BUILDING SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
STUDY GUIDE 3.2
Lesson 3: Propositions in Systematics
Section 2: Formation


OUTLINE FOR TAKING NOTES

II. Formation

A. Philosophical Interactions

B. Interpretation of Scripture

  1. Challenges

  2. Factual Reduction

  3. Factual Collation

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What attitude does the New Testament exhibit toward philosophy?

2. What characteristics of the Bible present challenges to systematic theologians? Explain why they are challenges.

3. In the theological task, what is "factual reduction"? Give examples.

4. In the theological task, what is "factual collation"? Explain the difference between "repetitive collation" and "compositional collation." Give examples.


APPLICATION QUESTIONS

1. Before this lesson, what was your attitude toward philosophy? Has it changed because of this lesson? In what way?

2. Why do you think the Bible is not organized in the same way as a textbook on systematic theology? Does this mean that systematic theology is inappropriate? Explain.

3. How do you feel about the theological methods of "factual reduction" and "factual collation"? Do you think they are valid? Do you sometimes use them?