Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 1 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
Instance DeWette, Biblische Theologie; Hofmann, Schriftbeweis;
Nitzsch, System of Christian Doctrine. The last, however, has more
of the philosophical element than properly belongs to Biblical
Theology. The third volume of Ritschl’s Justification and
Reconciliation is intended as a system of Biblical Theology, the
first and second volumes being little more than an historical
introduction. But metaphysics, of a Kantian relativity and
phenomenalism, enter so largely into Ritschl’s estimates and
interpretations, as to render his conclusions both partial and
rationalistic. Notice a questionable use of the term Biblical
Theology to designate the theology of a part of Scripture severed
from the rest, as Steudel’s Biblical Theology of the Old
Testament; Schmidt’s Biblical Theology of the New Testament; and
in the common phrases: Biblical Theology of Christ, or of Paul.
These phrases are objectionable as intimating that the books of
Scripture have only a human origin. Upon the assumption that there
is no common divine authorship of Scripture, Biblical Theology is
conceived of as a series of fragments, corresponding to the
differing teachings of the various prophets and apostles, and the
theology of Paul is held to be an unwarranted and incongruous
addition to the theology of Jesus. See Reuss, History of Christian
Theology in the Apostolic Age.
2. _Historical Theology_ traces the development of the Biblical doctrines
from the time of the apostles to the present day, and gives account of the
results of this development in the life of the church.
By doctrinal development we mean the progressive unfolding and
apprehension, by the church, of the truth explicitly or implicitly
contained in Scripture. As giving account of the shaping of the
Christian faith into doctrinal statements, Historical Theology is
called the History of Doctrine. As describing the resulting and
accompanying changes in the life of the church, outward and
inward, Historical Theology is called Church History. Instance
Cunningham’s Historical Theology; Hagenbach’s and Shedd’s
Histories of Doctrine; Neander’s Church History. There is always a
danger that the historian will see his own views too clearly
reflected in the history of the church. Shedd’s History of
Christian Doctrine has been called “The History of Dr. Shedd’s
Christian Doctrine.” But if Dr. Shedd’s Augustinianism colors his
History, Dr. Sheldon’s Arminianism also colors his. G. P. Fisher’s
History of Christian Doctrine is unusually lucid and impartial.
See Neander’s Introduction and Shedd’s Philosophy of History.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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