- by Carrie Shaw
- on August 10, 2025
Theology Isn’t Just An Academic Exercise
As someone pointed out to me recently, and quite rightly so, the word theology can sound somewhat academic. Something relegated to dry and dusty libraries, for men with stiff upper lips and starched upper collars.
Or perhaps for men (or women! – depending where you land theologically on the conversation of women in ministry) of a younger vintage, wearing far trendier outfits – yet still contained within Bible Colleges or Christian study halls.
This is a legitimate perception. For many, theology is experienced as the dry accumulation or recitation of complicated biblical information – terms like atonement theory and dispensationalism, or debates about the nature of evil and predestination.
But this is to miss the heart of theology, which is not about jargon or theories but about God revealing Himself and drawing us into relationship.
The truth is that theology isn’t just for the faithful few, those who may plan to preach or teach, but for every Christian – young or old, new to faith or seasoned in the journey. And theology isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s purpose is to know God, to seek His truth, and to live in light of His Word.
Theology is for everyone.
What is Theology?
The word theology comes from two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word, reason, or study). Quite simply, theology means the study or understanding of God.
Theology, in the Christian sense, is the noble and thoughtful reflection on God, His nature, His purposes, and His works – in its fullest sense as He has revealed Himself in Scripture and in Jesus Christ.
Theology not only helps us to know God but also to know ourselves, to discover our true identity and purpose, and to understand ourselves and our place in this great narrative that God has written.
So, theology, at its heart, is not about cold theories or the accumulation of knowledge, for the sake of knowledge alone. As St Anselm put it, it is “faith seeking understanding” (Isaiah 55:8-9; John 17:3). It is the effort of the human mind and heart to respond to God’s self-revelation and to grow in His truth.
In his Proslogion, St Anselm wrote that he did not seek to understand in order to believe, but rather he believed in order to understand.
Theology, then, is not detached reasoning but a prayerful journey where mind and heart are engaged as God leads us deeper into His mystery, sharpening our belief by undergirding it with a fuller understanding of Him and His ways.
Why every Christian should be a theologian
The word theologian, like theology, seems like it should be reserved for just a few.
And it’s true that not everyone will be a theologian in the formal sense that we often use the word. A deep and exhaustive understanding of Scripture, the God revealed in Scripture and of His Son, Jesus Christ, is perhaps the realm of but a few outstanding, Spirit-filled minds.
But when we speak of the great theologians of the past, we do not mean armchair academics but men and women whose lives and words were steeped in Christ. Their theology was forged in prayer, holiness, and at times even persecution, not just in the writing of sermons or reading of books, but in the traverse of real life and human experience.
One of my favourite theologians is John, author of the Gospel and Revelation. His writings, particularly the early chapters of his gospel, reveal a deep and profound understanding of the Word who came and made His dwelling among us and who was, as John says, the life and light of humanity.
But John’s depth of understanding isn’t limited only to a theoretical knowledge of God; it becomes practical and life-giving, expressed in his insistence that to know God is to walk in love. He demonstrates that theology, at its best, leads us into humility, worship, and relationship – a vibrant and robust framework for good living and Christ-centred love.
The Study of God Starts With His Revelation
By His Word, God has revealed both His character and His purposes. The starting point, therefore, for anyone genuinely and prayerfully seeking to know God is to read his Word and to know the Word, as revealed in the Bible.
It’s not just reading the Bible occasionally, but often, knowing its story, themes, and truth. It’s familiarising ourselves with the words and stories within, all of which reveal the heart and character of its author.
Ultimately, it’s about knowing and believing in Jesus, the One through whom the invisible God is revealed
As we go deeper into Scripture, we begin to realise that true theology centres on the cross and the resurrection, flowing out from this blood-soaked and tear-stained heart.
The cross of Christ is not just the centre of Christian faith, it is the place where heaven’s deepest truths are made visible. It is the moment where God’s justice and love converge in perfect unity. Not just theological theory, it’s the beating heart of Christianity – the place where the rubber hits the road, so to speak.
And it is inseparably joined to the resurrection, which stands as the promise and security of God: the assurance that sin is defeated, death has been conquered, and new life is ours in Christ.
Reading the Bible is essential, not optional, for anyone who longs to know Christ and walk in his ways. It shapes our understanding of God and grounds us in His truth, giving answers for life, providing a framework for moral clarity, and centering our Christian witness on this truth: “first we were loved, now we love.”
Can we know God without reading the Bible?
In one sense, yes. The Apostle Paul writes that God has made Himself known through creation itself: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made” (Romans 1:20).
This is what is often called general revelation. We can look at the stars, the sea, or the order of creation and recognise that there is a Creator.
But to truly know God – His character, His love, His saving work in Christ – we need what the Church calls special revelation, which is found in Scripture and supremely in Jesus himself.
John (my favourite theologian!) says, “No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known” (John 1:18). So, while creation can point us to God, it is His Word – both written in the Bible and living in Christ – that reveals Him fully and personally. Without the Word, we may sense God’s existence, but we will not know His heart.
Why Theology Matters
Remember, theology is the study of God. At its deepest core, it is faith seeking understanding.
St Gregory the Theologian once said that a true theologian is not just someone who speaks about God but someone who prays and lives in communion with Him.
Theology matters because it teaches us God’s ways, His thoughts, His moral nature, and His holy character. It informs our decisions, providing a foundation for life and a framework of good living that is not only for our flourishing but also honouring to God.
It equips us for the challenges of life, shaping how we love, act, and make real-world decisions.
Knowing the Bible helps us to know God Himself, giving depth to our experiences and grounding us in a robust sense of purpose.
It’s true that a doctrine-centric faith can be dry and rigid, in danger of drifting into detached and arrogant self-assurance, but a “Bible-illiterate” faith drifts into sentimentality and error, risking building on feelings or culture instead of God’s truth.
Both extremes, of course, miss the balance: the call to theological depth made alive and vibrant by the shadow of the cross and the light of the resurrection.
“The antidote to cultural superficiality isn’t shorter sermons, concert-level productions, or publicity stunts – it’s theological depth.“
Biblical Literacy Is Imperative
At its heart, theology is worship – not dry theory but faith seeking understanding, a response of mind and heart to the God who has revealed Himself.
And if theology is worship, then biblical literacy is imperative.
Without the Word, our faith drifts toward sentimentality or culture, but with it, our worship is anchored in truth. To know the Scriptures is to know Christ, and to know Christ is to live in His love.
Some might argue that we don’t need Scripture, only the Holy Spirit. But this is a false choice, because the Spirit and the Word always work together.
The Holy Spirit is the one who makes Scripture come alive. Without Him, the Bible can remain words on a page, studied like any other book.
But by the Spirit’s work, those same words pierce our hearts, reveal Christ, and transform our lives. Jesus Himself said that the Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13) and remind us of everything He taught (John 14:26).
So, while someone might argue we only need the Spirit, the Spirit Himself directs us to the Word. He inspired the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), and He delights to illuminate them for us so we see Jesus more clearly.
To set the Word and the Spirit against each other is to create a false dichotomy; the two always work together. The Spirit is the teacher; Scripture is His textbook.
This is why theology matters for every believer: because to study God is to adore Him, and to adore Him is to be transformed.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).
