Basic Theology: What We Believe & Why We Believe It

1 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*
Theology literally means the ____________________ of
Biblical: Deals
____________________. systematically with the
historically conditioned
progress of the self-
revelation of God in the
According to most Christian definitions, theology is both a Bible
____________________ of and _________________________ about God. Historical: Shows how
the church has
formulated both truth
The word theology ____________________ appears in Scripture, but and error throughout its
history
a similar idea is communicated with ____________________ and
Systematic: Correlates
____________________ (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:6, 16; 6:3-4; 2 Tim. 4:2; the data of biblical
revelation as a whole in
Titus 1:9; 2 Jn. 9). order to exhibit
systematically the total
picture of Gods self-
What the ____________________ of Jesus Christ ____________________, revelation

____________________ and ____________________ on the basis of the *definitions from Charles

Ryries Basic Theology
____________________ of God: this is Christian doctrine. (Jaroslav
Pelikan1)
Theological reflection is a way of examining our
praise, prayers, words and worship with the goal
Theology & Religion of making sure they conform to God alone.

Kelly M. Kapic
Theology ____________________ on religion.

o Religion consists of ____________________ and ____________________.

o Theology ____________________, ____________________, ____________________, and

____________________ religious ____________________.

o Theology ____________________ and ____________________ religious

____________________.

1
Quoted in Michael F. Birds 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

Theology must be ____________________-based (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and ____________________-
centered (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Theology rests on the _________________________ and _________________________ of the Bible.

Theology & the Believer

Theology is the _________________________ of every _________________________.

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
Theology requires ____________________. not believe, I would not understand.

Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033-1109)

Theology requires ____________________.

Theology requires __________________________________________________________ (1 Cor. 2:12-15).

Major Theological Divisions

Bibliology (the study of the _________________________)

Theology Proper (the study of the ___________________________)

Angelology (the study of __________________________________________________)

Anthropology (the study of ____________________)

Hamartiology (the study of ____________________)

Christology (the study of ___________________________________)

Soteriology (the study of ______________________________)

Pneumatology (the study of the _____________________________________________)

Ecclesiology (the study of the _______________________________________________)

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:
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 Christ, the Father of glory, may give
you spiritual wisdom and revelation in
1 Timothy 4:6 your growing knowledge of him
2 Timothy 2:2 Ephesians 1:17 (NET)

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