Bible Quote by Henry Clarence Thiessen
“The Bible is to the theologian what nature is to the scientist, a body of unorganized, or only partly organized facts. God has not seen fit to write the Bible in the form of a systematic theology; it remains for us, therefore, to gather together the scattered facts and to build them up into a logical system.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Role of Scripture in Theology, 1930s, academic journal
He argues that the Bible is a collection of raw facts, not a systematic theology, urging scholars to organize its material logically.
In simple terms: The Bible is a set of facts, not a finished system.
Key Takeaway
Build a coherent theological framework from biblical data.
Themes
theology
methodology
science
interpretation
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- seminary teaching
- personal study
Key Concepts
Systematic theology
data organization
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance faith and systematic study?
- What limits exist in organizing scripture?
A Different Perspective
Risk of treating faith as purely empirical.
