Systematic theology

Christian Alexander

I have read a few  different systematic theology textbooks. I read Grudem, Erickson, Towns, and Horton. My question is should I begin to read more advanced works dealing with one doctrine at a time or read some older systematic theology books. What do you all think? 

Joseph Turner

The point of a textbook is to orient the student to the subject matter, so yes, if you want to know more about the particular doctrine, you should read books just on that doctrine.  The bibliographies in the textbooks would be a good place to start searching.

Hamilton Ramos

Hi Christian:

Not an expert, but it depends on what your goal is:

in general there are 3 main tasks in theology: (from basic mobile ed course on theology):

1 evaluate doctrine

2 develop doctrine

3 communicate doctrine

If one wants to evaluate, it is helpful to see how the doctrine has historically changed / developed, contrast such change with the philosophical spirit of that age in particular, and see if something is amiss.

https://www.logos.com/product/26732/historical-theology-an-introduction-to-christian-doctrine

If you want to develop doctrine (as in a new modern area that doctrine is not yet fully developed), then you can study special cases where doctrine has been developed for specific reasons (eg slavery).

https://www.logos.com/product/7793/beyond-the-bible-moving-from-scripture-to-theology

Then to communicate doctrine, it would be good idea to see what different groups have faithfully defended as their received truth, and see how that relates to other groups view, technically you could try to synthesize key truths from different groups to come at a more rounded understanding of the faith, so your message can be contextualized to the target audience you are facing.

hope the above sparks your mind to see which way you feel called to go.

David Taylor, Jr.

Christian Alexander said:

I have read a few  different systematic theology textbooks. I read Grudem, Erickson, Towns, and Horton. My question is should I begin to read more advanced works dealing with one doctrine at a time or read some older systematic theology books. What do you all think? 

Pick a doctrine and start studying in depth.

Mattillo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1199552#Comment_1199552

This may be of interest

https://www.logos.com/product/178454/foundations-of-evangelical-theology-series 

Veli Voipio

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1199559#Comment_1199559

This is fairly new and appreciated some whom I know, aiming to global view:

https://www.logos.com/product/151571/karkkainens-global-introductions-to-systematic-theology-2nd-ed 

I haven't read it myself, I am focusing on the exegesis, but might read some day.