"Christian doctrine" redirects here. For the United States Court case known by that name, see G.L. Christian and associates v. US.Christian theology is the enterprise which seeks to construct a coherent system of
Christian belief and practice. This is based primarily upon the texts of the
Old Testament and the
New Testament as well as the
historic traditions of Christians. Christian
theologians use biblical
exegesis,
rational analysis, and argument to clarify, examine, understand, explicate, critique, defend or promote Christianity. Theology might be undertaken to help the theologian better understand Christian tenets, make
comparisons between Christianity and other traditions,
defend Christianity against objections and criticism, facilitate reforms in the Christian church, assist in the
propagation of Christianity, draw on the resources of the Christian tradition to address some present situation or need, or for a variety of other reasons.
Systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs. Systematic theology draws on the foundational
sacred texts of Christianity, while simultaneously investigating the development of Christian doctrine over the course of history, particularly through
philosophical evolution. Inherent to a system of theological thought is that a method is developed, one which can be applied both broadly and particularly. Systematic theology will typically explore
God (
theology proper), the
attributes of God, the
Trinity for trinitarian Christians,
revelation,
biblical hermeneutics, the
creation,
divine providence,
theodicy,
anthropology,
hamartiology,
Christology,
pneumatology,
soteriology,
ecclesiology,
missiology,
spirituality and
mysticism,
sacramental theology,
eschatology,
moral theology, the afterlife, and the Christian understanding of other religious systems and philosophies.
Christian theology has permeated much of
Western culture, especially in pre-modern Europe.