Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God
Overview
To many Christians theology is something alien, overly intellectual and wholly unappealing. Even seminary students are known to balk at the prospect of a course on theology. Yet theology—most simply, the knowledge of God—is essential to the life and health of the church.
In this short introduction, Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson, two theologians who care deeply about the witness of ordinary Christians and the ministry of the church, show what theology is, what tools theology uses, why every believer (advanced degrees or not) is a theologian and how the theological enterprise can be productive and satisfying. Their clear, easily understood book is ideal for students, church study groups and individual Christians who want to strengthen understanding, belief and commitment by coming to know God more fully.
Key Features
- Discusses theology as a whole and how to apply it
- Examines the role of theology in Christian understanding
Contents
- Everyone Is a Theologian
- Not All Theologies Are Equal
- Defining Theology
- Defending Theology
- Theology’s Tasks & Traditions
- The Theologian’s Tools
- Constructing Theology in Context
- Bringing Theology into Life
- An Invitation to Engage in Theology
Top Highlights
“Theology is any reflection on the ultimate questions of life that point toward God.” (Page 13)
“Theology’s critical task is to examine beliefs and teachings about God, ourselves and the world in light of Christian sources, especially the primary norm of the biblical message.” (Page 70)
“Given all of this understanding, we can now offer a more complete definition of good theology: Christian theology is reflecting on and articulating the God-centered life and beliefs that Christians share as followers of Jesus Christ, and it is done in order that God may be glorified in all Christians are and do. Soli Deo gloria.” (Page 49)
“Good theology assists Christians because it grounds their lives in biblically informed, Christian truth.” (Page 39)
“One time-honored definition is ‘faith seeking understanding.’ In spite of misconceptions to the contrary, Christian theology does not say ‘understand and then believe.’ Rather, theology is seeking to understand with the intellect what the heart—a person’s central core of character—already believes and to which it is committed.” (Page 16)
- Title: Who Needs Theology? An Invitation to the Study of God
- Authors: Stanley J. Grenz, Roger Olson
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 1996
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 150
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology › Introductions
- ISBNs: 9780830877720, 9780830818785, 9780851111773, 0830818782, 083087772X, 0851111777
- Resource ID: LLS:WHNDSTHNVTTSTGD
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:45:32Z
About the Authors
Stanley Grenz (1950–2005) was Pioneer McDonald Professor of Theology at Carey Theological College, Vancouver, British Columbia, and professor of theological studies at Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle, Washington. He authored over 25 books, including Rediscovering the Triune God and What Christians Really Believe and Why.
Roger E. Olson is the Foy Valentine Professor of Christian Theology and Ethics at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Previously he served as professor of theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of 18 books, including The Journey of Modern Theology: From Reconstruction to Deconstruction (IVP).
Dr. Olson was born and raised in the Upper Midwest of the United States and considers himself a “Bapticostal.” He grew up Pentecostal but became Baptist while attending North American Baptist Seminary. His PhD in religious studies is from Rice University in Houston, and he studied at the University of Munich with theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg. He served as editor of Christian Scholar’s Review in the 1990s and has served as consulting and contributing editor for Christianity Today. He is married and has two daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. He enjoys southern gospel music, Victorian gothic mystery books, and traveling.