1. Definition of Terms.—All that men know of the nature of God, considered absolutely, of the relations between God on the ono baud and themselves and other beings on the other, together with the (= sequences resulting from those relations, and the duties arising out of those relations :—all this knowledge is described by the word religion. [liettoroe.) To reduce this knowledge to a systematic form, is the province of the science of theology ; and the truths of religion, when arranged in a scientific form, constitute a system of theology. Theology stands to religion in the same relation as that in which every other science stands to its subject; for instance, natural philosophy to matter, metaphysics to the mind, philology to language. By many writers the words theology and religion are used as synonymous terms; but such a usage of them is incorrect.
The above definition applies to the word as it has been understood for some centuries; but its earlier use was somewhat different from this. The thofroryta of the ancient Greeks was othenroota Tv! Tar Odom, the philosophy of divine existences ; and it included all questions relating to the origin, the nature, and the service of the gods. As relating to the origin and mode of existence of the gods, Aristotle uses the verb Osseavire (' Metaphys.,' i. 3); and Cicero the noun thcologes (' De Nat. Deer.; iii. 21). In a wider signification the word is used by Varro (Augustin., De Civitat. vi. 5; compare Eusebius, Prreparat. Evang.,' iv., 130), who distinguishes three different kinds of theology : (1) euOiedr, or fabidesunt, mythical or legendary(2) overstay, or naturals, physical, or relating to the nature of the legendary; ; (3) nohvraar, or civile, political or popular. Of these, the first is the theology of poets, the second that of philosophers, the third that of the people.
In the Now Testament the word is not used. (The title of the Apocalypse, in which the word BeeSAcryos is applied to the author, is much Liter than the book itself.) [Arocatrese.] The simpler terms knowledge (yvi3 ern) and faith (Tierra) are those which approach most nearly to the meaning of the word theology ; but the fact being that theology, as a system, is not taught in the New Testament, there is nothing surprising in the absence of the word.
Lastly, the modern usage of the word, as expressed in the above definition, was first adopted by Peter Abailard (ob.1142), who drew up a system of scholastic divinity, to which he gave the title of Theologia Christiana.' It should be remarked that instead of the Greek word theology, the Latin word divinity is often used to describe tho science of religion.
2. Divisions of the Science.—With reference to its foundation, theology is divided, as explained in the preceding paragraph, into Natural and Revealed, or positive. The latter word is used to indicate that the foundations of revealed theology are the expressed will of God; just as we speak of positive laws. The term positire theology is also used to describe any system of theology which rests upon authority, as, for example, the system embodied in the formularies of a particular church.
According to the method of treating the subject, theology is divided into popular or biblical, and systematic or scholastic theology.
According to the part of the subject which is treated of, it is divided into theoretical and practical theology. Of these, the former includes— (1) the knowledge of the documents which contain the revelation, the proof of their authority, and the explanation of their meaning, that is, Exegetical Theology; (2) the investigation, arrangement, and discussion of the truths so revealed, that is, Systematic Theology; (3) the workings and changes of religion among then who have professed it, or Histori cal Theology. Practical Theology has for its subjects the duties of practical religion, and the various modes of enforcing them on men ; and with reference to the latter, it is divided into—(l) Hamilenes, or preaching ; (2) Catecheties, or teaching ; (3) Liturgics, or worship and the administration of the sacraments; and (4) Pastoral Theology, or the care and government of a church.
3. Dogmatic Theology, or Dogmatics, means more than the term sys tematic theology. The province of the latter is simply to give to the scattered truths of revelation the scientific form of a connected system, in whatever manner may seem most convenient to the framer of the system ; but dogmatic theology aims at forming a system which shall be accepted as binding by a large body of religionists, and then views all religious truth in the light of that system. It is systematic theology, with the idea of authority superadded.
Out of Dogmatic Theology springs Controversial Theology, or that mode of treating the subject of religion in which some particular system of dogmatics is defended, or some other system attacked.
See, further, the articles CANON; MIRACLE; RATIONALISM; and REVELATION; in which many of the subjects of dogmatic controversy are discussed.