Below is a paper written for an Introduction to Theology class at DTS. It is a response paper to two introductory books about theology, but let me explain the picture.
I think theology is much more essential to Christian faith than the average Christian realizes. It’s a forgotten essential, as this paper tries to prove. Hence, I show you a rusty old gear without which many a machine would cease to run. Theology is like that gear. We need it for Christianity to run, and you can hate it all you want, but without it, the Christian life goes no where.
I hope you enjoy.
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to respond to the assertions made in Who Needs Theology? by Grenz and Olson, and A Little Book for New Theologians by Kapic. These books represent an introduction to the study of theology on the most basic level, trying to assist laity in appreciating the need for theology. Before responding to these works, a brief attempt at defining basic theological terms will be undertaken. The theses of the respective books will then be presented and summarized, followed by an evaluation of and response to the theses.
Definitions of Theological Terms
The following terms will be defined by various respected sources and then synthesized into an original definition: (1) Theology, (2) Biblical Theology, (3) Historical Theology, (4) Systematic Theology.
Theology
Ryrie gives, I think, the best three-point qualification of theology, from the Christian viewpoint:
“(1) Theology is intelligible. It can be comprehended by the human mind in an orderly and rational manner. (2) Theology requires explanation. This, in turn, involves exegesis and systematization. (3) The Christian faith finds its source in the Bible, so Christian theology will be a Bible-based study. Theology, then, is the discovery, systematizing, and presentation of the truths about God.”
Norm Geisler gives, I think, the most comprehensive while concise definition of Theology. “Theology is a rational discourse about God.”[1] In class, another concise definition was given, “faith seeking understanding.”[2] Christian theology was defined in class as, “any Christian ‘conversation’ about the triune God (truth).”[3]The definition I have synthesized, from a Christian perspective, is as follows: Theology is the statement of organized thought that pursues knowledge of God.
Biblical Theology
Hodge defines the difference between Biblical and systematic theology well. “The office of [biblical theology] is to ascertain and state the facts of scripture. The office of [systematic theology] is to take those facts, determine their relation to each other and to other cognate truths, as well as to vindicate them and show their harmony and consistency.”[4] Ryrie says biblical theology, “deals systematically with the historically conditioned progress of self-revelation of God in the Bible.
The definition I have synthesized uses the term theology as defined above. Biblical theology is Theology whose organized thoughts are expressed in the Bible.
Historical Theology
Historical Theology, according to Enns, is “the unfolding of Christian theology throughout the centuries.”[5] I see no point in trying to improve on as clear a definition as this one.
Systematic Theology
It might be noted that the definition provided of theology is actually a definition of systematic theology. This is a valid point. I see little difference between theology at all and systematic theology, other than a difference in quality. Systematic might be called “better theology,” or “more organized theology,” but all theology is systematic, it just might not be systematized very well. The other difference may be to specifically state that Systematic Theology’s sources are divine revelation as opposed to any thoughts that pop into one’s head. Again this is a differentiation of quality and not much else. That being said, other definitions of systematic theology are worth noting.
Berkhof assumes the definition of systematic theology as, “the systematized knowledge of God, of whom, through whom and unto whom are all things.” [6] “Humans responding in a systematic way to revelation (especially in Scripture), expressing the truth about the triune God in language informed by culture and the Christian tradition.”[7] “An attempt to construct a comprehensive and consistent whole out of all revelation from God, whether special (biblical) or general (natural) revelation.”[8] “A science which follows a humanly devised scheme or order of doctrinal development and which purports to incorporate into its system all the truth about God and His universe from any and every source.”[9]
Authors’ Theses
Who Needs Theology?
The thesis of Who Needs Theology? is reflected in the answer to the question posed by the title: Everyone. Everyone needs theology because everyone, at some point in their lives, asks theological questions. Grenz and Olson go to great lengths to show that the definitions of “theology” and “theologian” are very broad and inclusive when used without qualifiers like “professional,” “vocational,” or “lay.” Theology, according to Grenz and Olson, is, “any thinking, reflecting, or contemplating on the reality of God – even on the question of God.” They go on to expand the definition more by adding that “the question of God is implied in all of life’s ultimate questions. Whenever and wherever a person reflects on the great ‘Why?’ questions of life,” they are doing theology.
