Comprehensive Theology Notes

What is Theology?

  • It considers the existence and nature of the divine being
  • It is the systematic study and presentation of God

Roots and Origins

  • The word theology was first used by the Greek philosopher Plato, for whom theology meant a rational conception of the divine, as opposed to the poetic myths about the gods in his The Republic
  • The Latin phrase Theologia Deum docet, a Deo docetur, ad Deum ducit: "Theology teaches of God, is taught by God, and leads to God." (Church Fathers)

Historical Timeline

  • 500500 – 15001500 CE: Europe’s Golden Years
    • Theology became an academic field, or science
    • With the rise of the medieval universities, theological faculties began to emerge, and theology itself came to be defined as a science like other sciences (Medieval Era)

Approaches in Learning Theology

  • Fides quaerens intellectum: Faith seeking understanding (St. Anselm of Canterbury)
  • Quote: “It is by doubting that we come to investigate, and by investigating that we recognize the truth.” (Peter Abelard)

Five Areas We Can Do Theology

  • Naïve Theology
    • A basic, unreflected approach to theological questions
  • Lay Theology
    • More reflection on learned theological concepts; Formulates a doctrine of essentiality; critique of unfounded tradition
  • Professional Theology
    • Works with pastoral and lay theologians; conducts practical original research; critically evaluates common theological trends and folk theology
  • Ministerial Theology
    • Refined reflections; educated theological methodology; uses tools and resources at a more effective level; working on knowledge of the languages; ability to critique personal theology; devotes more time for reflection
  • Academic Theology
    • Overly speculative and critical; dialogue with other theologians only; unspiritual theology; tends to follow the academic status quo

Theology is for Everyone

  • The question is, is our theology grounded enough in the Truth and only to the truth? Theology is for everyone!

Four Main Categories of Theology

  • Biblical Theology
  • Historical Theology
  • Practical/Pastoral Theology
  • Systematic Theology

Biblical Theology

  • It is a study of the theology of the Old Testament and the New Testament
  • It involves exegetical studies of the biblical text in the original languages
  • Divisions: Old Testament Theology; New Testament Theology

Historical Theology

  • It is a study of Church History and the historical development of theological concepts, teaching, and confessions
  • It also studies the histories of theologies and dogmatic
  • Divisions: Ancient Theology (1st Century–AD 590); Medieval Theology (AD 590–1517); Reformation Theology (AD 1517–1750); Modern/ Contemporary Theology (AD 17501750–Present)

Practical/ Pastoral Theology

  • It is the theological study of ministerial practice
  • Subtopics: Moral Theology (Ethics); Worship (Liturgy); Sermon (Homiletics); Pastoral Care (e.g., Hospital/ School Chaplaincy); Community Care; Administration and Leadership; Educational Work in School and Community (Pedagogy of Religion); Missiology (nature, history, purpose, and procedure of Missions)

Systematic Theology

  • It is a systematic and logical presentation of the content of Christian faith (dogmatics) and the foundation of the Christian way of life (ethics)

Contents of Systematic Theology

  • Revelation and Faith
  • Christology (Doctrine of Christ)
  • Pneumatology (Doctrine of the Holy Spirit)
  • Angelology and Demonology (Doctrine of Angels and Demons)
  • Cosmology (Doctrine of Creation)
  • Anthropology and Hamartiology (Doctrine of Man and Sin)
  • Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation)
  • Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church)
  • Sacramentology (Church’s Sacraments)
  • Eschatology (Doctrine of Last Things)

Theology 1

  • By studying (our) Christian Theology, we seek to help one another to:
    • deeply understand one’s own religious tradition
    • understand another religious tradition
    • enable us to explore the nature of divinity without reference to any specific tradition

Why We Study Theology?

  • It helps us propagate, reform, or justify (our) Catholic religious tradition; or it may be used to compare, challenge (e.g., biblical criticism), or oppose (e.g., irreligion) a religious tradition or worldview
  • It helps us address some present situation or need through a religious tradition, or to explore possible ways of interpreting the world

My Take

  • Our course is not only a subject requirement, but our means to see Christ more clearly, love Christ more dearly and follow Christ more nearly