Webster’s dictionary defines theology as “The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice. . . the science of Christian faith and life.” Saint Augustine in the fifth-century defined theology as “Rational discussion respecting the deity.” A. H. Strong, the great twentieth century theologian said that theology is “the Science of God and of the relations between God and the universe.” Charles Ryrie, the popular dispensationalist theologian, says theology is “thinking about God and expressing those thoughts in some way.” (Basic Theology [Wheaton, IL: 1986], 9). Millard Erickson, a modern Baptist theologian says that theology is simply “the study or science of God.” (Christian Theology [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2001], 22).

Most simply put, theology is the study of God. It comes from the word theos which is Greek for “God,” and -ology which is from the Greek word logos meaning “word.” Most literally then the word theology means “words about God” or “the study of God.”

To say that theology is not important is saying that knowing God is not important. Jesus Christ disagrees with you.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

How are we to ‘know’ God apart from studying Him, learning all we can from what He has revealed about Himself in scripture? How are we to have a proper understanding of God unless we study Him, his character and attributes? To say you love God yet have no desire to study Him, that theology is unimportant, is a self-contradiction. If you love God, it is God who has planted that love for Him in your heart. It is a spiritual impossibility to love God and NOT want to know Him more fully!

In the mid 1950’s A.W. Tozer wrote:

“The church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshipping men.”

Sadly, that is probably truer today than in 1950, if such a thing is possible.