From Exegesis to Theology: How to ensure your theology is firmly rooted in scripture

We all want to have sound doctrine and be faithful in how we practice it.

In order to have sound doctrine though, we need to have a right theology. And because God revealed His will through scripture our theology must be rooted in the word.

But how do we know if we are getting all this right?

In this video I show you 5 stages in a "theological pyramid."

Follow me:

[SundayVibesmusic]

Absolutely brilliant breakdown. Cohesive and easy to comprehend🙏🏽

[paulakahn]

Thank you Dr. Burling! By the way, many pastors have preached exegetically, verse by verse through the Bible in recent years. I can think of far too many to list all their names here. I'm so thankful I was taught like that as a new believer, so I could become familiar in a basic way with all 66 books, and fall in love with God's Word at a young age.
Of course, how long it takes depends on how much you cover at a time, and how in depth. There is great benefit to moving fast enough that you can maintain a big-picture focus. Studying a shorter text in depth is valuable, but only in the context of the whole chapter and book in which it appears. Too many times I've met people confused by a verse, who then find clarity by simply reading in one sitting the book where it's found. Blessings! Keep up the good work!

[tyronneantatico]

THANK YOU SIR!
I am from the Philippines, currently writing my MA Thesis, a Biblical studies student.
I am focusing on the exilic theme in 1 Peter.
I was reminded through this video that I need to put a section on my chapter 3 concerning the historical theology of the exilic theme in 1 Peter. Thank you. Hope to hear from you.
I am building on MBuvi's statement on "the lingering exilic language" in 1 Peter. :-)

[edodt]

I imagine it can sometimes be difficult to know what videos have an influence on people. This one had a strong influence on me. Developing an approach to studying the Bible can be a huge challenge. I began thinking about these things years ago when I started putting together a reading list. I am basically walled in this room by books. I wanted to take a thoughtful approach to consuming all this material and that led to my need for a reading list. But as I began putting together the list, all kinds of questions came up about the logic behind the list, and how to use it, etc. That led to my reading list taking on the logical framework of a syllabus. And really, the whole story just gets more complicated from there.

The way this ended up playing out, Biblical languages moved up from the bottom of the list to the top. It just ends up coming together like that, as you describe in the video. Recently, I also came to the realization that many of the practical challenges I face (aside from the reading list) are a result of my neglect of Biblical theology. What you show here confirms this suspicion. Your explanation in this video put some critical pieces into my thinking on the whole situation.

That moment of realization I had here is after back-tracking through a study of eschatology, which is the least attractive subject in all of theology to me. The point is, the issue with the reading list, and the challenges I have faced with eschatology, all worked together to constantly bringing me back to the issues I was having with the framework you describe here.

A lot of these discussions can be deceptively simple. The first time I saw this video, it only grabbed about 20% of my attention. But then somewhere along the way it just "fell in" on some of the challenges I've been facing with eschatology, covenant theology, and the struggle to get a grasp on the languages. I made a note to come back and watch it again, which I have done a few times now. Even though it is quite fundamental points being made here, they are CRITICAL. Not just in the approach to theology, but the point about "always reforming."

That last point is actually massively encouraging to me. Because on any one of these topics, we don't actually reach a "finish line" at least not as someone like me might have it in my head. I have found it frustrating that I never "finish" any of it. And I'm always revising, revising, revising. The points you make here have a significant impact on my view of that issue, as well. Even though I have heard these things so many times before, it is the way YOU put it all together in such a way that they impacted me.

I could say a great deal more about several points you make here. It is funny how that works; from time to time in life, you will encounter something that just breaks a dam in the mind, and all kinds of things come flooding from behind that wall. These can sometimes be the smallest things.

What is needed for that to happen are faithful servants, who keep working and trying and pushing, and may not often see the results of their labor. I have put together so many lessons half asleep, wondering if it even mattered, doubting that anyone would hear or care or even listen. But, you just NEVER KNOW. These things serve to remind us, this is GOD'S work, not our own.

