Why study theology? For many, the word “theology” conjures up images of dry and dusty books on library shelves. For such people, theology is full of things that help no one, is impractical, and is concerned with the most obscure and pointless of questions. Theology conveys questions such as “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” It appears to many to be the very image of vain speculation and pointless navel gazing.
Such could not be further from the truth.
In truth, Theology is life. Theology is glory. Theology is pure joy. Theology is the most glorious, thrilling and exciting task that we can be about in this life or the next. And the reason for this is because theology is the study of God Himself. There is no Subject more grand, more glorious or more beautiful than God Himself. This means that there is no study more rich and rewarding than that of theology.
The reason that many have failed to appreciate the task of theology is because they believe that theology is boring. They believe that theology has no practical effect. But theology is not boring because it is about the one true and living God. And God is not boring!
Why study theology? Because it is about God Himself. It is about our Creator! It is about the One who is the very Foundation of our existence. It is about the One who has made us for Himself. It is about the One who designed and accomplished our salvation in Jesus Christ. It is about the One who has given us His Holy Spirit to be with us and guide us in His Word. It is about the great, the mighty, and the awesome God (Deuteronomy 10:17). What subject could be more exciting to study about than God?
If this is true, then what do we mean when we speak of studying theology? The study of theology is the study of who God is and what He has done. It is, as the medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas explained, “The study of God and all things in relation to God.” (Summa Theologiae, I. 1. 7, resp.) Theology studies, God Himself, and everything else as it is in relation to Him. Its primary focus is God. As theologian John Webster states, “God is the formal object of each Christian doctrine.”1
Theology studies God and everything else in connection to Him. And this is because everything has been made by Him, and so everything relates to Him as its Creator. “Through Him, all things were made, and apart from Him, nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) In studying God, we learn about the One who created the universe and all that is in it. We learn about the way in which all of creation comes from God and glorifies Him. We learn about how God made all things, and how all things return to Him.
And so what this means is that theology is eminently practical. Indeed, there is nothing more relevant, more practical or more important for our daily lives than Christian theology. Christian theology teaches us how our lives relate to God our Creator. Our marriages, our sustenance, our food, our labor, our relationships with our children and our parents are all to be understood in their relationship to God. We cannot properly understand our lives unless we see them in the presence of God. There is nothing more practical than the study of theology.
And at the same time, there is nothing deeper, more mysterious or more glorious than theology. There is no subject more rich, more powerful or more profound than God Himself. We will never exhaust the depth of truth about God. There will always be greater riches to discover when we learn about Him. No esoteric mystery can approach the depth of truth about God Himself.
And so theology leads us to truth about God. In order to be faithful to God, we must learn more about Him. And we learn about Him in order that we may love Him. This is what theology is all about.
1. John Webster, God without Measure, 4.
