Bible Question: Could Jesus' Apostles (The Twelve) be called "theologians" and did they have a "theology"? (My intent is that both words, theologians and theology, be considered in the same sense we understand and use them in our language today.) |
Bible Answer: It is a question that must be answered with care and prudence. Many times we have to well define the words we use to talk about a thing. I will say two things on what you ask. 1. The science of theology is well known and expressed as it is today because we have a long history behind us that permitted to systematize the christian doctrine (hence the word "systematic theology"). But at the same time I don't think that we would have not the right to say that there was no theology in their times. Actually, Paul has been trained at the foot of Gamaliel (who would be considered today as an "Old Testament theologian" for sure). Because the very word "theology" is not used in the Bible directly is not a proof that theology did not exist (it is the same thing with the word "Trinity" or "Hell"). I think that the moment you talk about the things of God (which is "theos" in greek) you do "theology". 2. For the theologians, now, I would say that the Twelve was not precisely "theologians" in the sense we would define it today, but they did "theology" in the sense that they taught deep theological concepts in their writing (once again, even though the word is not used directly). That is for the Twelve. Now their is no doubt that Paul was a solid theologian in what he did in his letters. The way he exposed the revelation of God was what I call the best theology we can have from a man of "first hand" in the history of the christian church. Now, do not misinterpret me. To answer your question, I would say they were not theologians AS WE DEFINE THEM TODAY, but they did theological argumentation and proclamation in what they preach. Now you can disagree with what I have said here, but to conclude, I suggest to you a good book entitled: "The Theology of Paul, the Apostle" (James D. Dunn) and other books as well on the same subject: "Paul the Jewish Theologian"; "Paul, Missionary Theologian: A Survey of His Theology". However, be careful. The fact that these books have the word "theologian" attributed to Paul doesn't mean that we must define him as we would define for example men as Don A. Carson, Gleason Archer, Roger Nicole, R.C. Sproul, J.I. Packer, Millard Erickson, etc. But I think that we have a certain right to say that they (apostles) practiced theology. |