What is Doctrine/theology?

Let's begin with--

Doctrine and theology aren't the same thing. Theology is the study of God. Doctrine is a belief about God, or something to do with God, which has been made official in some church or other. A theologian can tell you all about doctrine, therefore.

Yes, I would say doctrine is beliefs, while theology is study of God and I would say this includes how things work spiritually. Both have a lot to do with what love is and how God's love works.

Actually - "doctrine" means teaching. Teachings can and should be based on the best theology available.

Titus 1:9
holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

doctrine...GREEK 1319...didaskalia...
II.teaching,INSTRUCTION
A.that which is taught, doctrine
B.teachings, precepts (TRUTHS?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology

Theology is the critical study of the nature of the divine.(God of the Bible)
It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities, seminaries, and schools of divinity.

The word doctrine means what is taught.

The word theology comes from the word theory.

In regard to the Bible specifically and within the various religious systems ... there are many theories of what it is actually saying ... based on a accepted theory(s) that is what is taught (doctrine) and they vary. Agree on some points and not on others. So people debate the differences.

Each of us are responsible to search the scriptures for ourselves. We are to do this to prove or disprove what is being taught (doctrine). However, many do not do this and just accept whatever doctrines (teachings) are being brought forth from whatever church they go to. Many do not even take their bibles with them to church.

Do not misunderstand what I am saying the Bible is not theory ... it is the true living word of God. However the understanding of it varies.

Jeremiah 29

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Recognize that the Bible is its own interpreter and that the meaning of words, texts, and passages is best determined by diligently comparing scripture with scripture. Search for overwhelming "evidence" .... scriptural evidence.

Always pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in the truth.

God Bless

eleos1954 said:

The word theology comes from the word theory.

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Wrong.

Theo = God, -ology = study of. (Greek based)

theory has a different etymology.

ok ... if you don't like the word theory .... then use theology then.

Dave-W said:

Actually - "doctrine" means teaching. Teachings can and should be based on the best theology available.

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The theology(s) differ .... and each present theirs as "the best".

One needs to study the Bible themselves ... in doing so they formulate what they believe and their personal relationship with Jesus ... and that can change over time, often does as their knowledge increases and new light is given them through the Holy Spirit leading them through the word of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth ... always.

Compare scripture with scripture.

Albion said:

Let's begin with--

Doctrine and theology aren't the same thing. Theology is the study of God. Doctrine is a belief about God, or something to do with God, which has been made official in some church or other. A theologian can tell you all about doctrine, therefore.

Click to expand...

Agreed. Basically, Theology is a verb. It's God talk. Doctrine is the conclusions that result from Theology (God Talk).

A bit off topic, but I always find the term "Theology" a bit of a joke. I mean the "study of God"? Doctrine is a bit neater, since Doctrines are man made and as a man made phenomenon, they can be studied like any other human endeavour.

But not Theology - He Himself has said (Isaiah 55:8- )

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

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What we mean by the "study of God' is the study of that part of Him which He's condescended to show us by revelation, whether in the natural world, the Scriptural and historical record, or our common humanity rooted in the fact we're made in His image (and even that is not very well defined).

jason_delisle said:

Agreed. Basically, Theology is a verb. It's God talk. Doctrine is the conclusions that result from Theology (God Talk).

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Theology is a noun. Any ology is a study of something.

eleos1954 said:

The word doctrine means what is taught.

The word theology comes from the word theory.

In regard to the Bible specifically and within the various religious systems ... there are many theories of what it is actually saying ... based on a accepted theory(s) that is what is taught (doctrine) and they vary. Agree on some points and not on others. So people debate the differences.

Each of us are responsible to search the scriptures for ourselves. We are to do this to prove or disprove what is being taught (doctrine). However, many do not do this and just accept whatever doctrines (teachings) are being brought forth from whatever church they go to. Many do not even take their bibles with them to church.

Do not misunderstand what I am saying the Bible is not theory ... it is the true living word of God. However the understanding of it varies.

Jeremiah 29

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Recognize that the Bible is its own interpreter and that the meaning of words, texts, and passages is best determined by diligently comparing scripture with scripture. Search for overwhelming "evidence" .... scriptural evidence.

Always pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in the truth.

God Bless

Click to expand...

Great verse from Jeremiah.

eleos1954 said:

The theology(s) differ .... and each present theirs as "the best".

One needs to study the Bible themselves ... in doing so they formulate what they believe and their personal relationship with Jesus ... and that can change over time, often does as their knowledge increases and new light is given them through the Holy Spirit leading them through the word of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth ... always.

Compare scripture with scripture.

Click to expand...

Well, indeed.

I once heard someone lecture on Biblical history, who said he had a theological doctoral assistant, who, when asked to look up something in the Bible, said she had never opened a Bible before.

Much of what I'm going to say has already been covered already by others in this thread.

Theology is the study of God, and by extension, nearly any religious topic. In Christianity theology is typically broken down into subcategories, such as Christology (theology of the Person of Christ), Pneumatology (theology of the Holy Spirit), Soteriology (theology about salvation), Eschatology (theology about last things) and so on.

Doctrine simply means "teaching", from the same Latin root from which we get "doctor" which originally just meant "teacher".

There's another term worth knowing as well, and that's dogma. Dogma is a Greek word that can mean "opinion" but also means "decree". Something held as dogma in Christianity is something that has been asserted as true, such as the dogma of the Trinity. Historically dogma is stronger than doctrine in ecclesiastical usage, but the two are probably more interchangeable today in an informal context. However, the word "dogma" has also gotten a bad reputation, and some are put off by it. But all dogma really means is something which is believed affirmatively. When we say "We believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead" we are expressing dogma, a dogmatic position that is absolutely crucial and central to Christian confession and belief.

It may be helpful to think of it like this: Theology is the language we use to speak about matters of faith, doctrine is when we articulate what it is we believe, and dogma is when we assert definitively what we believe. The last two are impossible without theology, because without language it is impossible to say anything.

-CryptoLutheran