Theology must produce doxology. Today we finished reading Paul’s theological framework for salvation, God, the human race, and Jesus. Romans is Paul’s clearest systematic theology of God’s plan in reconciling a people to Himself. I am a theology nerd (I even have a shirt that says I am). I love to sit and study the Bible, digging deep into all the areas of theology. Here is a systematic list of all the major areas of theology from the Bible.
· Theology proper – The study of the character of God
· Biblical theology – The study of the bible
· Christology – The study of Christ
· Pneumatology – The study of the Holy Spirit
· Soteriology – The study of salvation
· Anthropology – The study of the nature of humanity.
· Hamartiology - The study of sin
· Angelology – The study of angels/demons
· Ecclesiology – The study of the church
· Eschatology – The study of the end times
I love theology so much that sitting down and reading through John Calvin’s “Institutes”, which is the famous church father’s theology book (which is 1001 pages), is a very fun activity for me. I know I sound crazy. So I love me a good theology discussion, essay, reading, and teaching time. The greatest thing I love about theology though, is the fact that when I find more answers to my theological questions in the Bible, the more mystery and questions it creates. I would consider myself an average theologian. What is even crazy is that every time I study theology and unpack more of Scripture, 10 more questions arise that do not have simple or even any answer at all. Theology is my friend.
But as Paul shows us from Romans, as with many of his other letters, theology must not stand on its own. As Paul ends chapter 11 with praise to God and rejoicing in all that he has just unpacked, he is showing us that theology must breed doxology or praise to God. If theology just stands on its own and does not result in praise to God and action in making disciples, then theology is an idol. Theology and the study of it all, including all the areas listed above, must start our praise to God and action in making disciples. Everyone is a theologian. Everyone believes and thinks something. If we study the Bible, we must let it drive the truth and theology in it, into a deeper affection and worship of God and action in making more disciples. Theology must be the right hand to the left hand to worship and action. Both hands must be present in our lives. As I stated at the beginning, theology (Biblical truth) must produce doxology.
· Theology proper – The study of the character of God
· Biblical theology – The study of the bible
· Christology – The study of Christ
· Pneumatology – The study of the Holy Spirit
· Soteriology – The study of salvation
· Anthropology – The study of the nature of humanity.
· Hamartiology - The study of sin
· Angelology – The study of angels/demons
· Ecclesiology – The study of the church
· Eschatology – The study of the end times
I love theology so much that sitting down and reading through John Calvin’s “Institutes”, which is the famous church father’s theology book (which is 1001 pages), is a very fun activity for me. I know I sound crazy. So I love me a good theology discussion, essay, reading, and teaching time. The greatest thing I love about theology though, is the fact that when I find more answers to my theological questions in the Bible, the more mystery and questions it creates. I would consider myself an average theologian. What is even crazy is that every time I study theology and unpack more of Scripture, 10 more questions arise that do not have simple or even any answer at all. Theology is my friend.
But as Paul shows us from Romans, as with many of his other letters, theology must not stand on its own. As Paul ends chapter 11 with praise to God and rejoicing in all that he has just unpacked, he is showing us that theology must breed doxology or praise to God. If theology just stands on its own and does not result in praise to God and action in making disciples, then theology is an idol. Theology and the study of it all, including all the areas listed above, must start our praise to God and action in making disciples. Everyone is a theologian. Everyone believes and thinks something. If we study the Bible, we must let it drive the truth and theology in it, into a deeper affection and worship of God and action in making more disciples. Theology must be the right hand to the left hand to worship and action. Both hands must be present in our lives. As I stated at the beginning, theology (Biblical truth) must produce doxology.
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