Theology

Theologia Deum docet, a Deo docetur, ad Deum ducit (Theology teaches of God, is taught by God, and leads to God)

This saying was apparently a commonplace in the middle ages. Though it has often been attributed to Thomas Aquinas, scholars have been unable to locate the adage in the writings of the Angelicus Doctor (Angelic Doctor). Some speculate that the saying, being common as it was, became associated with the greatest theologian of that era—the one who had the greatest influence upon the Christian minds of the time.

Even if the precise origins of this maxim are uncertain, there is no doubt that it succinctly and accurately expresses the truth about what theology is.

Theology Teaches of God
First, theology is the science that teaches about God and His relations to the universe He has made. Theology is not a study of what has been believed about God throughout history, nor is it a study of the religious practices of the past. Theology seeks the ideal—truth about God Himself and His relationship to the universe He has made.

The goal of knowing and understanding God is an unattainable one, for the distance between man as a creature and God as the creator cannot be bridged by the human mind or efforts at inquiry. This brings us to the second truth contained in the old commonplace, theology “is taught by God.” 

Theology Is Taught by God
Among all sciences, theology is truly unique in this respect: it is the only one in which the object of study (God) initiates contact with the subject (the scientist; the theologian) and provides the medium by which He may be sought and known. That medium is revelation. The theologian must always remember that all revelation concerning God is revelation from God. It is self-revelation. By keeping this always in the forefront of his mind, the student of theology will be cognizant of the fact that he is wholly dependent upon the self-disclosure of the object of his study if he is to be successful in his pursuit of truth.

While God has made Himself known to man in nature (within man in his conscience and outside of man in nature), this revelation can only reveal to man the sovereignty and moral character of the eternal God. Only when God speaks to us immediately and by means of His voice do we know that He desires a personal, direct relationship with His creatures. It is in the divine act of speaking that He reveals to us something of our ultimate purpose—to know, love, adore, and worship the God who gave us our existence.

In our study of theology then, we must see the Bible—the inspired Word of God—as being of primary importance, for in it God has caused to be written the full revelation of Himself for the present age.

Theology Leads to God
The third truth communicated by the ancient maxim is that our goal in theology is the knowledge of God as our creator, sustainer, redeemer, and glorifier. God’s record of His earliest revelation teaches this truth. God’s communication with Adam before the fall demonstrates that God created man in order to have a relationship with Him. This was not because of any lack on God’s part. It is a mystery concerning the divine will: that He would create so that He might redeem, so that He might be worshipped for eternity future by an innumerable company of grateful saints.

After the Children of Israel were redeemed out of Egypt, God commanded the Israelites through Moses to teach their children about the great and mighty acts that God had done in delivering them out of the Pharaoh’s cruel bondage. They were to teach their sons as they went about their lives, doing their work. God Himself is the paradigm for this command, for He acts in history to save His people and then inspires the human writer to record for posterity the events themselves and their significance.

God revealed Himself ultimately in His Son, Jesus Christ, by whom also he accomplished redemption for all His elect. All of the Old Testament history and prophecy points forward to the work of Christ. All of the New Testament writings reflect upon the significance of His life, death, and resurrection and point us forward to the hope of His glorious return and final consummation of His Kingdom.

Types of Theology Courses Taught at New Albion Academy
Theology courses taught in the Schools of Rhetoric and Poetics are are divided into three categories:

1. Systematic Theology Classes
2. Biblical Theology Classes
3. Apologetics Classes

Systematic Theology
Systematic Theology uses an inductive method for the investigation of the Scriptures in order to present the Bible’s teachings in a systematic way. Systematic Theology seeks to understand and organize, in a logical fashion, the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. Systematics courses at New Albion follow an historically accepted flow of logical development beginning with who God is, the nature and attributes of God, and the revelation of God to who man is in relation to God, the doctrine of sin, the doctrine of salvation, and so on.

Biblical Theology
Biblical Theology differs in that it proceeds from the beginning of the record of God’s works and words through each successive stage, to the climax of world history, to the full realization of the “age to come” ushered in at Christ’s return. These are recorded and predicted in Scripture in chronological order. The organizing principle in Biblical Theology, then, is history—the history of God’s redemptive words and deeds. (Redemptive means “saving.” After the fall of Adam, God’s revelation focuses on His work of accomplishing salvation.)

To see more clearly the difference between Systematic and Biblical Theologies, an example might be helpful. Imagine a botanist who conducts a very thorough and systematic study of a flower. He first identifies all the various parts of the plant and flower such as roots, stem, leaves, and petals. Then he dissects these several parts and studies them in the minutest detail. As he proceeds he catalogs all the parts, and diagrams and maps the organic processes such as photosynthesis and pollination to show how all the elements of the plant function together as a single living organism. This is similar to Systematic Theology.

Now imagine this botanist has a colleague who looks at the same flower but focuses on the beauty of the flower in its full blossom. He proceeds to study the flower by asking where the flower came from. He asks, “What was in the germ or seed and what were the various stages of development that the seed, sprout, stem, and leaves underwent in the process leading up the full flowering of the plant?” This is roughly analogous to Biblical Theology.

Apologetics
The history of the Church of Christ and of His people is one of struggle against the powers of darkness in this world. False teachers have arisen within the Church to lead her astray and enemies outside the Church have attacked the faith relentlessly.

The work of the Christian apologist is to stand for truth in the world as well as to maintain orthodoxy in the Church. Apologetics courses focus on defending the reasonableness of the faith and the truths of orthodoxy, bringing the Gospel to the lost, and evaluating anti-Christian philosophies.

Pedagogy
Systematic Theology classes at New Albion teach students to search the Scriptures and reason from the diversity of the textual evidence to a defined doctrine. Students are encouraged to heed the guidance of historical Protestant confessions and to recognize the progress of the Church in understanding the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures.

Biblical Theology courses lead students through the history of redemption, helping them to understand what God has revealed about Himself and His work done on our behalf. Students are taught how to read and understand the Scriptures as an inspired history of salvation. As a part of these studies, students gain a thorough knowledge of Biblical History, the Biblical books, and a hermeneutic that recognizes Christ Jesus as the central theme and focus of all of Scripture.

Apologetics classes focus on defending the historic Christian Faith against the attacks of a hostile world. Students are taught to analyze cultural productions in the light of their Christian Worldview. They also learn to identify the man-centered philosophies that influence our culture and impact the Church, threatening orthodoxy. Students study methods of personal evangelism so that they are better prepared to witness outside the Church.