theology English · revision 14949

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1362|origins=grc θεολόγος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /θiˈɒl.ə.dʒi/, US /θiˈɑː.lə.dʒi/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|teologye]], [[bor|fro|theologie|t=philosophical study of Christian doctrine]] and directly [[la|theologia]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|θεολογία|tr=theología|t=an account of the gods]], from [[m|grc|θεολόγος|tr=theológos|t=one who discourses on the gods]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[m|grc|θεός|tr=theós|t=god]] and [[m|grc|λόγος|tr=lógos]] (see [[-logy]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Etymonline traces theós to [[ine-pro|*dhes-]], a root that forms words for religious ideas.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The study of God and his relation to humanity: 1362 in the OED, before 1376 in Piers Plowman in Barnhart, the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Latin theologia meant the study of the heathen gods,^(MWU 2024) and the English word at first applied only to Christianity.^(NODE 1998) It was used for metaphysics in 1390, an obsolete sense.^(OED 1989) Non-Christian systems are theologies from 1662,^(OED 1989) and a particular theological system from 1669.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The ''theology of hope'', translating German, is from 1959,^(OED 1989) and a disparaging use for any rigid set of principles from 1962.^(OED 1989) Theologian is from the 15th century and theological from the 16th.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1362 – the study of God.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1390 – metaphysics (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1662 – non-Christian theologies.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1669 – a theological system.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1959 – theology of hope.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The study of the nature of God and of religious truth.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A system or school of religious opinion: ''feminist theology''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A course of religious study at a college or [[seminary]].^(AHD)

+ # ''(disparaging)'' A rigid system of theoretical principles.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antitheology]]

+ * [[theologian]]

+ * [[theological]]

+ * [[theologise]]

+ * [[theologize]]

+ * [[dogmatic theology]]

+ * [[natural theology]]

+ * [[New England theology]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[theurgy]]

+ * [[theism]]

+ * [[-logy]]

+ * [[enthusiasm]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}