Adjacent Words

Theology definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

THEOL'OGY, n. [Gr. God, and discourse.] Divinity; the science of God and divine things; or the science which teaches the existence, character and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe,and the duties we are to practice. Theology consists of two branches, natural and revealed. Natural theology is the knowledge we have of God from his works, by the light of nature and reason. Revealed theology is that which is to be learned only from revelation.
Moral theology, teaches us the divine laws relating to our manners and actions, that is, our moral duties.theology, teaches or explains the doctrines of religion, as objects of faith.
Scholastic theology, is that which proceeds by reasoning, or which derives the knowledge of several divine things from certain established principles of faith.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth [syn: theology, divinity]
2: a particular system or school of religious beliefs and teachings; "Jewish theology"; "Roman Catholic theology" [syn: theology, theological system]
3: the learned profession acquired by specialized courses in religion (usually taught at a college or seminary); "he studied theology at Oxford"

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -gies) Etymology: Middle English theologie, from Anglo-French, from Latin theologia, from Greek, from the- + -logia -logy Date: 14th century 1. the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially the study of God and of God's relation to the world 2. a. a theological theory or system <Thomist theology> <a theology of atonement> b. a distinctive body of theological opinion <Catholic theology> 3. a usually 4-year course of specialized religious training in a Roman Catholic major seminary

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -ies) 1 a the study of theistic (esp. Christian) religion. b a system of theistic (esp. Christian) religion. c the rational analysis of a religious faith. 2 a system of theoretical principles, esp. an impractical or rigid ideology. Derivatives: theologist n. theologize v.tr. & intr. (also -ise). Etymology: ME f. OF theologie f. L theologia f. Gk (as THEO-, -LOGY)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Theology The*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. Theologies. [L. theologia, Gr. ?; ? God + ? discourse: cf. F. th['e]ologie. See Theism, and Logic.] The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice; divinity; (as more commonly understood) ``the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures, the systematic exhibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life.'' Many speak of theology as a science of religion [instead of ``science of God''] because they disbelieve that there is any knowledge of God to be attained. --Prof. R. Flint (Enc. Brit.). Theology is ordered knowledge; representing in the region of the intellect what religion represents in the heart and life of man. --Gladstone. Ascetic theology, Natural theology. See Ascetic, Natural. Moral theology, that phase of theology which is concerned with moral character and conduct. Revealed theology, theology which is to be learned only from revelation. Scholastic theology, theology as taught by the scholastics, or as prosecuted after their principles and methods. Speculative theology, theology as founded upon, or influenced by, speculation or metaphysical philosophy. Systematic theology, that branch of theology of which the aim is to reduce all revealed truth to a series of statements that together shall constitute an organized whole. --E. G. Robinson (Johnson's Cyc.).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Theology is the study of the nature of God and of religion and religious beliefs. ...questions of theology. • theological ...theological books. ADJ: usu ADJ n

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

the-ol'-o-ji.

See BIBLICAL THEOLOGY; JOHANNINE THEOLOGY; PAULINE THEOLOGY.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Divinity, theologics, true doctrine concerning God and His relations to man, scientific statement of the facts of religion.