The discipline of theology is, at its heart, quite simple. It is a discipline which seeks to explore and put words to who God is and what he is like. Yet, theology is also a discipline which is wide-ranging and expansive. Theology incorporates, under one umbrella, our reflections on humanity, the created world, sacred texts, spiritual experiences, the concept of divinity, the nature of the church, and so much more.
In academia, a number of terms have developed over time to signify certain ‘areas’ of theology. These terms are also used in the church when considering doctrinal issues or in day-to-day pastoral or preaching work. Knowing these different areas can help us to recognise the different ways that we can do theology as theologians in the 21st century.
Here is a brief overview of some of the main areas of theology:
As the name suggests, in systematic theology we think systematically about what we believe. It is a systemic approach where we explore the different areas of theology, with a general emphasis on doctrine.
Systematic theology concerns what we believe and why we believe it. In other words, it is our doctrinal foundation. How do we know what to believe? What doctrines do we hold to and how do we arrive at those conclusions? This is the realm of systematic theology.
Biblical Theology (or biblical studies) is the area of theology which concerns itself with the study of the Bible. It is in biblical studies that we inspect the biblical text, we seek to hear God’s voice, and we look to apply its teachings effectively to our day-to-day lives. While the Bible informs all the different areas of theology, it is in biblical studies that we deal exclusively with the biblical text and how it fits into the Bible’s overall story.
In biblical theology, we have two separate sub-categories of Old and New Testament studies. In academia, people generally specialize in one or other of these categories. However, both Old and New Testament studies fall under the umbrella of biblical studies.
Historical theology merges the disciplines of both theology and history. In this area of theology, we look at history through a theological lens, asking questions to do with the theological implications and theological significance of certain events.
A main part of historical theology is church history. In church history, we look at the development of the church and we reflect on what the church through time can teach us about the character and nature of God.
Practical theology is all to do with how theology looks in practice. It deals with the practical, day-to-day implications of our theological study. What does theology actually look like when lived out in different contexts? What difference does theology make to our day-to-day lives?
While all the areas of theology have clear practical implications, when engaging in practical theology we specifically look at the topic of theology through the lens of practice. It is here that we consider what difference theology makes to our personal lives, our work, our homes, and our families.