Friday, January 24, 2014

Pieper, 1968. Chapter A8, "Christian Theology"

Chapter A8, “Christian Theology”

At this point, Pieper defines “theology.” Unlike “religion” the etymology is quite clear. Yet the term has both an objective and subjective sense. Subjectively it is knowledge of God. Objectively it is specific doctrine of God. Though the term is not used in the Bible it follows perfectly naturally from biblical ideas. Pieper identifies four specific meanings of “theology.”

1) Knowledge of God needed by public ministers and congregations (1 Timothy 3:2, 5).

2) Knowledge of God needed to train public teachers (2 Timothy 2:2).

3) Knowledge of God all Christians have (John 3:16).

4) Study of specific concepts pertaining to Christianity.

Theology, rightly viewed, is subject to the Bible. It does not go farther than the Bible teaches, into scientific speculation.

In Pieper’s work the term “theology” will generally refer to knowledge needed for public ministry.

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