Why Learn Theology?

What Is Theology?

            Theology is one of those important sounding words that sometimes get overlooked by everyday people. Some might think that it is best if the study of theology is left to ministers and theologians. I believe that this could not be further from the truth. Anyone that is serious about living for God needs to have a basic grasp of theology in order to be successful in that adventure. No, you need not be an academic or scholar, but you do need to be growing in your understanding of theology as you go through life.

            Before we talk about its importance, we need to understand what theology is. One of the definitions of theology given by Szymon Krzysztof Ciećko is “the science of God and of relation between Him and both man and the world.”[1] Science simply means knowledge or understanding. Therefore, to put it in my own words, theology is simply the study of the knowledge of God and how He relates to humanity and the rest of creation. There are a multitude of different fields and aspects of theology that exist. Many books have been written on the subject and there is a ton of information available on the topic of theology. There is no way in one blog post that I can cover all the different aspects of this subject. This article is meant to give a very brief introduction to the topic and its importance. Also, it is important to note that, for the purpose of this article, we will be discussing theology from a basic Christian worldview. Now that we have talked about what it is, let us look at why it is so important.

Why Is Theology Important?

            What is the big deal about theology? To put it in a more personal way, why should theology be important to me? Some may equate the study of theology with the study of a topic in high school that they never used in everyday life. However, if people understood why theology was so important, they would not be so dismissive about it.

            In order to get an understanding of the importance of theology, we will look at two passages of scripture to get a glimpse into the significance of the topic. The first passage of scripture is found in the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Jeremiah writes,

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD” (Jer. 9:23-24, ESV).

The Lord God is basically telling the prophet Jeremiah that a person should not put too much value on wisdom, or might, or riches. People will often brag about these things. God says that those things are not near as important as knowing Him. If you think about that, it makes perfect sense. The God of the Bible is beyond compare. He is infinite, awesome and glorious, and those descriptions don’t even begin to scratch the surface! God is the ultimate source of true joy and peace. Knowing Him is the greatest privilege and should be the ultimate goal in life.

            The other passage of scripture on why theology is important is found in the New Testament. Jesus says, “and this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3, ESV). Jesus is saying in this passage that knowing God through Jesus Christ equals eternal life. In other words, eternal life is connected to knowing who God truly is through Jesus. Do you want to have eternal life? Then you must know who God is. A proper understanding of the knowledge of God (theology) can help a person in their pursuit of knowing God. Granted, one can know all the right things about God and not be in proper relationship to Him. However, having a proper knowledge of God (theology) is foundational to growing in relationship with God. This is why theology is so important to a Christian’s life.

Where Can a Person Learn Theology?

            Alright, we have established that theology is important. But where can someone learn theology? I could give all sorts of good answers to this question. There are a myriad of books and articles on the subject of theology. There are solid Christian institutions where one could go to learn all about the topic. Currently, I am in the middle of pursuing my doctorate degree with an emphasis on apologetics and theology at a wonderful Christian institution. But the fact is that not everyone can pursue a degree or read a bunch of books on theology. So where can a person turn if those options are not available to them?

            We are going to look at another passage of scripture in order to discover where a person can learn proper Christian theology. In that passage Paul writes to Timothy,

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 Tim. 3:14-17, ESV).

There is a lot that one could learn from this passage, but I want to focus on just three things. First, Paul says that scripture can make a person “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” To put it another way, the Bible, if properly understood, points people to Christ who can save them. Second, Paul says that “all Scripture is breathed out by God.” That is just another way of saying that God inspired the Scripture. He is the ultimate author of the Bible. Third, Paul basically tells Timothy that Scripture is profitable for ministry and godly living. This implies that scripture is not to just be learned but also obeyed (see James 1:22-25). So, the best source to go to learn proper theology is the Bible. It points us to Christ for salvation, it is authored by God Himself, and it shows one how to minister and live a godly life. All three of these issues are theological in nature. You may not be able to go to seminary or read a bunch of books on theology, but you can read or listen to the Bible on a daily basis and learn all you need to know about God to effectively live for Him.

Who Is Theology For?

            Now that we have established that theology is important, I want to briefly discuss who theology is for. As mentioned earlier, when people hear the word theology they tend to think that its study is just for ministers and theologians. However, theology is for anyone who wants to grow in their understanding of who God is and how to have a relationship with Him. Do not feel like you have to be a scholar to learn theology. Anyone with a Bible can grow in their understanding of God as they earnestly pray for Him to reveal Himself while they read or listen to Scripture. God desires to make Himself known and will reveal Himself to those who truly seek Him (Jer. 29:13).

What Should I Remember and Do?

The major points to remember from this blog post are:

-        Theology is the study of the knowledge of God and how He relates to humanity and the rest of creation.

-        Theology is important because it helps us understand who God is and knowing Him is the greatest privilege of all.

-        Proper theology points us to understanding who God is which leads to eternal life through Christ.

-        The best source for learning about God is the Bible.

-        Theology is for anyone who wants to grow in their understand of who God is.

 Until next time, may you be blessed in your endeavor to know God and share his truth.

[1] Szymon Krzysztof Ciećko, “Theology: Its Definition, Method and Place in the Modern World," Studia Theologica Varsaviensia 55, no. 2 (2018): 77, https://doi.org/10.21697/stv.2017.55.2.04