Dr. Pothana's Teaching

2. Offering Online Course on “Systematic Theology”

3. A SURVEY OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
JUNE, 2020
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will provide an overview of each of the primary elements of systematic theology
— the organization of Scripture’s teaching about the various truths about God and His
works. Not only will you gain a framework for putting together the various Biblical teachings
about God, but emphasis will also be placed on the applicational value of these truths — why
knowing more about God is conducive to enjoying God today.
BOOK(S):
V Ryrie, Charles C. A Survey of Bible Doctrine. Chicago: Moody Press, 1972.
V Enns, Paul. Moody Handbook of Theology. Revised. Chicago: Moody Press, 2008.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE:
Date Topic Reading
June 1 Bibliology: Why is the Bible So Important? pp. 36-50
June 2 Theology Proper: What is God Like? pp. 11-35
June 3 Theology Proper: What Does God Do? pp. 11-35
June 4 Christology: Who is Jesus Christ? pp. 51-68
June 5 Pneumatology: What Does the Holy Spirit Do? pp. 67-88
June 6 Angelology: Angels Good and Bad — Who are They? pp. 89-99
June 7 Anthropology: What is Man Like? pp. 100-14
June 8 Hamartiology: Is Sin Really So Bad? pp. 100-14
June 9 Soteriology: How are Men Saved? pp. 115-39
June 10 Ecclessiology: What in the World Does the Church Do? pp. 140-58
June 11 Eschatology: How Does It All End? pp. 159-84
June 12 Summary: What Did We Forget?

4. WHY STUDYING THEOLOGY IS IMPORTANT
S It is the means to a COMPREHENSIVE framework and understanding of God and His Word.
S God has COMMANDED us to pursue a rigorous understanding of Him, as His multiple
exhortations to teach, keep and protect sound theology demonstrate (1 Tim. 4:6, 13-16;
6:3-5; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:1-4; Titus 1:9-11; 2:1, 7, 10; cf. also Rom. 16:17; Col. 1:28; 2 Jn.
8-11).
S Everyone lives his THEOLOGY. What we believe informs and motivates what we do
(which is why what we do reveals far more about what we truly believe than what we
say). Said another way, “weak and unstable theology leads to unstable living” (cf. Eph.
4:14; 2 Jn. 8-11).
“All theology is also spirituality, in the sense that it has an influence, good or bad, positive or
negative, on its recipients’relationship or lack of relationship to God. If our theology does not
quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both; if it does not encourage the
commitment offaith, it reinforces the detachment of unbelief; if it fails to promote humility, it
inevitably feeds pride.” [J. I. Packer]
WHAT DOES “SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY” MEAN?
Systematic theology is the ORGANIZED, HARMONIOUS, arrangement of all known truth about God
and His works — based fundamentally and primarily on SCRIPTURE — so that the understanding
of Him is both COMPREHENSIVE and TRANSFORMING.