Encyclopedias are for living

It's been a busy Fall here in the Netherlands.  We're settled into a great family routine with Maddie in school, Jackie riding all around town with two kids on the bike, and me working on combing through documents for my dissertation research.  I'm now writing my first chapter on Kuyper, focusing on about 1894-1901 - the years leading up to his service as Prime Minister.  I'm tracing Kuyper's theological understanding of discipleship during this time.  This is a new question in Kuyper scholarship, and it's proving to be an interesting and fruitful investigation.  Just this week I've been looking at Kuyper's Encyclopedia of Sacred Theology and have found some helpful connection points between his understanding of the scientific nature of theology and the life of discipleship.  Kuyper may not be using the specific term "discipleship" very often in his writing, but I am finding some very interesting insights.  For example, to me it's telling that he introduces the term "encyclopedia" by tracing its etymology to Greek roots.  He described the Greek use of "encyclopedia" as a way to gather, or encircle, all of the knowledge that was necessary for the training and teaching of the youth to be effective citizens of Athens.  In the same way, a theological encyclopedia encircles the knowledge needed to shape and form citizens in and for the kingdom of God.  So, even "encyclopedic" knowledge about God is not for abstract argumentation - but for practical living and the life of discipleship.  It's time to start dusting off those old encyclopedias (especially the one on Sacred Theology) and figuring out what all of that knowledge means for a life of following after Jesus Christ.