J, let me ask you, what is your definition of theology? If a man walks up to the Bible and says, "Bible, teach me about God." Is that theology? Because that's the idea that Phil is talking about if I'm correct.
First, I'd say that the bible does not have the power to "teach"; all you have to do is step back and look at the state of Christianity to see that. Millions upon millions of Christians are looking at the same documents and "learning" different things. To learn from anything requires action on your part. You have to take in and process the information that it presents, interpret it, figure out how it applies, draw conclusions from it. That's philosophy, in a sense. When the document is a religious text, it's theology, as it all deals with God. They're not separable: theology is a subset of philosophy. It's asking questions about God, in any capacity. That's my take, at least.
At any rate, before the guy demands that the bible teach him things, I'd first ask this question: Is the bible a reliable source of information about God? Even that is a theological question.
-J
Bible teach me about God
2 Timothy 3:16
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Exodus 20:2-4
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before [a] me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Zechariah 9:9
9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Matthew 20:1-5
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5"Say to the Daughter of Zion,
'See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "
Mark 14:60-62
60Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
62"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Daniel 7:13,14
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
John 8:24
24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
Matthew 28:18-21
8Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Thankyou Bible for telling me that:
God inspired the scripture.
God is the only God
God sent Jesus who was prophecied in the Old Testament to die for our sins so that people could have eternal life with him.
Jesus actually claimed to be God which was prophecied in the Old Testament.
Faith in Jesus is the only way to have eternal life with God
Jesus has authority of Heaven and Earth and I should tell people about it.