A Little Book for New Theologians Quotes

“One of the greatest theological challenges of our time is to move our worship beyond self-absorption.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Reading Scripture merely to look for doctrinal proof texts or sermon illustrations, rather than as the blazing Word which is alive and active, kills our spirit.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“A pious and holy person is not one who is free from the struggle with sin but one who freely soaks in the love of the Father and the grace of the Son and finds renewal in the strong fellowship of the Spirit.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Theology is not reserved for those in the academy; it is an aspect of thought and conversation for all who live and breathe, who wrestle and fear, who hope and pray.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“The faithful theologian treats the Scriptures as the yardstick of belief but never as a tool for abusive control.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Thomas Aquinas: “Theology is taught by God, teaches of God and leads to God” (Theologia a Deo docetur, Deum docet, et ad Deum ducit).”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“There are no true unbelievers; we all place our trust in something. Therefore, whatever its content, our faith inescapably informs what we determine to be reasonable.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Attempting to separate life and theology is to lose the beauty and truthfulness of both.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“William Ames (1576-1633) defined theology as the “teaching [doctrina] of living to God.”[2]”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“All good and faithful theology comes from God, who is the ultimate theologian—the only one who can, without weakness or misunderstanding, speak of himself.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Most of the time we cannot help that child without getting ourselves messy too. Connecting ourselves to the vulnerable, the oppressed, the damaged and the suffering will connect us with their pain and trouble. Look at Jesus—he went to the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the outcasts, and it raised serious questions about his reputation. It raised questions about his theology! It should also force us to ask serious questions about his Father, whose truth and love his Son embodies. But Jesus remained unstained by taking to himself our chaos and sin. Paradoxically, his blood cleanses us.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Anyone who stands at the end of his days and claims never to have changed his mind should not be praised for unwillingness to compromise but rather pitied for naïve pride.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“If our theology does not quicken the conscience and soften the heart, it actually hardens both; if it does not encourage the commitment of faith, it reinforces the detachment of unbelief; if it fails to promote humility, it inevitably feeds pride.”[6] Pride and arrogance, which often accompany theological discussion, are not simply the temptation of the domineering pastor or condescending professor; they are a temptation for all of us.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“The truth is not in the middle, and not in one extreme, but in both extremes. Charles Simeon, quoted in John Stott, Christ the Controversialist”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Theology is all about knowing how to sing the song of redemption: to know when to shout, when to mourn, when to be silent and when to hope. But in order to enjoy the song and sing it well, we must learn the words and the music.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“The fear of the Lord is “the beginning of wisdom,” not because a person immediately understands archaic Latin phrases and complex mathematics, but because the worshiper no longer sees only a fragmented world, but stands before the One who holds all things together (see Prov 1:7; 2:1-6; 9:10; Ps 19:9; 111:10). Fearing the Lord means that we are not left to our own resources to control and survive the elements of creation, but that we can trust the Creator who sustains that creation, controls the future and has our best interests at heart (e.g., Prov 23:17-18).”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“Where foolish persons demand that God must work within the parameters of their limited understanding, wise persons expand and readjust their views to fit God’s words, work and creation.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“the best imagery used to depict the theological enterprise is that of pilgrimage. Biblically we read of Christians described as those who belong to “the Way” (e.g., Acts 9:2; 19:19, 23; 24:14, 22), for they are “sojourners” (1 Pet 2:11)”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“God who “takes pleasure in his people” (Ps 149:4). God “takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love” (Ps 147:11).”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“We are speaking not of an irrational leap into the unknown, but of the responsible acceptance of a personal invitation: “Follow me.” Lesslie Newbigin, Truth and Authority in Modernity”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“You arouse us so that praising you may bring us joy,      because you have made us and drawn us to yourself,      and our heart is [restless] until it rests in you.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology

“By knowing God we come to love him, and by loving him we come to know him.”
― Kelly M. Kapic, A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology