ectypal.net

One begins with the traditional views inherited (preunderstanding) from the chosen theological community (such as Methodist, Reformed, Anabaptist, charismatic). Then the theologian traces a particular issue (such as atonement or eschatology) through Scripture inductively, determining which passages speak to the issue. At this stage exegetical study searches for the exact nuances in each passage that addresses the doctrine and begins to organize the passages in order to determine which aspect of the doctrine each passage teaches...Next the theologian traces the issue through church history to see how it was developed to meet different needs in different eras. This tells how the doctrine was contextualized in the past and provides invaluable positive as well as negative clues for the recontextualization of the doctrine for our own time.