Systematic Theology Resources

Adventures in Public Systematic Theology

with Ted Peters

Videos, Books, Patheos Posts, and More

Systematic theology explicates, appropriates, and speculates on what the Bible says. And more. We rely on our systematic theologians to ask and answer the basic Hermeneutical Question.

How can the Christian faith, first experienced and symbolically articulated in an ancient culture now long out-of-date, speak meaningfully to human existence today as we experience it amid a worldview dominated by natural science, secular self-understanding, and the worldwide cry for freedom?

In light of this question, systematic theology explicates the content of Christian belief, often by expanding the trinitarian structure found in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.

The content of the three creedal articles is normally termed doctrine. Sometimes dogma. This doctrinal or dogmatic content sits in the middle, usually preceded by a section on methodology and followed by a discussion of ethics. The section on methodology consists of a prolegomenon that is occasionally called “foundations” or “fundamental theology” or even “philosophical theology.”

The discussion of ethics, which sometimes appears in a work separate from the systematic theology itself, attempts to discern what conduct should flow from doctrinal belief.

Constructive Theology is a new term for collections of doctrinal theology that honors and respects the perspectives of previously marginalized voices: indigenous, Black, Hispanic, Asian, Queer, and feminist. This brand of constructive theology does not seek coherence between doctrines. Rather, it seeks to protect context-specific perspectives intact. Classical systematic theologians, in contrast, seek internal coherence along with applicability, universality, and logic.

Books?

Regarding systematic theology resources, here are some reliable works I return to again and again plus my own contribution.

Michael Agerbo Morch, Systematic Theology as Rationally Justified Public Discourse about God. (Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 2023).

Katherine Sonderegger, Systematic Theology (Fortress 2020-2022).

Francis Schüssler Fiorenza and John P. Galvin, eds., Systematic Theology: Roman Catholic Perspectives (Fortress, 2^nd ed., 2011)

Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics (T.& T. Clark, 1936-1962)

Paul Tillich, Systematic Theology (University of Chicago 1951-1963)

Wolfhart Pannenberg, Systematic Theology (Eerdmans 1991-1998)

Kalistos Ware, The Orthodox Way (St. Vladimir’s, Rev. Ed., 2011)

Ted Peters, God—The World’s Future: Systematic Theology for a Postmodern Era (Fortress, 3^rd ed., 2015)

Now, let’s turn to my own work in Public Systematic Theology that could be of interest.

Ted’s books on public Systematic Theology

Ted’s Videos on public Systematic Theology

Patheos  Systematic Theology Resources

Roger E. Olson, “But does systematic theology matter?“

Roger E. Olson, “A Really Good REFORMED Systematic Theology“

Roger E. Olson, “A First Real Pentecostal Systematic Theology“

Jordan Cooper, “A Guide to Lutheran Systematic Theology Texts“

Kyle Roberts, “Beyond the Binaries…Sarah Coakley’s New Systematic Theology“

Nijay Gupta, “Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen…Christian Theologians to Read and Follow“

Jack Wellman, “What is Systematic Theology?“

Systematic Theology Resources: “What is…?” Series

Picture of God

What is the Trinity?

What is creation?

What is Theological Methodology?

What is the gospel?

What is Justification by Faith?

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

What is Blasphemy?

What is Public Systematic Theology? Part One

What is Public Systematic Theology? Part Two

What is Public Systematic Theology? Part Three

Contextual Theology at the Vatican. Really?

ST 2023 Pope Francis vs Jesus as the Only Way, Part 1

ST 2024 Pope Francis vs Jesus as the Only Way, Part 2

ST  2025 What is Comparative Theology?

Trinity Series

ST 2017 What is the Trinity? Trinity Part 1

ST 2018 What is Rahner’s Rule? Trinity Part 2

ST 2019 Islam on the Trinity? Trinity Part 3

Miracle Series

How to see a miracle? Miracles 1

Two Healing Miracles for Sainthood. Miracles 2

Hume on Miracles. Miracles 3

Is Special Divine Action miraculous? Miracles 4

Jesus’ Nature Miracles. Miracles 5

Is resurrection the ultimate miracle? Miracles 6

The proleptic power of new creation. Miracles 7

Paul Lange on Praying for a Miracle. Miracles 8

Robert John Russell on Hume. Miracles 9

C.S. Lewis on Miracles. Miracles 10

Sin Series

SIN 1 Sin? Really?

SIN 2 Self-Justification

SIN 3 The Visible Scapegoat

SIN 4 The Invisible Scapegoat

SIN 5 Sin Boldly!

SIN 6 Sin and Grace

SIN 7 The true story of Satanic Panic

SIN 8 How can Satan cast out Satan?

SIN 9 Ted’s Tips on Satan and Demons

SIN 11 Sin-Talk and Grace-Talk

SIN 12 This was a disgrace!

SIN 13 Trump, Unity, and the Scapegoat

How does Jesus save? Part Seven: Final Scapegoat

ST 2164. SIN 14 Justice and Justification

ST 2165. SIN 15 Evil

ST 2166. SIN 16. A Girardian Religion of Grace?

Atonement Series

How does Jesus save? Part One

How does Jesus save? Part Two Teacher & Moral Influence

How does Jesus save? Part Three Christus Victor

How does Jesus save? Part Four Satisfaction

How does Jesus save? Part Five Penal Substitution

How does Jesus save? Part Six Happy Exchange

How does Jesus save? Part Seven Final Scapegoat

Easter’s Cosmic Meaning

Afterlife Series

Afterlife Resources: What Are the Options?

Afterlife Videos

    Models of Body, Soul, and Spirit

    Eschatology

Afterlife Patheos Posts

1. 1. The Denial of Death
   2. Naturalism: When yer dead yer dead!
   3. Astral Body? Ka? Or Angel?
   4. Third Day Afterlife
   5. Immortal Soul
   6. Reincarnation
   7. Near Death Experiences
   8. Communication with the Dead
   9. Absorption into the Mystical Infinite
   10. Resurrection of the Body
   11. Heaven
   12. Hell
   13. Purgatory
   14. Universalism, Grace, and Hellfire
   15. Predestination and Destination
   16. What happens after we die?

ST 1: Systematic Theology Resources

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Ted Peters (Ph.D., University of Chicago) is a public theologian directing traffic at the intersection of science, religion, and ethics. Peters is an emeritus professor at the Graduate Theological Union, where he co-edits the journal, Theology and Science, on behalf of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, in Berkeley, California, USA. He recently co-edited Astrobiology: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy (Scrivener 2021) as well as Astrotheology: Science and Theology Meet Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Cascade 2018). He also co-edited Religious Transhumanism and Its Critics (Lexington 2022) and The CRISPR Revolution in Science, Ethics, and Religion (Praeger 2023). Peters is author of Playing God: Genetic Determinism and Human Freedom (Routledge, 2^nd ed, 2002) and The Stem Cell Debate (Fortress 2007). See his blogsite [https://www.patheos.com/blogs/publictheology/] and his website [TedsTimelyTake.com].

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