However, we cannot ignore HOW God does His work, and He uses faithful servants, often in ways that even they cannot see. We should take the time to pull this out onto the table when we can. So that is what I'm doing here: THANK YOU for taking the time to share this lesson; I pray the Lord will bless you and I rejoice in your labor for the Kingdom. You really helped me out a lot here.

[geraldpolmateer]

It is good to hear you addressing the topic. So many have trouble with coming up with theological principles from the passages they study. One who does not understand the ancient Greek and Hebrew cultures are very limited in their understanding of scripture. A church that does not "go" then it is an Old Testament church.

[hopeenglishtutorials]

Hi Dr. Burling. I'm in South Africa, KZN province. It's my first time coming across your powerfully and amazingly resourceful channel. As you speak I realize with much appreciation your sincerity, honesty, fairness, humility, respect of other scholars and institutions (which may be of different views), as well as your dynamic and charismatic way of delivering content (lecture). May the good Lord continue to bless you and your entire team.

[piercewilliams]

Thank you so much. I was wondering if I was on the wrong track focusing too much on languages rather than theological writings and practical application for my life. Now I have a clearer perspective.

[aneforeffort]

I have been having a hard time between different reformed and evangelical pastors because it simply takes a lot of time to exegete properly. To safeguard myself, I try to read the bible and have seen more and more value of reading whole books of it, not just parts I know. This year I will read chronologically which I personally enjoy a lot from the redemptive historical view. Gonna challenge my Greek learning and try to do these 5 steps all in Greek as a yearly goal now!!!

[marcbrule]

I love the comment on cultural syncretism! For Israel it was the surrounding nations. For us it's the prevailing culture. Both are forms of idolatry. This has become the defining line between progressive Christianity and historical Christianity. We so need these theological anchor points!

[thebuzzsaw]

This video was SUPER helpful. I really needed this. PLEASE make more like this!!!

[CarlisleAfrica]

Thank you I recently stumbled onto your channel and I am enjoying it. 👍

[jamesdillavou]

μὴ γένοιτο· γινέσθω δὲ ὁ Θεὸς ἀληθής, πᾶς δὲ ἄνθρωπος ψεύστης, καθάπερ γέγραπται Ὅπως ἂν δικαιωθῇς ἐν τοῖς λόγοις σου καὶ νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε.

[robwagnon]

Sounds like a theological pentagon:) I see the bible as a 10 thousand piece puzzle that fits together to basically Quote, John 17:3; "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."

[jamesdillavou]

σπούδασον σεαυτὸν δόκιμον παραστῆσαι τῷ Θεῷ, ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον, ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας.

[iandacosta]

Do you consider philosophy/logic as part of "Exegesis?" Or do is that an implicit layer below it? If we're honest, no one comes without some, and I don't think it's inherently wrong. It can be a problem though when you're talking with someone and they can't differentiate their own axioms from scripture.

[Occhiodiargento]

Can I recommend John Gill and both his commentary of all the Bible and his Body of Divinity? I think a man how wrote and entire commentarty of all the Bible and after that a Systemathic Theology should be usefull, just saying.

[jamesdillavou]

πάντα δὲ δοκιμάζετε, τὸ καλὸν κατέχετε·

[top]

The First Layer, Brother, is Holy Mother Church. 1 Timothy 3:15. Anything else is false teaching. Question: What did the first Christians do prior to the Canon in the FOURTH Century? Have you read the Church Fathers? If so, where are they in your and Historical Theology? 
Liturgy? Consecrated, Sacerdotal Priesthood, Episcopacy, Papacy? The Seven Sacraments? Blessed Virgin Mary? Communion of the Saints? Prayer for the Dead? Relics? 
Authority? Obedience?
Pax Christi

"The final formation of the wording of the various books did not take place until the third century CE. However, already in the second and first centuries BCE it is possible to distinguish the first traces of the development which ultimately led to a definition of which books were sacred. That is, long before actual canonization took place, the basis of it had been laid."

Mogens Müller, The First Bible of the Church: A Plea for the Septuagint, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series, (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996), 206:25.