A lot could be said here about how theology is the "queen of the sciences," and how theology joins the theoretical and the practical to God's glory:
Quote:
Martin Bucer: "True theology is not theoretical, but practical. The end of it is living, that is to live a godly life."
William Perkins: 'Theology is “the science of living blessedly forever.”'
William Ames: 'Theology is the “doctrine of living to God.”'
Herman Witsius: “He alone is a true theologian who adds the practical to the theoretical part of religion.”
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Things could also be said about the "publish or perish" mindset of academia today.
More could be said about those books that formed
the nucleus of ministerial studies in ages past, such as Turretin's
Institutes, and so forth. Spurgeon said, for example, "Ministers who do not know [Thomas] Manton need not wonder if they are themselves unknown."
Certainly much could be said about how the wise minister does not shun books, old or new (C.S. Lewis said to read at least one old book for every three new ones read not to stay stuck in the past or to despise original thinking but to guard against the errors of one's own age and theological innovation), that shine the light of true wisdom, yet
subordinates all reading to the Word of God which ought to occupy the chief place in his personal life as well as his occupational studies, and in all so doing takes care to
manage his time wisely.
But being acquainted as I am with Matthew Poole, and his vision for ministerial studies, I will say a word or two about that and leave the former points for others if anyone wishes to expound on them. Matthew Poole had a vision. He wanted ministers to be able to focus on their studies without financial cares. So he proposed a model or programme for sustaining them in their educational pursuits, circa 1658, that failed to see the light of day due to the Restoration. But when he was ejected from his pulpit, he spent ten solid years on another project. Again considering the financial needs of ministerial students, not so different I think from seminary students in our day, and recognizing a need for them to be able to access a body of literature that was inaccessible to many even in the mid-17th century for financial and other reasons, compiled a synopsis of Biblical critical writings on the entire Bible, pouring through numerous works and selecting about 150 critics and their works, and then sifting through them to pinpoint those specific comments most worthy of consideration by the ministerial student. He sought help from the best theological minds of his day, an era that is not to be despised for theological brilliance and practical piety, and ultimately produced the
Synopsis Criticorum, in Latin, the theological language of his day. For a long time, divinity students were expected to acquaint themselves with this
Synopsis, and it was a boon to have so many ancient critical comments on the Bible in one place. But Latin is no longer understood so widely and so recognizing a 21st century need, my pastor is translating the
Synopsis into English for the first time so that this treasure trove of Biblical literature is not lost. It is a canon of sorts, and worthy of study by today's theological students as it was centuries ago.
I mention this not to praise my pastor or myself, we are not worthy to the task, but because we ought not to forget that we stand on the shoulders of giants. It is not because I love the past that I think of them as giants, but because I love God's Word.