What is Theology?

            There are two questions that seemingly cannot be avoided when almost anything is at topic.  What is it and what does it do?  We will not only define what theology is we will also go one step further explain what it does.  This will help us gain a more complete perspective as there are many things we may know about and yet not know what they do.  Many of us know what microwave is but cannot explain how microwaves warm our food.  We can reason from our own experience that microwaves makes cold things warm or even dangerously hot.  Rather than a disciplined field of study theology can be reduced to little more than Bible reader.

Theology is not the reading of the Bible over and over again until something fancy finally sinks in as some may see it.  “When we move beyond mere haphazard reflection on face and consciously seek to articulate our beliefs systematically, we step into the discipline called ‘theology’” (Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, 2000, p. 1).  Much like the saying, if you were this easy everyone would do it, theology is indeed a discipline.  Any field of discipline requires disciplined participants and theology is no different.  “The word itself is formed from two other Greek terms, theos (God) and logos (word, teaching, study). Hence, etymologically ’theology’ means ‘the teaching concerning God’ or ‘the study of God’” (Grenz, Theology for the Community of God, 2000, p. 2).  To truly grasp what theology is the terms teaching and study must be allowed to convey their original meanings.

            Now that we have a working definition of theology in place we can concern ourselves with what this discipline actually produces.  The theological task is to defend the Christian faith, teach and instruct others to maturity, and promote understanding within the church.  It is important to reiterate that the discipline of Protestant theology is squarely focused on the teachings of the Bible. 

“The declaration that the Spirit speaking in or through Scripture is our final authority means that Christian belief and practice cannot be determined merely by appeal to either the exegesis of Scripture carried out apart from the life of the believer and the believing community or to any supposedly private (or corporate) ‘word from the Spirit’ that stands in contradiction to biblical exegesis” (Grenz & Franke, Beyond Foundationalism, 2001, p. 65). 

Therefore theology can never move beyond the teachings of the Bible nor can the discipline be used to promote ideals that are not in accordance with the Bible.

            Having this as a foundation is vital to understanding the discipline as one of the primary tasks of theology is to make a defense against ideas outside of the Scriptures.  Some may think of opposition coming from the atheist or perhaps even some kind of a satanic attack but the attack is usually an inside job.  Therefore, much like the interaction we find between Jesus and Satan himself the theologian may find themselves in discussion with others that are keenly aware of what the Scriptures say.  On the opposite side of this spectrum are those that study the Word but do not recognize the scarlet thread throughout the Bible.  "You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life" (John 5:39-40).

            This same standard is useful not only for a defense against opposing philosophies but in teaching the Christian faith.  Since the times of the very early church there have been efforts and roads paved for the establishment of the Bible's authority rather than rules taught by men.  "The elevation of sola scriptura effectively set the agenda for what became Protestant antitraditionalism, at least as it characterized the Protestant attitude toward the theological developments in the first 1500 years of church history" (Grenz & Franke, Beyond Foundationalism, 2001, p. 99).  Scripture alone was the battle cry and with the Bible firmly holding its place of authority a consistent pattern of teaching can be delivered.

            The mature Christian thinker has always sought after depth and a desire to always have an answer for anyone who asks the reason for the faith that they have.  Never wanting to be divisive or lured away the Christian thinker is weary of using terms like reason with faith.  Reasoning carries with it memories of the trouble the Gnostic movement caused within the faith so many years ago or one recalls the attack on the church during the Age of Enlightenment.  Theology clears the way for the Christian to travel towards maturity by the same tool of reason so many seem to fear.  "While it is true that faith is above reason, there can never be any real disagreement between faith and reason, since it is the same God who both reveals mysteries and infuses faith, and who has endowed the human mind with the light of reason" (McGrath, 2011, p. 31).

In summary, what is theology and what does it do?  Theology is the discipline of studying, teaching and interpreting the words of God.  Theology places the shield of faith in the believer's hand for the defense of their faith.  Theology wraps the belt of truth around the believer's waist as they stake their stand.  Theology places the helmet of salvation on the head and mind of the believer as they set the thoughts on things above.  Just like the full armor of God, theology can simply be an object that appears useful or it can be put on and used in order to fulfill the purpose of its design.  While there are different pieces to the armor of God there are also different forms of theology but in the end both have their common purpose.  Rather than a disciplined field of study theology can be reduced to little more than Bible reader.
References:

NIV Study Bible. (2011). Rapid Falls, MI: Zondervan.

Grenz, S. J. (2000). Theology for the Community of God. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

Grenz, S. J., & Franke, J. R. (2001). Beyond Foundationalism. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press.

McGrath, A. E. (2011). The Christian Theology Reader. Walden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.