Frame by Frame: Notes on John Frame’s Systematic Theology:
An Introduction
Chapter 1: What is Theology
Theology is replete with definitions, anything from
justification to Christ’s second coming.
Definitions are rarely found in scripture of theology or theological
concepts. We grapple with Scripture and
this wrestling in human form are less than adequate to describe the ways the
Bible deals with language, narratives, and teaching.
Theologians and scholars of the Bible come up with various
definitions. Frame mentions effectual
calling “God’s sovereign summons that actually draws a person into union with
Christ.” (3) But calling also has
referent points to “name giving, invitation, request for someone’s attention.” The point here is that one definition is
simply too narrow to encompass all that Scripture states about a particular theological
concept.
Our theological definitions must be measured by Scripture,
they must not go beyond what Scripture says or say less than what the
Scriptures affirm or deny. There is latitude
for various definitions, depending also on what biblical author one is
examining.
Various definitions of Theology:
Barth – Theology is science seeking the knowledge of the
Word of God spoken in God’s work – science in the school of the Holy Scripture,
which witnesses to the Word of God
Theology As Application
“Christianity is a study of God’s revelation of himself.”
(5) We need both natural and special
revelation in interpreting Scripture. Languages,
culture, things that are outside Scripture are necessary to interpret
Scripture. Theology must essentially be
a study of Scripture.
Charles Hodge said that theology “is the exhibition of the
facts of Scripture in their proper order and relation, with the principles or general
truths involved in the facts themselves, which pervade and harmonize the whole.”
Friedrich Schleiermacher taught that religion or theology
is an analysis of human religious consciousness or feelings (a feeling of
absolute dependence).
Schleiermacher’s view is subjectivist – dealing with human
feeling and
conviction.
Hodge – objectivist dealing with facts of Scripture and
their relation
Hodge is a better definition but not good enough because “aren’t
the facts of Scripture already exhibited in the biblical text itself?
The problem is that seeking a definition of theology needs
to hold continuity with the Scripture but also discontinuity since it is
something different than Scripture. What
is the difference between Scripture and theology?
“the theologian states the facts and truths of Scripture
for the purpose of edification.” (6)
Theology and its definitions should accord with teaching
and preaching in the NT. The word group
didasko, didache, didaskalia refer to the exposition of God’s truth to build
people up. 1 Cor. 14:6, 1 Tim. 1:10; 2
Tim 4:2. Frame writes, “Notice also the
phrase sound doctrine, in which sound is hygianios, “health-giving”, the
purpose of teaching is to bring people to a state of spiritual health.
Theology responds to the needs of people and in their
behavior. Imitation godly people is very
important part of learning. Questions
and queries from academics and mothers, professors and mechanics on the table
with theology.
“The professor or theology at a university or seminary is
no more or less a theologian than the youth minister who seeks to deal with the
doubts of college students, or the father who leads family devotions, or the
person who simply tries to obey Scripture.” (8)
Frame’s definition of theology: Theology is the application of Scripture, by persons, to
every area of life.” (8). Reminiscent
of Abraham Kuyper.
Frame then outlines
some ways theology is done, systematic, historical and practical theology and
how these need to be faithful to Scripture also.
Theological Method- Theology should be Bible-centered, we
must show the biblical basis for a view.
We need auxiliary disciplines, languages, cultureal issues, past
theologians and their works, and creeds and confessions. The kind of theology that Frame argues for is
seen with skepticism and rejected by secular universities and many seminaries
because it only desires to be descripture (this is how history has dealt with
x,y,z) but not normative (this is how the Bible calls you to live)
Frame lays his Reformed background on the table and his
desire to be faithful to Scripture and Reformed doctrine. The failure that many have is following novel
interpretations of Scripture when the truth is often quite obvious.
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