Bible Students

Theology is the comprehensive understanding of what the Bible says about a certain topic. Now, there are at least three essential components of this study. First, theology must be an understanding. Second, theology should be comprehensive. Third, theology should center around the Bible. 

First, theology must be an understanding. Understanding does not come from a surface-level viewing of life or a text, but rather comes from diligent study. To understand through theology must be to vigorously study what God is like. Theology takes effort. Theology apart from effort is not theology at all, but rather a surface understanding of who God is (in the case of theology proper, though this applies to all other kinds of theology as well). This surface-level understanding is not a true reflection of theology, and will lead to many assumptions which are not true. 

Second, theology should be comprehensive. Theology can not be a look at only one small aspect of life or Scripture, but must take into account the whole of reality. One theological point should not be understood apart from another relevant theological point. For example, if Paul in the New Testament claims salvation is by faith alone but James in the New Testament claims faith without works is dead, these two claims can not be understood apart from each other. To understand theology comprehensively means to take into account all the Bible and experience say on a certain topic. 

Lastly, theology must be biblically based. There is such a thing as natural theology, where creation is sought to be understood on its own terms in order to give a picture of God. This is the study of general revelation, which gives some aspects of God all people can know through the observation of the universe. However, this is not the foundation for complex (studied) theology. General revelation does not give much direction, and can be much more easily misunderstood than special revelation, namely the Bible. The Bible must be the foundation for a theological understanding of the world and God. Scripture must be listened to if one is to understand theology. Listening to Scripture does not mean reading “proof-texts” for a certain position, but rather taking the text on its own terms and practicing proper hermeneutics. To understand theology biblically is to listen to all the Bible has to say, and to take that as the foundation for theological understanding. 

Theology can not be understood apart from those three essential aspects. It must be done with diligent study of the whole Bible. Theology can not stand apart from hard work. Theology can not make sense without examining what the whole Bible says about something. Theology will not have a proper foundation apart from the Bible. These three aspects of theology are what make it such an important practice today.