theology

Where does the word "theology" come from? It comes from Greek theos, passing through Greek, Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Theology’s story begins in Greek: theos meant “god.” The root of 'atheist', 'enthusiasm' and 'pantheon'. Within Greek, it grew into theologia by ancient. Formed within Greek itself from theos (god) and -logia (study of); Plato used the term in the Republic. From there it passed into Latin as theologia by ancient. Borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; Augustine's 'City of God' discusses Varro's threefold division of theologia. Old French picked it up next, as theologie, around medieval. Carried into French for the systematic study of religious belief. It reached English by 1300s as theology. Settled as the English word for the study of religion and the divine. Today, theology means the systematic study of religion, the divine, and religious belief.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient theos "god", the root of 'atheist', 'enthusiasm' and 'pantheon'.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient theologia "the study of god", formed within Greek itself from theos (god) and -logia (study of); Plato used the term in the Republic.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient theologia "the study of god", borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; Augustine's 'City of God' discusses Varro's threefold division of theologia.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · medieval theologie "the study of religious belief", carried into French for the systematic study of religious belief.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1300s theology "the study of religion and the divine", settled as the English word for the study of religion and the divine.