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.”

Kelly M. Kapic is a professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where he has taught since 2001.

He has written and edited over fifteen books, including You're Only Human, which won the Christianity Today Book of the Year Award in Theology (Popular) and the Southwestern Journal of Theology 2022 Book of the Year Award (Applied Theology/Ethics) and Embodied Hope (IVP Academic, 2017), which won the Book of the Year Award from Christianity Today in the category of Theology and Ethics and World Magazine’s Short List award for Accessible Theology Book of the year. Some of his other work includes the widely used text A Little Book for New Theologians and two volumes with the economist Brian Fikkert: Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty isn’t the American Dream and A Field Guide to Becoming Whole: Principles for Poverty Alleviation Ministries. He received the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Finalist Award.

An active speaker and collaborator, Kapic has also worked on research teams funded by the John Templeton Foundation and has written for various academic journals and popular magazines, including serving on the Board of editorial consultants for the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care.

Kelly and his wife Tabitha have two adult children, Jonathan and Margot.