Lesson 10 | Trace Themes

Study Skill: Read Theologically

The image above is not a painting, but a tapestry—a large fabric wall hanging. To create a tapestry, an artist skillfully weaves colored threads, bringing each color to the surface according to a designed pattern. Each thread contributes to the whole and is best seen in light of the whole.
The Bible teaches theology in much the same way. Many themes are woven together to form a unified message, with various themes coming to the surface throughout the storyline of Scripture. And so, as we read any particular passage, we should read theologically.
To read the Bible theologically begins with the aim of knowing God as he truly is. As Jesus said, knowing God is the very center of our calling.


Then, in rightly knowing God, everything else comes into proper view, including our own selves, the world we live in, the past, the future, and…everything. Therefore, as Christians seeking to walk in accord with the truth, it is essential that we read the Bible theologically. That is why with each assignment we have asked you to answer the question, “What is one truth about God, man, or God’s plan that you understand from this passage?” In pursuing this question, you have already been reading theologically. It is now time to bring this task fully to the fore.
Setting the Table for Theology
Just as rightly appreciating the beauty of a tapestry requires stepping back to take in the whole scene, gaining a comprehension of the whole Bible is essential for building sound doctrine. We must read with the whole Bible in view. You may very well reply, “But I am new to reading the Bible. I don’t yet have a clear view of the whole.” My response is three-fold:
First, start where you are. Yes, there is much more to learn, but the best way to begin is with the chapter at hand. What an exciting place to be—at the first steps of seeing the most glorious story unfold before your eyes! Second, learn within the context of a local church. You are not Christ’s Bride or his Body, but you are a part of them both if you are in Christ, something lived out in a local congregation. So show up to your church as much as you can and learn the Scriptures with God’s people. Third, even the most experienced and able Bible scholar must come as a student. No one stands over Scripture as an expert. There is always more to see and learn. So humility and a teachable heart are the common ground for us all.
So as we set out to read the Bible theologically, several new questions are now on the table.  
1. What theological themes come to the surface in this passage?
Our assignment question has focused on three core themes: What does the Bible say about God, man, and God’s plan? Under these three headings, we could list many more specific themes. For example, Wayne Grudem has seven main headings in his book, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine:
The Word of God
God
Man
Christ and the Holy Spirit
Redemption
The Church
Future Things
Within these seven headings, he has 57 chapters, each on a specific topic—and that in a book presented as an ”introduction” to doctrine! All this to say, there may very well be a wide variety of theological themes in any particular passage. Since our aim in this course is to focus our attention on studying a single chapter, it may serve you well to narrow the question to ask, “What are the most important doctrinal truths this passage raises?”
2. How does this passage develop or contribute to a theme?
Imagine that you are standing very near a tapestry, close enough to see individual threads and all the subtle shades of color. You gain a new appreciation for the artist and the skill required to weave such an intricate design. And then, as you take a step back, you begin to see how a particular color integrates with the pattern of that section. A step further and you see the many ways the artist uses that color or repeats that pattern throughout the whole. In other words, the details inform your understanding of the whole.
Likewise, once we have identified the theological themes that arise in a text, we should ask how this passage informs our understanding of these doctrines.
For example, Psalm 19 sheds wonderful light on the doctrine of God’s word, showing:
what it contains: law, testimony, precepts, commandment, and rules
its quality: perfect, sure, right, pure, true, and righteous
its effects: revives the soul, makes wise, brings joy, and enlightens eyes


3. Does this passage uniquely shed light on a theological theme?
With this question we are pausing to look beyond the most prominent doctrinal themes in a passage in order to consider statements that may be less obvious or even point to truths that are not stated anywhere else in Scripture.
Romans 8 has been called the “high water mark” of Christian theology. It opens, wondrously declaring, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” And it closes, soaring to glorious heights: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Between these two bookends stands a feast of theological riches, including these two verses:


Twice Paul states that the Spirit intercedes for those in Christ. Within the scope of this glorious chapter, it might be easy to nod at this truth and move on. But don’t run so fast. While several other passages talk about the Spirit empowering our prayers, this is the only place in Scripture that talks about the Spirit himself interceding on behalf of the saints. Hopefully, by this point in the course, you have come to learn that such an observation warrants as many probing questions as we can muster.
4. How does this theme relate to the author’s central concern?
While the theological task we have been describing thus far is vitally important, we do not want to lose track of our aim to gain a full understanding of the passage itself. Thankfully, these two tasks are not at odds. The previous three questions press into how the passage contributes to our understanding of theology. This question goes in the opposite direction: How does this theological theme contribute to the author’s message in this text?
In 2 Timothy 3, we find a well-known passage that clearly affirms a central tenet concerning the doctrine of God’s word.


These two verses have greatly served the church through the ages, bringing clarity and firmness to the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture. Yet, at the same time, we must ask, Why did Paul say this to Timothy? Why here, in this context? How does this truth bear on Paul’s message to Timothy? Paul’s central concern in this chapter is that Timothy remain firm in the faith though he swims in a sea of ungodliness, false doctrine, and opposition. We need this doctrine of the word for the very same reason. We stake our lives upon the reality that when we read this book, we are reading God’s very words. Indeed, all our theology is in service of living in accord with the truth.

Reading Theologically and the Topics Lens
You may well ask, “How is this task different from discerning the 5 W’s and an H discussed in Lesson 4, ‘Discern the Core Issue’?” While the two tasks may have overlap, they are distinct.
With the Topics lens, we are seeking to discern the author’s message—his primary concern or burden (Main Topic). Now, reading theologically, we have a narrower focus, asking how the author develops a specific theological theme.
While the topic of a given paragraph may be a theological theme (thus, overlapping with our present task), we can still press in further with the reading theologically skills discussed in this lesson. New questions bring new observations, which lead to greater understanding.
Discerning the topics and core issue focuses our attention on the author’s message within a chapter. Reading theologically expands our horizon to the whole Bible context. Both perspectives are necessary.