Evangelical Theology Confusion

[Bible Highlighter]

Hi there, my name is Victoria, and I am currently in Bible college and one of my current classes is Christian Theology and I am really confused. I am reading a book called Evangelical Theology written by Karl Barth, and I am just overall confused, what is theology? What is the point to theology?

Theology currently does not make any sense to me, is there any way that someone would be able to explain theology to me in a way that would make sense to me and help me understand what is going on. I have to read a bunch of the book, and tomorrow I have a quiz on a different theology book from the same class. I just do not know what to do as theology is seeming to make no sense to me. Thanks!

Theology is defined as the study of the things of GOD. Theology can be doctrine (a teaching to apply to our lives) like the topic of Soteriology (The study of salvation), or it can be on the existence of something (like the tabernacle or temple) or someone like the study of the nature of GOD (in how He is spirit, and or how He is triune, i.e. GOD is a Trinity. God is three persons [i.e. The Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost], and yet God is also one God.). All of the study on the things of God in your Bible is called: Theology. "Theo" means God. The "logy" is a particular field of study.

Please take no offense, but I am against Bible schools for several reasons according to the Bible. Please consider my following points by way of prayer before you dismiss what I am about to say.

#1. God's Word talks about how His Word is free.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1).

True men of God will not charge you as a part of teaching His Word. Collections of money was only needed so as to further the gospel and giving is totally voluntary out of one's heart (See 2 Corinthians 9:7). Bible colleges are trying to imitate the world (secular colleges) and this is wrong. They are placing you into debt and that is not a loving thing to do to your neighbor (Yet, Jesus says it is more blessed to give than to receive). In the Bible, the early church met in each others homes and they studied the Word of God together. There was no need to get any fancy degrees on paper, etc.; And they certainly did not charge each other large amounts of money to gain any teachings from God's Word.​

#2. We can be taught God's Word by the Holy Ghost and not men.

1 John 2:27 says, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."​

#3. Study to show yourself approved unto God.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God. Letting others do all the study for you and then force feeding you is a violation of this verse. You need to study the Bible on your own by the leading of the Spirit and prayer and not in the wisdom of men.​

#4. Bible schools will indoctrinate you to a certain false way of thinking.

They think you will not be able to just read your Bible in the English and believe it. They think that the only way you can understand your Bible is by doing a study in the original languages. While original language studies can be helpful sometimes, they should not conflict with a normal reading of the Bible in English and they should not be the primary way we read, study, and understand the Bible because these languages are no longer in existence. Doing keyword studies can be helpful, but they have their place and time when we run into a word within a verse that we are not sure about. We should not attempt to re-write God's Word in what it says already in the English. No scholar in the past thousand years has actually grown up in Bible times to know what that language says. God inspired men to preserve His words in our language that we have today. Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes." The scribes are those who TRAN-scribed the Law or the Scriptures. The scribe of our day is the scholar. So we are to beware of the scholars. For they seek to change God's Word or make you not trust the Word of God in what it plainly says in your own language.​

#5. Some Christians have stopped believing in God because of Bible college.

Read this article here:
Can faith survive Bible college? - Premier Christianity​

#6. Most who go to Bible college do so as means to become a Pastor of their own church organization.

However, the popular church organizations today are an unbiblical form of fellowship. Actually, it really is not fellowship because many go to a church and never connect with anyone there.​

See these Christian Forum's threads here:

CF Thread - Pastor King.
CF Thread - God's Order in the Body of Christ.​

#7. Does the Bible teach that you are to go to a college and get a degree and then get a big building whereby you are to have rule over others who sit in it?

I would pray to GOD about these things and seek out the truth before you continue to attend something that the Bible speaks against.

Anyways, I hope this helps and may God bless you today.

 

[NeedyFollower]

Hi there, my name is Victoria, and I am currently in Bible college and one of my current classes is Christian Theology and I am really confused. I am reading a book called Evangelical Theology written by Karl Barth, and I am just overall confused, what is theology? What is the point to theology?

Theology currently does not make any sense to me, is there any way that someone would be able to explain theology to me in a way that would make sense to me and help me understand what is going on. I have to read a bunch of the book, and tomorrow I have a quiz on a different theology book from the same class. I just do not know what to do as theology is seeming to make no sense to me. Thanks!

