Branches and Subject Matter of Theology

Branches of Theology:

            In the Bible, The Old Testament is dominated by the Hebrew language and so also the New Testament by the Greek language. So the Christian theology we get from the Bible is the mixture of concepts of Hebrew and Greek. Philosophy also got its origin from the Bible. As such theology is divided into particular branches as follows:

            a) Old Testament Theology

            b) New Testament Theology

            c) Dogmatic or Systematic Theology and

            d) Moral Theology or Practical Theology.

4.   Subject matter of Theology:

            For many people, theology is a meaningless subject. But to others, it is the most important subject. Therefore, theology is a “Confessional” subject, intelligible to the believers only but not to others. Music is similarly incomprehensible to the deaf and an art to the blind. So, theology too will inevitably be to the unbelievers, but that is evidence of something unsatisfactory in the state of unbelievers not in the subject-matter of theology.

5.   Statement of Scholars about the Subject-matter of Theology :

Many people regard theology as meaningless subject. Yet everybody does in fact have some sort of belief in God.  Relating to the subject-matter of theology the following statements of scholars may be seen:

            a) Martin Luthar:

            “What is it to have God or what is God? As I have often said, the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol. For the two-faith and God, have clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”

            b) Paul Tillich:

            “The name of this infinite and inexhaustible depth and ground of all other beings is God. That depth is what the word ‘God’ means. And, if that word has no such meaning for you, translate it, and speak of the depth of your life, of the source of your beings of your ultimate concern of what you take seriously without any reservation. Perhaps in order to do so, you must forget everything traditional that you have learned about God, perhaps even that word itself. For if you know that God means depth you know much about him. You cannot even call yourself atheist. For you cannot think or say: Life has no depth, life is shallow. Being itself is surface only. If you could say this in complete seriousness you would be called an atheist but otherwise you are not. He who knows about depth knows about God.”

            The above statements of scholars i.e., our sources as sources of reflection on these statements may lead us to accept that on the times of the above approach everyone has a God and everyone must therefore recognize that there is a valid subject-matter for theology to deal with. Theology is thus the ultimate concern of man is with God.

6.   Conclusion:

             Seeing the above various definitions of Theology by great scholars, I do personally find it difficult to make satisfactory or concrete answer to the question what the Christian theology is. However, to me, “theology is the study which seeks to bring the coherent understanding of God, his creative activity and redemptive in Christ for mankind and the believers’ response in faith.”