A REVIEW OF MICHAEL WILLIAM’S ARTICLE ON SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY AS A BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE

SUBMITTED TO:

REV. DR. SUNDAY AKINWALE OLOYEDE

FACULTY OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

THE NIGERIA BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, OGBOMOSO.

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE COURSE

ADVANCE CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

MPH 804

SUBMITTED BY

GUMAP, SHEM DANLAMI

MATRIC NO. 22/0366

About the Author (Michael William). He is an American theologian and professor of systematic theology
at covenant theological seminary in saint Louis, Missouri, whose faculty he joined in 1996. He received
his Ph.D. from university of Toronto and is an adult convert to the Christian faith.

Title of the Article: Systematic Theology as a Biblical Discipline

Aim of the Article: To present a defense of systematic theology, (a discipline that suffers from decidedly
poor reviews within present Christian academia and some sectors of the Church) by bringing out a
defensive and humble definition of systematic theology in light of the sources.

Preamble

One of the major problems we encounter today as theologians is the issue diverse views
concerning issues. People have different approaches to issues in life. Critics has become an issue that
theology whether systematic or biblical seem not to survive without it. Every discipline work towards
defending its assertion to make credible before other discipline. It is on this note that Michael William
write his article in defense of systematic theology by bringing out a defensive and humble definition of
systematic theology in light of the sources.

Summary of the Article

In his article, Michael William view systematic theology as a discipline that suffers from
decidedly poor reviews within present Christian academia and some sector of the church. He said that
attempt had been made by both theologians (systematic and biblical) to discuss and write up a
relationship between scripture hermeneutics and systematic theology. But disciplinary Moloch (what
are to make of systematic theology) seems to haunt the discussion. Controversy continues because they
cannot define their task as theologian.

William notice that systematic theology laid emphasis on topics rather than story, rationality
rather than action, and ideas rather than persons which suggest that systematic theology is simply the
wrong tool for doing theology. He said that systematic theology makes no claims upon us and nurtures
no relationship, but merely encourages us to bend the word of God to questions.

He asserts that theologians describe what systematic theology does or should do, but to
William, it is not quite defining. So his write up is to present a defense of systematic theology by bringing
out a defensive and humble definition of systematic theology in light of the sources. He argues that
systematic theology, within the evangelical and Reformed tradition, is properly bound by the
reformation principles of sola scripture, and should be regulated by the scriptural message and by sound
biblical hermeneutics.

In his defense, he said systematic is a biblical discipline and not a speculative one. To Michael,
the bible has functioned as a limiting principle within systematic theology, and that it is more of a
constrain authority than a positive guide. He said, scripture must be allowed to lead our theological
reflection rather than merely test it. And that the bible often fails to function as constructive guide to
the systematicians who want to appeal to the authority and even the inerrancy of scripture.
 According to William, all biblical narrative, structure, story of God’s relationship with his
creation- from Adam to Christ crucified and resurrected to Christ triumphant in restoration of all things
forms the regulative principles and interpretative key for systematic theology no less than it does for
biblical theology. It means systematic theology that is oriented to the biblical narrative and scriptural
ways of knowing ought to redemptive and historically grounded rather than ordered to a cultural
convention of rationality.

Michael noted that theology did not simply come with the revelation of scripture but it is a
particular approach toward theological reflection. He maintains that there is a relationship that exist
between systematic theology and biblical theology. He said the academic discipline of biblical theology
originally arose in the eighteenth century as an alternative to systematic theology. The two discipline
differ not in content but in mode of organization. Biblical theology is organized according to the history
of redemption and systematic according to thematic or topic frame work says Michael. However, his
concern is to apply the reformation principles of sola scripture for the sake of theological reflection. He
figures out that if our theological labor does not bring the word of God home (contemporary church)
then our efforts are in vain. To William, the biblical theology does not dictate how systematic should be
done, but that it does offer some positive challenges to the discipline of systematic theology.

William then moves on to pose some challenges raise by biblical theologian that systematic
theologian should do justice to the historical character of scripture. He points out that the tendency to
abstraction which moves theological reflection towards ahistorical formulation of timeless truths and
obscures the historical-covenantal dynamic of scripture must be resisted else we loss the meaning of the
scripture. And that systematic theologian must always respect the nature of scripture as a history of
redemption.

He further moves to say that theologian need to do more than merely describing the world if
our theological labors are to provide direction for walking in the way of truth. William states that
theologian must seek to generate and identity for people who are called to live the life of faith within
the world which is one of the advantage of story over other forms of discourse-story seek to depict not
merely a way of seeing the world, but also a way of being within it. And that the biblical story is not a
tale or narrative but is the story of the heir to the faith of Abraham. It is our story, and as such invites us
to indwell it as God’s identity is made known to us by way of the story.

The article points out that systematic theologian should understand that their discipline is a
means for our application of the biblical world to our self and not the goal of the scripture. And as such,
theology is the servant of the word of God and faith. The scripture does not exist to serve our system,
but the reverse.

Therefore, biblical theology is oriented to the historical unfolding of God’s redemptive ways and
remind us of the purpose of scripture-a purpose we all serve. The biblical religion is not about contacting
a cognitive deposit of ideas, but a vital relationship with the savior who is revealed to us in the biblical
word. The scripture is referential to the acts of God in history- his covenantal relationship with his
people. This principle must inform the theologian as he uses this word and must regulate how he reads
and apply it.
 Strength of the Article

Michael William is a genius in the field of systematic theology. His article on systematic
theology as a biblical discipline cannot be taken lightly. He maintains that systematic theology is a
biblical discipline and not a speculative. And that scripture must be allowed to lead our theological
reflection rather than merely test it. He said, all biblical narrative, structure, story of god’s
relationship with his creation forms the regulative principles and interpretative key for systematic
theology. He further said systematic theology within the evangelical and reformed tradition is
properly bound by the reformation principles of sola scripture and should be regulated by the
scriptural message. His definition is helpful in understanding systematic theology as a biblical
discipline. There are many outstanding books and articles on systematic theology that are now
published, but Michael William’s article will be in that list for years to come.
His goal in the article was to re-defined systematic theology in the light of the scripture which he
did as mention above and come to a conclusion that systematic theology is a biblical discipline and not a
speculative.

Relevance of the Article

It is not what people say it is wrong that it is actually wrong in itself, but every issue needs
critical examination before coming to a conclusion of it. Michael William after critical examination,
brought inn a balance theology that build up strong relationship between systematic and biblical
theology. As church leaders, we need to stand in between variables to remedy or to bring an issue to a
logical conclusion.

So as stewards of God’s church, systematic theology enables us to proffer solution to conflicting

doctrinal issues in a logical and coherent manner, which gives the church a sense of maturity in Christ
Jesus.