9: Theology

Question 1

What are some of the ways in which Systematic Theology can trump Biblical Exegesis?

Answer 1

1. If the immediate, literary verses of the context is not examined
2. When textual and contextual features are ignored
3. When interpreters fail to observe differences between one biblical writer’s or corpus’s use of key words and concept and another’s
4. If parallel accounts of the same teaching or event are inappropriately harmonized so as to lose sight of the distinctive message of each.

Question 2

How is Biblical Theology defined?

Answer 2

That branch of theology whose concern it is to study each corpus of Scripture in its own right, especially in respect to its place in the history of God’s unfolding revelation.

Question 3

What five things can “theological interpretation of Scripture” mean?

Answer 3

1. returning to interpretations of passages advanced by Christians in premodern periods of church history
2. embracing allegorical or symbolic readings of texts more than contemporary exegetes usually advice
3. reflection/meditation on key words or concepts to see how God might speak through them in a blend of spiritual illumination and personal application
4. interpreting one passage of Scripture with another whether or not there are any historical or literary connections between them
5. toning down our claims for just how much of the original meaning of texts can be recovered and how much application of those texts can be universalized

Question 4

What is the first way in which we can make exegetical contributions to biblical/systematic theology?

Answer 4

1. Become familiar with the major categories either of the biblical theology of a given book or author or of systematic theology as a whole.

Question 5

What is the second way in which we can make exegetical contributions to biblical/systematic theology?

Answer 5

1. If a given authro’s contribution appears difficult to mesh with another text, contribution or theological system, consider at least two other options:
   
   1. Make sure you’ve not somehow misunderstood the text
   2. Reconsider your overall theological system

Question 6

What is the third way in which we can make exegetical contributions to biblical/systematic theology?

Answer 6

1. Be willing to conclude as a last resort that contradictory strands of early Christian theology on a given topic are juxtaposed in the New Testament without resolution, remaining open to a plausible solution of further study.