A Little Book for New Theologians
Kapic’s thesis revolves around the peripherals of theology, not theology itself. Kapic’s goal seems to be to show why to do theology and the right ways to do it, so as not to become spiritually dry, morally vacant, or religiously zealous. This goal can be seen in statements like, “Theological reflection is a way of examining our praise, prayers, words and worship with the goal of making sure they conform to God alone,”[12] and “theology is about life, and it is not a conversation our souls can afford to avoid.”[13]
Kapic spends the book building a heartfelt case that theology should be heartfelt, and if it is not, then it is not theology at all, merely academic pursuit leading to legalistic whitewashed tombs. Each chapter builds on the spiritual life of a true theologian tackling subjects like prayer, community, suffering, and love of scripture. Kapic is adamantly fighting against the common outcome of seminary study: spiritual vacancy. His goal is to prevent such an outcome and preserve love of God while pursuing knowledge of God. The two cannot be divorced.
Responses to Theses
Who Needs Theology?
While I appreciate what Grenz and Olson try to do with Who Needs Theology? I find their approach bothersome and unnecessarily convoluted. They go to great lengths to expand the definition of theology, but then spend the remainder of the book re-shrinking the definition again. I understand why they do this. They want their reader to be willing to talk theology, and they do this by pointing out that everyone is a theologian, so it’s silly to avoid theological conversation. This takes away the resister’s excuse. He can’t say, “I don’t like to think about theology,” because, by Grenz and Olson’s definition, yes he does like to think about it. Everyone does! I believe they took this road to get around the barrier of starting theological conversation.
I would guess that Grenz and Olson recognize that the way people use the words “theology” and “theologian” implicitly refers to professional or vocational theologians studying theology as a part of their job. That is largely the purpose of chapter two, which shows the different levels of theological study, from folk to academic. I wish they had merely begun there not spent so much time working up to that, because they spend the majority of the book then discussing professional and academic theology.
Granted, these are very picky points. Overall, I do like the book and would recommend it to friends who think they don’t need theology. It would likely do much to open the eyes of a fearer of theology. For me, however, having studied theology for a few years, I spent much of the time waiting for Grenz and Olson to get to the point. I didn’t need to be convinced to love the study of theology, which is what they spent a great many pages doing.
A Little Book for New Theologians
This book was revitalizing and fascinating to me. As stated above, I have already spent some time studying theology, and I have experienced and am experiencing a few of the errors this book is trying to ward off. For that, I cherished this read. While holding to a high level of scholarship, Kapic managed to restore the heart of theology to me, loving God. This is a rare combination.
He rightly quotes Warfield, “Love theology, of course: but love theology for no other reason than it is THEOLOGY – the knowledge of God – and because it is your meat and drink to know God, to know him truly, and as far as it is given to mortals, to know him whole.”[14] This book reminded me of the danger of studying theology, but also the joy of it, and the latter came out stronger.
Conclusion
Both Who Needs Theology? and A Little Book for New Theologians are helpful and useful books in their own right, but for two different reasons. The former is useful in getting people to recognize their need for theology at all and giving big picture ideas of what theology is and what it is not. The latter is useful in bringing the heart and soul of theology off the page, and keeping theology a matter of worship more than of study. Both books were blessings to me as a student who sometimes needs to be reminded of the heart behind what we do as theologians.
Bibliography
Berkhof, L. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979.
Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1976.
Enns, Paul. The Moody Handbook of Theology. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008.
Geisler, Norman. Systematic Theology in One Volume. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 2011.
Grenz, Stanley and Roger Olson. Who Needs Theology?. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1996.
Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology in Three Volumes. Vol. 1.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986.
Kapic, Kelly. A Little Book for New Theologians. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012.
Kreider, Glenn. “What is Theology: Definitions of Some Key Terms.” Unpublished class notes for ST 101. Dallas Theological Seminary, Fall Semester, 2015.
[1] Norman Geisler, Systematic Theology in One Volume (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 2011), 13.
[2]Glenn Kreider, “What is Theology: Definitions of Some Key Terms,” unpublished class notes for ST 101 (Dallas Theological Seminary, Fall Semester, 2015).
[4] Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology in Three Volumes (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1986) 1:1-2.
[5] Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 2nd ed. (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008), 433.
[6] L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979), 19.
[9] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1976), 1:5.
[10] Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson, Who Needs Theology? (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1996), 117.
[12] Kelly Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012), 18.