Theology: What is the Point?

Theology has been said to either unite believers or completely divide the Church. Bird (2013) says, “Theology helps us to understand which beliefs matter most, which theological hills we should be willing to die on, and which doctrines can be left to personal liberty” (p. 56). In some Churches and even in the academic fields, theology is looked upon with a frown due to over complicating faith or even God. Moving forward one will understand what theology is, the sources which make up theology, and why theology is necessary.

Theology at its most basic definition is simply the study of God (Bird, 2013; Ferguson & Packer, 2000). A couple of different theology dictionary books say theology is the study of religious faith, practice, and experience especially: the study of God and of God’s relation to the world through God’s divine self-revelation (Grenz, Guretzki, & Nordling, 1999; Merriam-Webster, 2003). Other dictionaries and even Thomas Aquinas say theology is the science of God (Aquinas, n.d.; Cross & Livingstone, 2005). Speaking of theology being a science, Bird (2013) quotes Hodge (2013) and says:

Hodge began his Systematic Theologyby describing theology as a science in a manner similar to astronomy, chemistry, or history. The realm of nature contains facts, and those facts are to be discovered by science. What is true of other sciences is true of theology. The Bible contains facts, ideas, and principles. It is the task of the theologian to collect, authenticate, arrange, and exhibit these facts and to show their relationship to each other. (p. 36)

In addition, there are also different types of theologies. Philosophical theology focuses on how to know God without divine revelation, Biblical theology which focuses on the study of God using Biblical texts, systematic theology combines both philosophical and Biblical teachings to study God, and lastly, dogmatic theology which seeks to discover God through Church teachings (Evans, 2002). 

To study any theology, it takes a lot of discipline, time, and spiritual discernment. If a person undertakes the discipline of going through a systematic theology, they are more than likely to have studied the doctrines of God, Christ, The Holy Spirit, salvation, the Church, angels, demons, man, and eschatology (Grudem, 2004). Any person researching these topics to get a solid understanding of them will have to devote countless hours of time in order to fully grasp the concepts. Each doctrine can be understood by a child but produce a challenge for the most brilliant of minds to fully comprehend. The Holy Spirit is the most crucial aspect in revealing the truths about God’s special revelation since He is the one who helps us understand God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). Discovering the depths of theology is no easy task, but if one undergoes the discipline, time, and spiritual discernment, the rewards of knowing God more personally are worth it.

Scripture

How can one study about the one and only living God? More importantly, how can one have a personal relationship with God? Many theologians offer many different ways one can know God: scripture, tradition, reason, natural revelation, science, preaching, experiences, culture, and historical events (Barth, 1957; Bird, 2013; Highfield, 2008; “Lecture 1,” 2016). The most popular of these being scripture, tradition, and experience. Scripture is the primary source of theology because it is God’s very Words to us (Bird, 2013). There are prophetic Words that God communicate to man, there are written Words that make up the Word of God in writing, and there is the eternal Word, Jesus Christ who became flesh (Bird, 2013). The Westminster Confession of Faith (1996) highlights the supremacy of scripture in theology by saying:

The supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture. (1.10)

One only has to look to Jesus who championed the authority of Scriptures (Luke 24:27; 45; Matthew 5:17), or to Paul who communicated in his epistle that all Scripture is God breathed and useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17) or even Martin Luther who started the reformation with its slogan being Sola Scriptura which means Scripture alone (Highfield, 2008). Scripture is rarely debated as the primary source of theology but often tradition tries to compete for the primary source.

Tradition

What about tradition? The Latin word traditio or tradition in modern day Protestant-Christianity seems to be a bad word at times. To theologians, tradition simply means handing down or handing over (McGrath, 2018). When some Christians hear the word tradition, they perhaps think of legalism, Roman Catholicism, or Church practice that is elevated above Scripture. This is what theologians are not speaking of when they say tradition is perhaps the second most important source for theology. When it comes to tradition, both Bird (2013) and Highfield (2008) agree that tradition is a critical aspect of theology. Bird says, 

Ironically, the mantra of “No creed but Christ, no book but the Bible” is not actually found in the Bible; yet it virtually has canonical status in some churches. They do not seem to realize that the New Testament itself is the written product of a long traditioning process (Luke 1:1–2; 1 Cor 11:23–25), where traditions were passed on in the early church (Rom 6:17; 1 Cor 11:2; 15:1–3; 2 Thess 2:15; 2 Tim 1:13). (p. 64)

Furthermore, when Bird (2013) explains the importance of tradition, he mentions how the Reformers’ did not mean not to use tradition but rather that the Word of God has primary authority over tradition (p. 69).

