Doing Theology Versus Reading the Bible

Doing theology, in the classic formula of "faith seeking understanding," means that faith in God revealed in Jesus Christ prompts a questioning search for deeper understanding.1

An old definition

The phrase "faith seeking understanding" was introduced by Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109) in his Proslogium. Before Anselm, Augustine of Hippo had coined a similar Latin phrase, Crede ut intelligas, or "believe that you may understand." For Anselm, the search was driven by the joy of knowing and loving God, and it was not meant to replace faith. His way of doing theology was to bring all the powers of his mind to bear on what he already believed.2

From the text to the whole

Theology builds on close reading but asks different questions of it. Exegesis is the study of an author's textual intention and typically focuses on individual passages, while biblical theology begins asking how larger sections relate to one another to create book-level meaning.3 Systematic theology then summarizes and synthesizes what the Bible says on a topic, shows the coherence and logical connections among its teachings, and draws out their implications.

A conversation, not a one-way road

Ben Myers argues that reading Scripture and doing theology form a continuing spiral in which each shapes and corrects the other, and that no reading starts free of theological presuppositions.4 Some traditions name the other voices explicitly: the Wesleyan Quadrilateral forms theological conclusions from scripture together with tradition, reason and Christian experience, with scripture primary.5 Practical theology, in turn, applies theological principles to everyday life, church practice and ministry.6