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Little Books
A Little Book for New Theologians: Why and How to Study Theology
Whenever we read, think, hear or say anything about God, we are doing theology. Yet theology isn't just a matter of what we think. It affects who we are.
In the tradition of Helmut Thielicke's A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, Kelly Kapic offers a concise introduction to the study of theology for newcomers to the field. He highlights the value and importance of theological study and explains its unique nature as a serious discipline.
Not only concerned with content and method, Kapic explores the skills, attitudes and spiritual practices needed by those who take up the discipline. This brief, clear and lively primer draws out the relevance of theology for Christian life, worship, mission, witness and more.
"Theology is about life," writes Kapic. "It is not a conversation our souls can afford to avoid."
In the tradition of Helmut Thielicke's A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, Kelly Kapic offers a concise introduction to the study of theology for newcomers to the field. He highlights the value and importance of theological study and explains its unique nature as a serious discipline.
Not only concerned with content and method, Kapic explores the skills, attitudes and spiritual practices needed by those who take up the discipline. This brief, clear and lively primer draws out the relevance of theology for Christian life, worship, mission, witness and more.
"Theology is about life," writes Kapic. "It is not a conversation our souls can afford to avoid."
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2012
152 people are currently reading
797 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
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September 10, 2015Excellent! Pulling in great quotes and concepts from Frame, Bavinck, and others, but putting the cookies down on the shelf. A quick little read—can be done in one sitting. Edifying and practical, it keeps the goal of worship at the core of all theological study.
August 21, 2024
good, straightforward, easy to read! Would recommend--it had many helpful, encouraging, and convicting points
June 29, 2025
Good introductory book with reminders for the learned and unlearned alike.
December 30, 2025
Good book. Clear and accessible. I appreciated chapter 9 on Tradition and Community—and specifically the quote “tradition lives in conversation with the past.” This is important to keep Christians from rehearsing and falling into past theological pitfalls.
September 6, 2023
A great and short read! Chapters 8 (Suffering, Justice and Knowing God) & 10 (Love of Scripture) were my favorites! Chapter 4 (The Inseparability of Life and Theology) was very similar to Ortlund’s “The Gospel” that we read a few weeks ago! Really great! Chapter 2 (To Know and Enjoy God) was very John Piper Christian Hedonism-y which let’s go I love that. You should read.
August 9, 2021
2021 reads: 22/52
Rating: 5 stars
Rating: 5 stars
December 6, 2022
I heard rave reviews for this book before I started, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
Pick up this little book and read it!
Pick up this little book and read it!
May 3, 2025
Concise and helpful. Essentially the study of theology should encourage us to love God and love others.
August 9, 2021
Fantastic. A helpful and holistic introduction regarding how one's posture should be studying the things of Christ.
March 9, 2025
Kapic is super humble and simply desires for people to desire to know God and follow for a lifetime. It’s a quick read, and I highly recommend to any new believer or a believer who doesn’t know why he or she should study theology.
January 1, 2026
Very helpful! Kapic outlines some pitfalls of young (or old) theologians and ways to combat them, but also paints a beautiful picture of what a healthy and flourishing theologian should look like. Very helpful as I step into seminary next week. I am sure I will fail alot, but there is always grace!
October 12, 2018
As a professor of theological studies, Kelly M. Kapic knows well the danger that students can face when they engage in theological study. Away from a dry and lifeless academic pursuit, Kapic’s book calls readers to a dynamic walk with the Lord in the worship of who he is as he has revealed himself. Kapic’s stated aim and “prayer is that this book might, in some small way, help new theologians avoid the strong dichotomies of theological detachment.” This detachment is disastrous to the believer in Christ, and presents itself as deep thought coupled with deep apathy. It is theology done with all brains and no muscle, and it imperils both our walk and our witness greatly.
In opposition to this detachment, Kapic argues for an authentic life-transformation where theology is used as it is intended. In the first three chapters, he answers a foundational question as to why we study theology in the first place. We study theology, he argues, because it is inescapable, because it drives our hearts from places of knowledge to places of wisdom about God and his creation, and finally because it is our theology that determines our very worship of God.
Turning from the reason for theology to the practice of it, Kapic organizes the second half of his work into defining the characteristics of theology done well. Key to the author’s discussion at this point is his term, “anthroposensitive theology,” which means the study of God that refuses “to divorce theological considerations from practical human application, since theological reflections are always interwoven with anthropological concerns.” Carrying this idea forward, Kapic demonstrates how theology enriches our reason, our prayer, our humility, our view of suffering and justice, our understanding of authentic community, and our attentive hearts towards God’s word.
