02/08/2026
Theology and a Theologian: The Importance of Sound Interpretation of the Bible in the 21st Century
Written by Simon W. Mweembela and Dismas M. Phiri
Published on 2 August, 2026
This blog is a collaboration that stems from a discussion that we have had in the past 2 months, it is our intent to put up our thoughts subjected for scrutiny and examination with an aim of provoking the mind of young Theologians across the landscape of theology.
"But you, speak the things which are fitting for sound instruction." (Titus 2:1)
The original word translated "sound" in this text is ὑγιαίνω (hygiainō), which literally means to be healthy, sound, or wholesome. The word is often used figuratively to describe teaching that is spiritually healthy, free from error, and beneficial to those who receive it. While the word itself primarily denotes health and soundness, sound teaching has a restorative effect because it brings spiritual healing, strengthens faith, and protects believers from error.
Therefore, the emphasis of the text is that Titus was to be different. He was to teach sound doctrine teaching that builds rather than destroys, restores rather than corrupts, and leads people into the truth of God's Word.
Did you know that one of the greatest needs of this world is the need for sound theologians? People who can interpret the Word of God the way it is supposed to be interpreted. People who have integrity toward the Word of God. People who do not impose their own thoughts on the sacred text, but instead allow the text to tell them what to communicate to others while also allowing the Word to transform them personally.
We are aware that the world is in need of scientific discoveries, wealth, and good health. However, in addition to these, the world also needs sound theologians who can contribute through biblical theology. We have come to learn that wrong theology can also contribute to poverty in our nations and throughout the world when it promotes dependency, discourages diligence, or exploits people through false promises. Likewise, the misuse of Scripture can contribute to the increase of sin because people are not guided by the truth of God's Word.
As much as the world needs many people to study in seminaries and gain knowledge of handling the sacred Word of God, it is also dangerous to enter this sacred task with excitement alone and not with a genuine calling to honor the work.
The world needs many young people to involve themselves in this task, but caution must also be taken that this should not become just another trend. It is unfortunate when some theologians are unable to contribute anything meaningful to the church or to the advancement of their communities and nations despite having received theological training.
Unfortunately, some aspiring theologians become more excited about the privileges associated with pastoral ministry than about the sacred responsibility of rightly handling the Word of God. In doing so, they lose sight of the true purpose of studying theology.
People long for individuals who can enlighten them about what the Word of God truly means, just as Daniel and his three companions did in Babylon. They want people who can faithfully explain what the biblical text actually says before drawing its implications for life. A sound theologian must first understand the meaning of the text before applying its significance to others.
Therefore, choosing to become a theologian is not merely about serving as a pastor. It is also about thinking deeply about what the church needs and what it is lacking. It is about considering what your family lacks in terms of biblical understanding while you are there as an exegete—not someone who only preaches when invited by a church, but someone who sees every person he or she meets as a mission field.
The greatest excitement in theology is not the title it brings but the privilege of knowing God more deeply and faithfully interpreting His Word through the technical skills and tools acquired from diligent study. True theological training equips believers not merely with information but with the ability to proclaim God's truth with accuracy and humility.
The theology people need today is the kind that transforms words into character. It is theology that points people to the cross with a clear foundation of biblical doctrine. It is not merely knowing what Christ did, but also understanding why He did it and what made it necessary.
If someone presents the death of Jesus without explaining the reality and consequences of sin, why Christ's sacrifice was necessary, and how His death reconciles humanity to God, that message may stir emotions, but it will lack the doctrinal foundation that leads to genuine transformation.
Therefore, before anyone becomes excited about studying theology, it is better to count the cost. It costs more than your own life because it deals with countless souls. One false teaching can lead many astray, while one sound interpretation of Scripture can restore and transform a multitude. Theology is only truly meaningful when all the glory and honor are ascribed to Jesus Christ and when the message of the cross is rightly divided.
However, it is alarming that theology has become increasingly attractive to many, yet some who enter this sacred calling contribute more to confusion than to biblical clarity. Instead of advancing the mission of Christ through faithful proclamation of the gospel, they promote interpretations that obscure the truth of Scripture and hinder the church's witness to the world.
It is important that every scholar in the School of Theology and Religious Studies pays serious attention to this sacred task and uses the necessary tools to interpret the Word correctly.
You may be eloquent and fluent in speech, but eloquence alone is not enough to communicate what God intended through the inspired biblical author. Sound interpretation must always precede effective communication. Even sign language can communicate the correct interpretation, while excellent English can become a vehicle for false doctrine. Therefore, the process of interpretation is even more critical than the delivery itself.
Everyone who enters a seminary should approach this calling with reverence and humility, recognizing that the faithful interpretation of Scripture is both a sacred privilege and a solemn responsibility. Heresy and false interpretation have devastating consequences because they can lead many souls away from the truth. Conversely, one faithful interpretation of God's Word can bring conviction, restoration, and transformation to countless lives.
The church does not merely need more theologians; it needs faithful interpreters of Scripture whose lives reflect the truth they proclaim. Sound theology must never end in academic achievement it must lead to worship, holiness, faithful ministry, and above all, the glory of Jesus Christ.
©2026 | Devotional Cup Section
