Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. 1:17)
Expanded Passage: 1 Timothy 1:17
“Why do I have to study theology?” a seminary student complained. “It’s not like I’m going to use it in my ministry.”
He wasn’t kidding. Theology is not very “PC” (“pastorally correct”) in many churches these days. An increasingly popular opinion seems to be that “worship unites but theology divides.” For the sake of evangelism all barriers must come down, we are told. But what if those “barriers” are actually gateways to truth—truth about God and truth about ourselves?
In just the first chapter of his first letter to Timothy, Paul deals with the sinfulness of humanity, the splendor of God, and the saving power of grace. That’s theology in the service of evangelism and discipleship! The truth about God in our key verse alone could fuel an entire sermon series.
When truths that compose the very core of our faith are neglected, the result is far worse than ignorance. It is error. C. S. Lewis said, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones.”
Paul was determined that Timothy, as a young pastor, would preach the truth (2 Tim. 3:10—4:5). Through the theology Paul imparted, Timothy was prepared to share the truth with new believers. Every congregation should expect the same today.
Dive into theology to find the right ideas about God.
Bob Black is a third-generation Wesleyan minister and professor emeritus of religion at Southern Wesleyan University (SC).
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
