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Recently a pastor said to me that biblical theology should always take priority over systematic theology.
BT and ST compliment one another and one should not be exalted above the other. To sacrifice either is to do the text and its interpretation injustice. One cannot exist without the other. As far as individuals of the Reformed faith not emphasizing BT <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scratch1.gif" alt="" />. It may assist us to understand what ST and BT each teach:

“Systematic theology” is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. This definition indicates that systematic theology involves collecting and understanding all the relevant passages in the Bible on various topics and then summarizing their teachings clearly so that we know what to believe about each topic. … “Biblical theology” has a technical meaning in theological studies. It is the larger category that contains both Old Testament theology and New Testament theology. Biblical theology gives special attention to the teachings of individual authors and sections of Scripture, and to the place of each teaching in the historical development of Scripture (Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology : An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 1994, 21.). Geerhardus Vos, the father of Reformed Biblical Theology, provides the best definition: "Biblical theology is nothing else than the exhibition of the organic progress of supernatural revelation in its historic continuity and multiformity." ("The Idea of Biblical Theology As a Science and As a Theological Disciple," Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation (R. Gaffin, ed.; Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 1980, 15).

Here is a link to BT/ST. Most seminaries today of the Reformed Tradition teach BT and ST. I highly recommend Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos. Of course, WTS Bookstore has several BT volumes.


Reformed and Always Reforming,