Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology: Understanding Their Relationship in the Bible
When Christians study theology, two disciplines often rise to the forefront: systematic theology and biblical theology. Both aim to help us understand the message of the Bible, but they approach the task from different angles. Their relationship is complex, because scholars define them in varied and sometimes conflicting ways. Yet both play crucial roles in how the church reads, teaches, and lives out God’s Word.
This article explores the history, purpose, and distinct features of systematic theology and biblical theology. It also highlights how these disciplines interact, overlap, and together serve the Gospel of Christ.
1. The Challenge of Defining the Disciplines
One of the most difficult aspects of comparing systematic theology and biblical theology is that scholars often disagree about their definitions. Some emphasize different goals, methods, or even authorities. Because of this, there is no single analysis that can capture every perspective.
Still, a helpful starting point is recognizing their shared foundation: both draw authority from the Bible. Exegesis—the careful study of the biblical text—undergirds each discipline. Yet systematic theology and biblical theology diverge in how they organize their findings and how they engage with the church and the world.
2. The Development of Biblical Theology
The phrase biblical theology first appeared in 1607 in a work by W. J. Christmann, which primarily supported Protestant doctrine with proof texts. Later figures, such as P. J. Spener, began distinguishing between biblical reflection and scholastic theology.
By the late eighteenth century, J. P. Gabler famously argued that theology should first be grounded in inductive study of the Bible before systematic conclusions are drawn. While his appeal for close attention to Scripture shaped later study, the unity he envisioned never fully materialized. Instead, biblical theology fragmented into Old Testament theologies, New Testament theologies, and studies of smaller corpora like Pauline or Johannine theology.
In the twentieth century, attempts like the “Biblical Theology Movement” emphasized the “mighty acts of God in history,” but lacked sufficient grounding in careful exegesis. More recent scholarship has revived interest in whole-Bible approaches, with figures such as Brevard Childs stressing canonical unity. Yet diversity of method still abounds.
3. The Distinct Nature of Biblical Theology
At its best, biblical theology is both inductive and historical. It aims to uncover how God’s purposes unfold across the storyline of Scripture. Unlike systematic theology, which is largely topical and logical, biblical theology follows the Bible’s own categories and sequence.
Focus on redemptive history: Biblical theology traces themes such as covenant, kingdom, or temple across the progression of Scripture.
Sensitivity to genre: Narrative, poetry, law, prophecy, and wisdom each contribute distinct theological voices.
Bridge function: Biblical theology mediates between exegesis of individual passages and the larger theological synthesis that systematic theology seeks to provide.
In this way, biblical theology preserves both the diversity and the unity of the Bible. It asks how earlier texts are interpreted and reshaped in later ones, such as how the New Testament uses the Old.
4. The Definition and Purpose of Systematic Theology
Systematic theology, as its name suggests, organizes the teaching of the Bible into a coherent system. Traditionally, it arranges doctrines under categories such as God, Christ, salvation, church, and last things.
Its strengths include clarity, logical order, and cultural engagement. By bringing biblical truth into conversation with philosophy, history, and contemporary issues, systematic theology shapes Christian worldview and discipleship.
Yet it carries dangers. Because it relies on chosen categories and priorities, it can drift into proof-texting or be shaped more by tradition than by Scripture. Its drive for synthesis may also flatten the unique contributions of biblical genres, such as lament or parable.
5. The Distinct Nature of Systematic Theology
Unlike biblical theology, systematic theology is less concerned with the unfolding storyline of Scripture and more with timeless truths. Its method is:
Topical and logical: It arranges doctrines in a rational structure rather than a narrative one.
Culturally engaged: It speaks prophetically into current contexts, often more directly than biblical theology.
Worldview forming: Because it provides a holistic vision, it shapes how Christians interpret reality as a whole.
For this reason, systematic theology functions as a culminating discipline. It draws from biblical theology and exegesis but moves beyond them to articulate doctrine for the church today.
6. The Interplay Between the Two
Though distinct, biblical theology and systematic theology are not rivals. Their relationship is symbiotic:
Biblical theology provides the storyline and categories that safeguard systematic theology from distortion.
Systematic theology offers the worldview framework that disciplines biblical interpretation and protects against fragmented or overly imaginative readings.
The relationship is circular but not vicious. Exegesis informs biblical theology, biblical theology supports systematic theology, and systematic theology in turn sharpens both exegesis and biblical theology.
7. The Question of Unity
One of the most debated issues in biblical theology is whether the Bible truly possesses unity. Some claim the diversity of Scripture makes unity impossible, while others argue for unity grounded in canon, community, or confessional tradition.
From a confessional standpoint, the unity of Scripture arises from the fact that one divine Author stands behind the diverse human authors. The storyline of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation provides coherence.
Systematic theology builds upon this unity, integrating the diverse voices of Scripture into a single vision of God’s character and saving work in Christ.
8. The Centrality of the Gospel
At the heart of both disciplines lies the Gospel. Biblical theology shows how God’s promises develop across the covenants and find fulfillment in Jesus. Systematic theology then articulates the meaning of the Gospel for faith and practice—justification, sanctification, the church, and eternal life.
Together, they remind us that theology is not merely academic. It is about knowing God, trusting his Word, and living under Christ’s kingship. Both biblical theology and systematic theology ultimately serve to build up the church in the truth of the Bible.
9. A Balanced Perspective
Neither discipline should be pursued in isolation. Biblical theology guards us from imposing foreign categories on the text, while systematic theology guards us from endless fragmentation and helps us apply the Bible’s teaching to the modern world.
A faithful theological method requires both. One highlights the progression of God’s plan through history, the other the coherence of God’s truth for today. When united, they equip believers to see the Bible as a unified whole and to proclaim the Gospel with clarity.
