When we pause to think about it, the idea that we could “study God” in the sense that we can uncover the knowledge of who God is by our own course of study as one may do with rocks, plants, stars, etc., or pull back the curtain like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, seems rather presumptuous if not ludicrous. As a “branch of learning” during this human earthly existence, what could be more profound, more paramount, than fully understanding, even personally knowing, the Supreme Being? By definition, if he is the Maker of all things seen and unseen, how can we ever logically know God completely or even in part without His revelation of Himself? Then, what about His plans? We cannot deduce on our own merely by what is seen.
We believe God has revealed what we need in order to know Him to the fullest extent of our Faith—which is itself a gift from Him. He has given us nature and conscience. He has given us “others” because it was not good for man to be alone. He has given us Scriptures that are collected in our Bibles. He has given to those who believe in the Son whom the Father has sent the Holy Spirit of Truth. And he has given us Pastors, Teachers, and others with various ministries within the Church.
So, what does Scripture say about studying God and growing in our knowledge of Him?
In Deuteronomy 6:7, with respect to the words and commands God gave us we are admonished to teach them diligently to our children and to talk about them, think about them, in essence study them. In Nehemiah 8:7-8 we are shown an example how the priests of God helped the people understand the law clearly, giving “the sense” of what they were reading so that people would understand and comply with it. Acts 8:26-40 relates for us the story of Philip, following the Holy Spirit, joining himself to the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch, a Court official of the Queen, to start where that man was, listen to his questions, and explain the Gospel of Jesus. And, in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Ephesians 4:11 we see that God gave ministries and offices and gifts to the Church to equip the saints and give us better understanding of God and our mission here. Yet in all this, we still only know in part and see in part, like looking through a darkened glass. See 1 Corinthians 13:9-12. We are exhorted nonetheless to study to show ourselves approved by God and able to rightly divide the Word of Truth, giving an apt response in every situation with Love and respect.
In the Greatest Commandment we are told that God is One and that we must love Him with our entire being. Jesus made this even clearer in saying we are to love God with all our mind. Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27. At the same time we must remember that the natural man (i.e., simply the human mind alone) does not receive the things of the Spirit because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14. And, we must not lean on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6. We must do all that we can on our own (like reading our Bibles) yet trust God to lead us and light the path for us to find Him. He says we will find Him when we seek Him with all that we have. See Jeremiah 29:13.
So, what do we make of this? Recognizing our limitations and human frailties, pride, and outright sin, we ought always to seek after God with all our hearts. There is no wrong in “Theology” itself (although our Theology might be wrong, shortsighted, or incomplete for a time) unless we presume to have arrived at understanding anything in full or anything at all without God Himself giving the insight. Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Going forward, let’s remember that we know only in part. So, although we speak with confidence, we keep a teachable spirit. We do not add or subtract from God’s Word, but share in accordance with the measure of Faith that we have. Moreover, we must live our Theology with honesty and integrity. Be careful in your desire to teach, because you know teachers are held to a higher accounting. James 3:1. Importantly, live what you believe. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And follow Jesus always, both publicly and privately.
Men Following Jesus 