top of page

Theology: What is it?

Updated: Jul 20

At its core, theology is simply the study of God—His nature, His works, and His will revealed through His Word. For the believer, theology is far more than an academic discipline; it is a profoundly spiritual pursuit grounded in the desire to know God, to worship Him rightly, and to live in obedience to His revealed truth. In a world filled with competing worldviews, theological study equips Christians to discern truth from error, remain steadfast in their faith, and glorify God in all areas of life. This paper will explore three foundational areas in the study of theology: its purpose, sources, and types. First, we will examine why theology matters to every believer and how it influences the Christian life. Second, we will examine the sources from which theology is drawn, especially the primacy of Scripture. Finally, we will compare key approaches to theology—biblical, systematic, historical, and practical—highlighting how each contributes to a well-rounded theological framework rooted in faithful exegesis and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

ree

 

The Purpose Of Theology

 

Why is theological study important? Who ought to be studying theology? What should be the attitude of someone who is studying theology? These questions are of great importance to a believer, as they attempt to live out their faith in a way that pleases the Lord and brings Him glory. There are a number of reasons that someone would study theology, but the greatest reason is to know God and to glorify Him. Before we cover that reason, let’s review a few other reasons for studying theology.

 

Developing A Biblical Worldview

 

An important reason to study theology is to develop a biblical worldview. The Bible teaches that believers are “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). The Word also teachs believers to “. . . not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). These verses, and others like it, emphasize the importance of putting off our old natural self, and being renewed in our minds. In order to accomplish this, we must be diligent students of the Word of God, but I will dive deeper into this in the next section. Suffice it to say that in order for us to exhibit a renewal of the mind, the Word of God must be studied.


A renewal of the mind is akin to the establishment of a biblical worldview. As unbelievers, we naturally view the world through our sinful flesh. The Bible teaches that our natural mind thinks like this: “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:2-3). These verses point to a worldly worldview, one that is aimed squarely at themselves, away from God. This path leads to destruction. However, believers ought to develop a biblical worldview so that when they encounter challenges, struggles, or trials, they are able to assess the circumstances through a biblical worldview, viewing it through the eyes of Christ, and make a God-honoring decision as they process through it. Developing a biblical worldview is an important purpose of studying theology.


Protecting Against Heresy And Doctrinal Shift

 

Another important purpose of studying theology is the natural tendency for human and cultural influences to cause a doctrinal shift. Throughout the church age, doctrinal shifts have been a major issue within the church. While Jesus Christ carried out his earthly ministry, He contended with the religious leaders of His day over heretical issues and doctrinal shift. One of the most significant examples was during His Sermon on the Mount. He repeatedly said, “You have heard that it was said . . . But I say to you . . .” indicating that He was addressing serious issues of doctrinal shift. The Apostle Paul likewise addressed similar issues, specifically when he said, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (Galatians 3:1). Therefore, we should find it as no surprise that believers at every age of the church will need to address doctrinal shift, away from the truth toward heresy. Ultimately, the pursuit of theological understanding, based on God’s Word, will promote unity within the Christian church and provide clarity on theological issues.

 

To Know God And To Glorify Him

 

As mentioned earlier, one of the most significant reasons to study theology is for believers to know God and to glorify Him. The Bible teaches believers that “. . . whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). In order for believers to carry out this practical desire, they must be diligent students of the Word of God and of the theological issues within the Christian church. However, due to our limitations, due to the noetic effects of sin that all men must contend with for the duration of their lives, Christians are inadequate to adequately understand the Word from a proper biblical worldview. Therefore, believers rely and depend on God the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures to them, so that they are able to read it, understand it, and live it out.[1] Morgan teaches that “the Holy Spirit has inspired the Scripture and enables us now to understand it . . . As a result, our theology is dependent on the Spirit for its content: he inspired the Bible.”[2] Furthermore, mankind must acknowledge and contend with the reality of our total dependence on the Spirit's work to rightly understand and interpret the Word of God and theological matters biblically.


Ultimately, the purpose of theology is not merely academic, but it is deeply spiritual and practical for believers. Theology shapes believers' worldviews, safeguards them from doctrinal error, and leads them into a wealth of knowledge and communion with the Lord. Theology is the means by which believers grow in faith, living it out daily, and glorifying God in it. It is the sacred pursuit, coupled with the Holy Spirit's power, that every believer desires to walk with the Lord faithfully.