Hi Sister ...May you pray about this but I think many believers have confused a knowledge of God with God . Martha was busy about many things but only one thing was needful and Mary had chosen the good part ...she was kneeling at the feet of Jesus .
We are born again by the Spirit of God . Please Him by accepting Him if you have not . Grades are only to impress men that we understand a concept but if Christ lives in us , how shall we grade Jesus ? What grade shall we put on love ? Knowledge puffs up but love edifies . My dear sister ...may you live your life unto God and not unto man . And may I do the same . At best , if Christ shall tarry a bit longer , you will graduate with honors but honors nor grades matter to God . Seek HIM . Grace and Peace through Jesus our Lord .

 

[zelosravioli]

Seems to me Martha wasn't distracted by theology... but with cleaning...

"... She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word"
Jesus is the Word, I would follow what Mary did and 'know' the 'words' of whom she knew. Jesus did ask elsewhere; "I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?
Spending time with Jesus also means 'learning' from Him - His Word - if someone wants to believe they can learn of God better 'without' scripture and study, God help you, but please don't counsel people to 'not' seek the counsel of study and with those who do.

Even Jesus spent time "sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions"... "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men"
Most every book of scripture speaks of studying, growing in, and learning the book of God, hundreds of verses speak of learning and understanding His word, we are even commanded to study and know His Words. It was the 'life' of the Israelite to know and study His words;
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63)
“Take to heart all these words I testify among you today, so that you may command your children to carefully follow all the words of this law. 47 For they are not idle words to you, because they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 32:47)

Yet I do know what you mean when you say "believers have confused a knowledge of God with God" it does seem that many a theologian can miss the truth, but the fault is not with theology the fault is with the sometimes unmoved heart of the reader (as the scripture says).

There are good doctors and bad doctors, that doesn't mean its wrong to pursue the study of medicine. There are good moms and bad moms, that doesn't mean its wrong to be a mom. You study to be the best Christian you can be, we need more wise and knowledgable Christians, not less.

 

[Cis.jd]

IMO, the denominations who have the most intelligent theological views are. The RCC, Orthodox, Lutherans, and Anglicans.. that doesn't mean other denominations are generally bad, there are a few members who have rational views examples are William L Craig, Ravi Zacharias, Lennox just to name a few.

 

[notreligus]

A universal definition of theology is that it is the study of God. It's that simple. An Evangelical theology by Barth would have to be divided into learning how to define Evangelicalism, and next that would have to be skewed toward Barth's views. I've not done extensive reading of Barth but, in my opinion, his views would lean toward humanist philosophy.

A class that a beginning Bible College student first needs is Christian Doctrine, which is doctrine studied alongside what can be found in the Scriptures to support it, not external studies by different theologians as to the definition of Evangelicalism or Barth-skewed Theology.

A Bible believer ought to be able to describe the overall message of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in a paragraph or less. A philosopher can waste a lot of bandwidth presenting his or her views which are geared toward the esoteric mindset.

 

[timothyu]

There is nothing wrong with being a student of our sovereign God.

Totally agree. We are to continually seek God. To do His will, not man's. We know from scripture there are two paths used by seekers, the wide one of the world and the narrow one of the Kingdom. The question remains which one do we follow. Do we learn what the world wants us to learn or what the Kingdom teaches? This is the separation Jesus taught, separation between man's Christianity and God's Christianity, not separation between denominations.

 

[timothyu]

My favorite definition of theology is the one supplied by Dr. John Frame. He says that theology is the application of Scripture to every area of life.

Exactly, not the other way around.

 

[timothyu]

A Bible believer ought to be able to describe the overall message of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in a paragraph or less.

Will of man vs will of God.

 

[Radagast]

#4. Bible schools will indoctrinate you to a certain false way of thinking.

This is a slander against the many Bible schools that are really good.

 

[timothyu]

This is a slander against the many Bible schools that are really good.

Perhaps the merit of said schools should be whether they teach the Gospel of the Kingdom as Jesus commanded/commissioned, or merely the tenets of their denomination?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hi there, my name is Victoria, and I am currently in Bible college and one of my current classes is Christian Theology and I am really confused. I am reading a book called Evangelical Theology written by Karl Barth, and I am just overall confused, what is theology? What is the point to theology?

