These are the very first paragraphs of Charles Hodge’s introduction for his magna opus “Systematic Theology”.
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I:
ON METHOD§ 1. Theology a Science
In every science there are two factors: facts and ideas; or, facts and the mind. Science is more than knowledge. Knowledge is the persuasion of what is true on adequate evidence. But the facts of astronomy, chemistry, or history do not constitute the science of those departments of knowledge. Nor does the mere orderly
arrangement of facts amount to science. Historical facts arranged in chronological order, are mere annals. The philosophy of history supposes those facts to be understood in their causal relations. In every department the man of science is assumed to understand the laws by which the facts of experience are determined; so that he not only knows the past, but can predict the future. The astronomer can foretell the relative position of the heavenly bodies for centuries to
come. The chemist can tell with certainty what will be the effect of certain chemical combinations. If, therefore, theology be a science, it must include something more than a mere knowledge of facts. It must embrace an exhibition of the internal relation of those facts, one to another, and each to all. It must be able to show that if one be admitted, others cannot be denied.
“Facts and mind”, says Hodge, these two are the ingredients of science, and, “More than knowledge”! These are very profound truths when considering the Christian faith. How often has one heard one say, “The death, burial, and resurrection, that’s all I know. Christ and Him crucified. He died for my sins and now I’m forgiven.”, and that is all that one has to say about the Christian faith? Those are facts, but what do they mean? Is it good enough to know some facts, but be completely ignorant as to their significance? I suppose it is akin to someone who is studying anatomy; say this person has a most excellent knowledge of every aspect of the human anatomy, they are able to identify everything, and very accurately. Does this qualify this person to be a surgeon? Would you want someone to perform an operation on your internal organs who can tell you everything about a spleen, and an appendix, and a gallbladder, but have no idea how one relates to the other? It might sound absurd, but how many Christians are just like this student of anatomy? They can tell you about the virgin birth of Christ, His baptism by John, His calling of His apostles, His miracles, His parables, His death, burial, and resurrection; but when you ask that same person what it all means they go silent, or say something like, “Isn’t it wonderful? Just believe and you will be saved.” Then you might ask them “Saved from what?”, and the foggy answers continue on and on. Systematic theology is the way that a Christian understands the facts of Scripture.
We know this is a fact because it is the very way that the Lord Himself taught. So many times did the Lord expound an Old Testament Scripture as pointing to Himself. He literally would say, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”(Luke 4:21) Read Luke chapter 24 and notice how the disciples on the road to Emmaus were discussing and reasoning with each other about the crucifixion of the Lord, they were down and depressed about the whole ordeal. Then Jesus Christ, unknown to the disciples, asked them about what they were going on about. Then the one named Cleopas proceeded to tell the Lord all the facts as he understood them, how the chief priests put Christ to death, and how they believed Him to be the redeemer of Israel, but it now seems as though it wasn’t meant to be; they even went on about the empty tomb and how an angel told the women on that morning that Jesus of Nazareth was alive. Do you remember what the Lord said to these two men after they conveyed these facts to Him? He said, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”(vs 25-26), and then, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”(vs. 27) These two men had facts that they did not understand, the Lord then took these facts and using the light of God’s revealed word, He showed these men what those facts mean. And this is the method by which we understand Scripture, this is the science that we know as theology.
The next paragraph of Mr. Hodges introduction states:
The Bible is no more a system of theology, than nature is a system of chemistry or of mechanics. We find in nature the facts which the chemist or the mechanical philosopher has to examine, and from them to ascertain the laws by which they are determined. So the Bible contains the truths which the theologian has to collect, authenticate, arrange, and exhibit in their internal relation to each
other. This constitutes the difference between biblical and systematic theology. The office of the former is to ascertain and state the facts of Scripture. The office of the latter is to take those facts, determine their relation to each other and to other cognate truths, as well as to vindicate them and show their harmony and consistency. This is not an easy task, or one of slight importance.
Indeed, this is not an easy task, it is a task that can only be accomplished by the power and the aid of the Holy Spirit, and whenever anything of the word of God is concerned it is never of slight importance. One need only look as far as the epistles of the apostles to the early Christians to see the paramount importance of being able to state the facts of the truth and then to expound the relation of those facts to each other “and to other cognate truths, as well as to vindicate them and show their harmony and consistency.” These epistles are the perfect template for the preacher, teacher, and theologian. Though their styles of exposition are unique to their own personalities, the methods of the apostles are nearly identical. There is a general statement, followed by particulars, and there is an over arching argument of which they build upon with propositions, reasons, and evidence; with the evidence being the word of God. And all of this is what we know as theology, the study of God.
Here’s a link to a PDF of Charles Hodge’s “Systematic Theology”
Holy Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice for Christian people.
Scripture Alone 