Biblical Theology

On an internet theological discussion forum several years ago a member asked,  “what is the difference between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology"? I, providentially, didn’t jump into the discussion thinking that there is no difference between the two. One is just the basis for the other and all theology is Biblical Theology and this questioner will soon be set straight by the other members. Well, I was wrong. I had never heard of the term “Biblical Theology”. I must have 14 different sets of books entitled Systematic Theology written by as many authors ranging from Calvin to Hodge, Dabney and to Berkof and none, that I recall, ever mentioned the term Biblical Theology and that is quite understandable given the purpose of a book on Systematic Theology. Systematic theology is the study of the doctrines contained within the bible and the study usually begins with the Doctrine of God and ends with the Doctrine of Last Things or Eschatology.

So, what is the difference? I purchased a book recently from Westminster Theological Seminary entitled, guess what..., yes, that’s right... Biblical Theology. This 400+ page paper back was written by Geerhardus Vos. (a fellow Dutchman) So far I have read about a fourth of the book, which, in some circles, could make one an expert, especially if he were 50 miles from home...but I’m still trying to absorb the teaching contained within it’s covers and I am still at home. Perhaps as a definition of Biblical Theology the current popular phrase, “what did they know and when did they know it” would apply since this particular area of theology begins at the beginning and traces God’s revelation of Himself through the pages of the Bible. Here is Vos’ definition: Biblical Theology is “the study of the actual self-disclosures of God in time and space which lie back of even the first committal to writing of any Biblical document, and which for a long time continued to run alongside of the inscripturation of revealed material. (It is).. that branch of theology which deals with the process of the self-revelation of God deposited in the Bible.”

I have discovered that there are actually four branches of theology. They are: Biblical Theology, Historical Theology, Systematic Theology and finally Practical Theology. Biblical Theology attempts to classify and arrange the facts of revelation as it unfolded; Historical Theology traces the development of doctrine as it unfolded in the Church since the Apostolic age; Systematic Theology takes the material of Historic and Biblical Theology and organizes it into a consistent whole of everything we know about God and His universe; and Practical Theology is what you hear from your Pastor on Sunday from the pulpit as he brings to bear God’s truths to men individually and to the Church how should we then live.

Several years ago our congregation was challenged to read the Bible from cover to cover in one year beginning at Genesis and finishing in Revelation. I can see that this exercise was perfect preparation for the study of Biblical Theology. I am looking forward to this particular study of the unfolding of God’s revelation in time utilizing Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)

Lost: A Sense of Sin

I remember as a child and even as a young adult that my dad seemed to have an answer for every question that I ever had. He read constantly and his knowledge of a wide range of subjects continues to amaze me even today, and he’s been with the Lord since 1997. Now-a-days I refer all my questions to “google”, whom I facetiously call “Dad”. Dad knows everything! When my father died, I inherited most of his library of theological books. I have often wished that I had gotten to know my father more intimately than I did, and that we could have shared some of the deeper aspects of the Reformed Faith, but we were both very busy. He, as a Pastor, with the nurture of his local congregation and me....well, with my latest self-indulgence. (cars, girlfriends, cars, hot-rods, parties, cars, girls..etc...etc)

One of the ways that I have found to reacquaint myself with my father is through the books that he read. I have mentioned this in previous blogs. I have just recently come upon another of his books, this one entitled, “Basic Beliefs of the Reformed Faith”, by Felix Gear, 1960. The stated purpose of this little 80 page booklet, sanctioned by The Presbyterian Church in the United States (Dad’s Church), subsequently the PCUSA, is this: “This book can be used by an individual to get new insights into the Word of God as a foundation for theological truth.” Given the PCUSA’s latest stance against maintaining the Book of Order standard which requires those ordained into the Church to “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness”, I found the teaching on page 22 of this book worthy of revisiting, verbatim:

(under the heading, Knowledge of sin brings unrest and torment. Psalm 51:3-5)

“Sin’s hectic, haunting, disturbing nature is vividly expressed in the poignant words: “And my sin is ever before me.” He sees it every second, thinks about it constantly, and suffers from it all the time. A thousand different things daily remind him of it; he has no rest, no relief. One of Evelyn Waugh’s novels gives a modern description of how one feels when caught in the grip of sin: “Living in sin, with sin, by sin, for sin, every hour, every day, year in, year out. Waking up with sin in the morning, seeing the curtains drawn on sin, bathing it, dressing it, clipping diamonds to it, feeding it showing it round, giving it a good time, putting it to sleep at night with a tablet of Dial* if it’s fretful.” Sin follows us, presses down upon us as a crushing burden, tortures us mercilessly; there is no escape from its sneering, mocking shadow. It is constantly before the mind as something black, thick, nasty, sticky, and sinister, ever present yet just beyond reach. Why is it...?.......because his sin is against God.”

