Big's Doctrines, 10p, 1999, 1 - METHODOLOGY

2012-3-13 06:59

APRIL,1999 CHAPTER IMETHODOLOGY         LITERALINTERPRETATION  Literal interpretation is agrammatical-historical method to approach a text in the Bible. Itlooks for the original meaning of the author according to both thecustomary usage of its language and the historical contexts inculture, literature and theology.         PROGRESSOF REVELAION  The progress of revelation is the belief that Godgradually reveals his redemptive plan of mankind through history.Hence, the writers of early revelation did not have in mind the laterrevelation, and the later revelation is based on and consistent withthe early revelation. A section of the Bible should be understoodfirst in its own context before other revelation is brought together.Though the prophecies in the Old Testament may be fulfilled in theNew Testament, the New Testament theology cannot be interpreted bythe Old Testament theology.         BIBLICALTHEOLOGY  Biblical Theology is to base its study only on thehistorical context (history, society, culture, and politics),theological thoughts (God, man, blessings, sin, and redemption),terminology, literature (languages, meanings, structure, andcompilation) within the Bible. The Bible is the only source toformulate a world view. It emphasizes the perspectives of biblicalwriters, and the distinctions in the text.         SYSTEMATICTHEOLOGY  Systematic theology is an organized discipline topresent the coherent, topical and logical structure of the truth ofGod. It states Christian faith in contemporary idioms and livingissues, and to be validated in the contemporary philosophical andcultural environment or by any human source. It is a world view whichis founded on the Bible, serves as the validating filter of diverseextra-biblical sources, and emphasize contemporary application ofbiblical principles.         BIBICALAND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY  Biblical theology is to expose the truthin the Bible, and systematic theology is to Harmonize the results ofbiblical theology into a world view and then apply them in today'slife. The former is the foundation of the latter, and the latter isthe application of the former.         ADISPENSATIONAL APPROACH  The dispensational approach amphasizesconsistent application of literal interpretation, distinction betweenIsrael and the Church, and doxological purpose of God. Though it mayadopt literal or allegorical interpretation, the nondispensationalapproach interprets the Old Testament text on basis of the theologydrawn out of the New Testament text, tends to weaken thediscontinuity of Israel and die Church, and places the individualsalvation as the focus of God's plan. Thedispensational approach to the Bible is to formulate a theology fromthe Old Testament based upon literal interpretation of the OldTestament text, and then formulate a theology from the New Testamentbased upon literal interpretation of the New Testament text and thebiblical theology of the Old Testament. Nevertheless, thenondispensational approach is to formulate a biblical theology of theNew Testament, and then formulate a biblical theology of the OldTestament based upon the New Testament understanding of the OldTestament.         PRESUPPOSITIONALISM Evidentialism and presuppositionalism are two Christian apologeticapproaches. Evidentialism is a scientific-inductiveempirical-historical verification. It searches for the objectiveevidence outside of the Bible to prove a belief drawn out of theBible. Presuppositionalism takes the teachings in the Bible forgranted. It emphasizes that subjective faith to God is the key toapproach a belief of the truth. Evidentialism does not authorize theBible but authenticate, but presuppositionalism emphasizes the divineauthority of the Bible. Though evidentialism authenticates the eventsin the Bible, it ignores the fact of the human finite understandingand divine supernatural power, and raises the issues ofinterpretation and discovery of relevant evidence.