Father’s Day: Theology Proper - The Study of the Father
Blog Series Intention Recap
Water in three forms? A four-leaf clover? A mystery? The Trinity defies easy explanation, but its beauty is no less real. This four-week series explores the doctrine of the Trinity and reveals how a greater appreciation of the Trinity sheds light on what we understand about the Father’s love, the Son’s gift of salvation, and the Spirit’s invitation to community.
This post is part of the series “Trinity.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into this Special Edition:
Theology Proper is the study of God’s nature and attributes, forming the foundation for understanding Christology (the study of Christ) and Pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit).
Why it matters:
Theology Proper focuses on who God is and His attributes.
Studying Theology Proper involves reading the Bible, prayer, and learning from trusted teachers.
Christology and Pneumatology build on Theology Proper by exploring the roles of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Knowing Theology Proper helps us grow in our faith and relationship with God.
Go Deeper
Theology Proper is a big term that means studying God Himself—His nature, attributes, and character. It is the foundation of our understanding of who God is. By knowing more about God, we can better understand other parts of our faith, like Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
What is Theology Proper?
Theology Proper is a part of systematic theology that focuses on God’s nature and attributes. Systematic theology is an organized way of studying the Bible and its teachings. Theology Proper looks at questions like: Who is God? What is He like? How does He relate to us?
The Attributes of God
To understand Theology Proper, we need to look at God’s attributes. These are qualities that describe who God is. Some of these attributes are:
Omniscience: God knows everything.
Omnipotence: God is all-powerful.
Omnipresence: God is everywhere at once.
Eternal: God has no beginning or end.
Immutable: God never changes.
Holy: God is perfectly good and pure.
Loving: God cares deeply for His creation.
These attributes help us know what God is like. For example, knowing that God is loving helps us trust Him and feel secure in His care.
How Do We Study Theology Proper?
Studying Theology Proper involves several methods. Here are some ways to learn more about God:
Reading the Bible: The Bible is God’s Word and the primary source of our knowledge about Him. By reading and studying the Bible, we learn about God’s character and His actions in history.
Prayer: Talking to God in prayer helps us grow closer to Him. As we pray, we can ask God to reveal more about Himself to us.
Learning from Teachers: Pastors, theologians, and Christian authors can help us understand complex ideas about God. They explain difficult concepts in ways that are easier to grasp.
Worship and Reflection: Worshiping God through songs, hymns, and quiet reflection helps us focus on His greatness and love.
Relationship to Christology
Christology is the study of Jesus Christ, who is God the Son. Understanding Theology Proper helps us understand Christology because Jesus is fully God. Here are some key points:
Incarnation: Jesus is God who became human. Knowing God’s attributes helps us see the importance of Jesus’ birth.
Life and Ministry: Jesus’ actions and teachings reflect God’s nature. Studying His life shows us what God is like.
Death and Resurrection: Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection demonstrate God’s love and power. Understanding God’s attributes helps us appreciate what Jesus did for us.
Relationship to Pneumatology
Pneumatology is the study of the Holy Spirit, who is also fully God. Theology Proper helps us understand Pneumatology in several ways:
Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit works in our lives to guide, comfort, and empower us. Knowing God’s attributes helps us see how the Holy Spirit acts according to God’s nature.
Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit lives within believers, showing God’s omnipresence and personal care.
Gifts and Fruit: The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers and produces fruit like love, joy, and peace. These reflect God’s attributes.
The Importance of Theology Proper
Knowing Theology Proper is important for several reasons:
Deepens Our Faith: Understanding who God is strengthens our faith and helps us trust Him more.
Guides Our Actions: Knowing God’s attributes helps us live in a way that pleases Him. For example, knowing God is holy encourages us to live holy lives.
Improves Our Worship: When we know more about God, our worship becomes more meaningful. We can praise Him for specific attributes and actions.
Helps Us Share Our Faith: Understanding God’s nature helps us explain our faith to others. We can share who God is and why He is worthy of worship.
How does this help me better understand “The Trinity?”
Theology Proper is the study of God’s nature and attributes. It is the foundation for understanding Christology and Pneumatology, helping us know more about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. By studying Theology Proper, we can deepen our faith, guide our actions, improve our worship, and share our faith with others. Understanding who God is helps us grow closer to Him and live out our faith in meaningful ways.
