What Is Theology?

Why does it matter?

If God exists and has spoken through words (and he does and has!), then we should want to know him. As we learn more about God, our joy in him increases and our passion in singing praises to him intensifies. We also are comforted by his character and all of the promises that he has given us.

What is it?

Theology is not a word that we hear much in our culture today. What does it mean? According to Millard Erickson, the word "theology" refers to the "study of the doctrine of God" (Millard Erickson, Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology, 167). In other words, theology is the study of God. It seeks to answer the questions: who is God? and what is he like? Scholars call this theology proper because it is focused on God.

Theology is the study of God. It seeks to answer the questions: who is God? and what is he like?

Understandably, some avoid theology and seek devotion instead. Others avoid devotion and only pursue theology. We need both! On this issue the ESV Study Bible points out,

"Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy. Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability. But true knowledge of God includes understanding everything from his perspective. Theology is learning to think God's thoughts after him. It is to learn what God loves and hates, and to see, hear, think, and act the way he does" (ESV Study Bible, 2505).

So, theology is about knowing God. But in a more general sense, theology has come to have a broader meaning. It refers to the various disciplines that relate to studying the Bible. And, in that sense of the word, theology helps us obey the Great Commission given to us by Jesus. We are commanded by Jesus in Matthew to teach and obey everything that he commanded (Matt. 28:20). Theology is a way of summarizing what the Bible teaches so we can learn it and obey it.

The following shows some of the different disciplines in the theological world. The ESV Study Bible helpfully refers to these disciplines below as steps in the theological process (ESV Study Bible, 2506).

• Exegetical theology = studying a particular passage of Scripture and extracting the meaning out of it (For example, what does Colossians 1:3-14 mean?).

• Biblical theology = studying the main story of the entire Bible (Some also add studying particular themes of specific book(s) of the writers of Scripture. For example, studying the theme of prayer in the letters from Paul would be biblical theology).

• Systematic theology = studying topics according to the whole Bible (For example, what does the whole Bible teach on prayer, spiritual gifts, baptism, the church, God, etc.?)

• Historical theology = studying how believers in church history have understood those topics (For example, what did Martin Luther teach about baptism?).

• Philosophical theology = studying theological topics primarily apart from the Bible (For example, through philosophy and science).

• Practical theology = studying how to apply those truths to our lives and to the church (For example, what does the Bible say about preaching, singing, praying, etc.)

• Apologetics = studying theology to defend it when it's criticized (For example, how do we respond to atheists' views?)

All theology must be built on Scripture. Or, perhaps more clearly, theology is not about speculation as much as it's about revelation. God has revealed thoughts through words, and we should seek to understand them.

Theology is not about speculation as much as it's about revelation.

And everyone is a theologian! Just because you don't teach at a seminary does not mean that you're not a theologian. Everyone has thoughts about God and everyone communicates those thoughts to others (think parents and children, friends, family members, small groups, etc.). So the question is not whether someone is a theologian, but how biblical the theologian is! Everyone has thoughts about God. The question is: do those thoughts line up with Scripture?

Ultimately, theology should lead us to joy in God. The more we know about him the more joy we will have in him. Think about any other relationship you have. If you don't know anything about the other person, then it's hard to enjoy the relationship. If theology is just about winning an argument or knowing more things, then it's not helpful. Satan and the demons know a lot of things about God (they have good theology), but it doesn't make them joyful. James writes this, "You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!" (James 2:19 ESV). The purpose of learning more about God and the Scriptures is to know him more and find more joy in him. And as we do, we will bring him more glory with our lives!

Application

The key application is that we should learn more about God through the Scriptures!

Where can I learn more?

Bibliography:

- Erickson, Millard. Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1986.

- ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008.

For more information see these resources:

- Allison, Gregg. Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.

- Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994.