Theological Pyramid

The theological pyramid is crucial in our Christian growth, leading ultimately to a joy-filled life. Let me break it down for you. At the foundation of this pyramid is the Bible, our source book and guidebook. It is the only way we can know about God. All truth about God comes from the Bible, which is inspired, inerrant, accurate, sufficient, authoritative, and plenary.

From the Bible, we develop a sound hermeneutic, the science and method of Bible interpretation. Just as there are principles for understanding a letter from a friend, there are principles for interpreting the Bible. Hermeneutics helps us avoid reading our own ideas into Scripture, which is called eisegesis, and instead allows us to draw out the original meaning, known as exegesis.

As we apply proper hermeneutics, we dig into the Bible, examining each book, chapter, verse, sentence, phrase, and word to build a proper understanding. This leads us to develop biblical theology, understanding the unique contexts and styles of different writers like Paul, John, James, Peter, Isaiah, and Moses.

From biblical theology, we move to systematic theology, categorizing the Bible’s teachings into doctrines such as the doctrine of God, Christ, sin, salvation (soteriology), humanity (anthropology), the church (ecclesiology), and end times (eschatology). We gather all relevant biblical information into these categories for a comprehensive understanding.

Finally, we arrive at practical theology, where we apply these learned truths to our lives. With a strong theological foundation, we can share our knowledge and lives with others, leading to a joy-filled life. By participating in God’s joy with like-minded friends, we experience the ultimate fulfillment of our growth in Christ.