Now, this brief paragraph really does strike home personally, and I think that is intended by the author. And it makes me wonder in this day and age of tolerance, have we lost the sense of sin that the Psalmist so vividly describes in this Psalm 51?

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom 6:1-2)

(*sleeping pill)

A Window Pain

My son recently invited me to attend a K-State Men’s Basketball game in Manhattan, Ks. Prior to the game we stopped at a local restaurant for dinner. In the restaurant someone had created a beautiful "stained glass" of the K-State "Power Cat". I was inspired. I told my son I’d get busy and see if I could make something similar. Pictured below is the progress and the final result.

This pane was designed to fit perfectly into the window well of the game room in our recently finished basement. Since our home does not have a walk-out basement, a permanent window in this recess is probably not a wise move...so it is merely hanging over the opening and easily removed in case of need. This project has 51 pieces of individually cut glass. It is ironic that my only finger cut occurred during a lunch break opening a can of soup. Here are the photos: (click each to enlarge)

 
 
 
 

 
 
Now, if we can just get those Wildcats to play some good ball!

A Dream of Spring

"Winter, slumbering in the open air, wears upon it's smiling face a dream of spring."

From what movie is the quote above taken?  Photo taken on my patio Jan 14, 2011.

The Advent...Digitalized

I might just add the message from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul and Jesus:  "Repent and believe the Gospel...it is the Power of God unto Salvation."

The ACLU Grinch

See story HERE.

How Can This Be.....?

Along with countless others, I have often said there is nothing superfluous in the Word of God. In fact, I have found it to be just the opposite. Give me more is my constant cry. What do you mean by that, Lord?.... is my questioning. Such was the case with Mary. When told by the Angel..you shall conceive and bear a Son, He will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give Him the throne of his father David, she also questions, “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Then comes the “non-superfluous” answer: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

Just how much doctrine is wrapped up in that single phrase, “the Most High will overshadow you”? Enough to have convened The Council of Chalcedon in the year 451AD and that Council lasted from October 8th to November 1st. (btw, a free download of the Chalcedon Confession and many other Reformed Confessions is available HERE.) The Chalcedonian Creed attempts to state as simply as possible what resulted from that profound event that occurred that night in Bethlehem. In one brief creedal confession they attempted to sum up such doctrines as the incarnation, the diety of Christ, the humanity of Christ, the unipersonality of Christ, the sinlessness of Christ and the nature of Christ. And we also, some 2000+ years later, still must attempt to understand individually that basic question Mary asked: “How can this be....?” We know that this “holy child”, this “Son of God” must be protected from the contamination of sin that every child born of man knows. And we know from the narrative Joseph had not known his betrothed at this point. But what about the contamination of Mary? Job asked the question many years prior, “how can he be clean that is born of a woman”? The Psalmist declares, “there is no one who does good, not even one”. I don’t think we will ever be privy to the detailed procedure involved in this “overshadowing”. Perhaps some hints may be found in some OT passages such as the 91st Psalm...”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall tent under the shadow of the Almighty, He shall cover thee with His feathers”. All we can surmise is that above all else it is the direct supernatural act of the power of the Most High to keep this child free from all sinful contamination; simply stated,“overshadowed” and for that reason a “Holy Child”...The Son of God.

Whatever and however the conception of our Saviour occurred the result was a “holy child” called the Son of God. A sinless One was conceived, uncontaminated by Mary’s sin through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect, the holy, the sinless man. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son...; a body hast thou prepared me; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son; and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us; he shall save his people from their sins; Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (various prophetic verses)

This is no ordinary birth that we celebrate during this season. “Like us in all respects, sin apart”..as the Chalcedon Confession states it. Holy Child, Son of God, Immanuel..no not an ordinary birth at all. It certainly appeared ordinary..but behind the scenes something truly supernatural was occurring. The Sovereign God of all the universe, the second person of the Godhead took upon Himself human flesh. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...” This Christmas carol sums it up most aptly: “O holy Child of Bethelem, descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell, O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel”. Nothing is impossible with God. (1:37) Hallelujah, What a Saviour!