7. Christian religion and Christian theology.
In church usage, a distinction is made between Christian religion and Christian theology in such a way that religion (taken subjectively) denotes the doctrines of all Christians and theology (taken subjectively) denotes the special doctrines of the teachers of the church. This distinction can be accepted. Scripture teaches both,
149) Eph. 5:8: 'Ητε γάρ ποτε σκότος, νυν δε φως εν κνρίω.... The same contrast Is. 9:2 ff; 60:2.
150) 1 Cor. 10:20; Acts 26:18.<w:t>151) Eph. 2:1-5.
152) Rom. 5:1 ff; Gal. 2:16.<w:t>153) Jn. 8:24.
154) John 5:39.<w:t>155) Romans 3:21 ff.
156) Ch. 4 of the Letter to the Romans,
43 ><w:t xml:space="preserve"> The nature and concept of theology. [English ed. 40]
that all Christians have the doctrine of God,157) as well as that the teachers of Christians should have a special doctrine of God.158) In making this distinction, however, it should be noted that both types of divine doctrine, that is, not only that of all Christians but also that of the teachers, have only Holy Scriptures as their source of knowledge. Newer theologians negotiate, without having reached an agreement, about the relationship between "religious" and "theological knowledge". Some want them to be "as close together as possible", others want them to be as separate as possible. In the present time there is a lot of discussion about the difference between "religious" and "theological cognition".159) From the Christian point of view it is to be stated: "Religious cognition" and "theological cognition" do not differ in principle, seen from the source of cognition and the medium of cognition, but coincide in principle, because also the beginning, middle and end of theological cognition is nothing else than believing God's Word, as it is revealed in the Scriptures. The reason is that also the theologians or the teachers of the church in their cognition of the Christian doctrine do not get beyond God's revelation in his Word by one line, as the Scriptures testify so often and manifoldly. 160)
157) Jn. 6:45: πάντες (all Christians are addressed) διδακτοί τον θεοϋ.
158) The rhetorical question I Cor. 12:29: Μή πάντες διδάσκαλοι; has the meaning: not all Christians are teachers. Also 1 Tim. 3:2: "But let there be a bishop ... teachable" (διδακτικός), teachable denotes a special degree of teachability, as also v. 5 is still expressly emphasized, because the bishop is not merely to care for himself and his own house, but also for the congregation of God. Therefore Paul also gives Timothy, 2 Tim. 2:1, the charge, "What you have heard from me, command faithful men who are able to teach others also," οΐτινες ικανοί έ'σονται καί ετέρους διδάξαι. From the lists of qualities to be found in the teachers to be appointed (1 Tim. 3:1 ff.; Tit. 1:5-11), it appears that the teachers are not to be chosen by lot, but according to special qualities, among which is also the special fitness for teaching.
159) Cf. Richard Grützmacher, Studien zur dogm. Theol., 3. Heft, p. 120 ff.
160) According to Jn. 8:31-32 the knowledge of truth (γνώσεσθε τήν αλήθειαν) is only imparted by abiding in Christ's word, which we have in the word of the apostles (Jn. 17:20), and the abiding in Christ's word always only takes place in the way that Christ's word is believed. Insofar as a teacher does not abide in Christ's doctrines, he does not have knowledge but ignorance (1 Tim. 6:3, 4).
44 ><w:t>The nature and concept of theology. [English ed. 41-42]
The textbooks in which the doctrines of all Christians are compiled according to the main points (religion taken objectively) are usually called catechisms, religious doctrines, manuals of Christian doctrines, etc.161) The doctrines, in which the particular doctrines of the teachers of the Church are presented, are called in church usage: Textbooks of theology (theology taken objectively), dogmatics, systematic theology, scientific theology, the Christian doctrine in scientific presentation; in older times: loci communes, systema theologiae Christianae, etc. In English, and also in our country, probably the most commonly used expressions are: Doctrinal Theology, Systematic Theology, Dogmatic Theology or briefly Christian Dogmatics. In which sense — and in which sense not — the expressions "science" and "system" are applicable to theology will be explained in more detail under the sections "Theology and Science" and "Theology and System" for reasons of importance.