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Spiritual
Growth Projects: Systematic Theology Thesis Papers
Introduction
Terms
and Meanings
Instructions
Some
Helpful Resources
A
Few Starter Scriptures
Sample
Thesis Paper
Introduction
A
Systematic Theology Thesis Paper is a comprehensive (though not
necessarily exhaustive) Paper on what the Bible says about a key
subject of theology.
You
will want to write out a
Thesis Paper for each key area of Theology (see the list below).
These Papers should include enough pertinent Scriptures to
clearly teach each area covered. The Bible verses need to be
in context and rightly divided or interpreted using good
basic hermeneutics and exegesis.
To
do a thorough job, plan on taking a year or more to complete
these Papers.
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Terms
and Meanings
Learn
the following names
and meanings of the basic areas of Systematic Theology.
Bibliology:
a study of the Bible
Theology
Proper: a study of God, the Trinity, God the Father, God the
Creator
Christology:
a study of Jesus Christ
Pneumatology:
a study of the Holy Spirit
Angelology:
a study of Angels
Anthropology:
a study of Mankind
Hamartiology:
a study of Sin
Soteriology:
a study of Salvation
Ecclesiology:
a study of the Church
Eschatology:
a study of End Things
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Instructions
1.
Gather important Bible verses that clearly teach about
each area of theology. Look for verses
during your daily Bible reading and times of Bible study. Keep
alert for them during sermons, Sunday School classes, in
conversations, when reading articles and books, and at all
times.
To
begin with, just list the verses one after the other. You will
organize them at a future time.
What
will 'make or break' a truly Systematic Theology is whether or
not you determine to look for God's
truth. You must desire to find out what He says about each area,
and write down and believe exactly what the Bible actually
says.
Study
the verses you gather and meditate upon them. Learn to say with
gentle humbleness, "Scripture says..., so I believe
that."
2.
When you're ready, organize your notes by rearranging the
Scriptures you have gathered in order of importance. Put the
ones that most clearly teach each area of Theology first, with
the rest of the helpful verses following those. This will be
your rough draft.
3.
Using the Scriptures you have gathered and organized,
write a Systematic Theology Thesis Paper. When you are finished,
type it out (or write very neatly) using this format:
I
believe ___________. (_______)
Example:
I
believe that Jesus is God. (Jn 1:1,14)
Always
record the exact Bible verses the doctrine is being based upon.
IMPORTANT:
You must write out only
Scriptures, and never
opinions, to prove all of the doctrines. Use as many verses as
is necessary to clearly present each area.
4.
It is sometimes helpful to see other works of Systematic
Theology (i.e. books from Christian authors), but this is
only after you have
thoroughly studied these areas on
your own first so that you will be better able to discern whether
or not these other works have accurately presented what
Scripture actually says.
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Some
Helpful Resources
God's
Word 'The Bible' (in reliable translations)
'Systematic
Theology'
by Wayne Grudem
'Systematic
Theology'
by Louis Berkhof
'Concise
Theology'
by J. I. Packer
'Moody
Handbook of Theology'
by Moody Press
Other
books
by well-respected authors like John Piper, Arthur Pink, John
Frame, and many others are very helpful to use, as well.
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A Few Starter Scriptures
Find
Scriptures that are pertinent to Systematic Theology. Use the
following to get you started.
Bibliology:
(Inspired) 2 Tim 3:16; (the Holy Spirit moved men to speak) 2 Pt 1:20-21;
(His Word is truth) Jn 17:17b; (living and active) Heb 4:12;
(performs its work in believers) 1 Ths
2:13; (handle accurately) 2 Tim 2:15; (abides forever) 1 Pt 1:25a;
etc.
Theology
Proper: (God exists) Gen 1:1; Heb 11:6; Ps 14:1; (one God) Dt
32:39; Is 45:21; Jn 17:3a; (Trinity) Mt 3:16-17; 2 Cor 13:14;
(Creator) Jer 32:17; etc.
Christology:
(Deity) Jn 1:1-3,14; Col 2:9; (Eternal) Micah 5:2; (Incarnation
/ birth) Mt 1:18-23; (sinlessness) 1 Pt 2:22; (crucifixion -
resurrection) Lk 23:33; 1 Cor 15:3-4; (ascension) Acts 1:9;
(return) Jn 14:3; Lk 21:27; Acts 1:11; etc.
