individual, whether in the capacity of a teacher, student, or daily reader will benefit from the systematic process. It will help him or her gain a proper and accurate understanding of the subject matter far beyond what is gained by a simple independent analysis. By taking the correct systematic approach a well rounded, inclusive, and thorough understanding can be gained.

The church also benefits from the use of Systematic Theology. As this age progresses the impact of the church on society seems to be growing. When a proper systematic approach is used in the church, then you have congregations that truly understand what the Bible says rather than those that simply parrot what they have heard on television or at some conference. When true understanding is gained it can be reproduced more accurately which leads to further propagation of the gospel, which ultimately will benefit the entire world.

There are six basic steps with which we can integrate Systematic Theology in our studies of the scriptures:

As stated earlier there are numerous reasons why anyone who teaches the Bible should be concerned with Systematic Theology. A minister in particular must be much more resolved to use the proper process. The congregation a pastor is charged with watching after looks to him for guidance in spiritual matters and lays authority on his teaching and preaching. If that teaching and preaching comes from an illogical and disconnected thought pattern or a text taken out of context there can be no sound doctrine. If the doctrine is incorrect there may be some in the flock who go astray because of these false teachings. This can be avoided by using the proper processes, the use of good Systematic Theology, and a close intimate walk with Jesus Christ. The minister must be diligent in his studies of the scripture.

The beginning of any subject must be a complete definition. If a sermon is going to be delivered on grace, one must first outline exactly what grace is, in all its facets. The importance of this is paramount. When your people do not have a complete understanding of your subject, they will have great difficulty in comprehending exactly how the rest of your sermon applies. It would be the equivalent of a medical university teaching a class on open-heart surgery without having ever explained what the heart is and does.

Once an adequate definition can be ascertained then a more in-depth analysis of each attribute of the subject can be developed. This may be an area where various passages of scripture are used to show how the subject is dealt with in the Bible as a whole. This will help form the structure upon the foundation that the definition has built.

As man is a created being, he has a specific design. This design has an architect, and that architect is God Almighty. While these appear to be simple and obvious facts we must realize the impact that has on the human mind and how it learns and processes information. Any scientist Christian or not, can tell you that the world around us, whether we be dealing with physics, chemistry, or anatomy is bathed in logic. This means that our God is a logical God, in the sense that we understand logic. This means that our minds function properly when logic is used. Building upon those facts we must conclude that there is a logical way in which we learn.

It could be simple for one to say that because we are logical beings and because God is a logical God, that every thought we have about God is logical. Herein lies the problem, we are imperfect creatures with a sinful nature. This is why many times when we are going through a trial we do not understand what God is trying to accomplish, and we may even think He is unfair. Often times it is not until after we have been through the fires that we can see the true purpose of God allowing certain circumstances into our lives.

In relation to study of the scriptures this is why we can not simply read one passage and draw complete understanding from it. Everything must be viewed in its proper context. Someone once said, "A text without context is only a pretext." How true that statement is, and how harmful it would be for us to use our own logic to determine what each verse meant outside of its original context.

When a minister begins the construction of his sermon, many times the steps in Systematic Theology will act as the blueprint for his outline. Above all else a sermon should be accurate and true to the Word of God, but it should also be something that helps to edify the audience. The most accurate and doctrinally sound sermon will have little effect if the people who need the message can not understand it, or worse yet have a false understanding of the message. To this end Systematic Theology helps the minister prepare a sermon that is both Biblically accurate, and culturally applicable.