Systematic Theology
A Systematic Theology for the 21st Century
by Edward Rice
Preface
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ..
There is no Baptist Systematic Theology work in print today, i.e. there is no Systematic Theology work that has the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired word of God as its sole authority, even like Baptists, by definition, have it as their sole authority for all faith and practice. There ought to be. There is a cause.
You are solicited to join in a five year theological journey which will end with a “Systematic Theology for the 21st Century.” The only fare is that you review the work as it is being assembled monthly. All critiques will be welcomed and any born again believer is fully qualified to construct, and certainly to critique, such a work. A systematic theology is simply drawing a circle around the Holy Bible, and then rationally considering every principle, concept and thought that has been revealed to man by God. It shall be exhaustive, but in this venue, with your help, it need not be exhausting.
The reward for your participation will be a copy of the completed work. But that will barely compare with the benefit we each will gain in assembling such a work.
The Cause
As a systems engineer for thirty years (since 1972), I focused on systems analysis. Systematic theology has intrigued me ever since my first Bible institute course in 1975. I have amassed multiple systematic theology books and never found one that is wholly Biblical. This year, Seminary work assigned me to read and analyze six volumes of Systematic Theology by Lewis Sperry Chafer, a previous president of Dallas Theological Seminary. Initial critique of this neo-evangelical, voluminous, wordy, often unintelligible, more often unorganized work1, answered the question, Is there not a cause? A Systematic Theology for the 21st Century is indeed a valid need. It cries out to be written and it is a work that I must needs endeavor.
Immediately there are three principle flaws that need to be overhauled in previous works. Previous systematic theologies spend effort systematizing creeds rather than the systematizing Bible revelation. For example, the Westminster confession of faith establishes that God unchangeablly decreed every thing that comes to pass… EVERYTHING!, and that He decreed it all before the foundation of the world. The Bible is emphatic that Abraham with his bargaining , Moses with his intercession, Nineveh with its repentance, Joash with his arrows, Hezekiah with his prayer, and Jesus with his whosoever(s), each directly changed what God was going to do. Also, IF prayer changes things, so can we; so can God. One would expect Charles Hodge (1797-1878) to bow to such a Westminster creed, he was a Presbyterian. But when Augustus Strong (1836-1921), an American Baptist minister and Theologian, supports Westminster over the Bible, and Henry C. Thiessen (? -1947), 1947 President of Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary2, resoundingly supported Westminster over the Bible, and finally when Lewis Sperry Chafer, followed suit, it is time to re-write a systematic theology that presents what the Bible reveals over what the creeds state. Present systematic theology works are marred by what the Holy Catholic Church declared as truth. A Biblical one is direly needed.
Secondly, previous systematic theologies spend effort defending philosophies of man and rationality of man rather than systematizing Bible revelation. All the previous listed theologians spend undo time and effort wrestling with the ontological and teleological proof that there is a God. The Bible spends no effort in such vain philosophies of man. Also, Thiessen, particularly, expends great effort defending the philosophical and Roman Catholic argument that man is only material and immaterial and NOT body, soul and spirit, i.e. a trichotomy in the image of God. In this error, he even calls Holy Scripture, “just Paul’s opinion.” Chafer also makes reference to the dichotomy of man, but then later references his trichotomy; again Chafer has thus far proven remarkably wordy, unclear, and inconsistent.
Lastly Thiessen and Chafer, by their own insistence, have no access to a verbally inspired, inerrant, infallible Holy Bible. They insist that nowhere in the world does such a Bible exist. Both base their systematic theologies on what textual critics, modern translators, and modern scholars thought God meant to say. A true theologian must base all theology on an inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Holy Bible; it is our sole authority. For Baptists it is the sole authority for all faith and practice, and we have no reliably written Systematic Theology in print. With your help we will get one in print, at least in eprint.
