Back علم اللاهوت المسيحي Arabic ܡܡܠܠܘܬ ܐܠܗܘܬܐ ܡܫܝܚܝܬܐ ARC لاهوت ARZ Християнско богословие Bulgarian খ্রিস্টান ধর্মতত্ত্ব Bengali/Bangla Teologia cristiana Catalan Křesťanská teologie Czech Kristen teologi Danish Christliche Theologie German Χριστιανική θεολογία Greek
Christian theology is the study of Christian belief. Christian theologians use analysis and argument to understand, explain, test, critique, defend, or promote Christianity.
Christian theology starts with the New Testament. Saint Paul, in his letters, and his speeches (Acts of the Apostles), draws upon his training as a rabbi and on his experience of Christ. He started outside Damascus to explain to Jews and Gentiles the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. In the History of Christianity, later writers such as Luther and John Calvin have stressed the Bible as the basis of theology. The bible as a source is not without controversy. Catholic and Orthodox theologians have also stressed the importance of Church tradition for the faith. Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine are among the most important writers within the Roman Catholic Church.
Differences in theology have led to the many denominations within Christianity. This started with the separation of Jesus' followers from Judaism. Later came the Great Schism and the Reformation. After Luther's quarrel with the Pope, Reformed churches like the Lutherans and Baptists are established. Calvinism is very important within Protestantism, although the followers of Jacob Arminius do not accept it. Attempts at compromise in England between the Catholics and Puritans lead to the establishment of the Church of England.
Later movements include Methodism, Liberal Christianity, Pentecostalism, and Liberation theology.