Part 1 - Who Needs Theology?
Who Needs Theology? • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsAnyone who wants to think clearly about God, believe sincerely, and live differently.
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Who Needs Theology?
Concepts and Definitions:
The•ol•o•gy \thē-ˈä-lə-jē\ noun
Origin of Word:
1. The word “theology,” from theos meaning God and logos meaning rational expression, means the rational interpretation of religious faith in God. Messianic theology thus means the rational interpretation of faith in God.
The word “theology,” from theos meaning God and logos meaning rational expression, means the rational interpretation of religious faith in God.
Theology thus means the rational interpretation of faith in God.
2. At least three elements are included in that general concept of theology.
At least three elements are included in that general concept of theology.
Theology is intelligible. It can be comprehended by the human mind in an orderly, rational manner.
a. Theology is intelligible. It can be comprehended by the human mind in an orderly, rational manner.
a. In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. –
In pointing out these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Messiah Yeshua, nourished in the words of the faith and the sound teaching that you have been following.
b.
He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message in keeping with the teaching, so he can both encourage by instruction that is sound and convict those who speak against it.
Theology requires explanation. This, in turn, involves exegesis and systematization (see above).
Theology finds its source in the Bible, so theology will be a Bible-based study.
Theology, then, is the discovery, systematizing, and presentation of the truths about God.
Make every effort to present yourself before God as tried and true, as an unashamed worker cutting a straight path with the word of truth.
For the time will come when they will not put up with sound instruction, but they will pile up for themselves teachers in keeping with their own desires, to have their ears tickled.
When you come, bring the cloak which I left with Carpus in Troas, along with the scrolls, and especially the parchments.
For the time will come when they will not put up with sound instruction, but they will pile up for themselves teachers in keeping with their own desires, to have their ears tickled.
b. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. –
c.
Theologies can be cataloged in various ways.
By era:
1. (1) By era: i.e., patristic theology, medieval theology, reformation theology, modern theology.
Patristic theology
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Patristic Era
From the Greek patēr, a term pertaining to the first few centuries of the church after the writing of the NT or to the early church fathers or writers of that period (generally A.D. 100–750). The patristic era began after the death of the apostles and was followed by the Middle Ages. Important patristic authors include such luminaries as Irenaeus, Origen, Tertullian, the Cappadocian fathers and Augustine.
Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 89.
Medieval theology
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Medieval, Medieval Theology
Pertaining to the period generally described as the Middle Ages, which some date beginning as early as the seventh century and ending as late as the sixteenth. Medieval theology was chiefly concerned with systematizing and organizing Christian truth as it had been developed by the leading thinkers of the patristic era. This led eventually to the writing of the great theological treatises that encompassed the entire body of Christian teaching. The flowering of medieval theology came in the so-called high Middle Ages (the twelfth and thirteenth centuries), especially in the work of Thomas Aquinas, such as in his Summa Theologica (summary of theology).
Stanley Grenz, David Guretzki, and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 76.
Reformation theology
Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms Reformed Tradition, Reformed Theology
The tradition and theological framework that grew out of the teachings of John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli, as distinct from the Lutheran and Anabaptist traditions. Reformed theology focuses foundationally on God’s glory and often emphasizes divine sovereignty as a crucial beginning point for theological reflection
Modern theology
2. (2)By viewpoint: i.e., Arminian theology, Calvinistic theology, Catholic theology, Barthian theology, liberation theology, etc.
By viewpoint:
Arminian theology
Calvinistic theology
Catholic theology
Messianic theology
Barthian theology
Liberation theology
Feminist theology
By focus:
3. (3) By focus: i.e., historical theology, biblical theology, systematic theology, apologetic theology, exegetical theology, etc. Some of these distinctions are very important to anyone who studies theology.
Historical theology - focuses on what those who studied the Bible thought about its teachings either individually or collectively as in the pronouncements of church councils.
Historical theology focuses on what those who studied the Bible thought about its teachings either individually or collectively as in the pronouncements of church councils. It shows how the church has formulated both truth and error and serves to guide the theologian in his own understanding and statement of doctrine. A student can be more efficient in coming to his own understanding of truth by knowing the contributions and mistakes of church history.
Historical theology focuses on what those who studied the Bible thought about its teachings either individually or collectively as in the pronouncements of church councils.
It shows how the church has formulated both truth and error and serves to guide the theologian in his own understanding and statement of doctrine.
A student can be more efficient in coming to his own understanding of truth by knowing the contributions and mistakes of church history.
Biblical theology - deals systematically with the historically conditioned progress of the self-revelation of God in the Bible.
Biblical theology deals systematically with the historically conditioned progress of the self-revelation of God in the Bible.
Biblical theology
The results of the study of biblical theology must be presented in a systematic form. In this it is like other areas of biblical and theological studies.
Biblical theology pays attention to the soil of history in which God’s revelation came. It investigates the lives of the writers of the Bible, the circumstances that compelled them to write, and the historic situation of the recipients of their writings.
biblical theology has a much sharper focus than that. It deals systematically with the historically conditioned progress of the self-revelation of God in the Bible.
Biblical theology studies revelation in the progressive sequence in which it was given.
It recognizes that revelation was not completed in a single act on God’s part but unfolded in a series of successive stages using a variety of people.
The Bible is a record of the progress of revelation, and biblical theology focuses on that. By contrast, systematic theology views revelation as a completed whole.
Biblical theology finds its source material in the Bible.
Biblical theology finds its source material in the Bible.
Biblical theology studies revelation in the progressive sequence in which it was given. It recognizes that revelation was not completed in a single act on God’s part but unfolded in a series of successive stages using a variety of people. The Bible is a record of the progress of revelation, and biblical theology focuses on that. By contrast, systematic theology views revelation as a completed whole.
Systematic theology - Systematic theology correlates the data of biblical revelation as a whole in order to exhibit systematically the total picture of God’s self-revelation.
Systematic theology
Systematic theology
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 14.
Systematic theology
Systematic theology
Systematic theology correlates the data of biblical revelation as a whole in order to exhibit systematically the total picture of God’s self-revelation
Apologetic theology
To summarize: Theology is the discovery, systematizing, and presentation of the truths about God.
Historical theology accomplishes this by focusing on what others throughout history have said about these truths.
Exegetical theology
Biblical theology does this by surveying the progressive revelation of God’s truth.
Systematic theology presents the total structure
Some Presuppositions
To summarize: Theology is the discovery, systematizing, and presentation of the truths about God. Historical theology accomplishes this by focusing on what others throughout history have said about these truths. Biblical theology does this by surveying the progressive revelation of God’s truth. Systematic theology presents the total structure
The Basic Presupposition - consciously or unconsciously everyone operates on the basis of some presuppositions.
Consciously or unconsciously everyone operates on the basis of some presuppositions
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 16.
Beth El Shalom’s Two Basic Presuppositions
The Bible is True
The Resurrection of Yeshua is Historical Fact
Beth El Shalom’s Interpretative Presuppositions
Accurate theology rests on sound biblical exegesis.
The Peshat method represents the best exegetical method for understanding the bible.
Normal
Plain
Historical
Grammatical
Literary
The Unity of Scripture and Priority of the Brit Chadashah - The new is in the old concealed; the old is in the new revealed.
The Legitimacy of Proof Texts
Ryrie’s Basic Theology C. The Legitimacy of Proof Texts
proof texts must be used properly, just as footnotes must be. They must actually be used to mean what they say; they must not be used out of context; they must not be used in part when the whole might change the meaning; and Old Testament proof texts particularly must not be forced to include truth that was only revealed later in the New Testament
The Limitations of a Theological System
The Student of Theology
She Must be a Believer -
But God revealed these things to us through the Ruach. For the Ruach searches all things—even the depths of God. For who among men knows the things of a man, except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the things of God except the Ruach Elohim. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God—so we might come to know the things freely given to us by God. These things we also speak—not in words taught by human wisdom but in words taught by the Ruach, explaining the spiritual to the spiritual. Now a natural man does not accept the things of the Ruach Elohim, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. But the one who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is discerned by no one. For “who has known the mind of Adonai, that he will instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Messiah.
She must prioritize faith -
Now anyone you forgive, I also forgive. For indeed, what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything), I did it for you in the presence of Messiah, so that we might not be outwitted by satan—for we are not ignorant of his schemes. Now when I arrived in Troas for the Good News of Messiah, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother. So I said farewell to them, and I set out for Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who in Messiah always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us reveals everywhere the aroma of the knowledge of Himself. For we are the aroma of Messiah to God, among those who are being saved and those who are perishing— to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. Who is competent for these things?
But we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” So we also believe, and therefore we also speak, knowing that the One who raised the Lord Yeshua will raise us also with Yeshua, and will bring us with you into His presence. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace that is spreading through more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow—to the glory of God.
She must use all rational process available -
I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice—holy, acceptable to God—which is your spiritual service. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
She must depend on the Holy Spirit -
“I still have much more to tell you, but you cannot handle it just now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; but whatever He hears, He will tell you. And He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. For this reason I said the Ruach will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.”
Come Holy Spirit and light a fire in our heart. For if you are with us nothing else matters, if you are not with us nothing else matters. - Barbara Brown Taylor
She must be open minded -
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and correct you, and to esteem them beyond all measure in love because of their work. Keep shalom among yourselves.
Whoever loves knowledge loves correction, but whoever hates reproof is stupid.
What Kind of Questions Does Theology Answer?
What is ultimate reality?
What is the nature of the world around me?
What is it to be human?
What happens to a person at death?
Why is it possible to know anything at all?
What is the meaning of human history?
Why does pain and evil exist?
What is the purpose of my life and core commitments I must make?
What is family?
And a thousand, thousand other questions!!!!
Who Needs Theology?
Anyone who wants to think clearly about God, believe sincerely, and live differently.
think clearly about God
believe sincerely
live differently.