1. A theology is a theory.
The purpose of a theory is to explain a subject matter.
The subject matter of different theologies may be different:
(a) The subject matter of Biblical theology is the Bible.
(b) The subject matter of Systematic theology is the Bible.
(c) The subject matter of Dogmatics is the Bible.
(d) The subject matter of Confessional theology or Symbolics is the "creeds, confessions, and catechisms of a particular tradition or denomination." (Horton 2011, 28 n12)
(e) The subject matter of Historical theology is how people understand the Bible in history.
Historical theology is a history of the development of Biblical, Systematic, Dogmatic and Confessional theology.
A history is a theory, so Historical theology is also a theory.
(f) The subject matter of Practical or Pastoral theology is the application of the Bible to contemporary matters.
2. If Biblical, Systematic and Dogmatic theology all have the Bible as their subject matter, then what distinguish these theologies from each other?
Vincent Cheung (2008, 3) has a very good explanation of the difference between Biblical and Systematic theology:
Both systematic and biblical theology are "biblical" in the sense that both of them are derived from and faithful to the content of the Bible. Thus the term "biblical theology" can generate some confusion unless we remember that the emphasis is in the arrangement of the content, and not the source of the content. Systematic theology is a synthesis and presentation of biblical revelation in a topical and logical arrangement. When we call it "logical," we do not imply that biblical theology is illogical, but again we refer to the arrangement, so that one item logically proceeds to the next. As for biblical theology, it is a synthesis and presentation of biblical revelation in a historical or chronological arrangement, following the order of events as they appear in the Bible.
3. A theology is a theory.
The subject matter of both Biblical and Systematic theology is the Bible.
What distinguish them is *how* they theorized about the Bible.
Biblical theology is a synthesis and presentation of the Bible in a historical or chronological arrangement.
Systematic theology is a synthesis and presentation of the Bible in a topical and logical arrangement.
4. What about Dogmatic theology?
Dogmatic theology is akin to Systematic theology in that both synthesize and present the Bible in a topical and logical arrangement.
What distinguishes them is that:
(a) Systematic theology presents the major topics of the Bible in their relations in a summary fashion.
(b) Dogmatic theology presents the major topics of the Bible one topic at a time in an in depth fashion.
"There is also a difference between systematic theology and dogmatics, the latter engaging in a deeper analysis of Christian doctrines than a systematic summary can provide." (Horton 2011, 29)
A very good example of a Dogmatic theology is the 14 Volumes Studies in Dogmatics by G.C.Berkouwer.
5. The above refers to theology in the singular.
Of course there are many theories about the Bible, so there are many theologies.
There are many different Biblical, Systematic, Dogmatic, Confessional and Historical theologies.
There are many theologies because the theoreticians make different assumptions in theorizing about the Bible.
6. Wikipedia defines a meta-theory thus:
"A metatheory or meta-theory is a theory whose subject matter is some other theory. In other words it is a theory about a theory." (accessed 2011-07-06)
Using the distinction between theory and meta-theory:
(a) Biblical, Systematic and Dogmatic theologies are theories about the Bible.
These theologies are first-order theories about the Bible.
(b) Confessional theologies are meta-theories about the Bible.
Assuming that the creeds, confessions and catechisms are meant to summarize the truth-claims of the Bible, they are theories about the Bible.
Confessional theologies are theories about the creeds, confessions and catechisms.
Confessional theologies are meta-theories about the Bible - theories about theories of the Bible.
Confessional theologies are second-order theories about the Bible.
(c) Historical theologies about the development of Biblical, Systematic, and Dogmatic are meta-theories.
Biblical, Systematic and Dogmatic theologies are theories about the Bible.
Historical theologies that are theories about these theologies are meta-theories about the Bible - theories about theories of the Bible.
Historical theologies about these theologies are second-order theories about the Bible.
(d) Historical theologies about Confessional theologies are meta-meta-theories about the Bible.
Confessional theologies are meta-theories about the Bible.
Historical theologies about Confessional theologies, being theories about Confessional theologies, are meta-meta-theories about the Bible.
Historical theologies about Confessional theologies are third-order theories about the Bible.
References:
Cheung, Vincent. 2008. The Story of a System.
(accessed July 6, 2011).
Horton, Michael. 2011. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On the Way. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan.
End.
