Prolegomenon: Introduction to Systematic Theology 3

The Limitations to the Study of Theology

There are certain limitations to the study of ST. For our purpose here I will make a brief mention of each, feel free to jump in and fill any gaps if I miss something.

The first limitation is ignorance, because we posses a fallen nature (or sin nature), even those who are lost and those of us who are redeemed are not sinlessly intelligent.

The Bible clearly points this out, of the lost it says, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor. 2: 14) and “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Cor. 4: 4),

Of the redeemed (saved) Scriptures say, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” (1Cor. 3:1) and “Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:11-14)

The second limitation is finiteness- we are human and finite not God Who is infinite.

God cannot be fully known, but He can be truly known.

The third limitation is revelation. Yes revelation is limited, because while the Bible tells us everything God wants us to know about Him, it does not tell us everything there is to know about Him (Deut. 29: 29; John 20: 30- 31; 21: 25;).

Finally there is the finiteness of language (see “Theology and its Language” in Christian Theology pp. 127-149 Erickson, for a fuller treatment of this)

The source of the problem of language followed by Liberals, Neo-orthodoxy, Eastern religion, etc. is called logical positivism. An example of this is provided by Jimmy Swagart who once claimed, “I don’t need to see a miracle, because the greatest miracle of all can’t be seen, but felt”.

Some of the objections to theological language are:

...language cannot convey transcendent realities,

...human language can never be wholly or infallibly true, and

...human language from primitive cultures cannot be wholly true.

The Earnest Contender does not go along with these week assertions. This is why:

...the Bible teaches that God has spoken in the precise sense of using human language to communicate with man, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Heb. 1:1-2),

...God created man with linguistic abilities,

...God is a competent speaker and is in full control

...communication does not need to be scientifically precise, and

...“Primitive languages” are capable of communicating deep insightful thought.

It can be seen (or felt if you prefer, and may the force be with you) that God primarily uses human languages to communicate to us that which He wants us to know. The Bible, as stated in a previous post, is the Source. It will serve as the Book we will use throughout this study all other ideas, concepts, and feelings must bow to the supremacy of the Bible. Those who rely on any other source are in danger of heresy. We are called to, “...earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude 3)

Our study, Prolegomenon: Introduction to Systematic Theology will continues next time with the Methods of ST.