Drawing on support from church scholars both past and present, Kapic builds a strong case for his anthroposensitive approach to theology. Specifically, he provides helpful comments on the necessity for the theologian to cling to humility and never assume a state of arrival. In addition to the emphasis on humility, Kapic challenges the theologian to never separate the study of God from the dialogue with God in prayer. Such a departure, or “false dichotomy,” has the effect of removing the student from the master of the subject, for indeed all “faithful theology requires prayer study.”
As helpful a work as is, Kapic has left some important discussions off the table. First, though perhaps placing it under his chapter on suffering and justice, the discussion of how theology done ‘anthroposensitively’ can propel the message of the Gospel seems noticeably absent. In addition to this, Kapic doesn’t adequately demonstrate how theology studied without detachment from life can affect the community of believers. Though he devotes chapter 9 to tradition and community, the conversation is bent to emphasize the importance of forming theology within a robust conversation with “the counsel of the saints from both the past and present.” Taking nothing away from this value, Kapic however makes no mention of the impact upon the fellowship of believers drawn together and strengthened by the unity of theology.
All told, Kapic has given us a very helpful guide for the theological student, whether in seminary or at home with the kids. With a heart to captivate the theologian with the glory of God, and its emphasis upon a theologically driven life ever-growing in the knowledge of our God, A Little Book for New Theologians is a most welcome addition to any library.
In opposition to this detachment, Kapic argues for an authentic life-transformation where theology is used as it is intended. In the first three chapters, he answers a foundational question as to why we study theology in the first place. We study theology, he argues, because it is inescapable, because it drives our hearts from places of knowledge to places of wisdom about God and his creation, and finally because it is our theology that determines our very worship of God.
Turning from the reason for theology to the practice of it, Kapic organizes the second half of his work into defining the characteristics of theology done well. Key to the author’s discussion at this point is his term, “anthroposensitive theology,” which means the study of God that refuses “to divorce theological considerations from practical human application, since theological reflections are always interwoven with anthropological concerns.” Carrying this idea forward, Kapic demonstrates how theology enriches our reason, our prayer, our humility, our view of suffering and justice, our understanding of authentic community, and our attentive hearts towards God’s word.
Drawing on support from church scholars both past and present, Kapic builds a strong case for his anthroposensitive approach to theology. Specifically, he provides helpful comments on the necessity for the theologian to cling to humility and never assume a state of arrival. In addition to the emphasis on humility, Kapic challenges the theologian to never separate the study of God from the dialogue with God in prayer. Such a departure, or “false dichotomy,” has the effect of removing the student from the master of the subject, for indeed all “faithful theology requires prayer study.”
As helpful a work as is, Kapic has left some important discussions off the table. First, though perhaps placing it under his chapter on suffering and justice, the discussion of how theology done ‘anthroposensitively’ can propel the message of the Gospel seems noticeably absent. In addition to this, Kapic doesn’t adequately demonstrate how theology studied without detachment from life can affect the community of believers. Though he devotes chapter 9 to tradition and community, the conversation is bent to emphasize the importance of forming theology within a robust conversation with “the counsel of the saints from both the past and present.” Taking nothing away from this value, Kapic however makes no mention of the impact upon the fellowship of believers drawn together and strengthened by the unity of theology.
All told, Kapic has given us a very helpful guide for the theological student, whether in seminary or at home with the kids. With a heart to captivate the theologian with the glory of God, and its emphasis upon a theologically driven life ever-growing in the knowledge of our God, A Little Book for New Theologians is a most welcome addition to any library.
January 17, 2023
I found this book helpful. It succinctly articulates what theology is and why it is important. It’s not exactly life-changing, but I did benefit from it. If you’re the type of person who’s always wanting to learn more about theology, I’d recommend this.
March 5, 2025
pretty good little book, but not anything i haven’t heard before from other authors.
January 6, 2022
Excellent and timely — de-mystified my idea of theology being a thing for academics or the supremely intellectual and spiritual. The foundations were laid both simply and profoundly and really encouraged me in my faith and pursuit of Christ. Highly recommend!
