What is Theology -

[Always in His Presence]

Simple definition - seems people talk about just anything but Theology -

So let's define Theology in it's simplest terms.

 

[Josheb]

Simple definition - seems people talk about just anything but Theology -

So let's define Theology in it's simplest terms.

First, there is capital "T" Theology, which is sometimes called "Proper Theology." That is specifically about the nature of God. "Theo" = God, and "ology" (or logos) = study of, or "the word on/of". Small "t" theology is not necessarily limited to the sole subject of God's ontology. Small "t" theology covers the expanse of belief. In the case of Christianity, theology is the sum of Christian beliefs and that is typically construed to mean beliefs as formalized in the various doctrines of the religion or faith. Each of these doctrines has its own title or label but their sum is what constitutes Christian theology. Christology is the set of theological doctrines that describe Jesus, soteriology is the set of theological doctrines of salvation, ecclesiology is the theological doctrine, etc. Furthermore, whether Theology or theology, formally speaking, that "ology" part, the "study of" part is supposed to be "scientific" in nature. It follows specified techniques and is ideally objective and objectively verifiable by all. Because anyone who reads their Bible, studies it and rationally contemplates its content is conducting theology, we are all theologians, but that should not be conflated with those who take the orderly, structured scientific approach.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Simple definition - seems people talk about just anything but Theology -

So let's define Theology in it's simplest terms.

One could be obtuse and say it's the study of the definite article "The"

However, it's the study of the Theos, or God.

So more than book study would be involved.

 

[RileyG]

Simple definition - seems people talk about just anything but Theology -

So let's define Theology in it's simplest terms.

The study of God.

 

[The Liturgist]

Simple definition - seems people talk about just anything but Theology -

So let's define Theology in it's simplest terms.

1. The Greek word Theologia was first used by Pagans according to its literal meaning of “Discourse On God.”
2. The Greek Christians applied the title of Theologian as an honorific to St. John the Beloved Disciple, who had direct experiential knowledge of God and who discoursed on it, and then later applied this title to St. Gregory Nazianzus because of the importance of his writings to fourth century Christianity in terms of providing a rational analysis and experiential knowledge in defense of the doctrines of the Incarnation, the deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity. Later the Hesychast St. Symeon was venerated as The New Theologian.
3. St. Evagrius said 'The theologian is the one who prays truly, and the one who prays truly is a theologian'. Thus in a sense being a theologian is like being a sacerdos or hierus, in that just as every member of the Christian Church is royal and hieratic, every member of the Christian Church by virtue of praying truly is a theologian.

This is a good question my brother. Since the word theologian depends on the Greek word theology, I believe that the answer to this comes from the ancient Christian East. Ex Oriente Lux, as they say in the West.

Thus, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian scholars of theology, a term I prefer for what people in the West would tend to call a theologian, thus insist that even an infant or a mentally disabled person can be a theologian.