Theological Term of the Week

theological prolegomena
“The issues of theology that need to be learned before one can learn anything further”;1 an introductory section discussing the presuppositions of a theological work; an introduction to systematic theology. Since Christian theology is based on God’s revelation, a theological prolegomena often contains a treatise on the doctrine of revelation; consequently, the term prolegomena is also sometimes used to refer to the doctrine of revelation (example).

• From Francis Turretin on Theological Prolegomena by J. V. Fesko:

What is [theological prolegomena] and to what does it refer? The first term, theological, is made up of the two Greek words, theos (God) and logos (word), and refers to the study of God. The second, prolegomena, is made up of two Greek words, pro (before) and legomena, the participle form of the word lego (I say). Hence prolegomena literally means “before words,” or “sayings.”
 Within the context of theology, then, theological prolegomena is the term that refers to “the introductory section of a treatise or system of thought in which basic principles and premises are enunciated.” Stated simply, theological prolegomena is the section in a theological work where a theologian’s presuppositions are laid out. For example, What is theology? What is the relationship between God’s knowledge and our knowledge? How does human reason relate to theology?

Learn more:

1. Compelling Truth: How does systematic theology work?
2. Michael Patton: Theology: Let’s Start at the Very Beginning
3. Bob Burridge: Prolegomena: How We Know About God (an example of a theological prolegomena)
4. J. V. Fesko: Francis Turretin on Theological Prolegomena (pdf)

Related terms:

• analogy of faith
• authority of scripture
• inspiration of scripture
• sola scriptura
• special revelation
  
• sufficiency of scripture
• systematic theology

Filed under General Theology

1From Theology: Let’s Start at the Very Beginning by Michael Patton.

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it, giving you credit for the suggestion and linking back to your blog when I do.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms in alphabetical order.