A Practical Primer on Theological Method Quotes

“The Bible tells the great, true story of redemption, of a God who created a good world, watched as that world was corrupted by sin and rebellion, and is at work redeeming it on the trajectory to a new heaven and a new earth. The Bible is not a set of rules, a love letter, a book of magic words, or a science or history textbook.”
― Michael J. Svigel, A Practical Primer on Theological Method: Table Manners for Discussing God, His Works, and His Ways

“Defining theology as “the study of God” confuses this relationship. We are unable to study God directly as an object of inquiry. But we can study, reflect on, and dialogue about what God reveals to us.”
― Glenn R. Kreider, A Practical Primer on Theological Method: Table Manners for Discussing God, His Works, and His Ways

“If the Bible was meant to point us to Jesus and equip believers for good works, we conscript it into illegitimate service when we use it to justify political opinions, glean dietary advice, or formulate scientific theories”
― Michael J. Svigel, A Practical Primer on Theological Method: Table Manners for Discussing God, His Works, and His Ways

“Both our eyesight and our looking glasses distort or diminish full and perfect understanding of Scripture. As such, the Interpreter must admit that the fruit of hard-won translations and understandings are really only a good faith reflection on the verbally inspired Word to the World. Whereas the words of God are unfailing, the words of the Interpreter are not.”
― Michael J. Svigel, A Practical Primer on Theological Method: Table Manners for Discussing God, His Works, and His Ways

“Thus, the interpretation will always be finite, incomplete, and at points inaccurate. Yet Scripture must still be translated, read, studied, and interpreted. The role of the Interpreter is therefore a high and holy—as well as a sober and serious—calling.”
― Michael J. Svigel, A Practical Primer on Theological Method: Table Manners for Discussing God, His Works, and His Ways