Thomas Murphy writes the following about the nature, importance, and sources of pastoral theology:
That department of study whose object is to assist the Christian minister in applying the truths of the gospel to the hearts and lives of men is called Pastoral Theology. It is “theology” because it has chiefly to do with the things of God and his word. It is “pastoral” because it treats of these divine things in that aspect of them which pertains to the pastor. It is practical because it relates to the work of the pastor as he is appointed to influence men by applying to them the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. In its more strict and definite form it occupies a peculiar field of its own; and it is well to keep clearly in view what that field is.
The special province of this study is not systematic theology, or the exegesis of Scripture, or ecclesiastical history, or the sacraments, or homiletics, or even the theory of the pastoral office as an institution of divine appointment. It takes for granted that all these branches of ministerial training have already been cultivated, and endeavors to teach how they may be best brought to bear upon the all-important work of gathering men into the fold of Christ and nourishing them there by the food provided by the great Shepherd. Assuming that the pastor has been called of God to the sacred office; that he has had his mind furnished with the science of theology as a system of doctrines; that he has learned the methods of properly interpreting the word of God; that he is skilled in the laws appointed by Christ for the government of his Church; and that he has studied the art of sacred rhetoric,—assuming all this, it would assist him in the great practical work of bringing all his preparation to bear upon the edification of the Lord’s people and the salvation of men. Its aim is not to make ministers thorough scholars, or even to guide them in the pursuit of ordinary literature and science; but, regarding them as men already well educated, it would aid them in the sacred art of bringing souls to Christ and training them for the glory of God.
From what sources are the rules to come by which the Christian minister is to be guided in his great life-work? Manifestly, the word of God must be the chief and authoritative teacher of the rules that are to guide the Christian minister. In it are specified the great duties which must ever devolve upon him. What some of these duties are may be seen in 1 Tim. iv. 12-16, in 2 Tim. ii. 22-25, and in the whole of the second chapter of Titus. For instance, we find laid down such general principles as these: “Preach the word;” “Give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine;” “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine;” “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers.” These are examples of the many maxims announced in the inspired word for the instruction of the sacred office.
Murphy goes on to mention other sources of pastoral theology, one of them has to do with the accumulated experience of seasoned spiritual-minded men:
The accumulated experience of other workers in the same general field is a vast storehouse from which the pastor can draw instruction in reference to all his duties. Indeed, this experience, classified and framed in accordance with the teachings of the Scriptures, is itself a system of pastoral theology. Men of sound and discerning minds, men full of the spirit of Christ, men whose lives have been spent in the most unwearied activity, have filled the office of the gospel ministry. They have given earnest attention to every department of their beloved calling. Whatever plans were likely to give success to their work they have tried. It would probably be very difficult to conceive of any scriptural method of building up the kingdom of Christ on which they have not experimented. Long lives of thought, of wisdom and of toil have been spent in striving to make the ministry more effective. What one man or generation of men has attained to has been made the starting-point from which others have gone on in efforts to improve in doing the Lord’s work. Even mistakes and failures in devising and executing methods have proved of great value in adding to the general store of knowledge on the subject. All this experience, whether written or unwritten, has accumulated into an invaluable fund for the ministry. When it is sifted, and tested by the sure precepts of God’s inspiring, and classified, it forms a system of rules by which the workman in the ministry may safely be guided. No wise pastor will neglect this help of experience derived from all those who have gone before him. He can no more neglect it than the artist or the mechanic can neglect those rules which the skill of centuries has wrought out for his assistance.
In light of today’s love of novelty, this call to appreciate and learn from these men of the past is pertinent. The quotes from Thomas Murphy are from the first chapter of his book Pastoral Theology.
Recommended Resources:
An Earnest Ministry by John Angell James
My Heart for Thy Cause: Albert N. Martin’s Theology of Preaching by Brian Borgman
Lectures to My Students by C.H. Spurgeon
Pastoral Theology by Thomas Murphy
Pastoral Theology Lecture Series by Albert N. Martin.
The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges