S. The Definition or Nature of Theology

The Definition or Nature of Theology
by Dr. William Ames

1. Theology is doctrine or teaching of living to God. John 6:68, "The words of eternal life..."; Acts 5:20, "The words of this life..."; Romans 6:11, "Consider yourselves...alive to God."

2. It is called doctrine, not to separate it from understanding, knowledge, wisdom, art, or prudence--for these go with every exact discipline, and most of all with theology--but to mark it as a discipline, and most of all with theology--but to mark it as a discipline which derives not from nature and human inquiry like others, but from divine revelation and appointment. Isaiah 51:4, "Doctrine shall go forth from Me..."; Galatians 1:11 - Galatians 1:12, "The Gospel...is not according to man. For neither I received it from man, nor was taught it, but it came through a revelation."

5. Since the highest kind of life for a human being is that which approaches most closely the living and life-giving God, the nature of theological life is living to God.

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