Theology

Theology (from the Greek theos - God - and logos - word or reason) is reasoned discourse concerning God. More specifically, Christian theology is the rational study and understanding of the nature of God and doctrines of the Christian faith based on the God's revelation of Himself, chiefly found in the Bible.

A person who pursues the study of theology is called a theologian.

Biblical justification

Mark 12:30 - Christ reiterates the command to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
1 Timothy 4:16 - Paul admonishes to Timothy to persevere in sound teaching. Paul goes so far as to say such effort will ensure salvation.
Hebrews 6:1 - The writer tells the Hebrews to move on from elementary teachings of Christ.

Theological disciplines

Biblical theology
Historical theology
Systematic theology
Philosophical theology
Pastoral theology, also known as Practical theology

Lewis on theology

"Everyone reads, everyone hears things discussed. Consequently, if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones — bad, muddled, out-of-date ideas." - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Resources

Walter Elwell, ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed. Baker Academic, 2001.
Timothy Larsen and Daniel Treier, eds., The Cambridge Companion to Evangelical Theology. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Alister McGrath, Theology: The Basics. Blackwell, 2004.
J.I. Packer, Concise Theology. Tyndale, 2001.
David Ford, Theology: A Very Short Introduction Very Short Introductions. Oxford University Press, 2000.

External links

The Nature and Function of Theology, by David Wells
The 7 Categories of Theology, by Michael J. Vlach
What is Theology? (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), by David Wayne