 

The Sources Of Theology

 

There is nothing more important for a born-again believer to study than the Word of God throughout their Christian life than to do so continually. As a believer endeavors to know God and glorify Him, they are confronted with a vast amount of content and information about God, some of which claims to be about God, making it difficult to discern the truth. Therefore, in order for believers to identify what is right and wrong, what is true and false, what is the will of God and what is not, they must become diligent students of God’s Word. Furthermore, without the effectual work performed by the Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds of believers, they would not be able to read the Word of God, study it, and rightly interpret and apply it.


There ought not to be any debate about the fact that the Word of God is the primary and most significant source for studying theology that exists. The Word teaches that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This verse teaches that the Word of God is inspired by God, established and assembled by the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit worked through men to write the actual words found in the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:21), and God is able to accomplish that which He sets out to accomplish, without error or blemish (Isaiah 46:9-10), the Word of God has authority over God’s creation.[3] The authority of the Scriptures is established on the fact that the Word is wholly inspired by God and incapable of error, making it the ultimate and primary source for studying theology. Aside from the Word of God, there are essentially two other sources that can be used to faithfully study theology. They include tradition and reason.


Christopher Morgan teaches that “tradition is important because it shows us what other Christians have said about perennial topics.”[4] Looking back into history, there are many faithful theologians who have considered, studied, discussed, and concluded on theological matters. Traditions have established faithful interpretations of Scripture, church teachings—such as creeds, confessions, and statements of faith--, corrected false teachings, and provided inspired analysis of doctrinal issues.[5]


Regarding reason, Morgan states, “Reason is important because it helps us reflect on revelation. Reason clarifies concepts, questions, relationships, and arguments.”[6] With reason, believers are able to sincerely consider their theological positions, challenging them against those held by theologians of the past or those held by believers today. Through reason, believers are able to identify areas of their personal beliefs, isolate them as false, and discard them. It is of no value for a believer to hold onto something they know to be wrong rather than to retain it in its falsehood. The Word teaches us this, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7).


While tradition and reason serve as valuable tools in theological reflection—helping believers engage with the insights of church history and think critically about doctrine—they must always remain subordinate to the Word of God. Scripture alone is the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative revelation of God, totally sufficient for equipping the believer for every good work. As such, the principle of sola Scriptura—Scripture alone—must govern all theological study. It is not through human tradition or reasoning that mankind will ultimately know God rightly, but through the Spirit-illuminated Word. Therefore, the faithful theologian must continually return to the Scriptures as the final and supreme source of truth, holding fast to it as the absolute standard by which all other claims are measured.


Believers must remain steadfast on the firm foundation of the Word of God, establishing it as the ultimate authority for their lives. While tradition and reason offer helpful support, providing historical insight, they must never be elevated to or above Scripture. Only the Bible alone is God-breathed and sufficient to guide a believer in truth. It is through the Spirit-illuminated Word that believers come to know God and are equipped for a life that is glorifying to God. Therefore, all theological study must begin and end with Scripture, standing firmly on the foundation of sola Scriptura.

 

The Types Of Theology

 

There are many different approaches to studying theology, but for the sake of this paper, I will focus on what I believe are the four main ones. These include biblical theology, systematic theology, historical theology, and practical theology. Regardless of the type of theology being studied, it is essential that there is faithful exegesis being accomplished. Morgan teaches that “the foundation of all good theology is understanding the meaning of biblical passages, beginning with the biblical author’s intention through the text.”[7] This essentially defines what exegesis is, attempting to understand the intended meaning of any given biblical passage. It is from this foundation that Christians are able to study theology, irrespective of the type.

