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Dr. R.C. Sproul well said that “everyone is a theologian.” He meant that every person has some thoughts about what is ultimate, about God. This is true even if a person’s thought is only that God does not exist. Not everyone is a professional theologian, of course, but since the theologian’s task is to think about God, once we start thinking about Him, we are engaging in the work of theology.
In church history, there have been several approaches to theology. For instance, practical theology focuses on the theology of ministry, at its best considering how we can preach, pray, and run the church in a God-centered way. Biblical theology traces the progress of divine revelation, looking at how the Lord gives various themes, institutions, and so on and then builds and expands on these things over time until they reach their fulfillment. An example here is the temple, which is given as the garden of Eden and is then lost but restored via the temple in Jerusalem, which is then fulfilled in Christ and His church.
When we hear the word theology, however, we are apt to think of systematic theology. Famously known as the “queen of the sciences,” systematic theology endeavors to present the comprehensive teaching of Scripture in an orderly, systematic way. It asks questions such as: What does the entire Bible tell us about the character of God? According to Scripture, what is the order in which the Lord applies salvation to His people? What does God’s Word say about what happens in the sacraments?
The term theology comes from the Greek words theos (God) and logos (word). In essence, then, theology is a word about God, and since God is infinite, there are actually many words to say about God and what He has done. Because of that, systematic theology is typically divided into a number of loci, or topics, that address specific facets of the person and work of the Lord as well as the nature and destiny of human beings made in His image. Not every systematic theologian or systematic theology textbook organizes the presentation of doctrine in exactly the same way, and sometimes different loci are grouped together under a larger category. Nevertheless, because these various loci of theology are frequently mentioned by Christian pastors and teachers, as well as in publications such as Tabletalk, it is helpful to have a guide to these loci and what each is concerned with.
theological prolegomena
The term prolegomena means “introduction” or “prefatory words,” so it should be no surprise that theological prolegomena deals with the introductory matters of theology. Under this heading, systematic theologians talk about things such as the nature and method of systematic theology, the sources of systematic theology and the weight that we should give each of them, and sometimes even the history of theology. Often, theological prolegomena also includes the topic of bibliology.
bibliology
The word bibliology comes from the Greek terms biblion, which means “book,” and logos. Thus, bibliology looks at the book that God has given us—namely, His revelation. In fact, God has given us two books, the book of nature and the book of Scripture. While bibliology does consider the book of nature, or how God has revealed Himself in creation, its special focus is on the book of Scripture. It addresses issues such as the inspiration, authority, inerrancy, sufficiency, infallibility, and canon of Scripture.
theology proper
As noted, theology at its core is about God, and so theology proper considers God Himself. Under theology proper, we study the nature of God, the names of God, the attributes of God, the works of God in creation and providence, and more. A special focus under theology proper is the doctrine of the Trinity, explaining that God is one in essence and three in person: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sometimes theologians will consider the loci of angelology and demonology under theology proper as well.
angelology and demonology
You will probably not be surprised to learn that angelology and demonology deal with the nature and works of angels and demons. These loci get their names from the Greek words for “angel” (angelos) and “demon” (daimonion).
anthropology
Anthrōpos is the Greek word for “man” or “human being,” so anthropology concerns the doctrine of man. Theology is focused on God, but it also takes an interest in humanity because we are made in the image of God. When theologians discuss anthropology, they look at biblical teachings such as what it means to bear God’s image, human nature as a body-soul duality, the vocations of men and women, true masculinity and femininity, and other topics. Frequently, hamartiology is considered under anthropology.
hamartiology
In hamartiology, we deal with the doctrine of sin. The name for this topic comes from the Greek word for “sin,” hamartia, and hamartiology looks at man as a sinner and the impact of sin on human nature. Therefore, hamartiology considers the fall of humanity, the nature and extent of sin, the impact of sin on human beings and the rest of creation, what sin and sinners deserve at the hands of our perfectly righteous God, and so on.
Christology
The concern of Christology—the person and work of Christ—is also easy to identify even if one has never learned any Greek. The title of this heading comes from the Greek word for “Christ”—that is, christos. There is much to study under Christology, including the identity of Christ, who is the one divine person of the Son of God in whom are perfectly united the divine nature and a human nature without confusion, division, change, or separation. In dealing with the person of Christ, Christology also usually answers various heresies related to the person of the Savior.
In addition to the personhood of Jesus, Christology studies the work of Christ. Here we examine the threefold office of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King. In considering this threefold office, we also look at the incarnation of Christ; the active and passive obedience of Christ; the nature of the atonement and what it accomplished; and the exaltation of Christ in His resurrection, ascension, session (being seated at God’s right hand), and return to judge the living and the dead.
pneumatology
The Greek word for “spirit,” “air,” and “breath” is pneuma; therefore, pneumatology examines what the Bible says about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Here we study the deity of the Spirit, the procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son, the gifts of the Spirit, the presence and work of the Spirit before and after the coming of Christ, and other important subjects. Pneumatology can be studied on its own, but sometimes theologians combine it with the study of soteriology.
soteriology
In soteriology, we seek to understand what God has done for us in the great work of redemption. The name of this locus comes from the Greek word for “salvation,” soteria, and the study of our salvation extends from eternity past and God’s covenant of redemption and election of His people to the completion of their salvation in their glorification. So soteriology also examines regeneration, the outer and inner calls of the gospel, repentance, the nature of saving faith, justification, adoption, and sanctification. A study of the various covenants that God has made with human beings can also be studied here, but covenant theology can also be considered under another locus such as anthropology.
ecclesiology
Many Christians know that the Greek word for “church” is ekkēlsia, which means that ecclesiology is the heading under which we study the doctrine of the church. Ecclesiology focuses on the church’s unity, holiness, Apostolicity, and catholicity. It also considers how Jesus has organized His church, looking at the church’s offices and structures. While dealing with the nature of the church, ecclesiology also looks at the marks of the church: the sound preaching of the Word, the right administration of the sacraments, and the proper exercise of church discipline.
eschatology
Finally and fittingly so, since this locus deals with the last things, we have eschatology. The name of this category comes from the Greek word for “last” or “ultimate,” which is eschatos. Eschatology considers personal eschatology—what happens to individuals at the end, such as the nature of life after death, the intermediate state (the dwelling place and condition of -people who die before Christ returns), and the resurrection of the body. Eschatology also considers topics such as the millennial reign of Christ, the antichrist, the sequence of events in the end times, and more.