A Framework for a more 'biblical-theological' way of doing (systematic) theology?

As you know from the last post, I'm currently ploughing my way through Carson's Gagging of God and I've just finished chapter 5 "What God had spoken: Opening Moves in the Bible's plot-line." It is interesting seeing how Carson presents this chapter where he considers the major turning points of redemptive history of Creation, Fall, Election and History of Israel, and their implications for the Christian worldview and faith.

The thing that strikes me is that Carson might just have shown us a way of doing (systematic) theology that is much more integrally connected with redemptive history or salvation history as revealed in the Bible's plot-line. The usual way in which topics are arranged in systematic theology treatments are doctrine of Revelation and Scripture; God; Man (and Creation); Christ (and the HS); Application of Redemption (sometimes the HS is covered here); Church (and sacraments) and Eschatology. The order of topics are not random, but highlight a certain system of thought. With the influx of post-foundationalism, some have put the doctrine of God first, and revelation and Scripture as something God does - He speaks. Also, in the topics listed above, questions are raised as to whether there is a central topic that should form the 'core', in the sense that this topic has a stronger and more direct bearing on the others. I've earlier offered a suggestion as to what that topic would be. For theologian John Frame, such a 'core' would be the doctrine of God - the Lordship of God.

I want to declare that Carson by no means leaves any impression that such a way of covering theology (systematically) is mistaken or faulty. But rather, it has it's place (see his article on 'biblical theology and systematic theology' in NDBT). And here, I also want to declare that I agree with Carson. But nonetheless, Carson insightfully states:

"[...] the fact remains that the Bible as a whole document tells a story, and properly used, that story can serve as a metanarrative that shapes our grasp of the entire Christian faith." (GOG, 194)

And he goes on to show in the rest of the chapter how this is so (at least for the OT Scriptures first), following the headings of

A. Creation
Salient points include the doctrine of creation as one that presents a "controlled universe" in which God is both creator and sustainer/ruler (p.201), and also 4 implications that arise from the doctrine of creation (p.201-203)
B. Human Beings
Salient points include a teasing out inductively of what is meant by "the image of God" (p.204-205); how human accountability to the Creator God grounds not only the biblical plot-line, but establishes the significance of our actions and our self-identity (p.206-209); our being created in the 'image of God' means we will be endlessly restless in suppressing the truth of God and at the same time is what enables true knowledge of the living God (p.209-211), and finally our relation with nature, having been created in the image of God (p.211-212)
C. Fall
Salient points include how the significance of the Fall in Genesis 3 is most seen by tracing its effect and its interpretation across Scripture (p. 212-216), and how as Christians we must get our understanding of sin right, for that affects how we grasp the solution (p.220-221)
D. God
Salient points include how God is personal (here Carson discusses the Trinity because this is the 'most remarkable feature to the personhood of God' (p.226)) and yet transcendent and sovereign at the same time (p.223-232, 234-237); how God is offended (the wrath of God) (p.232-234), and the providence of God.
E. The Love of God
Salient points include how love is not just something God is capable of doing, but actually is very much a part of his Trinitarian nature (p.239); the need to take into regard nuances and different levels of speaking of God's love (p.239-241); and how talk of the love of God, as precious as it is, must not be separated from his holiness, transcendence, and even the wrath of God (p.241).
F. Some Other Major Movements in the History of Redemption
Here, interestingly, Carson focuses on the Abrahamic account and suggest 6 themes arising from the account - election, covenant, faith and obedience, nation and land, Gentiles, and Family order and social justice (p.242-244). Carson suggests that the same thing can be done for the other major movements of Exodus, giving of law, cultic system, establishment of kings and Davidic dynasty, and the prophetic movement. "But the lessons would be similar", he states (p.245)

At first glance, Carson's presentation seems a bit random and leaves one wondering how this could be a way of presenting theology that is more integrally connected with salvation history. But there is more that meets the eye. Carson is right in saying and having as his premise that to just treat a topic which is raised up within a particular turning point in salvation history and not seeing how that topic is further expounded along salvation history is reductionistic. The danger is that when treatments of particular topics are abstracted from the Bible's plot-line, their true significance and proportion will almost be entirely lost (p.248). This is why he does not hesitate to spell out the implications of the Fall as seen not just from Genesis 3, but more crucially from the rest of the Bible's plot-line (same for his discussion on the wrath of God, or the love of God, or the other attributes of God). This is why Carson also covers the doctrine of the Trinity as part of the personal God in this chapter.

With this in mind, could we suggest that the opening moves in the bible plot-line (and here I'm thinking of Creation and Fall) straightaway introduces us to the key concepts (or doctrines) of God, Man, and the relationship between them? And keeping Carson's premise in mind, we should then take these doctrines, and specifically whatever is raised about them - for e.g. the fact that God is personal, yet sovereign and transcendent; God's wrath and love; or the doctrine of sin and effects of the Fall - and run them through the salvation-history timeline to develop the teaching to it's fullest degree. In this case, the next major turning point - the election of Israel and its history - really becomes the case-in-point for the flashing out of the doctrine under discussion (so for example God's love in this case would be seen in the electing love of Israel), with additional new elements being spelt out (e.g. covenant).

Would such a way present theology in a way that is more integral to the salvation-history plot-line of the Bible?

Hopefully, this initial idea can be further consolidated after reading the next chapter where Carson looks at the 'climatic moves in the Bible's plot-line'.