'신학은 학문이다'와 '신학은 학문이 아니다' 두 명제는 양립가능한가?

Abstract

This study examines the compatibility of two propositions that have emerged within Reformed theology: Neo-Calvinism’s “Theology is an academic discipline” and Reformed Life Theology’s “Theology is not an academic discipline.” The proposition “Theology is an academic discipline” implies a critique of the secularization of theology, the preservation of theology’s independence, and the emphasis on theology’s universality. On the other hand, the proposition “Theology is not an academic discipline” entails a critique of speculative theology, a call for the restoration of biblical theology, and an emphasis on theology that revitalizes the church. The compatibility of these two propositions was examined from the perspectives of common grace and special grace, universal history and redemptive history, and three types of theology. The results are as follows: The proposition “Theology is an academic discipline” began with the holy character of theology and shifted the emphasis toward theology’s position as an academically independent discipline. In contrast, the proposition ‘Theology is not an academic discipline’ emphasizes the essence of theology, which is centered on the Gospel of the Bible, while still acknowledging its academic nature. In other words, the two propositions share the commonality that the source of theology is the Bible, but they differ in that the former emphasizes the academic methodology of theology, while the latter emphasizes the biblical content, which is the essence of theology. In this sense, the former emphasizes the aspect of common grace, whereas the latter emphasizes the aspect of special grace. While the proposition “Theology is an academic discipline” presupposes theology for the church and emphasizes its academic nature on par with other disciplines, the proposition “Theology is not an academic discipline” presupposes theology’s academic nature but emphasizes its role in revitalizing the church. In this respect, the former focuses on theology within the universal historical realm, where Christians live alongside non-Christians, while the latter focuses on theology within the redemptive historical realm, composed of Christians in the church. Among both universal history and redemptive history, which apply to all Christians, Neo-Calvinism is evaluated as emphasizing the universal historical realm as a solution to contemporary issues, while Reformed Life Theology is seen as emphasizing the redemptive historical realm. The proposition “Theology is an academic discipline” critiques the secularization of theology, which arose due to the radical influence of the Alexandrian School, and re-establishes the church-centered theology of the Antiochian School, while also recovering and emphasizing moderate Alexandrian elements. On the other hand, the proposition “Theology is not an academic discipline” critiques theology’s speculative nature, which, under continued Alexandrian influence, led to the secularization of the church. It acknowledges the academic character of theology, a hallmark of the Alexandrian School, while emphasizing the biblical characteristics of the Antiochian School. The former strengthens Alexandrian characteristics on the foundation of the Antiochian School, while the latter recognizes Alexandrian characteristics but emphasizes the recovery of Antiochian elements. Thus, while Neo-Calvinism’s proposition “Theology is an academic discipline” emphasizes common grace, universal history, and moderate Alexandrian elements, Reformed Life Theology’s proposition “Theology is not an academic discipline” emphasizes special grace, redemptive history, and Antiochian elements. Church history testifies that theology can fulfill its complete role only when common grace and special grace, universal history and redemptive history, and the three types of theology are balanced, both within Reformed theology and broader orthodox Christianity. The appearance of different names and propositions within Reformed theology can be understood as responses to overcome the crises of their respective times. In the process, both propositions seem to have been declared to correct contemporary imbalances and re-establish a complete theology. Therefore, since both Neo-Calvinism's proposition that "Theology is an academic discipline" and Reformed Life Theology's proposition that "Theology is not an academic discipline" align with Reformed theology, they are compatible.