In this lecture, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer explains that the real work of theology is farming. The purpose of Scripture and its interpretation is to grow healthy disciples who understand what God has done in Christ and desire to live along the grain of the created order made new in Christ. Theology is about eschatologically-enhanced farming—reaping the firstfruits of eternal life in the power of the Spirit.
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Authentic Christianity is more about being known by Christ rather than knowing ourselves. Or to state it another way, we can only truly know ourselves by understanding how Christ sees us. This is the way of the spiritual farmer. Consider these verses collected in this Thesaurus of the Bible.
“That I may know Christ (Phil. 3:10); this is eternal life, that they know you and Jesus Christ (John 17:3); the excellence of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8); that we may know him who is true (1 John 5:20); grow in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18); by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commands (1 John 2:3); I know my own and my own know me (John 10:14); until we reach the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13); grace and peace in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Pet. 1:2); you will not be unfruitful in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:8); through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 2:20); the cock will not crow until you three times deny that you know me (Luke 22:34); he who says he knows him but does not keep his commands is a liar (1 John 2:4).”