Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 845 views

    Why Study Theology

    Uploaded by

    Christopher Peppler
    Dr. Christopher Peppler argues that theology is important for understanding what the Bible teaches on various topics. Systematic theology helps collate and organize doctrines from the Bible rather than leaving beliefs disorganized. While some say theology is unnecessary because the Holy Spirit reveals what is needed, quoting scripture out of context to support this view demonstrates the need for theology. Developing a systematic understanding from the entire Bible and church history protects against errors and taps into theological wisdom over centuries. The issue is not whether to study theology but how to study it well through theological programs, reading systematic theologies, and engaging in the discipline itself.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Why Study Theology

    Uploaded by

    Christopher Peppler
    845 views2 pages
    Dr. Christopher Peppler argues that theology is important for understanding what the Bible teaches on various topics. Systematic theology helps collate and organize doctrines from the Bible rather than leaving beliefs disorganized. While some say theology is unnecessary because the Holy Spirit reveals what is needed, quoting scripture out of context to support this view demonstrates the need for theology. Developing a systematic understanding from the entire Bible and church history protects against errors and taps into theological wisdom over centuries. The issue is not whether to study theology but how to study it well through theological programs, reading systematic theologies, and engaging in the discipline itself.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Dr. Christopher Peppler argues that theology is important for understanding what the Bible teaches on various topics. Systematic theology helps collate and organize doctrines from the Bible rather than leaving beliefs disorganized. While some say theology is unnecessary because the Holy Spirit reveals what is needed, quoting scripture out of context to support this view demonstrates the need for theology. Developing a systematic understanding from the entire Bible and church history protects against errors and taps into theological wisdom over centuries. The issue is not whether to study theology but how to study it well through theological programs, reading systematic theologies, and engaging in the discipline itself.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    845 views2 pages

    Why Study Theology

    Uploaded by

    Christopher Peppler
    Dr. Christopher Peppler argues that theology is important for understanding what the Bible teaches on various topics. Systematic theology helps collate and organize doctrines from the Bible rather than leaving beliefs disorganized. While some say theology is unnecessary because the Holy Spirit reveals what is needed, quoting scripture out of context to support this view demonstrates the need for theology. Developing a systematic understanding from the entire Bible and church history protects against errors and taps into theological wisdom over centuries. The issue is not whether to study theology but how to study it well through theological programs, reading systematic theologies, and engaging in the discipline itself.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    Why study theology?

    By Dr Christopher Peppler

    For me theology is not the study of God. I find this concept incomprehensible. Imagine an ant
    looking back up a microscope and attempting to describe to his fellow ants the nature of the
    one examining him. The idea is preposterous. I understand Christian theology as the
    discipline that seeks to coherently describe and collate the doctrines of the Christian Faith.
    More than that, Systematic Theology helps us to answer the question ‘what does the Bible
    teach us today about any given topic?’

    The Bible is not a spiritual dictionary. It does not arrange everything we need to know into
    categories. To understand what it teaches concerning faith and life we need to study and
    collate all that it teaches. This is Systematic Theology. In truth, all of us have a theology but
    often it is disorganised instead of systematic.

    It is fatuous to argue that we do not need theology. We speak and act out of what we believe.
    Theology affects our lives and the lives of others. The better we can understand the Word of
    God, the better we can live, witness and influence others. All Christians, but pastors in
    particular, have a sacred duty to be proficient theologians (2 Tim 2:15). Ill-equipped ministers,
    both lay and professional, have greatly harmed believers and have discredited the church. On
    the other hand, gifted pastors who do have a developed systematic theology, have blessed
    and equipped so many believers.

    Sometimes I come across someone who says “I don’t need theology because the Holy Spirit
    reveals to me all I need to know.” People might get such an idea from 1 John 2:27 of course;
    ‘As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone
    to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real,
    not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.’ Now I really do not want to be
    offensive, but frankly anyone who quotes this text as a reason for not being concerned with
    theology is simply demonstrating their great need of it!

    The verse in First John is part of a passage that starts in verse 18 and ends at verse 27. It is
    all about being on our guard against false teachers. John cites two protections against these
    men. Firstly, we are protected by the apostolic teaching (verse 24) and secondly, by the
    anointing of the Holy Spirit. Someone with a disorganised theology might try to separate verse
    27 from verse 24. However, a systematic theology would protect from that error. The very first
    Christians devoted themselves to the Apostles Teaching (Acts 2:42) and the teaching ministry
    is both taught and demonstrated in many places in both Old and New Testaments (Eph 4:11
    etc.). Sound and systematic theology demands that we acknowledge both the anointing of the
    Holy Spirit and the teaching ministry of the church.

    Developing a systematic theology helps us to tap into the best the church has offered over the
    last 2,000 years. It is true that there has been a lot of error taught over the centuries. It is
    equally true that God has raised up wonderfully gifted teachers who have left a significant
    deposit of true understanding. The anointing we have from the Holy Spirit helps us to discern
    good from bad theology. So, it’s not a case of either theology or anointing, it’s a case of
    theology and anointing.

    We are such a privileged generation! We have the benefit of two millennia of church life. We
    have access to the best minds and the purest spirits from all generations of believers. We
    have understandable versions of the Bible. We have books by the thousands. We have great
    seminaries and Bible Colleges.
    The issue is not ‘should I study theology?’ The issue is ‘how should I study theology?’ My
    advice would be to enrol in a good theological programme. Failing that, make it a discipline to
    read at least one of the splendid systematic theologies available. Dr Millard J Erikson has
    produced ‘Christian Theology’ and Dr Wayne Grudem has written ‘Systematic Theology’.
    These works are both sound and comprehensive. The most effective way to understand the
    benefit of theology is to ‘do’ it. Karl Barth wrote, ‘The best theology would need no advocates:
    it would prove itself.’

    You might also like