Introduction to Christian Theology

Theology is literally “the study of or words about God.” More specifically, theology is “a human response to the revelation of God, done within and for the Christian church, which engages in critical reflection for responsible talk about God.” (Okholm) If done well, it guides the church in its worship and mission. Theology and worship should not be divorced: liturgy (literally “work done on behalf of the people”) is a source of theology (lex orandi, lex credendi—the law of praying is the law of believing), and, conversely, theology shapes liturgy. Theology that enables us to flourish the way God intended is dependent on God’s grace from beginning to end.

All theology is contextual. That means that, even though there is agreement on the essentials (such as the trinity, the human-divine Christ), as Anglicans there will be nuances in our theology that differentiate us from other Christian communities, such as Lutherans and Presbyterians. It is expected that candidates will be able to articulate these nuanced differences. Contextuality also means that the theologian must be aware of her cultural location as well, so it is important to be able to apply theology to the relevant culture (such as knowing how to address religious pluralism or individualism in contemporary Western culture). This ability also needs to be demonstrated by the candidate.

There are various divisions of labor within theology. These include: (1) fundamental theology (having to do with terminology and methodology); (2) biblical theology (investigating such issues as theologies within the Bible, canonical questions, and hermeneutics); (3) historical theology (exploring major figures, movements, and schools throughout the church’s life); (4) systematic theology (an orderly, comprehensive, and integrative presentation of the church’s beliefs for contemporaries); (5) moral theology (sometimes referred to as theological ethics); and (6) practical theology (which establishes the theological bases for liturgy, homiletics, and pastoral counseling).

As the definition mentions, theology responds to God’s revelation that comes to us in the Word made flesh who is known through the written Word that has been faithfully transmitted and proclaimed by the church through the centuries. The result is the faith by which we believe (trust) and the faith which we believe as it is expressed in the church’s creeds and confessions. Both aspects of faith are important: rules for playing tennis are essential for the game, but they also require players for it to be tennis.

Introduction to Christian Theology includes two subcategories:

1. Creeds
2. Heresies

Recommended Reading

Dennis Okholm, Learning Theology through the Church’s Worship: An Introduction to Christian Belief. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2018.

Alister McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction. 6th edition. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers, 2016.

Bernhard Lohse, A Short History of Christian Doctrine. Rev. American edition. Trans. F. Ernest Stoeffler. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1985.

Resources for Further Study

John Webster, Kathryn Tanner, Iain Torrance, eds. The Oxford Handbook of Systematic Theology. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2009.

Colin Gunton, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Timothy C. Tennent, Theology in the Context of World Christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007.

Anthony Thiselton. Approaching the Study of Theology: An Introduction to Key Thinkers, Concepts, Methods & Debates. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2018.

Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. 2nd edition. Louisville, KY: WJK Press, 2014.