---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Theology is a serious quest for the true…"
description: "\"Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God, undertaken in response to His self-revelation, illumined by Christian tradition, manifesting..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png"
---

#  Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God…

![“Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God, undertaken in response to His self-revelation, illumined by Christian tradition, manifesting a rational inner coherence, issuing in ethical conduct, resonating with the contemporary world and concerned for the greater glory of God.” quote by John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png)

> “Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God, undertaken in response to His self-revelation, illumined by Christian tradition, manifesting a rational inner coherence, issuing in ethical conduct, resonating with the contemporary world and concerned for the greater glory of God.”

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Theology seeks true knowledge of God through revelation, tradition, reason, ethics, and relevance.

**In simple terms:** Theology blends faith, reason, and ethics to know God.

Key Takeaway

Integrate belief with rational inquiry.

Themes

theology faith reason ethics

Mood

scholarly thoughtful

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- church teaching
- academic study
- personal devotion

Key Concepts

philosophy spirituality

Questions to Reflect On

- How to reconcile ancient doctrine with contemporary issues?
- What role does reason play in faith?

A Different Perspective

Balancing tradition with modern relevance can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Coherence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coherence/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Glory of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory-of-god/) [Knowledge of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-of-god/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelation/) [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-revelation/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [True knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-knowledge/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [The prophet Isaiah ... points out what will be the cause of this change; for he says that hatred, quarrel, and fighting will come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-prophet-isaiah-points-out-what-will-be-the-cause-of-this-change/)

[Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/)

> [“The majority con- sensus, however, reached eventually was again expressed clearly and forcefully by al-Ghazzâlî: “The knowledge about (ma- rifah) God is the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/the-majority-con-sensus-however-reached-eventually-was-again/)

[Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/)

> [“Of all knowledge, the knowledge of God is the principal. There is no true knowledge without godliness (cp. Deu 4: 6, 7).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bridges/of-all-knowledge-the-knowledge-of-god-is-the-principal-there-is-no/)

Charles Bridges

> [“Hence the aim of meditation, in the context of Christian faith, is not to arrive at an objective and apparently 'scientific' knowledge of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/hence-the-aim-of-meditation-in-the-context-of-christian-faith-is-not/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [All true knowledge of God is born out of obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/all-true-knowledge-of-god-is-born-out-of-obedience/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [I've never been much for self-revelation. In two decades of public life, I always approached the limelight with extreme caution. Not that I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcgreevey/i-ve-never-been-much-for-self-revelation-in-two-decades-of-public/)

[James McGreevey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcgreevey/)

> [“Don't wait for the law of attraction to happen to you; make it happen for you, by taking action. Once you do this, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/don-t-wait-for-the-law-of-attraction-to-happen-to-you-make-it-happen/)

[Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/)

> [You know, I think everybody I've seen has come from some other therapy, and almost invariably it's very much the same thing: the therapist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/you-know-i-think-everybody-i-ve-seen-has-come-from-some-other-therapy/)

[Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/)

> [ For a justice of this ultimate tribunal \[the U.S. Supreme Court\], the opportunity for self-discovery and the occasion for self-revelation is great. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abe-fortas/for-a-justice-of-this-ultimate-tribunal-the-u-s-supreme-court-the/)

[Abe Fortas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abe-fortas/)

> [Sincerity is a Christian virtue, as is honesty about our struggles. But my generation needs to realize that Christianity is more than chic fragility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sincerity-is-a-christian-virtue-as-is-honesty-about-our-struggles-but/)

[Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/)

> [The traditional gender ideals of the strong-silent man who plays his cards close to his chest and the mysterious woman who disguises her feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/the-traditional-gender-ideals-of-the-strong-silent-man-who-plays-his/)

[Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/)

