Answer: Practical theology is the branch of theology that focuses on how theological truths are applied to real-life situations—both in the church and in daily Christian living. It seeks to bridge the gap between doctrine (what we believe) and practice (how we live out those beliefs).
Whereas systematic theology answers, “What is true about God and doctrine?”, practical theology asks,
“How does this truth affect the way we live, serve, and love today?”
Practical theology is where theology meets life, ministry, and mission—equipping believers to not only know the truth but to live it faithfully and fruitfully.
| Type | Focus |
|---|---|
| Biblical Theology | Follows the storyline of Scripture and how theology unfolds in time. |
| Systematic Theology | Organizes doctrines topically (e.g., God, sin, salvation), often drawing from the whole Bible at once. |
| Historical Theology | Studies how doctrines were understood and developed through church history. |
| Practical Theology | Focuses on applying theology to daily life and ministry. |
Answer: Cessationism is a theological position that holds that certain spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and miraculous healings, ceased or were no longer normative after the apostolic era or the completion of the New Testament canon.
Answer: Charismatic Theology is a theological perspective that emphasizes the ongoing presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the Church, including spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing.
Answer: Divine Providence is the belief that God is actively involved in the world, guiding and governing all things according to His will. It encompasses God’s foreknowledge, care, and direction over creation, events, and human lives.
Answer: Pneumatology is the branch of theology that focuses on the study of the Holy Spirit. It explores topics such as the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, the indwelling of the Spirit, and the role of the Spirit in the life of believers and the Church.
Answer: Prevenient Grace is a concept in Christian theology, particularly in Arminianism, that refers to the grace of God that goes before and prepares a person for salvation. It’s seen as God’s enabling grace that enables individuals to respond to the gospel and choose to follow Christ.
Answer: Spiritual Warfare is the ongoing battle between Christians and demonic forces. It involves resisting temptation, standing firm in faith, and using spiritual weapons such as prayer and Scripture to overcome evil.
Bible Reference: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11, NIV)
Answer: The Priesthood of All Believers is the belief that every Christian has direct access to God and is called to serve in spiritual matters, not just ordained clergy.
Bible Reference: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV)
Answer: The Fruit of the Spirit refers to the virtues that the Holy Spirit cultivates in a believer’s life, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Bible Reference: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)
Answer: Sanctification is the process by which believers are made holy, growing in Christlikeness through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Reference: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, ESV)
Answer: Mortification of Sin refers to the believer’s duty to put to death sinful desires and behaviors by the power of the Spirit.
Bible Reference: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5, ESV)
Answer: The Great Commission is Jesus’ command to His disciples to spread the gospel and make disciples of all nations.
Bible Reference: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)
Answer: Christian Perseverance is the doctrine that true believers will continue in faith until the end, upheld by God’s grace.
Bible Reference: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Answer: The Fear of the Lord is a deep reverence and awe toward God that leads to wisdom, obedience, and worship.
Bible Reference: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)
Answer: Christian Stewardship is the responsibility to manage God’s gifts—time, talents, money, and creation—for His glory.
Bible Reference: “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)
Answer: Apologetics is the branch of Christian theology that focuses on defending and explaining the faith—giving rational, biblical, and historical reasons for believing in Christianity.
Christian apologetics is about knowing what you believe, why you believe it, and graciously explaining it to others—always pointing back to the hope found in Jesus Christ.
Answer: Apophatic Theology, also known as Negative Theology, is an approach that emphasizes describing God by negation or what God is not, recognizing the limitations of human language and understanding when discussing the divine.
Answer: Liberation Theology is a theological movement that emphasizes God’s preferential option for the poor and oppressed, advocating for social justice, equality, and liberation from unjust systems and structures.
Answer: Theodicy is the theological and philosophical inquiry into the problem of evil and suffering in the world in relation to the existence and nature of God. It seeks to reconcile the idea of a good and all-powerful God with the presence of evil and suffering.
Answer: Natural Theology refers to the study of God based on reason and observation of the natural world rather than divine revelation. It argues that God’s existence and attributes can be discerned through nature and human reason.
