a. (sb.) [ad. med.L. theologicālis (Duns Scotus, a. 1308), f. L. theologicus (see prec.) + -ālis, -AL: see -ICAL.]
1. Of or pertaining to the word of God, i.e., the Bible; scriptural: cf. THEOLOGY 2; in theological virtues [virtutes theologicæ, Albertus Magnus], applied to faith, hope, and charity (1 Cor. xiii. 13), as distinct from the earlier four cardinal virtues of Plato and the Stoics (cf. TEMPERANCE, Note).
(From the contemporary senses of theologia, this seems to have been the original meaning; but other reasons for and explanations of the name were current from Aquinas onward: see the quots; cf. also c. 1380 Wyclif, De Eccl., ii. Sel. Wks. III. 340 Þes two godliche virtues [faith and hope]. The ancient pre-Christian virtues were called virtutes cardinales A.D. 379, by Ambrose, Exc. Satyri, i. 57.)
[1484: cf. THEOLOGAL.]
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 142. The rofe yt couereth all is the theologicall vertue, hope.
1588. A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 184. The vertues (quhilk I hawe called theological and cardinal).
1607–12. Bacon, Ess., Goodness (Arb.), 198. Goodnes aunswares to the Theologicall vertue, Charitie, and admittes not excesse, but errour.
1616. Bullokar, Eng. Expos., Theologicall vertues, Faith, Hope and Charity are so called, because they haue their obiect and end in God.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 14. By Theological virtues I do not mean only those three most eminent virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity, but all those actions of obedience due to them…; to whom I owe my obedience not by any Law of Nature, but as commanded by God in the Scriptures.
1875. Manning, Mission H. Ghost, iii. 82. Faith is called a theological virtue, because it unites the soul with its Maker.
1909. Ottley, Chr. Ideas & Ideals, I. vi. 98. Faith, hope, and love are commonly called ‘theological virtues,’ for reasons which Aquinas briefly enumerates. They have, he says, God for their object; they [etc.].
2. Or, pertaining to, or of the nature of theology; dealing with or treating of theology.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1304. The Theologicall interpretations that the Stoicks give out: for they holde, that the generative and nutritive Spirit, is Bacchus.
1664. Jer. Taylor, Dissuas. Popery, II. I. ii. (1667), 89. It is cited … in the decrees of the Popes, and in the Theological sums of great Divines.
1780. Harris, Philol. Enq., Wks. (1841), 541. Among their [the Arabians’] theological works, there are some upon the principles of the mystic divinity.
1780. Bentham, Princ. Legisl., Introd. ii. § 18. The theological principle; meaning that principle which professes to recur for the standard of right and wrong to the will of God.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Charmed Sea, i. Frederick was a theological student in the university at Wilna.
1861. Stanley, East. Ch., i. (1869), 23. The Athanasian controversy … is, strictly speaking, theological; unlike the Pelagian or the Lutheran controversies, it relates not to man, but to God.
1904. Times, 4 May, 2/6. The abolition of all theological tests and sectarian teaching during school hours.
B. sb. † 1. pl. The theological virtues. Obs.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 138. Three speciall principia or causes … called of Diuines the three Theologicals, faith,… charitie,… hope.
† 2. pl. Theological matters or principles. Obs.
a. 1626. W. Sclater, Exp. 4th ch. Rom., Ep. Ded. The greatest patterne, and example for men to live by:… whether in your Naturalls, or in your Morals, or in your Theologicalls.
1774. J. Hutton, in Mme. D’Arblay’s Early Diary (1889), I. 303. I have found much pleasure in Madame de Maintenon’s Letters (except in Theologicals and Spirituals).
3. A man trained at a theological college.
1866. S. B. James, Duty & Doctr. (1871), 18. University clergy are rarer, and theologicals and literates more numerous.
