Dr Paul Allen

A few years ago Wayne shared that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and you can read his godly response to this news which he shared on   Desiring God . I’ve long recommended Wayne’s books on theology, and cannot emphasize enough the importance of learning systematic theology. Based on conversations I’ve had, I fear that many believers in churches today understand very little Bible doctrine. I want to encourage you to discover the joy of learning. I recommend not only Wayne Grudem’s large  Systematic Theology , but also his abridged  Bible Doctrine . This article from him is a great introduction to what systematic theology is, and why it matters. — Randy Alcorn What’s Systematic Theology and Why Bother? By Wayne Grudem Systematic theology means answering the question: “What does the whole Bible say to us today about any given topic?” It means searching the Bible to find all the verses pertaining to a given topic of study. Then, we put all the verse...

A reader asked, “What is the value of systematic theology? Isn’t there a risk of misinterpretation because of trying to process all of God’s Word through a system rather than letting it speak for itself?” I think it’s impossible to teach theology without teaching worldview and impossible to teach worldview without teaching theology, and in particular, systematic theology. A doctrine is a teaching that summarizes biblical truth. Hence the “view” in worldview amounts to a doctrinal lens, a belief system through which you see the world. It applies to everything from money to sex to abortion. There is a theology of Heaven and work and nearly everything else. It’s “what God has to say about this subject in His Word.” It requires that we examine the whole counsel of God, the larger picture, lest we leave out something vital that is not recorded in Titus or Hebrews or Joshua or Proverbs (or whatever book may partially address a given issue). Ours shouldn’t be just a view based on a single pas...

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” ( Hebrews 5:13-14 ) The Scriptures are compared in these verses to our daily food—milk and meat. Milk is the necessary food for babies ( 1 Peter 2:2 ), but it becomes grotesque when a baby continues year after year as a baby, still incapable of partaking of anything but milk. This was the case with the Corinthian Christians who were, according to Paul, “babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it” ( 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 ). It was also true for these Hebrew Christians: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again . . . the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” ( Hebrews 5:12 ). Sad...