The main goal of this study is to define academic theology in regard to the context of the life of the Church. It aims to offer a hermeneutical proposal for critically elucidating and examining the functionality of such – academic theology. Hence the author offers a condensed historical overview of the development of academic theology and of its functions, the functions of theology as such notwithstanding. However, in practice it is often the case that academic theology becomes scientifically ‘captured’ by the past. This reduces the creative space for theological reflection dedicated to the present. And what is it that theologians seek in the past? The author proposes to name such investigative orientations as theological ‘archaeology’. Simultaneously, he endeavours to distinguish the former aspect from what he names as the applicative aspect of theology, or ‘applied’ theology. The answer to the problem is given by virtue of understanding that the basic goal of theological archaeology is to grasp the meaning of the ‘code’ of theological discourse (or theological statements), as well as to project this ‘code’ as a paradigmatic function of importance for applied theology. These points are illustrated by a case study of the transformation of the biblical text on creation (Gen 1) within its patristic interpretation by St Basil the Great (Hexameron): the transformation of it being exposed as adequate to a new culturological context. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to call for overcoming the gap between academic and ecclesial aspects of theology by trying to understand, and nurture, the authentic logic of theological discourse (or statements thereof).