WHAT IS THEOLOGY?
Theology, in its most general sense, is the science of religion which is (Theos = God; ology means “study of”).
Christian theology involves the following views:
The accurate & reasonable determination, interpretation, & defense of the Scriptures.
The history of the manner in which the doctrinal truths it reveals have been understood.
The practices, duties, privileges, and responsibilities the Scriptures impose that have been performed by all Christians in every age.
Christian theology involves the following views:
The accurate & reasonable determination, interpretation, & defense of the Scriptures.
The history of the manner in which the doctrinal truths it reveals have been understood.
The practices, duties, privileges, and responsibilities the Scriptures impose that have been performed by all Christians in every age.
4 Major Attitudes towardTheology
1.) Believing Attitude: Biblical Systematic Theology is the most important source of truth and goodness, truth for your mind, answers to life’s most important questions, and goodness for your life, moral decision-making, and the cultivation of your identity and personality.
2.) Unbelievers: Biblical and Systematic Theology is the world’s greatest illusion; it is one of the greatest sources of oppression and superstition.
3.) Illusionary: Biblical and Systematic Theology is illusionary, a superstition, a myth. Though it is not truth, it is still a good thing for life and culture because it makes you become a better and happier person and a healthier community.
4.) Indifference: It’s simply not interesting; I don’t really care.
2.) Unbelievers: Biblical and Systematic Theology is the world’s greatest illusion; it is one of the greatest sources of oppression and superstition.
3.) Illusionary: Biblical and Systematic Theology is illusionary, a superstition, a myth. Though it is not truth, it is still a good thing for life and culture because it makes you become a better and happier person and a healthier community.
4.) Indifference: It’s simply not interesting; I don’t really care.
Why is theology so controversial?
People are so passionate about it.
Why people are so passionate about it is because, in part, it is so interesting.
Why are people so interested in it?
Because the questions it claims to answer are so interesting:
What is true?
What is ultimately real?
What is good and evil?
What is right from wrong?
What happens at death?
Where is joy found?
Why people are so passionate about it is because, in part, it is so interesting.
Why are people so interested in it?
Because the questions it claims to answer are so interesting:
What is true?
What is ultimately real?
What is good and evil?
What is right from wrong?
What happens at death?
Where is joy found?
The Point of View Adopted in this Study is as follows:
The inspired Scriptures are the sole, and infallible and accurate standard of all religious knowledge...
Jesus Christ, His Person and Work, is the center which all Christian theology is brought into order...
The salvation brought to light in The Gospel is both supernatural and undeserved (grace)...
God’s plan for the ages is to glorify Himself...
All theological knowledge has a practical goal which is to reflect God’s beauty in daily living intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and volitionally.
Jesus Christ, His Person and Work, is the center which all Christian theology is brought into order...
The salvation brought to light in The Gospel is both supernatural and undeserved (grace)...
God’s plan for the ages is to glorify Himself...
All theological knowledge has a practical goal which is to reflect God’s beauty in daily living intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and volitionally.
The Central Divisions of Theology
Apologetics: Is the rational defense of Christianity. It explains why we believe what we believe.
Exegetical Theology: Is the critical study of the biblical words of Scripture, syntax, and the explanation of their meaning.
Practical Theology: The principles and laws revealed in Scripture for living the Christian life.
Systematic Theology: Embracing the development into an all-embracing and self-consistent system of the contents of the Relation, its explanation, and defense of theological doctrines of God’s Word.
It is the constitution of all the contents of both special and natural theology into propositional statements.
It involves the coherence of those propositional statements into a complete system of faith and duties.
Historical Theology: Is the study of the history of the actual development of theology during all past ages, their representatives, and the practical elements of those truths and teachings both personally and collectively, within and outside of the Church.
Natural Theology: Is the study of theology as revealed in creation, nature, human beings both personally and collectively.
Exegetical Theology: Is the critical study of the biblical words of Scripture, syntax, and the explanation of their meaning.
Practical Theology: The principles and laws revealed in Scripture for living the Christian life.
Systematic Theology: Embracing the development into an all-embracing and self-consistent system of the contents of the Relation, its explanation, and defense of theological doctrines of God’s Word.
It is the constitution of all the contents of both special and natural theology into propositional statements.
It involves the coherence of those propositional statements into a complete system of faith and duties.
