Theology is often perceived as an exclusively academic exercise, but J. I. Packer reminds us that “all theology is also spirituality”.
In chapters 7 and 8, Beeke and Smalley answer the question of ‘how’ we do theology—from both spiritual and academic lens.
How we do theology from a spiritual lens
The authors highlight ten spiritual requirements that are required for doing theology.
Be a follower of Christ. “Though not all disciples of Christ are called to the study and teaching of theology, all theologians and teachers in the church must be disciples of Christ”.
Recognize that the entire Bible is about Christ and his saving work—theology is an exercise of faith in Christ. “The Pharisees studied the Bible intensively, but their theology was distorted and deficient because they would not exercise faith in the Christ to whom the Bible witnesses” (John 5:38-39).
Pray for wisdom and understanding. “Our intellectual pride and self-sufficiency continually threaten to distort our theology. We combat this tendency by humbly praying for the Spirit’s illumination, without which we can see nothing”.
Study the word of God with trembling. “God promises mercy to those who fear His Word”. Therefore, we should approach the Bible “with meekness” (James 1:21). “If we read it with humility, God promises to be our Teacher (Psalm 25:9)”.
Submit our minds to God’s authoritative word. “We must do theology as believers in the truth of the Bible. We must study, write, and teach out of a solid conviction that God’s Word is truly perfect and perfectly true”.
Endure suffering for the sake of God’s word. People “who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. We swim “against the stream … and preach its doctrines and commands with patience endurance”.
Cultivate a spiritual appetite for God’s word. “Cultivate an attitude of Psalm 119:131 … and search [God’s word] as you would for buried treasure (Proverbs 2:4)”.
Pursue sound theology through a life of obedience. “Theology without application is like a horse without legs. indeed, to sever godliness from theology is to inflict a fatal wound upon our doctrine, for false hearts will yearn for false teaching”.
Be a faithful member of a faithful church. “The Christian theologian must seek not to walk alone … theologians need the church … faithfulness to God’s Word is a community project”.
Use theology to praise God. “Our studies should regularly move us to praise the Lord, and our highest aim in teaching and writing should be to lead others to worship the one true God”.
How we do theology from an academic lens
Gather a treasury of truth. It should be our “lifelong goal to bring forth treasure out of the Holy Scriptures that you can share with others”.
- Read the Bible systematically, completely, meditatively, and repeatedly
- Study particular books of the Bible, especially Romans
- Familiarize yourself with the ecumenical creeds and other confessions of the faith
- Keep your own ‘commonplace books’
- Be aware of yourself in your personal context
- Interact with thoughtful Christians of other cultures
Research a particular doctrine. “Only fools … write theology without carefully studying their subject first”. The authors provide eight principles for research:
- Focus on one strand of biblical teaching—avoid studying too broadly
- Collect biblical materials relevant to that strand
- Exegete particular texts linguistically, literally and theologically—interpret the meaning of any document written in the language of a particular time and place
- Interpret Scripture with Scripture
- Ask questions about meaning, intent, logic and application
- Locate texts in their covenantal and typological contexts—place a text in its larger biblical context
- Consult confessional statements
- Learn from great good books of the past—enter a theological conversation that has continued for two thousands years
Write systematic theology. “Although the oral presentation of theology has great power, evidenced in the preaching of the Word, theology has its broadest and most enduring impact when it is written. The process of writing is part of thinking through and formulating what you believe.” Hence Revinery! The authors provide twelve principles for writing good theology:
- Crystalize doctrine into clear, concise and contemporary statements
- Find illustrations in biblical narrative and metaphor
- Incorporate insights from extrabiblical sources
- Organize topics in an outline
- Develop a full, systematic, academic presentation
- Explore the relationships between doctrines
- Address current theological and ethical concerns
- Answer objections and refute errors
- Apply doctrine to experience and practice
- Simplify theology for use in the church and home
- Preach, teach, and publish widely
- Receive helpful criticism as God’s gift
This article is part of a series on systematic theology, based upon the first of four volumes of Reformed Systematic Theology by Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley.
