II. Source of Dogmatics is Scripture

Scripture Only — Deuteronomy 4:2

Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of LORD your God that I give you.

Method of Presentation

Must be in harmony with scripture:

Loci — Synthetic or Analytic — Federal (Covenants: Works before the Fall, Grace after: Stage of Conscience till Moses, of Law till Christ, of Full Grace till end) — Historical/Expository — Causal — Outline of A.C.

Causal in Classical Philosophy

Causa Materialis: The wood

Causa Formalis: The design of the chair

Causa Efficiens: The carpenter

Causa Finalis: The purpose of a place to sit

Loci

An article of faith, a truth or doctrine revealed by God in the Holy Scriptures to be received in faith.

Dogmatics as handmaiden to Scripture

The system cannot dominate to the point of choking off God’s word.

Reasons for Systematic Theology

1) weakness of the human mind

2) Need to draw on all Scripture to apply to a point

3) The Bible writers themselves use systems (Matthew, Paul, Hebrews)

BEWARE: Gospel Reductionism of Carl Braaten

“The ultimate authority of Christian theology is not the biblical canon as such, but the gospel of Jesus Christ to which the Scriptures bear witness – the canon within the canon.”

The source of dogmatics is NOT…

…pope (individual)…Church Councils…tradition…new revelations.

Pages 7 & 8