Oct 28 2009
What does it mean to do theology? What is theology and doctrine?
Many in the church today may have questions about why we need to “do” theology. What does that mean? What is the importance of doing theology? The word theology comes from the greek words theos (God) and logos (Word), which suggest the “word concerning God” or “the study of God.” Systematic or Christian Theology then, in the widest sense is simply doctrine-the doctrine(s) of the Bible set forth according to plan or order.[1] Millard Erickson puts it this way, “That discipline which strives to give a coherent statement of doctrines of the Christian faith, based primarily upon the Scriptures, and related to issues of life.”[2] Doctrines are the teachings of the scripture that are studied, categorized, and clarified to include a biblical theological framework. We participate in doing theology by studying and interpreting the propositional and narrative nature of revelation throughout the scriptures and the importance of the central doctrinal teachings of the faithful through the history of the church. Therefore, in approaching the scriptures, we are including both historical and systematic theologies.
[1] Rolland McCune, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity, Vol 1, (Allen Park, Mich:, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005)., 3
[2] Millard Erickson, Systematic Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998)., 23
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