Systematic Theology

This branch of theology answers the question, What does the whole Bible teach about a given topic and its relation to other topics? One may write a systematic treatment of a particular doctrine, but the term systematic theology often refers to an organized and comprehensive presentation of “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27 ESV). Louis Berkhof (1873–1957) said that systematic theology “seeks to give a systematic presentation of all the doctrinal truths of the Christian religion.” He explained that this is a “constructive task,” for it builds a structure of thought that brings each doctrine into clear formulation and organic relation to other doctrines; it is a “demonstrative” task, for it shows how every part of the system is deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures; and it is a “critical” task, for it neither casts off the theological systems of the past nor accepts any one of them blindly, but compares all things to the Word of God in order to defend orthodox Christianity while deepening our understanding of God’s revelation.

 Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley, Reformed Systematic Theology: Revelation and God, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 48.

系統神學

這個神學分支是回答這樣一個問題，整本聖經關於給定主題及其與其他主題的關係有何教導？一個人可能會寫一篇對特定教義的系統處理，但系統神學一詞通常指的是對“神的（整全）旨意the whole counsel of God”（使徒行傳 20:27 ESV）的有組織和全面的介紹。路易斯·伯克夫（Louis Berkhof，1873-1957 年）說，系統神學“力求系統地介紹基督教的所有教義性的真理”。他解釋說，這是一項“建設性任務”，因為它建立了一種思想結構，使每一種教義都得以清晰地表述出來，並與其它教義有機地聯繫起來；這是一項“示範性”任務，因為它展示了系統的每一部分是如何深深根植於聖經的；這是一項“關鍵”的工作，因為它既不拋棄過去的神學體系，也不盲目接受其中任何一個，而是將所有事情與上帝的話語進行比較，以捍衛正統基督教，同時加深我們對上帝啟示的理解.28

保羅20:27“神整全旨意”的教導與耶穌大使命高度吻合☝

凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。

28:20  διδάσκοντες αὐτοὺς τηρεῖν πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν· καὶ ἰδού, ἐγὼ μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος Ἀμήν

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 28:20.

因為神的旨意，我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。

20:27  οὐ γὰρ ὑπεστειλάμην τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν πᾶσαν τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θεοῦ

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 20:27.