- SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, NAY OF THE WHOLE OF THEOLOGY WITH EQUAL TRUTH
- In Systematic Theology these contents of revelation as parts and products of a divine work. In Systematic Theology the same contents of revelation appear, but not under the aspect of the stages of a divine work, rather as the material for a human work of classifying and systematizing according to logical principles.
- In Biblical Theology it applies no other method of grouping and arranging these contents than is given in the divine economy of revelation itself.
- The Bible is arranged not according to assumption but according to history.
- John Murray has pointed out that systematic theology views revelation as a finished whole, while biblical theology views revelation as organic process.
To have a more definite conception of Biblical Theology, we must try to gather the general features of God’s revealing work. The supernatural revelation of God.....
- The first feature characteristic of supernatural revelation is its historical progress.
*God has revealed himself not in the form of abstract propositions logically correlated and systematized.
The self-revelation of God is a work covering ages, proceeding in a sequence of revealing words and acts, appearing in a long perspective of time.
The truth comes in the form of growing truth, not truth at rest.
No question the explanation of this fact is partly to be sought in the finiteness of the human understanding.
Even that part of the knowledge of God which has been revealed to us is so overwhelmingly great and so far transcends our human capacities.
- is such a overwhelming of light, that it had, as it were, gradually to be let in upon us, ray after ray, and not the full radiance at once.
- By disclosing the elements of the knowledge of Himself in a divinely arranged sequence God has pointed out to us the way in which we might gradually grasp and truly know Him.-
- This becomes still more evident, if we remember that this revelation of the Word of God is aimed for all ages and nations, and classes and conditions of men, and thus must adapt itself to the most various characters and temperaments by which it is to be assimilated.
" The Bible is indeed a living, alive book, it alone among books accommodates its readers.In every class, culture, time, and place.
Failure to address the Bible as "alive and powerful," leads to a perceived gap in culture and history which needs to be bridged by gleaning eternal principles from the text in order to make it relevant. The text itself is relevant by virtue of its nature.
THE BIBLE ACTIVELY REACHES OUT TO INCLUDE YOU.
- "We stand in the same place with the Apostles, namely the semi-eschatological age of fulfillment, looking back at the cross and resurrection and seeing the culmination of God’s revelation in Christ." Vos
Much of prophecy was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, put the purpose of the O.T. was was totally in my opinion fulfilled in the times of Christ, but will continue in the church age, and in the Earthly Kingdom, and then Heaven.
FOOTNOTE MY PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING
Footnote: I am not going to concluded that all revelation that was prophecy in the O.T. was totally fulfilled in Christ, in the sense that there is yet to be the fuller fulfillment of prophecy. For example I still believe that the prophecy about the Earthly 1000 year Kingdom of Christ is yet to happen. I believe there is yet a future for Israel to be saved. Etc.
We have been brought into that same wonder-world of redemption which Peter, John, James and Paul found themselves in: and that world now compels us in our many stations and position. It is the air we breath.
Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant 02 19 07 Proof checked, not necessary understood
