Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Charles Hodge: The Difference between Systematic and Biblical Theology

People have asked me about what is the difference between biblical and systematic theology. I was just browsing my new 3-volume Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge and I thought the following was a good definition.
So the Bible contains the truths which the theologian has to collect authenticate, arrange, and exhibit in their internal relation to each other. This constitutes the difference between biblical and systematic theology. The office of the former is to ascertain and state the facts of scripture. The office of the latter is take those facts, determine their relation to each other and to other cognate truths, as well as to vindicate them and show their harmony and consistency. This is not an easy task, or one of slight importance. (pp. 1-2, Systematic Theology Volume 1, Charles Hodge)

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