Snapshot of Systematic Theology
by
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‘Part I’ of Systematic Theology is one of three parts, as seen on figure 1 and it covers various aspects that validates the existence of the Holy Trinity. Notice the relevant size of the annotation on figure 1 emphasizes the greatness of God in comparison. Each part in turn has related sections that also have corresponding numbers on figure 1. Section 1 for example titled “Prolegomena” is the introduction to Systematic Theology and the first of five sections in part I. In addition, each section has several related chapters. The purpose of figure 1 is to give the reader a chronological snapshot view that spans all of God’s revealed creations, as well as an overview of the covered material in this study.
Part I is the exploration of just who God “The Holy Trinity” is, through the only proven reliable source, the Bible. Presented evidence substantiates the Bible as “Earth’s” only trustworthy source for such information. Acceptance of this fact, also solidify reason enough to have confidence to examine the “Godhead,” which is defined as ‘the divine nature or essence of God.’ In addition, acceptance extends to all the complexities of a “Godhead” concept and yet hold that there is but ‘one’ God.
There is beauty in understanding this complexity, as it is, within the Godhead, rather than attempting to simplify it. There is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each of whom shares the same divine nature. Each member will distinctly speak, surprisingly in both the Old and New Testaments. Refuted are assumptions that the Bible was the work of men, through the persistent harmony of the Scripture. With this harmony comes an avid doctrine that expresses the oneness of God and the plurality of the Godhead, from Genesis to Revelation. This apparent paradox is the greatest of many, unapologetically stated, and yet ardently defended.
Those blessed to grow up attending Sunday school perhaps had demonstrated the beauty of the Godhead from asking or hearing the question asked, “Where did God come from?” Perhaps only to receive a bewildering answer like, “He always was!” Which may have resulted in years of the occasional pondering the question, “How could that be?” Especially since, it seemed so apparent that He would have been the loneliest of all that has ever existed, if He was alone, period! The blessing is finally having a biblical explanation of the Godhead, either early in life or later, which if it is properly explained; and hopefully this work will; it is both pleasing and plausible. The Bible teaches that God has never needed anyone or anything, thus the oneness of the Godhead is giving credence.
God defends Himself, not by saying ‘just trust me,’ but He give more than enough evidence; to the extent that one cannot help but notice that an infinite God is trying to explain Himself to finite men. The fact that the Bible has been the number one best seller, by far, for so long, they omit it from consideration on the annual best booksellers list, speaks volumes to this books’ inexhaustibility. Though men achieve master degrees, no one can truly claim they have absolutely mastered the Bible, as humbling as that may be. After reading the Bible for oneself, it becomes clear that it did not originate from mere men, although men were instruments in writing it. Probably the most striking evidence is the way the Bible treats its hero’s; in short, pardon the frankness, ‘it airs their dirty lining,’ which no Man does to their hero.
Furthermore, when God Himself was incarnate, the Bible did not sugarcoat His existence on Earth, whether considered good or bad. In fact some of the things Christ did were so politically incorrect; such as, rebuking the religious leaders, who were the leaders of all Jewish societies; His self-assured frankness in teaching, and even some miracles; upset some so badly, then and now, that He is considered an enigma of humanity. In other words a freak of nature (Mat. 12:46-50; Mark 7:27; John 2:4;
The debate over who God is has raged over Millennia’s, yet the Bible is firm and has never needing editing nor has it needed to apologize for anything it has said. What a book! Who need relics (Jeremiah 3:16) like “the Ark of the Covenant” or the original “Ten Commandments” when there are ‘lively’ volumes of what God has said, contained in one book, “The Bible,” all of it!
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About the Book
“Snapshot of Systematic Theology” was built upon a single question from a church member. It is called “Snapshot” because in a single figure the entire spectrum of the Bible is seen. It traces that which God has chosen to reveal from creation to eternity. It is called “Systematic Theology” because it traces the Bible in both a logical and chronological sequence using ten major doctrines revealed in scripture using fourteen major topics.
The book is designed to read like a novel using the initial figure for reference. It is useful as a commentary if one pay attention to the many scriptures quoted and then references them to the reading material. Finally, it may be used for research by everyone, from reading the additional reference material or by scholars familiar with the included Greek and Hebrew languages.
My suggestions is to simply read and enjoy the material by refreshing old knowledge or learning something new, then agree or disagree with it, and save the research for later in depth studies. I suggest reading the book as you would a novel because that was the original intent of the book.
Originally, the idea was to write a quality theological book with less than 100 pages. This idea eluded me because it did not seem scholarly to make statements without scriptural proof. As a result, this short project grew into one that lasted over two years. Therefore for those who want to just breeze through the book without looking into all the “whys and wherefores” feel guilt free to do so as that was the original intent of the book.
About the Author
Gerald D. Redwine is the pastor of
He is an East Texan at heart, as this is the place of his birth and rearing. His first three years of school was at Goldsberry Elementary that closed after desegregation, after which he attended West Rusk ISD (formally
He never lost his