Historical Theology: Is the study of the history of the actual development of theology during all past ages, their representatives, and the practical elements of those truths and teachings both personally and collectively, within and outside of the Church.
Natural Theology: Is the study of theology as revealed in creation, nature, human beings both personally and collectively.
Theological Doctrinal Terms
Prolegomena: Preliminary or prefatory remarks
Bibliology: The Study of the Bible
Theology Proper: Existence, perfections, Triune Personality of God, together with His eternal purposes and activities of creation and providence.
Harmartiology: The study of Sin
Christology: The study of Christ
Pneumatology: The study of the Holy Spirit
Angelology: The study of Angels
Satanology: The study of Satan
Demonology: The study of demons
Anthropology: The study of humanity
Soteriology: The study of salvation
Sanctification: The study of Holiness
Israelology: The study of Israel
Ecclesiology: The study of the Church
Eschatology: The study of End-Times
Hermeneutics: The science and art of interpretation
Bibliology: The Study of the Bible
Theology Proper: Existence, perfections, Triune Personality of God, together with His eternal purposes and activities of creation and providence.
Harmartiology: The study of Sin
Christology: The study of Christ
Pneumatology: The study of the Holy Spirit
Angelology: The study of Angels
Satanology: The study of Satan
Demonology: The study of demons
Anthropology: The study of humanity
Soteriology: The study of salvation
Sanctification: The study of Holiness
Israelology: The study of Israel
Ecclesiology: The study of the Church
Eschatology: The study of End-Times
Hermeneutics: The science and art of interpretation
The Nature of Theological Method
Theological methodology involves both truth & ideas:
Systematic Theology is based upon truths derived from special and natural revelation.
Theological method engages exegetical, biblical, theological, & philosophical claims of truths and accepts claims of truths that harmonizes with already established facts.
Since The Bible is special revelation in of itself and a collection of divine propositional truths, the theologian does the following:
collects, authenticates, arranges, and exhibits
Systematic Theology is based upon truths derived from special and natural revelation.
Theological method engages exegetical, biblical, theological, & philosophical claims of truths and accepts claims of truths that harmonizes with already established facts.
Since The Bible is special revelation in of itself and a collection of divine propositional truths, the theologian does the following:
collects, authenticates, arranges, and exhibits
The 6-Step Theological Method
1st Step: Inductively arrive at an exegetical proposition that accurately reflects the intended meaning of the author.
2nd Step: Propositional statement is then tested for coherence by a synchronic application both biblically (letting Scripture interpret Scripture) and already settled doctrinal beliefs.
3rd Step: The statement then is comprehensively formulated from exegesis, author intent, and within the boundaries of settled doctrinal beliefs.
4th Step: The propositional doctrine is then examined under the lens of general revelation and natural law to see potential doctrine successfully coheres with these foundational prescriptive beliefs (Romans 2:12 – 15... For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for {it is} not the hearers of the Law {who} are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them...” (NASB)).
5th Step: Then one examines the propositional statement under the lens of historical theology for correlative insight.
6th Step: Finally, personal and community life-applications are made in order to test livability.
2nd Step: Propositional statement is then tested for coherence by a synchronic application both biblically (letting Scripture interpret Scripture) and already settled doctrinal beliefs.
3rd Step: The statement then is comprehensively formulated from exegesis, author intent, and within the boundaries of settled doctrinal beliefs.
4th Step: The propositional doctrine is then examined under the lens of general revelation and natural law to see potential doctrine successfully coheres with these foundational prescriptive beliefs (Romans 2:12 – 15... For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for {it is} not the hearers of the Law {who} are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them...” (NASB)).
5th Step: Then one examines the propositional statement under the lens of historical theology for correlative insight.
6th Step: Finally, personal and community life-applications are made in order to test livability.
Summary
This method of theological coherence implores you to appropriately, carefully, meditatively, purposefully, prayerfully, microscopically, reflectively, repeatedly, & comprehensively examine your exegetical propositional statement in making sure that it coheres and harmonizes with Principles of Logic, The Bible, settled doctrinal beliefs, and natural law. Then one proceeds to examine The Historical Theology for correlative insight and conclude by establishing appropriate life application. The proper approach to studying The Bible is always begin with the “Word”and progress towards “Bible”.