Who Needs Theology?: An Invitation to the Study of God

Stanley J. Grenz, Roger E. Olson

InterVarsity Press, Aug 20, 2009 - Religion - 150 pages

To many Christians theology is something alien, overly intellectual and wholly unappealing. Even seminary students are known to balk at the prospect of a course on theology. Yet theology—most simply, the knowledge of God—is essential to the life and health of the church. In this short introduction, Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson, two theologians who care deeply about the witness of ordinary Christians and the ministry of the church, show what theology is, what tools theology uses, why every believer (advanced degrees or not) is a theologian, and how the theological enterprise can be productive and satisfying. Their clear, easily understood book is ideal for students, church study groups, and individual Christians who want to strengthen understanding, belief and commitment by coming to know God more fully.

Contents

• Everyone Is a Theologian: 12
• Not All Theologies Are Equal: 22
• Defining Theology: 36
• Defending Theology: 50
• Theologys Tasks Traditions: 68
• The Theologians Tools: 87
• Constructing Theology in Context: 103
• Bringing Theology into Life: 119
• An Invitation to Engage in Theology: 134
• Notes: 149

Popular passages

Page 16 - Credo ut intelligam. (I believe in order that I may understand.) Abelard, on the contrary, said — Intelligo ut credam.‎

About the author

Roger E. Olson (Ph.D., Rice University) is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is the author of The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition Reform, The Mosaic of Christian Belief: Twenty Centuries of Unity and Diversity and The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology. Together they wrote 20th-Century Theology: God the World in a Transitional Age.

Stanley J. Grenz (1950-2005) taught theology at Carey/Regent College for many years. He wrote twenty-five books, including Rediscovering the Triune God: The Trinity in Contemporary Theology, The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei, The Moral Quest: Foundations of Christian Ethics, Revisioning Evangelical Theology: A Fresh Agenda for the 21st Century and The Millennial Maze: Sorting Out Evangelical Options (IVP).

Bibliographic information

• Title: Who Needs Theology?: An Invitation to the Study of God
• Authors: Stanley J. Grenz, Roger E. Olson
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press, 2009
• ISBN: 083087772X, 9780830877720
• Length: 150 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christian Education / Adult; Religion / Christian Theology / General