[ad. med.L. theologista (Luther, 1519, Wks. (1884), II. 161), agent-n. f. theologizāre: see THEOLOGIZE and -IST.]
A professed theologian. a. In reference to heathen religions: = THEOLOGER b. (Used of ancient or modern writers on these.) Now rare.
a. 1638. Mede, Apostasy Later Times (1641), 19. Their Theologists bring in another kinde of Daemons more high and sublime. Ibid. (a. 1638), Wks. (1672), 626. I take the word Δαιμόνιον … in the better … sense, as it was … taken among the Theologists and Philosophers of the Gentiles.
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 58/1. I am informed by a most learned … theologist, that Tantalus did not incur the displeasure of Jupiter till after the accident which happened to his son.
1816. G. S. Faber, Orig. Pagan Idol., II. 102. The other philosophizing theologists of the east.
b. In reference to Christianity or other monotheistic religion: THEOLOGER a.
1641. Earl Monm., trans. Biondi’s Civil Warres, V. 109. The schoole of Theologists who say that by sinning hee lost what he had received by favour.
1668. Franco, Truth Springing, 1. The generally-received Opinion amongst the Jews Theologists,… That the Lord governeth onely the people of Israel with his peculiar and particular Providence.
1774. Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry, I. Diss. II. 42. Anselm, an acute metaphysician and theologist. Ibid., 75. These visionary theologists never explained or illustrated any scriptural topic.
1857. Baden-Powell, in Oxford Ess., 181. The generality of these later natural theologists.
c. In derogatory sense: cf. THEOLOGISM.
1900. A. M. Christie, trans. Hist. Germ. People Mid. Ages, III. 57. His opponents were not theologians but theologists.
