In the monotony of everyday work people with glazed eyes sometimes ask, “Why am I doing my job?” The pastor/theologian can get to this place too. Studying the Bible and theology for the church to prepare sermons, lessons, and life can become monotonous.
In reading Richard Muller’s, Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics I came across some encouraging words from Johann Alsted on what the work of theology is and some reasons for studying theology.
The scope of studying theology takes in the church and the world. Calvin laboured in Scripture, preaching and teaching so that people in the church and world might hear the gospel and be saved on that final day. Alsted put it this way, “The work of academic theology…is the activity that occupies the student in his study of divine things for the sake of teaching them to others. The scope of theological study seeks the glory of God and the eternal blessedness of the believer and, in a less ultimate sense, the perfection of the intellect, will, and speech: it is an effort of the whole person that relates directly to the conforming of that person to the image of God” (Muller, vol.1, Pg. 211).
This leads me to list Alsted’s five reasons for studying theology. I paraphrase them here.
1. Its divine origin.
2. The majesty of its arguments. It is about Christ, the wisdom of God; and how to live the life of faith in union with Christ.
3. The use and goal of the theology is eternal life and the glory of God.
4. Jesus Christ revealed the Father to us.
5. It is pure and blessed by God, for he gave us his word.
So the pastor’s work in the Scripture and theology though laborious, frustrating, and puzzling at times, is nonetheless also joyful and full of potential as Jesus Christ is displayed. The scope of studying and then teaching Christ takes in both the church and the world. The reasons for studying and teaching theology are ultimately for the glory of God, and the sinners good.
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