christology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic / Theological
Quick answer
What does “christology” mean?
The branch of Christian theology concerned with the nature, person, and role of Jesus Christ.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of Christian theology concerned with the nature, person, and role of Jesus Christ.
The study of Jesus Christ, encompassing his divine and human natures, his mission, his significance in salvation history, and the relationship between his humanity and divinity. It can also refer to the specific theological understanding of Christ held by a particular tradition or thinker.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling follows standard national conventions ('theology' vs. 'theology' is irrelevant).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialist in both UK and US English, confined to theological and religious studies contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “christology” in a Sentence
[Adjective] + christology (e.g., 'Nicene christology')christology + [Prepositional Phrase] (e.g., 'christology of the New Testament', 'christology in the early church')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “christology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Theologians continue to christologise the ancient texts.
- The council sought to christologise the doctrine more precisely.
American English
- Scholars christologize the Pauline epistles differently.
- The movement attempted to christologize its message.
adverb
British English
- The text speaks christologically about the pre-existent Word.
- He approached the topic christologically, not historically.
American English
- The Gospel of John is interpreted christologically.
- They understood the title 'Son of God' christologically.
adjective
British English
- The christological debate was central to the early councils.
- He made a significant christological contribution.
American English
- Christological issues divided the church.
- Her argument had profound christological implications.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Exclusively used in theology, religious studies, history of religion, and sometimes philosophy of religion departments.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context of use. Refers to a specific sub-discipline of systematic theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “christology”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “christology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “christology”
- Pronouncing it as /ˈkrɪstəlɒdʒi/ (stress on first syllable).
- Spelling as 'Christolgy' (missing 'o').
- Using it to mean 'the study of Christianity' rather than specifically the study of Christ.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, as it is a branch of Christian theology. However, scholars of comparative religion or historians may study christology objectively as a belief system of others.
No difference in meaning. 'Christology' with a capital C is often preferred as it refers to Christ as a proper name, but the lowercase version is also widely accepted.
It can include historical Jesus research, but its primary focus is theological: who Jesus is believed to be (his person/nature) and what his significance is (his work), based on faith and scriptural interpretation.
'High christology' emphasizes Jesus's divine nature and pre-existence (e.g., Gospel of John). 'Low christology' emphasizes his humanity and role as a human chosen by God (e.g., earlier Synoptic Gospel traditions).
The branch of Christian theology concerned with the nature, person, and role of Jesus Christ.
Christology is usually academic / theological in register.
Christology: in British English it is pronounced /krɪˈstɒlədʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /krɪˈstɑːlədʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'CHRIST' + 'OLOGY' (the study of). Just as 'biology' is the study of life, 'christology' is the study of Christ.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHRISTOLOGY IS A LENS (through which one views Jesus); CHRISTOLOGY IS A BLUEPRINT (for understanding Christ's role).
Practice
Quiz
In which academic field is the term 'christology' primarily used?