Pneumatology:
(Deity) Acts 5:3-4; (regenerates and renews us) Titus 3:5; (dwells in us) 1 Cor
6:19: (convicts) Jn
16:8-11; (Helper Who teaches us all things) Jn 14:26; (Spirit of
Truth Who guides into all truth) Jn 16:13; (intercedes for us)
Rm 8:26; etc.
Angelology:
(created) Ps 148:5b; (good ones perform God's Word) Ps 103:20;
(good ones are ministering spirits) Heb 1:14; (some are unclean
spirits) Mk 5:13; etc.
Anthropology:
(created) Gen 1:26; (in God's image) Gen 1:27; (mankind sinned)
Gen 3; (appointed to die once...) Heb 9:27; (destiny: eternal
life or eternal destruction / hell) 1 Jn 5:13, 2 Ths 1:9; etc.
Hamartiology:
(sin entered the world) Gen 3;
(sin entered through one man) Rm 5:12,18-19; (all sin) Is 53:6,
Rm 3:23; (consequence of sin is death) Rm 6:23a, Ezk 18:20;
(without shedding of blood no forgiveness of sin) Heb 9:22;
(confession and forgiveness of sin) 1 Jn 1:9; etc.
Soteriology:
(while we were sinners Christ died for us) Rm 5:8; (Jesus, the
propitiation for sin) 1 Jn 4:10; (believe on Jesus) Jn 3:16; (salvation
is by grace through faith and not works) Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; (have
eternal life) 1 Jn 5:13; etc.
Ecclesiology:
(one body, many members) 1 Cor 12:12,27; (Christ is Head of the
Church) Eph 5:23; (members have differing gifting) Eph 4:11-12;
(build up the body) Eph
4:16; etc.
Eschatology:
(Jesus goes to prepare a place for us) Jn 14:1-3; (He will
return) Acts 1:11, Rev 22:12; (believers will put on
immortality) 1 Cor 15; (new heavens and new earth) Rev 21:1-2;
etc.
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Sample
Thesis Paper
PNEUMATOLOGY
(A
Thesis Paper under construction)
I
believe the Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4), the third Person of
the Trinity (Mt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14). He is present
everywhere (omnipresent) (Ps 139:7-12), and all knowing (omniscient) (1
Cor 2:10-11).
I
believe the Holy Spirit is sent to us by Jesus, given from the Father
(Jn 15:26; 1 Ths 4:8). God the
Father gives the Holy Spirit to those that ask for and obey Him
(Lk 11:13; Acts 5:32). Jesus said if we are
thirsty we should come to Him and drink, and believing on Him we
will have rivers of living water (the Holy Spirit) flowing
out of us (Jn 7:37-39). The Holy Spirit regenerates and renews
us (Titus 3:5), and He is given as a pledge of our inheritance
and we are sealed in Him (Eph 1:13-14).
Our bodies are the
temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) because He dwells in
us (Rm 8:11b). He bears witness
with our spirit that we are children of God (Rm 8:16).
I
believe that He is the Spirit of Truth, Who proceeds from the
Father, and bears witness of Jesus (Jn 15:26). He convicts the
world concerning sin (because they do not believe in Jesus);
concerning righteousness (because Jesus goes to the Father);
and concerning judgment (because the ruler of this world has
been judged) (Jn 16:8-11).
I
believe the Spirit of Truth guides us into all the truth (Jn 16:13). He
is the Helper and will teach us all
things (Jn 14:26). He helps our weakness, interceding for us with groanings
too deep for words (Rm
8:26). He strengthens
us with power in our
inner man (Eph 3:16), and produces His fruit
in us (which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) (Gal 5:22-23).
I
believe the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to all
believers (1 Cor 12:1-11) that are to be employed in serving one
another (1 Pt 4:10). We are to be led by the Holy Spirit (Rm
8:14a), putting to death the deeds
of the body by Him (Rm 8:13). We are to be filled
with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18b), and we should be
careful not to grieve or resist Him (Eph
4:30a; Acts 7:51).
I
believe Jesus baptizes us (His followers) with the Holy Spirit, for
the purpose of giving us power to be His witnesses (literally
martyrs – laying down our lives for Him), in our local areas
and throughout the world (Mt 3:11b; Acts 1:4-5,8).
Etc.
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