Today we come to the final part of our short series on the scholastic Christian axiom theologia a Deo docetur, Deum docet, et ad Deum ducit. When translated, this phrase means “Theology is taught by God, teaches God, and leads to God.”
More or less, this phrase encapsulates the theological discipline called prolegomena. Prolegomena is the theology of first things. It is the things that we need to say before we can say anything else. More than one scholar has compared it to clearing your throat before you begin your lecture.
So why do we bother to do this? Why do we clear our theological throats before we start?
The reason is simple because Christianity is different than every other religion. That difference is demonstrated in today’s phrase.
Only God truly knows God
In order to understand what is meant by the phrase, Theology is taught by God we must understand the difference between archetypal and ectypal theology.
Archetypal knowledge or theology is the original theology. It is the theology that God knows about himself. That is to say, archetypal theology is God’s own self-knowledge. Further, because of what God has revealed regarding his own divine simplicity, archetypal knowledge is not just God’s self-knowledge but is in fact God himself. God’s knowledge of himself simply is his own simple being. Just as his being is perfect, so also is his own self-knowledge. Just as his being is infinite and complete, so also is his own self-knowledge.
However, humans cannot comprehend the infinite, because we are finite. We cannot comprehend the simple, because we are composite. So, God must reveal himself to us under the auspices of finite and composite means.
This accommodated revealed knowledge is what we call ectypal knowledge. Ectypal knowledge is the imperfect, but still faithful, copy of the original archetype.
Ectypal Theology is taught by God
However, this knowledge still has to be taught. Even general revelation, which is… well… generally available, is still taught by God. While it is true that our rational faculties can access the true revelation which God has communicated to us through nature (Romans 1:19a), it is still God who has made it known (Romans 1:19b). Any true knowledge of God that anyone possesses, they possess because God has revealed it.
Another way to say that is that knowledge of God is only available through God’s own self-disclosure.
This becomes enhanced and heightened when we talk about special revelation. While General revelation gives us access to… well… general information about God. The specifics about God are only available through particular special revelation which he has given to those whom he chooses.
We can know that there is a God who is a powerful Creator through his creation. But we cannot know that this Creator is the Father, speaking through the Son, and hovering through the Spirit.
We can know that there is a God who is pouring out his wrath against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men… but we cannot know that this God is the Father, executing judgment through his Son, and applying it through his Spirit.
The final Word taught
What’s more, is that as Christians, we believe we have received the final word of truth supremely in the person and teaching of the Word incarnate.
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Hebrews 1:1-3, ESV
The author of Hebrews teaches us that it is certainly the case that in the past God gave revelation through a variety of means. He gave people dreams and visions. He dictated oracles to them. He gave divinely ordained means of divining providence through the casting of lots.
However, in these last days, his revelation has been consolidated in the person and work of his Son Jesus Christ.
Athanasius puts it this way:
For as a good teacher who cares about his students always condescends to teach by simpler means those who are not able to benefit from more advanced things, so also does the Word of God…
Athanasius of Alexandria. On the Incarnation. Translated by John Behr. Vol. 44a. St Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2011, 83