Bible Reference: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, NIV)
Answer: The Problem of Divine Hiddenness is the argument that if God exists and desires a relationship with humanity, His existence should be more obvious. Christian responses emphasize that God reveals Himself sufficiently through Scripture, Jesus Christ, and creation while allowing space for faith.
Bible Reference: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)
Answer: Evidential Apologetics is a method of defending the Christian faith by using historical, scientific, and philosophical evidence to demonstrate the truth of Christianity, such as the resurrection of Jesus and biblical reliability.
Bible Reference: “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3, NIV)
Answer: Classical Apologetics is a method of defending the Christian faith that emphasizes logical arguments for God’s existence, such as the cosmological, teleological, and moral arguments, before presenting historical evidence for Christianity.
Bible Reference: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 1:18, ESV)
Answer: Presuppositional Apologetics argues that Christianity is the necessary foundation for rational thought and that all worldviews apart from it are self-defeating. It assumes the truth of the Bible as the basis for argumentation.
Bible Reference: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7, ESV)
Answer: The Moral Argument asserts that objective moral values exist and can only be grounded in God. If moral absolutes exist, there must be an absolute moral lawgiver.
Bible Reference: “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves.” (Romans 2:14, ESV)
Answer: The Ontological Argument is a philosophical argument for God’s existence that asserts that the very concept of a greatest possible being necessitates His actual existence.
Bible Reference: “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14, ESV)
Answer: The Teleological Argument (or Argument from Design) asserts that the complexity and order of the universe indicate an intelligent designer—God.
Bible Reference: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1, ESV)
Answer: The Cosmological Argument argues that because everything that begins to exist has a cause, the universe must have a first cause—God.
Bible Reference: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, ESV)
Answer: Biblical theology is the study of God’s revelation through the unfolding story of the Bible, focusing on the progressive development of theological themes across biblical history and within each biblical author’s context.
Biblical theology seeks to understand how the Bible’s message develops over time, tracing major themes—like covenant, kingdom, salvation, or God’s presence—from Genesis to Revelation in their original historical and literary settings.
| Type | Focus |
|---|---|
| Biblical Theology | Follows the storyline of Scripture and how theology unfolds in time. |
| Systematic Theology | Organizes doctrines topically (e.g., God, sin, salvation), often drawing from the whole Bible at once. |
| Historical Theology | Studies how doctrines were understood and developed through church history. |
| Practical Theology | Focuses on applying theology to daily life and ministry. |
Answer: Covenant Theology is a framework in Christian theology that interprets the Bible’s narrative and God’s relationship with humanity through the concept of covenants. It emphasizes God’s covenantal promises and the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.
Answer: Dispensationalism is a theological system that divides history and God’s dealings with humanity into distinct periods or dispensations. It often emphasizes the literal interpretation of biblical prophecy and views Israel and the Church as separate entities with distinct purposes.
Answer: Ecclesiology is the branch of theology that deals with the nature, structure, and mission of the Christian Church. It explores topics like the role of clergy and laity, sacraments, worship practices, and the Church’s relationship with society.
Answer: Eschatology is the study of end times or the final destiny of humanity and the world according to religious beliefs. It includes topics such as the return of Christ, judgment, heaven, hell, and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan.
Answer: Eschatological Hope refers to the Christian belief in the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises at the end times, including the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
Answer: The Imago Dei, Latin for “Image of God,” refers to the belief that humans are created in the likeness and image of God. This concept encompasses attributes like rationality, creativity, morality, and the capacity for spiritual connection.
Answer: A Theophany is a visible or tangible manifestation of God to humans in the Bible, such as God’s appearance to Moses in the burning bush or His presence in the pillar of fire and cloud.
Bible Reference: “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’” (Exodus 3:4, NIV)
Answer: The Protoevangelium, meaning “first gospel,” refers to God’s first promise of salvation in Genesis 3:15, where He declares that the offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head, foreshadowing Jesus’ victory over sin and Satan.
