What is Theology? A Puritan Perspective from Their Actual Writings
Theology, in its simplest form, is the study of God. But for the Puritans, theology was not just an academic exercise; it was a deeply personal, practical, and life-altering pursuit. For them, theology was the science of living unto God, the means by which one could understand and commune with their Creator. The Puritans’ view of theology was shaped by their unshakable belief in the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the necessity of a godly life. To understand what theology meant to the Puritans, we must delve into their writings, their practices, and their commitment to the glory of God in all things.
The Nature of Theology: Knowledge of God
For the Puritans, theology was primarily concerned with the knowledge of God. In his work The Works of Richard Baxter, the Puritan pastor Richard Baxter wrote, “Theology is the science of living unto God; of knowing Him, and of serving Him aright.” This statement encapsulates the Puritan view of theology as both the knowledge of God and the practical outworking of that knowledge in everyday life. For Baxter, theology was not an abstract or theoretical discipline. It was rooted in the living, dynamic relationship between the believer and God.
John Owen, one of the most prominent Puritan theologians, emphasized the necessity of true knowledge of God. He stated in The Glory of Christ that “The most excellent, desirable, and necessary knowledge, is that which enables us to behold and enjoy God.” Owen viewed theology as a means to not only understand God’s attributes but to experience His presence and glory. He believed that knowledge of God led to the soul’s satisfaction and fulfillment, for it was through knowing God that one could experience true peace and joy.
The Puritans viewed the study of theology as an act of worship. They believed that theology was to be practiced with a heart full of awe and reverence before God. The Scriptures, as they understood them, were the primary means through which humanity could know God’s nature, His will, and His ways. As Thomas Watson, a Puritan preacher, wrote in his Body of Divinity, “The knowledge of God is the fountain of all happiness and comfort. It is the foundation of all true peace, and the spring of all holiness.” Theology, for the Puritans, was not just knowledge for knowledge’s sake but knowledge that led to a transformation of the heart and life.
Theology as Practical and Personal
For the Puritans, theology was not an intellectual pursuit disconnected from life. It was intensely practical and deeply personal. They saw the study of God as a means to live more faithfully and holy before Him. Theologian and pastor Thomas Brooks, in his book The Privy Key of Heaven, declared, “Theology is the knowledge of God and His will, in order to live according to that will.” The Puritans believed that to truly know God was to live in a way that honored and glorified Him.
This conviction was evident in their view of the Scriptures. The Puritans treated the Bible as more than just a book of doctrine—it was a manual for Christian living. As John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress, famously put it, “This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book.” For the Puritans, theology was intimately tied to the practical outworking of a godly life. The study of God’s Word was not merely for intellectual enrichment but for transformation. It was meant to affect the believer’s thoughts, actions, and desires.
In his writings, Richard Baxter repeatedly stressed the importance of theology in Christian living. He argued that theological knowledge must be applied to one’s daily life, urging his readers to “live in the constant, practical remembrance of God’s presence, to live by His Word, and to govern every thought, word, and action according to His revealed will.” This personal application of theology was key for the Puritans. They believed that the proper study of God’s Word would result in a life that reflected God’s holiness, a life marked by humility, obedience, and reverence.
Theology as the Glory of God
A central aspect of Puritan theology was the belief that all theology ultimately points to the glory of God. This understanding is seen in the writings of Jonathan Edwards, one of the greatest theological minds of the Puritan tradition. In his famous work The End for Which God Created the World, Edwards argued that the ultimate purpose of all creation, including the study of theology, is to glorify God. Edwards wrote, “The end of the creation is the glory of God, and theology is the science of the manifestations of God’s glory.” For the Puritans, theology was not an exercise in human achievement or intellectual prowess. It was a means of understanding and reflecting the infinite glory of God in the world.
This emphasis on the glory of God was foundational for the Puritans. They believed that everything in life, from the study of theology to the mundane tasks of daily life, should be done for God’s glory. As the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which greatly influenced the Puritans, states: “The chief end of man is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” Theology, then, was to be seen as the pursuit of a deeper knowledge of God’s glory, a pursuit that led to worship and adoration of the Creator.
The Puritans believed that in knowing God more fully, Christians were drawn into a deeper awe and reverence of His majesty. The study of theology was a means of magnifying God’s greatness and reflecting His holiness in the believer’s life. For the Puritans, theology was the gateway to the worship of God, and worship was the true end of all theological study.
Theology and the Life of the Church
The Puritans were also deeply concerned with the role of theology in the life of the church. They viewed the church as the community where theology was to be taught, lived out, and applied. The Puritans strongly believed that the church should be grounded in sound doctrine, and that the faithful should be discipled in the truths of Scripture. The church was not merely a gathering of individuals but a body of believers committed to growing in the knowledge of God together.
In The Whole Works of John Owen, Owen writes about the necessity of sound doctrine in the church: “The church is the pillar and ground of the truth; it is through the church that God’s Word is to be proclaimed and upheld.” The Puritans were committed to the idea that the church was to be a place where theology was not only taught but lived out in the community. They believed that a proper understanding of God’s Word would lead to a church that was vibrant, godly, and dedicated to the pursuit of holiness.
Furthermore, the Puritans believed that the church’s worship should be shaped by theology. They insisted that the preaching of the Word be central in worship and that the doctrines of Scripture be faithfully taught and applied. In his work The Reformed Pastor, Richard Baxter emphasized that pastors should not only preach the Bible but also ensure that the congregation understood and applied its truths. For the Puritans, theology was not just a private matter—it was to be lived out in the life of the church and expressed in corporate worship.
Conclusion: Theology as a Lifelong Pursuit
In summary, Puritan theology was not just an academic discipline or a theoretical pursuit. It was the study of God’s nature, will, and ways with the aim of knowing Him, living for Him, and glorifying Him. For the Puritans, theology was intimately tied to personal holiness, godly living, and the worship of God. Their writings reflect a deep reverence for Scripture and a passion for applying its truths to every area of life. Theology, as seen from the Puritan perspective, is not a pursuit of intellectual knowledge alone but a lifelong commitment to living in accordance with God’s revealed will, for the glory of His name.
