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Basic Theology: What We Believe & Why We Believe It
The Basics of Theology
“Theology is taught by God, teaches of God, and leads to God.” — Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
What Is Theology?
Types of Theology*
Ø Theology literally means “the ____________________ of
Biblical: Deals
systematically with the
historically conditioned
progress of the selfrevelation of God in the
Bible
____________________.”
Ø According to most Christian definitions, theology is both a
____________________ of and _________________________ about God.
Ø The word “theology” ____________________ appears in Scripture, but
a similar idea is communicated with “____________________” and
“____________________” (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:6, 16; 6:3-4; 2 Tim. 4:2;
Titus 1:9; 2 Jn. 9).
Ø “What the ____________________ of Jesus Christ ____________________,
____________________ and ____________________ on the basis of the
____________________ of God: this is Christian doctrine.” (Jaroslav
Historical: Shows how
the church has
formulated both truth
and error throughout its
history
Systematic: Correlates
the data of biblical
revelation as a whole in
order to exhibit
systematically the total
picture of God’s selfrevelation
*definitions from Charles
Ryrie’s Basic Theology
Pelikan1)
Theology & Religion
“Theological reflection is a way of examining our
praise, prayers, words and worship with the goal
of making sure they conform to God alone.”
Ø Theology ____________________ on religion.
—Kelly M. Kapic
o Religion consists of ____________________ and ____________________.
o Theology ____________________, ____________________, ____________________, and
____________________ religious ____________________.
o Theology ____________________ and ____________________ religious
____________________.
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Quoted in Michael F. Bird’s Evangelical Theology
© 2015 Community Bible Church | 201 Whittier Ave., Dunellen, NJ 08812 | www.communitybiblechurchnj.com
Basic Theology: What We Believe & Why We Believe It
Theology & the Bible
Ø Theology must be ____________________-based (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and ____________________centered (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
Ø Theology rests on the _________________________ and _________________________ of the Bible.
Theology & the Believer
Ø Theology is the _________________________ of every _________________________.
Ø Theology requires ____________________.
Ø Theology requires ____________________.
Ø Theology requires ____________________.
“I do not seek to understand in order that I
may believe, but I believe in order that I may
understand; for of this I feel sure, that, if I did
not believe, I would not understand.”
—Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033-1109)
Ø Theology requires __________________________________________________________ (1 Cor. 2:12-15).
Major Theological Divisions
Ø Bibliology (the study of the _________________________)
Ø Theology Proper (the study of the ___________________________)
Ø Angelology (the study of __________________________________________________)
Ø Anthropology (the study of ____________________)
Ø Hamartiology (the study of ____________________)
Ø Christology (the study of ___________________________________)
Ø Soteriology (the study of ______________________________)
Ø Pneumatology (the study of the _____________________________________________)
Ø Ecclesiology (the study of the _______________________________________________)
Ø Eschatology (the study of ________________________________________)
© 2015 Community Bible Church | 201 Whittier Ave., Dunellen, NJ 08812 | www.communitybiblechurchnj.com
Basic Theology: What We Believe & Why We Believe It
The Point of It All
“The chief end of theology is not the accumulation of theological propositions. Instead, it is
equipping of the hands to _________________________, the warming of the heart to
_________________________, and the arming of the mind to _________________________.”
(Michael F. Bird, Evangelical Theology)
Memory Verses:
1 Timothy 4:6
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give
you spiritual wisdom and revelation in
your growing knowledge of him”
2 Timothy 2:2
—Ephesians 1:17 (NET)
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Suggested Reading:
Kapic, Kelly M. A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology. Downers
Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2012.
Bibliography:
Bird, Michael F. Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2013.
Chafer, Lewis Sperry. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1993.
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
Frame, John M. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Philipsburg, NJ: P&R
Publishing Company, 2013.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 2000.
Oden, Thomas C. Systematic Theology, Vol. 1-3. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992-1994.
*Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth.
Chicago: Moody Press, 1999.
© 2015 Community Bible Church | 201 Whittier Ave., Dunellen, NJ 08812 | www.communitybiblechurchnj.com