His Story

"Man is in his actions and practice, as well as in his fictions, essentially a story-telling animal." - Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue

I've been attending The Living Word 2010 and the teaching by Rikk Watts is excellent. One thing which I have been reminded of is that without story, there is no personhood. God is a personal God and He reveals Himself in history - His story!

Scripture is all about concrete historical stories, not abstract philosophical ideas. Between biblical and systematic theology, biblical theology is the unpacking of the biblical narrative, the storyline of the Bible. Systematic theology is really philosophy. So Calvinism, Arminianism, Molinism and many other "isms" (with the possible exception of baptism...) are secondary issues. The primary issues are the matters of first importance.

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)

Incidentally, history was my favourite subject in secondary school and junior college, and philosophy was my favourite subject at university. I believe there is a place for both biblical and systematic theology, but it would be wise to devote more attention to the former than the latter.

"In a postmodern world, it is important to keep saying that we are not saved by ideas, not even biblical ideas, but by the Jesus whom God sent to the cross on our behalf." - D. A. Carson, Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology

Link: Beginning with Moses (4 Sep 10)