Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

Get access

Polemic, theological
(1,788 words)

1. Definition

Theological polemic is one of the most important traditional instruments of Christian church formation and faith development. It served to delineate the boundaries between “true” and “false” Christian doctrine and piety.

The term is derived from Greek pólemos (war, conflict). Theological polemic contested concepts of the world (World view) and of God (God, concepts of) – in the late antique Christian debates wit…

Cite this page
Gierl, Martin, “Polemic, theological”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 02 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_025643>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20200721



▲   Back to top   ▲