 

Biblical Theology

 

Nearly every Christian who reads through the Bible endeavors to study what would be referred to as biblical theology. Biblical theology occurs when someone studies biblical passages through the context of the chapter, book, and ultimately the canon of Scripture, tying it to the overarching narrative within the Word of God.[8] Biblical theology allows the reader to take any given passage and relate it to central themes found in the Word, as well as the covenants that God established with His people. Studying the Word in this way allows the reader to see connections across the canon, enabling them to develop a deeper understanding of major themes. Therefore, as Morgan states, “. . . good theology is grounded on biblical exegesis and rooted in biblical theology.”[9]


Systematic Theology


As with other types of theology, systematic theology is established upon the work of faithfully conducted biblical exegesis. However, systematic theology is an approach to studying the Word of God from a topical perspective. This approach allows theologians to address specific issues that are plaguing a society by scouring the Word for any insights and teachings that may speak to a topical issue. However, a drawback to this approach is that the theologian is able to overlook or leave out unfavorable verses that might conflict with the general conclusion being made by several other verses. This is why it is of the utmost importance that the theologian sincerely and earnestly desires to faithfully exegete the Scriptures in their proper context, and not twist them to fit into an argument to defend a topical position.[10]

 

Historical Theology

 

Historical theology is the approach to studying theology through the lens of history. This means seeking to determine what theologians thought during different periods of time throughout history. As Morgan states, “The church has been the historical interpreter of Scripture . . . We are not the first ones to read the Bible, but stand in the stream of God’s people throughout the centuries . . .”[11] The historical approach includes looking into what theologians of the past believed. We might look at John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards, and compare that to what John Wesley taught. Looking at the varying issues that were addressed and how these theologians addressed them can give greater insight into certain topics of theology. However, faithful believers ought to remember that only the Word of God is inspired, inerrant, and authoritative.

 

Practical Theology

 

Finally, I wanted to cover practical theology. Throughout the believer's life, their desire ought to be to take what the Word of God teaches and apply it to their lives, so that they are able to live it out, giving God glory and honoring Him. Practical theology is the practice of applying biblical truth to our everyday lives; it is where theory or knowledge meets our hands and feet. It is where believer give their doctrine action in their lives.


Each type of theology serves a unique role in the believer’s pursuit of knowing God and applying His truth. Biblical theology emphasizes the unfolding narrative and theological themes throughout the canon of Scripture, enabling readers to trace God's redemptive plan through covenants and promises. In contrast, systematic theology organizes biblical truths topically, allowing for focused exploration of doctrines, though it carries the risk of selective interpretation if not grounded in faithful exegesis. Historical theology offers a valuable perspective by considering how past theologians have interpreted Scripture across various eras, enriching modern understanding while reminding us that Scripture is ultimately the authoritative source. Meanwhile, practical theology bridges the gap between knowledge and life, focusing on the lived expression of doctrine in everyday decisions, ministry, and obedience.


While these approaches differ in emphasis—biblical theology being narrative-based, systematic being topical, historical being reflective, and practical being applicational—they all share a dependence on faithful exegesis and a commitment to the authority of God's Word. Used together, they provide a more comprehensive and balanced approach to theological study and Christian living.


Conclusion


The study of theology is not reserved for pastors, scholars, or seminary students, although they ought to be leading from the front; it is the joyful responsibility and privilege of every follower of Christ. As we have seen, theology helps believers develop a biblical worldview, guard against false teaching, and live lives that glorify God. It must be grounded in the authoritative and inerrant Word of God, with tradition and reason serving as helpful, but subordinate, tools in the pursuit of truth. Whether we approach theology through the storyline of Scripture (biblical theology), the organization of doctrine (systematic theology), the wisdom of the past (historical theology), or its lived-out expression (practical theology), our goal remains the same: to know God more fully and reflect His truth more faithfully. True theology leads to doxology—it fuels our worship, shapes our convictions, and guides our obedience. Ultimately, studying theology is not merely about acquiring knowledge; it is about becoming more like Christ, for the glory of God and the benefit of His people.

 

 

[1] Christopher Morgan and Robert Peterson, Christian Theology: The Biblical Story And Our Faith (Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2020), 23.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Daniel Akin, David Dockery, and Nathan Finn, eds., A Handbook of Theology: Theology for the People of God (Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2023), 38.

[4] Ibid., 25.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Akin, 26.

[7] Morgan, 29.

[8] Ibid., 30.

[9] Morgan, 31.

[10] Akin, 145-146.

[11] Morgan, 31.



BIBLIOGRAPHY


Akin, Daniel, David Dockery, and Nathan Finn, eds. A Handbook of Theology: Theology for the People of God. Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2023.


Morgan, Christopther, and Robert Peterson. Christian Theology: The Biblical Story And Our Faith. Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2020.

bottom of page