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Webster 1913 Edition


Theology

The-ol′o-gy

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Theologies
(#)
.
[L.
theologia
, Gr. [GREEK]; [GREEK] God + [GREEK] discourse: cf. F.
théologie
. 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
.
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.).

Webster 1828 Edition


Theology

THEOL'OGY

,
Noun.
[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.

Definition 2024


theology

theology

English

Noun

theology (usually uncountable, plural theologies)

  1. (uncountable) The study of God, or a god, or gods, and the truthfulness of religion in general.
  2. (countable) An organized method of interpreting spiritual works and beliefs into practical form.
  3. (uncountable, computing, slang) Subjective marginal details.
    • 1986 December 9, Seymour, Jim, “In plain English”, in PC Mag, volume 5, number 21, Ziff Davis, ISSN 0888-8507, page 96:
      While those folks are caught up in theological arguments about LISP versus PROLOG, []
    • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:theology.

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References

  1. theologie” in the Dictionnaires d’autrefois
  2. theologie” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
  3. Walter W. Skeat, editor (1910), Theology”, in An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, new edition, Oxford: The Clarendon Press, OCLC 582746570, page 640.
  4. theology, n.”, in OED Online, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015-03-19.

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