> [It is in their 'good' characters that novelists make, unawares, the most shocking self- revelations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/it-is-in-their-good-characters-that-novelists-make-unawares-the-most/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [In anthropology, which historically exists to 'give voice' to others, there is no greater taboo than self-revelation. The impetus of our discipline, with its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-behar/in-anthropology-which-historically-exists-to-give-voice-to-others/)

[Ruth Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-behar/)

> [The transformation of silence into language and action is an act of self-revelation .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/the-transformation-of-silence-into-language-and-action-is-an-act-of/)

[Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/)

> [The greatest act of self-revelation occurs when we choose what we will believe, in that space of freedom that exists between knowing that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-act-of-self-revelation-occurs-when-we-choose-what-we/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by John Stott

> [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [Mission arises from the heart of God Himself and is communicated from His heart to ours. Mission is the global outreach of the global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/mission-arises-from-the-heart-of-god-himself-and-is-communicated-from/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [ \[Christian rebellion\] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doctrine-of-mankind-made-in-the/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [All of us have inflated views of ourselves, especially in self-righteousn ess, until we have visited a place called Calvary. It is there, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/all-of-us-have-inflated-views-of-ourselves-especially-in-self/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [A deaf church is a dead church: that is an unalterable principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-deaf-church-is-a-dead-church-that-is-an-unalterable-principle/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [So there is such a thing as perfect hatred, just as there is such a thing as righteous anger. But it is a hatred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/so-there-is-such-a-thing-as-perfect-hatred-just-as-there-is-such-a/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [The reason I am a Christian is not that it is nice, but that it is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-reason-i-am-a-christian-is-not-that-it-is-nice-but-that-it-is-true/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [“Unless some people are commissioned for the task, there will be no gospel preachers; unless the gospel is preached, sinners will not hear Christ’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/unless-some-people-are-commissioned-for-the-task-there-will-be-no/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [“many former sins have become crimes’, so that responsibility for dealing with them has passed from church to state, from priest to policeman (p.50),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/many-former-sins-have-become-crimes-so-that-responsibility-for/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [When we look at the cross we see the justice, love, wisdom and power of God. It is not easy to decide which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/when-we-look-at-the-cross-we-see-the-justice-love-wisdom-and-power-of/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [If God speaks to us about himself and his own glorious greatness, we respond by humbling ourselves before him in worship... If He speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/if-god-speaks-to-us-about-himself-and-his-own-glorious-greatness-we/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [There is something inherently inappropriate about cherishing small ambitions for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/there-is-something-inherently-inappropriate-about-cherishing-small/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [Every powerful movement has had its philosophy which has gripped the mind, fired the imagination and captured the devotion of its adherents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/every-powerful-movement-has-had-its-philosophy-which-has-gripped-the/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [“A guilty conscience is a great blessing, but only if it drives us to come home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/a-guilty-conscience-is-a-great-blessing-but-only-if-it-drives-us-to/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

> [The concept of substitution lies at the heart of both sin and salvation. For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/the-concept-of-substitution-lies-at-the-heart-of-both-sin-and/)

[John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

[Explore all 198 John Stott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/)

## More Adventure quotes

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/)

[Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/)

> [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/)

[Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/)

> [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/)

[Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/)

Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless

> [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/)

[Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/)

> [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/)

[Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/)

Kevin McLeod

> [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/)

[John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/)

> [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/)

[D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/)

> [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/)

[Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

[Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God, undertaken in response to His self-revelation, illumined by Christian tradition, manifesting a rational inner coherence, issuing in ethical conduct, resonating with the contemporary world and concerned for the greater glory of God.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Stott"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true-knowledge-of-god-undertaken/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Adventure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true-knowledge-of-god-undertaken/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/john-stott-1926_adventure_theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true_2977365.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Theology is a serious quest for the true knowledge of God, undertaken in response to His self-revelation…” — John Stott",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Stott",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Theology is a serious quest for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true-knowledge-of-god-undertaken/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/theology-is-a-serious-quest-for-the-true-knowledge-of-god-undertaken/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
