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Origin and history of theology

theology(n.)

late 14c., theologie, "the science of religion, study of God and his relationship to humanity," from Old French theologie "philosophical study of Christian doctrine; Scripture" (14c.) and directly from Latin theologia, from Greek theologia "an account of the gods," from theologos "one discoursing on the gods." This is from theos "god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts) + -logos "treating of" (see -logy).

The meaning "a particular system of theology" is from 1660s.

Theology moves back and forth between two poles, the eternal truth of its foundations and the temporal situation in which the eternal truth must be received. [Paul Tillich, "Systematic Theology," 1951]

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to theology

theologian(n.)

"one skilled in (especially Christian) theology," late 15c., from Old French theologien (14c.), from theologie; see theology. Alternatives theologue (early 15c.; compare Greek theologos "one who speaks of the gods"), theologist (1630s), theologician (1550s), theologer (1580s) are rare. A petty or paltry theologist is a theologaster (1620s), a word used in Medieval Latin by Martin Luther (1518).

theological(adj.)

early 15c., theologicalle, "of or pertaining to theology," from Medieval Latin theologicalis, from Latin theologicus, from theologia (see theology). Related: Theologic (mid-15c., from Latin theologicus); theologically. Old alternative theologal is from late 15c.

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divinity
c. 1300, "science of divine things, theology;" late 14c., "quality or character of being divine," also "a divine being, God," from Old French devinité (12c.), from Latin divinitatem (nominative divinitas), from divinus "of a god," from divus "of or belonging to a god, inspired, p
rationalist
In theology/philosophy, "one who applies rational criticism to the claims of supernatural authority or revelation," 1640s...Related: Rationalistic; rationalism (1800 in medicine; 1827 in theology, "adherence to the supremacy of reason in matters...
aspersion
mid-15c., aspercion, originally in theology, "the shedding of Christ's blood," from Latin aspersionem (nominative aspersio...
delectation
Also in theology "the second stage of sin, pleasure in contemplating sin, desire for sin" (mid-15c.)....
largesse
In medieval theology, "the virtue whose opposite is avarice, and whose excess is prodigality" [The Middle English Compendium...
metabolism
The word also has been used in theology, poetics, and entomology....
renovation
c. 1400, renovacyoun, in theology, "spiritual rebirth wrought by the Holy Spirit," also in a general sense, "rebuilding,...
discipline
c. 1200, "penitential chastisement; punishment for the sake of correction," from Old French descepline "discipline, physical punishment; teaching; suffering; martyrdom" (11c., Modern French discipline) and directly from Latin disciplina "instruction given, teaching, learning, kno
study
early 12c., studien, "to strive toward, devote oneself to, cultivate" (virtue, vice, wisdom, art, etc., sometimes translating Latin occupare), from Old French estudiier "to study, apply oneself, show zeal for; examine" (13c., Modern French étudier). This is from Medieval Latin st
subject
early 14c., subget, "person under control or dominion of another," especially one who owes allegiance to a government or ruler; from Old French sogit, suget, subget "a subject person or thing" (12c., Modern French sujet), from noun use of Latin subiectus "lying under, below, near

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