Ahh. There is nothing like sitting curled up on your bed on a chilly April morning, wrapped in a blanket, watching the sun rise…and reading systematic theology. You think I jest? It’s good stuff. A good sys theo book will have you spending most of your time in the Scripture yes, but we were not meant to sit isolated with our Bible and form our theology alone. Our faith is that of a community of mutually accountably followers of the Way. Let’s learn from each other.
Charles Ryrie writes:
Theology is for everyone. Indeed, everyone needs to be a theologian. In reality, everyone is a theologian–of one sort of another. And therein lies the problem. There is nothing wrong with being an amateur theologian or a professional theologian, but there is everything wrong about being an ignorant or sloppy theologian. Therefore, everyone should read theology.
Ahh yes, the yellow book with a tree on the cover…Ryrie’s Basic Theology. It’s a good book, but Dr. Ryrie seems to assume that the reader will agree with him, so doesn’t go into much elaboration in defending his position above others. It’s good nonetheless.
Although I haven’t read more than a few blips of it, I recieved many recommendations from professors who thought that Wayne Grudem’s book is a more comprehensive study in theology.
Is is chilly where you live? I live in Georgia so it’s rather hot here now!!
~Allison
This is so funny that you would post that today because…this morning I was curled up on my bed, in a blanket ALSO reading systematic theology! Great minds think alike, eh?! However…my theology book isn’t great…the author is not a very good writer at all…maybe I’ll try your book!
My dad has been leading our family in a study of systematic theology for about a year now… it’s so helpful to understand WHY I believe what I do!
I don’t mean to sound stupid or anything, but can someone tell me what systematic theology is?
~Allison
the study of Christian theology organized thematically (as opposed to historically, as in Historical Theology or Biblical Theology) — From Wikipedia
Systematic theology attempts to unite various doctrines — eschatology, soteriology, etc. — under a single system of thought or Biblical interpretation (such as Catholic versus Protestant, Reformed versus Dispensational, or Baptist versus Pentacostal).
Not stupid at all, Allison.
I see someone already gave you a definition. I would add to it that sys theo seeks to study everything the Bible says on a topic–e.g. The Holy Spirit. It “systematizes” all the Bible’s teaching on a subject. And a sys theo book does that for every part of theology–all in one (often very large) book. 
Thank you so much anonymous and Natalie! That helped a lot, and it sounds rather interesting:).
~Allison
What a great reminder, Natalie! I get confused sometimes in thinking it’s almost wrong to read a book to help, instead of the bible alone. I know that sounds silly written down (how can help hurt?!) but sometimes I think that! It’s almost as if I feel I’m not spending as devoted quiet time when I have a book to help out. I think I over complicate things sometimes!
Yeah. I agree with you anonymous. I used to feel like that too. I like using “help books” because they give you deeper insight into what you’re reading, and may even help you understand what you’re reading.
~Allison