This document discusses the definition and goals of theology. It defines theology as the systematic study of God's revelation and human faith, with the goal of discerning God's will in order to live faithfully to his nature and purposes. It outlines some key tasks of theology, including being God-focused, Bible-based, Christ-centered, Spirit-led, mission-minded, historically-informed, context-sensitive, and practically applied. Theology seeks to understand God through reasoning about his revelation in a way that is guided by Scripture and aims to apply insights to contemporary contexts.
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. The Roman Catholic
theologian Anselm
defined theology as faith
seeking understanding.
We reason and discourse
about God because we
believe in him, and we
want to discover more
about his nature and
purposes so that we can
live according his will.
Faith seeking understanding
6. THE GOAL OF THEOLOGY
What is the goal of theology?
7. The goal of theology is discern
the will of God in our
generation and context, so
that we might live and act in
ways that are faithful to his
nature and purposes. This is
the goal across the sub-
disciplines.
Theology is the systematic
study of God’s revelation and of
people’s faith. Its goal is to
restate the implications of
God’s revelation for our context
so that we might
believe and live in a way that is
faithful to God’s will.
What is the goal of theology?
8. THE TASK OF THEOLOGY
How must theology go about its task to achieve its goal?
9. What are the tasks of theology?
If the goal of theology is discern the will of God in our context, so that we might live and
act in ways that are faithful to him, then it has many implications for the way we
approach the task. Here are some non-negotiables:
1. God-focused
2. Bible-based
3. Christ-centred
4. Spirit-led
5. Mission-minded
6. Historically-informed
7. Context-sensitive
8. Practically-applied
9. Scientifically-plausible
10. • 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.
Conclusion
11. • Write a short and reflection answering the question:
What is the role of theology in knowing you as a human person?
Questions for Reflection