The structure:
Table of Contents
Preface 7
The Cause 7
The structure: 9
Part 01 Prolegomena 10
Theology is for Everyone 11
Why Systematic? 12
Theology is not a Science and has not been Systematic 15
Consider the System in Systematic 20
Truly Systematic is Accomplished with Actual Systems 21
The New Improved Systematic Methodology 30
Part 02 Bibliology 31
INSPIRATION 33
Inspiration Defined 34
The Compromise of the Doctrine 37
Plenary Verbal Inspiration of SCRIPTURE 40
Inerrancy of ALL SCRIPTURE 42
Infallibility of ALL SCRIPTURE 45
Language Translation of Inspired Scripture 46
Hermeneutics, The interpretation of Scripture 53
Part 03 Theology 55
A Proper Theology Proper (Draft) 56
A Proper Naturalistic Theism (First Draft) 58
Part 04 Christology 62
Christology Introduction 62
The names and Titles of Christ 64
Cambron’s I. NAMES AND TITLES OF CHRIST. 64
God uses 196 “I AM THE” references in the Holy Bible. 71
The Ecumenical Bible Correctors Attack This List 76
The Incarnation of Christ 79
Cambron’s II. THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST 79
Wolves Without Attack 87
Wolves Within Attack 88
The Two Natures of Christ 89
Cambron’s III. THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST 89
The Death of Christ 97
Cambron’s IV. THE DEATH OF CHRIST 98
The Resurrection of Christ 103
Cambron’s V. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 104
The Ascension and Enthronement of Jesus Christ 109
Cambron’s VI. THE ASCENSION AND ENTHRONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST 109
Critique of other Systematic Theology Christology Works 112
Critique of John Miley’s 1892 Methodist Christology 112
Critique of Charles Hodge’s 1878 Presbyterian Christology 114
Critique of Augustus Strong’s 1907 “Baptist” Christology 115
Critique of Thiessen’s 1949 “Baptist” Christology 120
Thiessen’s Christology 123
Thiessen’s Little Value Added 124
Critique of Chafer’s 1948 Christology 125
Dr Chafer’s Introduction to The Pre-incarnate Christ 129
Dr Chafer’s seven fold divisions of Christology 130
Typical Persons 136
Typical Events 143
Typical Things 146
Typical Institutions and Ceremonies 158
Dr. Chafer’s “The Second Advent of Christ Incarnate” 167
+Critique of Geisler’s 2002 Christology 169
Harmony of The Life of Christ 171
Christology Conclusion 179
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY for Christology 179
Part 05 Pneumatology 182
Pnematology Introduction 182
The Holy Ghost vs The Holy Spirit of God 186
The “Comforter” Is The Best English Word 191
Cambron’s Doctrine of the Holy Ghost (Pneumatology) 194
I. PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 196
II. THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 200
III. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 204
The Baptism of vs The Filling of the Holy Ghost 238
Holiness – Pentecostal Movement Touching Pneumatology 248
The Bible and the Role of the Woman. 256
The Woman’s Role in Home, Church, and Society 261
Charles Hodge’s Systematic Theology Touching Pneumatology 262
Augustus H. Strong’s Systematic Theology Touching Pneumatology 266
Charles Finney’s Systematic Theology Touching Pneumatology 269
Henry Clarence Thiessen’s 1949 “Baptist” Pneumatology 270
Lewis Sperry Chafer’s Systematic Theology Touching Pneumatology 274
Pneumatology Conclusion 278
BIBLIOGRAPHY PNEUMATOLOGY 280
Part 06 Anthropology 283
Part 07 Hamartiology 285
Part 08 Soteriology 286
Part 09 Ecclesiology 287
Ecclesiology Introduction 287
Cambron’s Chapter 7 Ecclesiology – The Doctrine of the Church 288
I. THE MEANING OF THE WORD 289
II. THE USE OF THE WORD 290
III. WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT 291
IV. WHAT THE CHURCH IS 291
A. It Is a Mystery. 291
B. It Is the Body of Which Christ Is the Head. 292
C. It Is a Building. 293
D. It Is the Bride. 293
V. THE GIFTS TO THE BODY 294
VI. THE LOCAL CHURCH 295
VII. DISCIPLINE IN THE LOCAL CHURCH 296
VIII. ORDINANCES IN THE LOCAL CHURCH 297
A. Baptism. 297
B. Lord’s Supper. 298
Dangerous Affronts to Truth 301
Roman Catholic Religion – The Mother Wolf to Ecclesiology 301
Reformers Theology – Offspring Wolves to Ecclesiology 301
Ecumenical Bible Changers – Brainchild Wolves to Eschatology 301
Critique of other Systematic Theology Ecclesiology Works 301
Critique of John Miley’s 1892 Methodist Ecclesiology 301
Critique of Charles Hodge’s 1878 Ecclesiology 301
Critique of Augustus Strong’s 1907 Ecclesiology 302
Critique of Theisens’ 1949 Ecclesiology 302
Critique of Chafer’s 1948 Ecclesiology 302
Critique of Chafer’s Volume IV Ecclesiology and Eschatology Introduction 302
A Critique of Dr. Chafer’s Ecclesiology 303
Chafer’s Systematic Error 304
Chafer’s Ecclesiology 307
Chafer’s Error In Denominationalism 312
Clarifying the Corporate Body 314
Dr. Chafer’s Poisonous Root 314
Critique of Geisler’s 2002 Ecclesiology 317
Part 10 Angelology 318
ANGELS. 318
§ 1. Their Nature. 319
§ 2. Their State. 320
§ 3. Their Employments. 321
§ 4. Evil Angels. 324
Power and Agency of Evil Spirits. 325
Demoniacal Possessions. 326
Part 11 Eschatology 337
The Premillennial Return of Christ 337
Cambron’s Chapter 9 Eschatology – The Doctrine of Last Things 340
OUTLINE FOR CHAPTER IX ESCHATOLOGY 340
I. PHYSICAL DEATH 341
II. THE BODILY RESURRECTION 343
III. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE 347
IV. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST 349
V. THE ANTICHRIST 352
VI. THE TRIBULATION 357
VII. THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON 360
VIII. THE MILLENNIUM 361
IX. THE JUDGMENTS 363
X. AFTER THE MILLENNIUM 365
XI. TH FUTURE OF THE WICKED. 365
XII. HEAVEN 367
Replacement Theology 367
Why Jesus Christ Must Return to Reign on Earth. 368
I. Jesus Christ Must Return To Reign On Earth So That God The Father Can Publicly And Universally Vindicate Him! 369
II. Jesus Christ Must Return To Reign On Earth In Order To Answer Prayer! 370
III. Jesus Christ Must Return To Reign On Earth In Order To Complete the Plan Of Redemption! 372
IV. Jesus Christ Must Return To Reign On Earth to Keep His Promises to David And The Ancient Covenant 372
Critique of other Systematic Theology Eschatology Works 379
Critique of John Miley’s 1892 Methodist Eschatology 379
Critique of Charles Hodge’s 1878 Eschatology 380
Critique of Augustus Strong’s 1907 Eschatology 380
Critique of Theisens’ 1949 Eschatology 380
Critique of Chafer’s 1948 Eschatology 380
Critique of Chafer’s Volume IV Ecclesiology and Eschatology Introduction 380
A Critique of Dr. Chafer’s Ecclesiology 382
Chafer’s Systematic Error 382
A Critique of Dr. Chafer’s Eschatology 386
Critique of Geisler’s 2002 Eschatology 395
Penny Pulpit Essays on Eschatology. 396
Msg #1342 Prophetic Truth and Accuracy 396
Msg #1440 Don’t Be Left Behind 396
Msg #1441 The 7 Year Tribulation is not Allegorical! 397
Part 12 Epilogue 398
Index 399
BIBLIOGRAPHY 400
Review Entire Work at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology/21cent_syst_theo.pdf
The Systematic Theology for the 21st Century is available in draft at:
http://www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology/21cent_syst_theo.pdf
http://www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology/21cent_syst_theo.epub