theologian

From Old French theologien, equivalent to theology +‎ -an.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌθi.əˈloʊd͡ʒən/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌθi.əˈləʊd͡ʒən/

• Audio (Southern England):

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theologian (plural theologians)

1. One who studies theology.
   • 1999, Diana S. Richmond Garland, Family ministry: a comprehensive guide, page 45:

     During a burping contest to celebrate wonderfully cold soft drinks after a long hike one hot afternoon, one little girl said, "My dad can outburp any of you!" Her father is a distinguished theologian and church leader whom I will not name here.

   • 2018 April 30, John Blake, “Remembering the theologian who took on the hypocrisy of the white church”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     Cone, who once called himself “the angriest theologian in America,” is still angry. […] Niebuhr’s decision not to speak out against lynching encouraged other white theologians and ministers to follow suit, Cone said, because Niebuhr was considered the nation’s greatest theologian.

2. In Roman Catholic usage, a theological lecturer attached to a cathedral church.

   Synonym: theologus

   • 1861, John Tulloch, English Puritanism and its leaders, page 29:

     Of all the theologians of his age, Hooker was the most unpuritan; […]

3. In Eastern Orthodox usage, a person who has had direct experience of and unity with God.

• theologist

• natural theologian

• theologic
• theological
• theologically
• theology