pneumatology

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πνεῦμα (pneûma, “breath”) +‎ -logy.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌnjuː.məˈtɒ.lə.d͡ʒi/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌnuː.məˈtɔ.lə.d͡ʒi/

Noun

pneumatology (countable and uncountable, plural pneumatologies)

1. The study of spiritual beings and phenomena, especially the interactions between humans and God.
2. (Christianity, theology) The study of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Scripture.
   • 2000 June 17, Elizabeth A. Johnson, “Mary of Nazareth: Friend of God and Prophet”, in America‎^[1], volume 182, number 21:

     These divine qualities migrated to Mary because of deficiencies in the theology of God, in Christology and in pneumatology. It makes no lasting sense to retain this as a permanent status quo, using Mary as a cover-up for defective notions of the divine.

3. The science dealing with air or gases, their physical and chemical properties, therapeutic applications, etc.

Related terms

• pneumatological
• pneumatologist