When Highfield (2008) speaks of tradition concerning theology, he mentions how important tradition is since the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection is rooted in Church tradition (1 Corinthians 15). In addition, Highfield (2008) focuses on the simple fact of how great the Church fathers are regarding the commentary of Scriptures; figures like the apostles, Clement, Ignatius, Papias, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Theophilus, Irenaeus, and the bishops of Jerusalem, Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch all have something to teach us. One example of how tradition was used in the patristic period was to determine what was heresy and what was catholic (McGrath, 2018). Irenaeus battles Gnosticism claiming apostolic tradition, Tertullian defends apostolic tradition, and later Vincent of Lerins establishes a way to combat innovations of Church doctrine known as the Vincentian canon: ecumenicity (being believed everywhere), antiquity (being believed always), and consent (being believed by all people). These early Church fathers show us how crucial tradition was to battle early heresies. 

Finally, Highfield (2008), goes on to say, “Trusting scripture implies that we trust the church to have recognized and protected those writing that preserved apostolic witness uncorrupted (p. 25). Highfield (2008), makes a beautiful point that without tradition, the Church would not have a completed Canon of the Word of God. Christians have to rely both on Scripture and tradition to know God and study theology. Tradition may not be the primary source, but as the evidence shows, it is definitely the runner up.

Experience

One last popular source for theology is experience. Bird (2013) mentions how the word experience is a “slippery term” (p. 72). Highfield (2008) qualifies the term with experience being a source of theology only when using the experiences of the prophets, apostles, and Jesus. Bird (2013) expands the experience realm while in the context of prayer, worship, sacrament, mission, and fellowship. One only has to think of the word grace to know that one will not fully understand or grasp the concept of grace until they actually experience it themselves (Bultmann, 1952). Experience would also be the key word to describe the apostle’s life with Jesus. They were able to experience Christ’s miracles, teachings, power, and worship their Creator in the present. Like any other source, people have abused this source to distort the apostolic tradition preserved in Scripture (Highfield, 2008). People may say they have experienced God in a whole new way during a crusade or church service but how do they know that it was from God? Others may say they feel God speaking to them in a certain way which moved their heart in a certain direction. Feelings, emotions, and experiences are often temporary and are not recurring which is why some theologians reject experience being a true source of theology (Highfield, 2008).

Now, knowing what theology entails of and the sources one has to undertake in order to know God, one may ask the question why? The simplest answer is to bring one closer to Jesus Christ and that we may be drawn into Christlikeness (Bird, 2013). When one devotes their time and energy to study theology, they will be able to defend their faith, be equipped to live in a culture which is not in love with Jesus, they will be able to discern a counterfeit gospel quickly, interpret Scripture correctly, and most importantly be able to communicate the entire unfolding love story of God (Bird, 2013). In the end, the goal of theology is to know God better and more intimately (Ephesians 1:7). Bird (2013) sums it up this way:

Theology should drive believers into a deeper commitment to orthodoxy (“right belief”). Theology ideally equips believers to properly apply their faith in life and ministry as orthopraxy (“right practice”). Finally, theology should also foster godliness and Christlikeness as orthokardia (“right heartedness”). (p. 84)

Theology has a major purpose in the hearts and minds of every single believer who has surrendered their life to Jesus.

Theology is perhaps the most crucial and important way to discover and know God. Theology by definition is the study of God and to do that, one needs to use specific sources to accomplish this goal. Scripture, tradition, and experience are three primary sources that one could know God better through and begin to have a personal relationship with their creator. It is no wonder why The Westminster Larger Catechism (1996) states, “What is the chief end of man?” (Question 1). The answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, which can be accomplished with the study of sound theology.

References

Aquinas, T. (n.d.). Summa theologica. (Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Trans.). London: Burns Oates & Washbourne.

Barth, K. (1957). Church Dogmatics. G. W. Bromiley & T. F. Torrance (Eds.). T. H. L. Parker & J. L. M. Haire (Trans.). Edinburgh: T & T Clark.

Bird, M. F. (2013). Evangelical theology: A Biblical and systematic introduction. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Bultmann R. (1952).Theology of the New Testament(Vol. 1). (K. Grobel, Trans.). London: SCM.

Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (Eds.). (2005). In the Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church(3rd ed. rev.). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.

Evans, C. S. (2002). In Pocket dictionary of apologetics & philosophy of religion. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Ferguson, S. B., & Packer, J. I. (2000). New dictionary of theology(electronic ed.). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Grenz, S., Guretzki, D., & Nordling, C. F. (1999). InPocket dictionary of theological terms. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: An introduction to Biblical doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

Highfield, R. (2008). Great is the Lord: Theology for the praise of God. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing.

Hodge, C. (2013). Systematic theology. In M. F. Bird, Evangelical theology (p. 36). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Lecture 1. (2016). HTH-201: Christian Theology I. Phoenix, AZ: Grand Canyon University.

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.(Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

McGrath, A. E. (2013). Historical theology an introduction to the history of Christian thought. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

The Westminster larger catechism: with scripture proofs. (1996). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The Westminster confession of faith. (1996). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.