The benefits of historical theology.
Holding in unison the theological failures and successes of the past in order to safeguard the present.
Within the broad school of theology, there are many varied theological disciplines that are imbued with their language and sense of urgency. At times, Christians can succumb to discouragement when faced with the prospect of theological learning due to its perceived academic flair and the relative “competition” that sometimes pits one discipline against another. Even well-meaning theologians can be found making broad-brush assertions insisting that their particular discipline is the most important with which Jesus’s disciples should be concerned. However, rather than setting the merits of systematic theology against those of biblical theology or philosophical theology, Christians are encouraged to consider how each theological discipline functions within the endeavor “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Accordingly, the role of historical theology is well understood by the undertaking to hold in unison the theological failures and successes of the past in order to safeguard unwitting scholars and students in the present as they face a future that continues to unfold in unexpected and uncertain ways. “The study of historical theology,” writes Dr. Jason G. Duesing, “allows Christians and churches to make sense of what they have inherited as well as to receive instruction from those who have lived in other times and persevered through other trials” (4). Christianity, of course, is not a religion that can be understood in a vacuum. It is a historical and embodied faith, with each successive generation of believers inheriting the role of a historical theologian whose duty is to retrieve the orthodox inclinations of bygones without resorting to reinterpretation or renunciation.
Therefore, far from being an ivory tower pursuit, historical theology is a needed and necessary discipline for the local church since it (1) shields the church with the preeminence of Scripture over tradition without jettisoning the value of Christian tradition altogether. Historical theology also (2) catalyzes the local church to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20) and the two Great Commandments (Matt. 22:34–40) by enriching its members with God’s great enveloping love for his church. In so doing, it (3) provides additional context to other theological schools of thought, informing Christians of the development of orthodox theology through history. In this way, historical theology (4) supplements other theological disciplines so that Christians are imbued with a robust and nuanced understanding of their ecclesiastical past. Finally, historical theology (5) serves the local church by enabling its members to recognize past and present doctrinal waywardness, compromise, and contradiction.
As the gap widens between the inception of the church and the present day, the demand for faithful historical theology increases and intensifies. Modernity’s theological dissonance can only be quelled by faithful theological retrieval of the church’s storied history. “Historical theology for the church,” Dr. Duesing says, “functioning as a donkey carrying the Master, serves his church well when it strives to provide correction of contemporary misapplications of the past for present and future churches” (18). Rather than a purely academic exercise, it is a timely project that contributes to and facilitates the mission of preserving Christ’s church.
Grace and peace.
Works cited:
Jason G. Duesing and Nathan A. Finn, editors, Historical Theology for the Church (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2021).
Agreed, historical theology can be useful and instructive. However, once misapplications of theology emerge, they must also be contended against, as Luther contended against the many errors of the medieval church. And there has been insufficient opposition on the part of Bible-believing churches to the many scriptural distortions that are rampant in these confusing times.
Paul did not only preach the gospel, he also exposed oppositions to the gospel as well. Surely preaching the gospel includes defending it from worldly distortions.
Without knowledge, there can be no earnest contention, but without earnest contention, mere awareness of false doctrines benefits the individual but not the church.
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."