The word “theology” came from the Greek word Theos (God) and Logy (Study of). Thus, theology is the study of God. People often think theology is restricted to the learned people. But any idea about God is theology. Theology is everywhere in the life of a Christian.

Theologians and ministers love to talk about who said what and who wrote what. I heard a seminary professor saying that he wishes he never spent so much time on reading theology books when he was young. There is not much you can learn from a theology book or a Christian inspirational book. I read Calvin’s Institute. It may be useful to read it if you want to understand orthodox Christian beliefs. But I’ve seen it misused many times. To reduce any confusions, it is better to read only the Bible. Read it every day (at least 4-5 chapters per day). The Holy Spirit guides the saints to know God and discern. Christ overcame the temptations by using God’s words. Before the temptations, He received the Holy Spirit as a sign to the world that He is the Son of God. He did not attempt to argue with the devil. Meaningless arguments are often done by people who know little but want to boast about what they read.

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one. (Matt 5:37)

Theology books are often long and too academic. Luther and Calvin were learned people who studied theology at the university level under the Roman Catholicism. They realized that people needed much simpler way of learning God’s words and wrote catechisms. Calvin also promoted early education so everyone could read the Bible themselves. That is the heart of the Reformation. God speaks to us individually and collectively through His Book.

Any attempts to prevent people from reading the Bible or promoting men-written books/articles is deemed as rebellion. Not encouraging people to read the Bible is deemed as idleness. Churches are full of rebellious and idle leaders.

The Bible is strictly for the elect people but those who do not know God always try to confuse God’s elect saying that there are better books than the Bible. We always need to be aware of this temptation.

Regarding what version of the Bible we should read, I’d recommend using various versions till you find something that suits you. I now use more word-to-word Bibles but that does not mean other Bibles are useless. It is the Holy Spirit who interprets the Bible. If we were supposed to interpret it literally and by our ability, God would have given us a perfect transcript of one Bible and we should be speaking and writing in Hebrews and Greek. Then theology becomes the study for the learned. But Christ was considered as an unlearned man. We should be proud of the fact we are not learned in the eyes of the world. We listen to God’s words like children. That is the Father’s will.

The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” (John 7:15)

for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Matt 7:29)

and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 18:3)