Bible Reference: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, NIV)
Answer: The New Covenant is the promise of God’s ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ, fulfilling the Old Testament covenants by providing forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Reference: “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33, NIV)
Answer: The Davidic Covenant is God’s promise to King David that his throne would be established forever, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the eternal King.
Bible Reference: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16, ESV)
Answer: The Abrahamic Covenant is God’s promise to Abraham to make him a great nation, bless all nations through his offspring, and give his descendants the land of Canaan.
Bible Reference: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2, ESV)
Answer: The Melchizedekian Priesthood refers to the priesthood of Melchizedek, which foreshadows Christ’s eternal priesthood, superior to the Levitical system.
Bible Reference: “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4, ESV)
Answer: The Remnant refers to the faithful group within Israel and the Church that remains devoted to God despite widespread apostasy.
Bible Reference: “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.” (Romans 11:5, ESV)
Answer: Typology is the study of how people, events, or institutions in the Old Testament prefigure or foreshadow Christ and His work in the New Testament.
Bible Reference: “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Colossians 2:17, ESV)
Answer: The Great Commission is Jesus’ command to His disciples to spread the gospel to all nations, making disciples and baptizing them.
Bible Reference: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)
Answer: Systematic theology is the discipline of studying what the entire Bible teaches about specific topics and organizing those teachings into a coherent, logical system.
Systematic theology asks: “What does the whole Bible say about [a specific doctrine]?” and then gathers and arranges that information into categories like God, sin, salvation, or the church.
These categories are sometimes called the “loci” (Latin for “places”) of theology:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Theology Proper | The doctrine of God (His attributes, Trinity, names, etc.) |
| Bibliology | The doctrine of Scripture (inspiration, authority, canon) |
| Christology | The doctrine of Christ (His nature, incarnation, work) |
| Pneumatology | The doctrine of the Holy Spirit |
| Anthropology | The doctrine of humanity (creation, image of God, fall) |
| Hamartiology | The doctrine of sin |
| Soteriology | The doctrine of salvation |
| Ecclesiology | The doctrine of the church |
| Eschatology | The doctrine of the last things (death, judgment, heaven, hell) |
Systematic theology is the faithful study and organization of all that Scripture teaches about key truths of the Christian faith, in order to know God rightly, worship Him fully, and live out our faith wisely.
| Type | Focus |
|---|---|
| Biblical Theology | Follows the storyline of Scripture and how theology unfolds in time. |
| Systematic Theology | Organizes doctrines topically (e.g., God, sin, salvation), often drawing from the whole Bible at once. |
| Historical Theology | Studies how doctrines were understood and developed through church history. |
| Practical Theology | Focuses on applying theology to daily life and ministry. |
Answer: Atonement is the reconciliation between God and humanity, achieved through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. It involves the payment for sin and the restoration of a right relationship with God.
Answer: Concupiscence is a term used in Christian theology, especially in Catholicism, to describe the tendency or inclination towards sin that remains in human beings even after baptism and regeneration. It’s often associated with the idea of the weakened state of human nature due to the Fall.
Answer: Covenantal Nomism is a scholarly concept that describes the relationship between grace and law in Judaism, emphasizing that God’s covenantal grace precedes and enables obedience to the law rather than earning salvation through legalistic works.
Answer: The Doctrine of Election, also known as Predestination, is the belief that God chooses or elects certain individuals for salvation before the foundation of the world based on His sovereign will and not on human merit or foreseen faith.
Answer: The Hypostatic Union is the doctrine that explains the dual nature of Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully human. It teaches that Jesus, the Son of God, took on human nature without ceasing to be divine, resulting in one person with two distinct natures.
Answer: The Incarnation is the Christian doctrine that teaches the Son of God, Jesus Christ, took on human flesh and became fully human while remaining fully divine. It emphasizes the mystery of God becoming incarnate to dwell among humanity and bring salvation.
Answer: Original Sin is the Christian belief that all humans inherit a sinful nature due to the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It affects every aspect of human life, leading to a tendency to sin and separation from God without divine intervention.