September 23, 2025
“one of the greatest theological challenges of our time is to move our worship beyond self-absorption”
There was so much in this little book, oh my. a “kind of updated attempt” of A Little Exercise for Young Theologians by Helmut Thielicke (a big part of why i’m in school again !!) so of course i loved it 🩷 i won’t summarize too much bc it’s 120 pages and u should read it
There was so much in this little book, oh my. a “kind of updated attempt” of A Little Exercise for Young Theologians by Helmut Thielicke (a big part of why i’m in school again !!) so of course i loved it 🩷 i won’t summarize too much bc it’s 120 pages and u should read it
April 1, 2022
Different style and genre of book, but was engaging and interesting. The more in-depth concepts were broken down and simplified, and were overall educational. Definitely a good read and resource.
December 1, 2019
Not sure I understood the argument of this book. Still, an enjoyable & encouraging read.
May 27, 2024
My to-be-read bookshelf next to my bed has grown larger and larger yet I decided to read this book in entirety today instead of my currently reading list.
I’ve been on a deconstructive journey of sorts thinking about God that I suppose I’ve finally found myself knocking at the doors of theology. I picked up this book on a whim at the bookstore and I’m glad I did.
With a scripture index & reference list that’ll leave me busy for a while, this book intellectually demystifies the thread between academics and theologians. Kapic does a great job of explaining concepts of prayer, community and the necessary ontology of faith in god in order for our reasoning to be accurate.
Still with my reservations but this wasn’t exactly the book where I expected them to be addressed anyway but regardless, an excellent book on jumping into the discussions around theology.
I’ve been on a deconstructive journey of sorts thinking about God that I suppose I’ve finally found myself knocking at the doors of theology. I picked up this book on a whim at the bookstore and I’m glad I did.
With a scripture index & reference list that’ll leave me busy for a while, this book intellectually demystifies the thread between academics and theologians. Kapic does a great job of explaining concepts of prayer, community and the necessary ontology of faith in god in order for our reasoning to be accurate.
Still with my reservations but this wasn’t exactly the book where I expected them to be addressed anyway but regardless, an excellent book on jumping into the discussions around theology.
July 12, 2022
Great book for those starting to learn about theology! Lays good foundation and you study and learn. Short read and yet deep. Not too simple and not too profound. Good balance overall
“Christian theology is an active response to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, whereby the believer, in the power of the Holy Spirit, subordinate to the testimonies of the prophets and apostles as recorded in the scriptures and in communion with the saints, wrestles with an rests in the mysteries of God, his work, and his world.”
“Christian theology is an active response to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ, whereby the believer, in the power of the Holy Spirit, subordinate to the testimonies of the prophets and apostles as recorded in the scriptures and in communion with the saints, wrestles with an rests in the mysteries of God, his work, and his world.”
August 23, 2024
This was a wonderful little book! It would be well worth the short read if you are beginning to study theology more seriously either formally or informally. The short chapters are rich with quotes from the great Christian theologians of church history, and Kapic provides a refreshing breath to often discussed subjects.
It’s also a plus to help get your book count up for the year 😅.
It’s also a plus to help get your book count up for the year 😅.
March 21, 2018
Helpful book explaining how our theology effects us. I gleaned a lot from this one, and haven't went back through my notes yet, but I think a big upshot for me is the reminder that everyone has a theology and our intellectual assents cannot be divorced from our beliefs.
January 22, 2023
I found this book really helpful. The author seeks to help orient the new student of biblical theology to the task ahead of them. It was an easy read, yet one that you could easily stop and ponder deeper. It didn’t necessarily leave me in total awe, but it was still insightful.
December 27, 2024
great impulse buy. though I’m not a theologian, this book gave really great frameworks for how to think through what we believe about God. clear, straightforward, and helpful for forming how to think about God.
August 22, 2025
Read this during my intro to seminary class for Beeson. Great short read that focuses on the importance of not separating theology with our life. Kapic hammers home the point that theology leads to worship and worship leads to theology and the cycle repeats. Theology should always lead to worship of our Savior not just learning about Him.
December 31, 2019
“Genuine concern for theological truth brings with it a concern for one’s neighbor, because the true God is known by love” (p. 91).
May 16, 2022
Excellent introduction to the study of theology.
January 22, 2024
Humbling. Refreshing. Faithful.
January 15, 2026
“Let me seek you in longing, and long for you in seeking. Let me find you in love, and love you in finding.” -Anselm
June 21, 2021
Excellent primer for someone thinking of or beginning their theological studies.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews