Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Theology

Theology , noun

[Latin theologia, Greek {not transcribed}; {not transcribed} God + {not transcribed} discourse: compare French théologie. See Theism, and Logic.]

The science of God or of religion; the science which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, his laws and government, the doctrines we are to believe, and the duties we are to practice; divinity; (as more commonly understood) “the knowledge derivable from the Scriptures, the systematic exhibition of revealed truth, the science of Christian faith and life.”
Many speak of theology as a science of religion [instead of “science of God”] because they disbelieve that there is any knowledge of God to be attained. — Prof. R. Flint (Enc. Brit.)
Theology is ordered knowledge; representing in the region of the intellect what religion represents in the heart and life of man. — Gladstone
Collocations (6)
Ascetic theology or Natural theology , See Ascetic, Natural.
Moral theology , that phase of theology which is concerned with moral character and conduct.
Revealed theology , theology which is to be learned only from revelation.
Scholastic theology , theology as taught by the scholastics, or as prosecuted after their principles and methods.
Speculative theology , theology as founded upon, or influenced by, speculation or metaphysical philosophy.
Systematic theology , that branch of theology of which the aim is to reduce all revealed truth to a series of statements that together shall constitute an organized whole. — E. G. Robinson (Johnson's Cyc.)