Theology is responsible for studying the properties and characteristics of divinity.
The term theology has its origins in the Latin theologia . This word, in turn, comes from the Greek concept formed by theos ( "God" ) and logos ( "study" ). Theology is, in this way, the science that is responsible for the study of the characteristics and properties of divinity .
It is a group of techniques specific to philosophy that aim to generate knowledge about God and the rest of the entities classified as divine. Ernest F. Kevan defines it as the science of God that has been revealed through his word. For example: "This writer is an expert in theology" , "If you want to enroll in this school, you will have to study a lot of theology" , "I am a believer, but I don't care about theology" .
Origins of theology
The term was coined by Plato in his work “The Republic” . The Greek philosopher used it to name the understanding of the divine based on the use of reasoning.
Later Aristotle adopted the concept with two meanings: theology as the central division of philosophy and theology as the name of the thought of mythology that preceded philosophy.
The view of Catholicism
For the theology of Catholicism, the direct object of study is God . The reason of the human being and the revelations made by divinity are the criteria that allow this theology to achieve the truth. Since the Church is its main community, Catholicism delegates to it the power to establish the criteria linked to the reflection of theology.
Catholic theology, on the other hand, is founded on two mysteries: the Christological Mystery (the life of Jesus Christ, who is born, dies and resurrects) and the Trinitarian Mystery (the recognition of a single God in 3 different persons who can be differentiated: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit).
Catholic theology is based on two mysteries (the Trinitarian Mystery and the Christological Mystery).
Biblical theology and systematic theology
Some classifications can be established within this term, such as: biblical and systematic theology .
Biblical theology receives this name because it is based on the study of the doctrinal content found in the Bible. Investigate those events narrated in the books that are part of this library on which religious people base their beliefs, and establish an interpretation for each of them. Textual criticism is part of biblical theology and its fundamental objective is to relate current events with those narrated in the Bible in order to obtain clarity about their interpretation. For its part, higher criticism is responsible for understanding the literary authorship of each of the books that make up the Bible, their dates and authors.
Systematic theology consists of the most structured part of theology, which is based on a method for its realization. Try to find logical clarity on the facts to understand the data revealed in the scriptures. Historical or dogmatic theology falls into this classification (which studies doctrines , placing them in the trajectory of history spanning from the apostolic period to the present day and the consequences that certain events have had on the life of the Church. It studies symbols, creeds and other doctrines) and apologetics or ethics (theology in action is what unifies doctrine in daily life. It studies the role of the pastor within the life of the community ).
Optimize pastoral work
It is important to mention that the fundamental objective of the study of all concepts related to theology is to help better understand the pastoral task; it is a theory that only makes sense (according to religious criteria) if it is properly put into practice.
Furthermore, the knowledge of theology is based on the a priori deductive method (biblical theology) and the a posteriori inductive method (systematic theology.)
Returning to what Kevan states about this science, we can say that he defines the branches of theology in the following way: the biblical branch is the one that provides materials for the construction , the historical branch is the file and the systematic branch is in charge of raising the building . Finally, practical theology is what determines how one should live within that building.
systems of theology
According to beliefs, ideological inclination and other aspects of the theology approach, there are several theological systems , in turn each one is divided into sub-systems, however we will name only the three major systems, these are:
* Roman Catholic Theology : is governed by the understanding of the Alexandrian canon of biblical books. It clings to the truths supposedly revealed but that have not been written but transmitted orally that are shared in a traditional way through the Church. The Church is the focus that illuminates the Bible and not the other way around.
* Subjective Theology : a liberal approach to theology, theological liberalism is the main representative of that theology. For her, the authority of God is not manifested through the Church, but through the faculties of the human soul, such as reason, feelings and conscience .
* Neo-orthodox Theology : it is even more liberal than theological liberalism. It is a tributary of existentialist philosophy and focuses theology not on man but on the sovereignty of God and to understand the desires and essence of that supreme being it is based on the tools offered by existentialist theory .
* Evangelical Theology : It comes from the great Reformation of the 16th century whose objective was to return to the origins. It proclaims the importance of respecting the sovereign authority of God that is cited in the books of the Hebrew-Christian tradition. It proposes listening to the voice of God through the Spirit through the word revealed in said tradition.