Why Theology?
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15
To brazenly paraphrase the Bard “To believe, perchance to think. Ay, there’s the rub.”
“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Bible most certainly has a plain, readable meaning, which is available and understandable to all that might be saved. The Gospel is plainly, repeatedly and boldly stated, to guide the reader to salvation through the regenerating hand of the Spirit.
“when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48
Election, Regeneration, faith, the continuance of sanctification, glorification — all monergistic (performed by God alone) acts to the Reformed believer. Yet we are not called to be unthinking in our life. We are called to emulate God, and to emulate Him we must know him. Further, we are called to believe and obey (John 14:15). But obey what? The Bible, of course. But the Bible does not conveniently state the truth of any matter in one succinct place. The character of God, the teachings of God and their applications are all documented in fragments and stories, often many in number and spanning all of scripture for any one attribute or truth. Compiling the totality for one, let alone all, is beyond comprehension for any one person.
Thus is born the idea of, and need for, theology (the study of God) and doctrine (the study of His teachings concerning our place and life before Him), in conjunction with regular Bible reading and study.
As will be seen though study and examination, Reformed Theology reflects that true essence of the Biblical narrative. We would also believe that Reformed Baptist Theology articulates additional and correct nuances concerning baptism.
What books can you read to fill out your knowledge? Many would say, just read the Bible. However, benefiting from the lifelong study of faithful, Bible centered scholars is very wise and does nothing to deny the centrality of Scripture.
With the caveat that there also many others, we would humbly suggest the following texts for further study:
Easiest (which does not imply any lack of value)
Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Books by RC Spoul
Recommended
Systematic Theology, 2nd Edition, by Wayne Grudem
Historical Theology by Allison
Systematic Theology (2+ vol) by Joel Beeke
Reformed and more challenging
Systematic Theology by Berkoff
Reformed Dogmatics (4 vol.) by Herman Bavinck
Integrative Theology (3 vol) by Lewis Demarest