Theology currently does not make any sense to me, is there any way that someone would be able to explain theology to me in a way that would make sense to me and help me understand what is going on. I have to read a bunch of the book, and tomorrow I have a quiz on a different theology book from the same class. I just do not know what to do as theology is seeming to make no sense to me. Thanks!

It is good to learn about Christian theology as there are many theological paths a Christian can take. Some are very straight forward , which I suspect you prefer however, there are TONS of other theological
teachings that both agree and contradict each other. Now the big question is.... how secure are you in your theology of the Christian faith? What you do not want to do is get confused as you are stating. The only way to see through the trees in the forest is to make sure you are grounded in the Word of God, test all things by His Word and when you do not agree with something, it could be the Holy Spirit leading you to the truth. After all that is what we all want but some never get there. Pray before your classes for God to give you discernment and clarity. If you are going to bible college to witness to others you will come across many different theological views of Christianity and it is good to have a solid foundation and understanding as well as the armor of God.
Blessings

 

[timothyu]

It is good to learn about Christian theology as there are many theological paths a Christian can take.

For whose benefit, God's or religions? One path. As Jesus said to Peter... the rock His church would be built upon was truth from God, not the opinions of man.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

 

[Radagast]

Hi Victoria, sure, there are plenty of folks around here who should be able to help you understand your theological schoolwork. Why don't you start off by telling us about two or three of the specific topics or ideas that are giving you the most trouble (and ask us any questions about those subjects that you'd like to as well) and we'll go from there

Great advice, but sadly it seems that CF has chased the OP away.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

This is a slander against the many Bible schools that are really good.

So charging lots of money for teaching the Word of God is good?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

For whose benefit, God's or religions? One path. As Jesus said to Peter... the rock His church would be built upon was truth from God, not the opinions of man.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

We must put on the Armor of God and that means to equip yourself.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

 

[timothyu]

We must put on the Armor of God and that means to equip yourself.

I agree.. with the will of God and His Kingdom. The armour of the upside down kingdom keeps us free of the worlds attempt to draw us back into it's self centred ways. It was the job that Jesus said the HS would be sent to aide, keeping us on the narrow path of the Kingdom. The armour being the will of God always triumphs over the will of man.

 

[marineimaging]

Hi there, my name is Victoria, and I am currently in Bible college and one of my current classes is Christian Theology and I am really confused. I am reading a book called Evangelical Theology written by Karl Barth, and I am just overall confused, what is theology? What is the point to theology?

Theology currently does not make any sense to me, is there any way that someone would be able to explain theology to me in a way that would make sense to me and help me understand what is going on. I have to read a bunch of the book, and tomorrow I have a quiz on a different theology book from the same class. I just do not know what to do as theology is seeming to make no sense to me. Thanks!

Victoria, I have one more thing to say. These comments are our opinions. There is no legal, absolute definition of theology we can all agree on.

 

[timothyu]

There is no legal, absolute definition of theology we can all agree on.

Which pretty well defines theology. Scripture defines itself..

 

[BobRyan]

Hi there, my name is Victoria, and I am currently in Bible college and one of my current classes is Christian Theology and I am really confused. I am reading a book called Evangelical Theology written by Karl Barth, and I am just overall confused, what is theology? What is the point to theology?

Theology currently does not make any sense to me, is there any way that someone would be able to explain theology to me in a way that would make sense to me and help me understand what is going on. I have to read a bunch of the book, and tomorrow I have a quiz on a different theology book from the same class. I just do not know what to do as theology is seeming to make no sense to me. Thanks!

That was posed yesterday so I am sure I "missed the quiz" that would have happened today.

Theo (God)
Ology (Study of)

Theology - study of God - study the things that God says.

Theology of a given denomination is the set of beliefs that they have about God and what He wants us to believe.

It is because the theology of one group differs with some other group that you have various divisions in the Catholic church and protestant churches and evangelical churches etc.

The "answer" is the same one that we see them using in Acts 17:11 "they studied the scriptures daily to SEE IF those things spoken to them by the Apostle Paul - were SO".

Do that and you will never go wrong.

Don't do that and you could easily end up in a maze of convoluted traditions and false teachings as Christ pointed out in Mark 7:6-13

 

[St. Helens]

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