Answer: Penal Substitutionary Atonement is a theory of atonement in Christian theology that teaches Jesus Christ, through His sacrificial death on the cross, took on the penalty (penal) for humanity’s sins in our place (substitutionary). It emphasizes the idea of Christ bearing the punishment that sinners deserve.
Answer: Postmillennialism is an eschatological view that believes Christ will return after a period of spiritual and cultural transformation on earth, during which the gospel spreads, and God’s kingdom expands, leading to a golden age of righteousness and peace.
Answer: Predestination is the theological concept that God has foreordained all events, including the salvation or condemnation of individuals. It’s a debated topic among Christians, with various interpretations regarding God’s sovereignty and human free will.
Answer: Purgatory is a belief, primarily in Catholic theology, that after death, souls undergo a purification process to remove any remaining sins or imperfections before entering heaven.
Answer: Substitutionary Atonement is a theory of atonement that teaches Jesus Christ substituted Himself for sinners, taking on their punishment on the cross to satisfy God’s justice and reconcile humanity to God.
Answer: Total Depravity is a doctrine that teaches humans are completely corrupted by sin, affecting every aspect of their being—mind, will, emotions, and body—making them unable to save themselves without divine intervention.
Answer: Transubstantiation is a belief held in some Christian traditions, particularly in Catholicism, regarding the Eucharist. It teaches that during the consecration of the bread and wine in the Eucharistic celebration, they undergo a change in substance, becoming the actual body and blood of Christ while retaining the appearance of bread and wine.
Answer: The Trinity refers to the Christian belief that God exists as three distinct persons—Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit—yet is one God. It’s a mystery that teaches the unity of God in three co-equal and co-eternal persons.
Answer: Divine Simplicity is the doctrine that God is not composed of parts but is entirely unified in His being. His attributes, such as love, justice, and holiness, are not separate qualities but are fully integrated into His essence.
Bible Reference: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24, NIV)
Answer: Monergism is the theological belief that salvation is entirely the work of God, meaning that human will plays no part in regeneration; rather, it is God who draws and saves sinners by His grace alone.
Bible Reference: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:44, NIV)
Answer: Kenosis is the theological concept from Philippians 2:7 that describes how Jesus “emptied Himself” by taking on human nature, humbling Himself without relinquishing His divinity.
Bible Reference: “Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7, NIV)
Answer: The Beatific Vision is the ultimate, direct vision of God that the redeemed will experience in heaven, leading to perfect joy and satisfaction.
Bible Reference: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8, NIV)
Answer: The Communicatio Idiomatum is the theological principle that in the person of Christ, His divine and human natures communicate their attributes to one another.
Bible Reference: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” (Colossians 2:9, NIV)
Answer: Divine Impassibility is the doctrine that God does not experience emotional change in response to creation, ensuring His perfect, unchanging nature.
Bible Reference: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6, ESV)
Answer: The Eternal Generation of the Son is the doctrine that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, meaning He shares the same divine essence without being created.
Bible Reference: “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” (John 5:26, ESV)
Answer: The Beatific Vision is the ultimate, direct experience of God’s presence in heaven, bringing perfect joy to the believer.
Bible Reference: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4, ESV)
Answer: The Communication of Attributes is the doctrine that, in the person of Christ, His divine and human natures share attributes without mixing.
Bible Reference: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9, ESV)
Answer: Justification by Faith is the doctrine that sinners are declared righteous before God by faith in Christ alone, apart from works.
Bible Reference: “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:28, ESV)
Answer: Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful and able to do all things that are consistent with His nature.
Bible Reference: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37, ESV)
Answer: Omniscience means that God possesses complete and perfect knowledge of all things, past, present, and future.
Bible Reference: “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” (Psalm 139:4, ESV)
Answer: Omnipresence means that God is present everywhere at all times, though He is distinct from His creation.
Bible Reference: “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7, ESV)
Answer: Divine Immutability means that God does not change in His nature, character, or promises.
Bible Reference: “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6, ESV)