3. What is theology?
• In its most basic form, the word theology would
mean the study of God.
• We do theology when we reason and discourse
about the nature, will, and purposes of God.
• However, we cannot study God. God cannot be the
direct object of human research.
4. What is theology?
If we cannot study God, how can we discern his nature,
will, and purposes?
• We can know the Lord indirectly through two
sources: (a) God’s revelation and (b) people’s faith.
• Theology, then, is the systematic study of divine
revelation and human faith.
5. Faith seeking understanding
The Roman Catholic We reason and discourse
theologian Anselm about God because we
defined theology as faith believe in him, and we
seeking understanding. want to discover more
about his nature and
purposes so that we can
live according his will.
6. What is the goal of theology?
THE GOAL OF THEOLOGY
7. What is the goal of theology?
The goal of theology is discern Theology is the systematic
the will of God in our study of God’s revelation and
generation and context, so of people’s faith. Its goal is to
that we might live and act in restate the implications of
ways that are faithful to his God’s revelation for our
nature and purposes. This is context so that we might
the goal across the sub- believe and live in a way that is
disciplines. faithful to God’s will.
8. How must theology go about its task to achieve its goal?
THE TASK OF THEOLOGY
9. What are the tasks of theology?
If the goal of theology is 1. God-focused
discern the will of God in our
context, so that we might live 2. Bible-based
and act in ways that are
faithful to him, then it has
3. Christ-centred
many implications for the way 4. Spirit-led
we approach the task. Here
are some non-negotiables: 5. Mission-minded
10. What are the tasks of theology?
If the goal of theology is 6. Historically-informed
discern the will of God in our
context, so that we might live 7. Context-sensitive
and act in ways that are
faithful to him, then it has
8. Practically-applied
many implications for the way 9. Scientifically-plausible
we approach the task. Here
are some non-negotiables:
11. What is the relationship between the theological sub-
disciplines?
THE BRANCHES OF THEOLOGY
12. How is theology sub-divided?
• Theology is fundamentally a single discipline! The various
sub-disciplines contribute important perspectives on the
whole of theology.
• Each theological sub-discipline contributes towards a holistic
understanding of the will of God for our context. Theology is a
single discipline tasked with discerning and restating God’s
will for our context. It can only do so by taking into account
the perspective that each sub-discipline contributes.
13. How is theology sub-divided?
This is an inadequate way to
view the relationship between
the sub-disciplines. It implies
that each subdiscipline is
essentially separate from the
others, and that theology is
fragmented into its sub-
disciplines.
14. How is theology sub-divided?
This is a better way to view
the relationship between
the sub-disciplines. It
shows that theology is a
single, holistic field of
study. Each sub-discipline
contributes valuable
perspective to the whole.
15. What are the attitudes and techniques by which we do
theology?
THE METHODS OF THEOLOGY
16. The Methods
Theology can mean • Hermeneutical:
‘reasoning and discoursing we interpret
about God’. We do • Critical:
theology by thinking and we re-evaluate
speaking about God’s
word and our faith. • Dialogical:
we discuss
• Correlational:
we compare
18. Conclusion
• We can only do theology to the extent that we have a clear
vision of what theology is and, flowing from that vision, a
clear commitment regarding how it should be done.
• Theology is faith seeking understanding through reasoning
and discoursing about God. We seek to know God’s nature,
will, and purposes through a Bible-based, Christ-centred, and
Spirit-led approach.
19. Questions for Reflection
• Is this a vision of theology that we share? Are
there aspects of this that need to be tweaked?
• At first impressions, based on your experience
of SATS to date, how do you think we are
doing at communicating and instilling this
understanding of theology in our students?
