What does it mean that theology is the queen of the sciences?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Theology is the study of God—His being, nature, attributes, and works—as revealed in Scripture. Referring to theology as the queen of the sciences means that all other disciplines depend on the truths theology provides. The phrase, itself, comes from the High Middle Ages when schools divided classical liberal arts learning into grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Theology was said to sit above them, reflecting the reality that God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16–17), and that all truth finds its origin in Him. This is what it means that “...from him and through him and to him are all things” (Romans 11:36) and why every field of study ultimately points back to its Maker.

Because God is the source of all knowledge, no area of study can be correctly understood apart from Him. Scripture teaches that wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7), which means that the right ordering of every other science flows from a right knowledge of God. The Bible warns that rejecting Him distorts all thinking (Romans 1:21–25), while knowing Him gives clarity and purpose to all learning (Psalm 36:9; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Theology is the study of God—His being, nature, attributes, and works. It was given the title of queen of the sciences in the High Middle Ages when schools divided classical liberal arts learning into grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. It means that all knowledge is subordinate to and dependent upon knowing God rightly.
• The Old Testament affirms this from the very first verse: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Because He is the Creator of everything, all truth flows from Him.
• Therefore, from the very start, we learn that God’s character, which is truth, gives rise to every field of knowledge. For example, in Genesis, His work of creation establishes order, purpose, and design in the natural world which is the foundation for all natural sciences such as biology, astronomy, and agriculture. Those sciences can exist because creation is intelligible and governed by God’s consistent laws (Genesis 8:22; Jeremiah 33:25).
• The Old Testament also shows that wisdom in governance and law flows from God’s nature. When God gave Israel the law, He addressed not only worship but also justice, property, economics, and public health (Deuteronomy 24:19–22; Leviticus 13:1–46). Foreign nations recognized Israel’s laws as wise precisely because they came from God (Deuteronomy 4:5–8). Theology, then, directs civil structures and societal order.
• In the realm of ethics and morality, the Old Testament grounds right and wrong in God’s own holiness and justice (Leviticus 19:2; Micah 6:8). Without this theological foundation, morality becomes subjective. By tying ethical living directly to God’s nature, the Old Testament shows that the study of theology governs moral philosophy.
• Even the arts in the Old Testament were shaped by theology. The building of the tabernacle involved architecture, craftsmanship, and artistry guided by God’s specific instructions (Exodus 31:1–11). Creative disciplines find their purpose when glorifying God as He is the ultimate Creator.
• Finally, the Old Testament repeatedly emphasizes that wisdom—whether practical or academic—begins with the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Solomon’s vast knowledge of plants, animals, and governance (1 Kings 4:29–34) was a direct gift from God, illustrating that all other sciences reach their highest potential when they operate in submission to Him.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament continues these principles by rooting all truth in the person and work of Christ, the fullest revelation of God.
• The New Testament presents Christ as the foundation for all wisdom and knowledge. Paul writes that in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). This means no field—whether philosophy, ethics, politics, or the natural sciences—can be rightly understood apart from understanding Him. All that is true flows from the source of truth, Jesus Himself.
• The life and teaching of Jesus illustrate theology’s centrality to other sciences. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), Jesus teaches ethics (Matthew 5:17–20), relationships (Matthew 5:21–24), conflict resolution (Matthew 5:23–25), and even how to handle anxiety (Matthew 6:25–34), all grounded in God’s character and kingdom purposes. His parables often drew on agricultural, economic, and social realities, showing that every area of life has theological significance.
• The apostles continued this trend, applying theology to practical and intellectual life. Paul calls believers to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5), making theology the lens through which all ideas are tested. In Romans 1:20–25, he explains that rejecting the knowledge of God leads to futile thinking and moral decay. That is, without theology, other disciplines become distorted and arrive at faulty conclusions.
• New Testament teaching also affirms God’s providential order in creation, making scientific exploration even possible. Hebrews 1:3 says Christ “upholds the universe by the word of his power,” and Colossians 1:17 says “in him all things hold together.” The stability of the created order—essential for scientific discovery—rests on the ongoing work of God.
• Even in areas like leadership and governance, the New Testament ties wisdom back to theology. When Paul instructs elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9), he grounds their qualifications in godly character, showing that leadership is an outflow of a right knowledge of and relationship with God.
• In short, the New Testament confirms that theology governs every other field by providing the right framework, purpose, and moral boundaries for human thought and activity. Without theology at the center, other sciences are detached from the source of reality, losing their aim of glorifying God and serving His purposes in the world.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Understanding theology as the queen of the sciences means you should see your faith as the foundation for every area of thought and practice. That is, faith is not one part of your life, your job another part, your school a third, and so forth. Whether your background or interest is in biology, law, engineering, art, or history, all of it ultimately rests on the reality that God created and sustains the world, and that all truth flows from Him.

This also means that your pursuit of knowledge should never be divorced from your pursuit of God. Academic study, professional development, and practical skills should all be defined through the lens of Scripture.

In practical terms, this starts by making time to know God through His Word. The better you know the Creator, the more you will rightly understand His creation. Additionally, evaluate what you read, watch, and study through it, asking how it aligns (or not!) with God’s revealed truth.

Finally, remember that theology is not just for pastors or scholars—it is the foundation for all Christians who want to live wisely. As you deepen your understanding of God, you will be better equipped to think clearly in every sphere of life.

UNDERSTAND

• Theology is the foundation that gives meaning and order to all knowledge.
• The Bible shows all wisdom and truth flow from God and point back to Him.
• Our pursuit of knowledge and life itself must be shaped by knowing God.

REFLECT

• How does seeing theology as the foundation of all knowledge challenge the way you view your studies, work, or hobbies?
• In what areas of your life do you tend to separate faith from learning, and how might you bring them together?
• How can you make knowing God through His Word more central to the way you understand and engage with the world?

ENGAGE

• How does recognizing theology as the queen of the sciences reshape the way we think about education and knowledge?
• What dangers do we see when fields of study—like science, politics, or ethics—are disconnected from God as their source?
• How can we encourage each other to keep theology central in our lives and studies?