Systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic. Some common systematic categories are as follows.
- Theology – The study of the character and attributes of God
- Bibliology– The study of the bible
- Christology – The study of Jesus Christ
- Pneumatology – The study of the Holy Spirit (pneuma is the Greek word for spirit)
- Soteriology – The study of salvation
- Hamartiology – The study of sin (hamartia is one of the Greek words for sin)
- Anthropology – The study of humanity
- Ecclesiology – The study of the church (ecclesia is the Greek word for assembly or church)
- Angelology – The study of angels and demons
- Eschatology – The study of the end times
Not all systematic theologies are created equal. Some do more work with church history versus the text of Scripture; others strive for readability over an academic tone; some are reformed while others lean dispensational; etc. Here is a good survey of ten commonly used systematic theologies.
If I were only allowed a single systematic theology in my library, it would be Wayne Grudem’s. Grudem’s work brings doctrinal precision with a great pastoral touch. Good news! You can download a free copy here.