Methodology (jikdocog and Xoyog) is the scien- titic plan of investigating any department of knowledge. In the science of theology, it is the practical applica- tion of encyclopedia. The one leads to the other. A clear insight into the nature and connections of any science will lead to a right mode of treating it; and as the complete knowledge of a science is essential to a good method, so, on the other hand, a good method is the best test and verilication of knowledge. The aims of methodiplngy are to furnish a i)lan of theological study, showing the order in which the topics should be taken up, and indicating the best methods of study, and necessary books and helps of all kinds. Some writers hold that methodology should be treated and studied entirely apart from encyclopedia. In a strictly scien- tific sense, this view is correct ; but, for practical piu-- I poses, these two branches are generally blended into one connected whole. The whole treatment taken together is therefore called by the ilouble name of theological encyclopedia and methodology. Of these, encyclope- dia is the objective side, the outline of the science itself; methodology is the subjective side, having reference to the work of the student of the science.
The science of theological encyclopedia and meth- odology is a comparatively recent study. The history of the science has been so fully treated in the article on liNCYCi-orEDiA (q. v.), and the methods of the chief writers on the subject so amjilv set forth, that we sim- ply refer to it. Since the publication of that article, liowever, an important work, J.ectures by the late .John McClintock, D.D., LL.D., on Theological Enrydopedia and Methodology (N. Y. 1873, 1 2mo), has appeared, which contains so many new thoughts that we here insert Dr. McClintock's division of the subject. He divides theo- logical science into the following four departments :
1. Koeenctira} Theology, which is concerned with the rec- ords of revelation.
2. Jiistdrical Tlieoloiiy, which is concerned with the de- vclopiiieiit of rcvclatiou in the life and Ihou^'ht of the Chnicli. This dcHnition gives a twofold divisiou of His- torical Theolosry:
a. The Life of the Chnrch ; that is, Church Uixtory. h. The Thought of the Church ; that is, Doctrinal Hist or II.
3. SiistciiHxtic TlicoloKV, which is concerned with the matter of levehilioii— wiih the scieiitilic tieaimeut of its couteiile; ni lUiiii; a fomfi'ld siil)(livisi()n :
a. ApuJinirtics, or the defence of Christianity from attacks from wiUiout.
h. ])i)(i,)iatics, or I lie scientific statement of doctrines as adin'iticd hv the Chnrch.
c. ]:tliics,in- a scientitic statement of duty in which man stands to God.
(f. 7 •«(<•»» iV-.y, or the vindication of doctrme from he- retical attacks from witliiii the Church.
4. Practical Tliculoijy, which is concerned with tlic pres- ervation of revelation and its propagation iu and through
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the Church, as the outward and visible form of the king- dom of Christ amoug men. Here \vc have two general divisions: . . ,
a. The Functions of the Church ; and
b. The Organization and Government of the Church.
This treatment, which has larg-ely prevailed since the 16th century, rests upon the theory that Christianity is a system founded upon divine revelation, and that the- ology is really the product of the application of the human intellect to the contents of revelation.
For literature, see Encyclopedia. See also Jahi- huch Deutscher Tkeologie, Oct. 1871, art. i.
Methu- (*iri'2j construct-state of T'O, an adult man, used like the old English yb/A) , a frequent prefix in Heb. proper names, as those here following ; so likewise in the old Punic names Metuastartus, Methymnatus, etc. (Gesenius, Momim. Phcen. p. 399, 411).
Methu'sael (Heb. Methushdel', ^K'JWp, man that is from Gixl; Sept, MnSot'ffflXn, Vulg. Maihusael), the son of Mehujael and father of Lamech, of the fam- ily of Cain (Gen. iv, 18). B.C. cir. 3770. The resem- blance of the name to the following, on which (with the coincidence of the name Lamech in the next genera- tion in both lines) some theories have been formed, is apparent rather than real.
Methu'selah (Heb. Metlmshe'lach, nblTWia, man ofthQdart; Sept, and N.T.Ma^oncrrtXft ; .Josephus,Mn- Souo-aAac, Ant. J, 3, 3 and 4; Yulg. M(i//iiis,i/,i and Mathusale; Auth. Vers. "Mathusala," in Lukr iii. :i7), the son of Enoch, and eighth of the Sethite antiMlihi- vian patriarchs (Gen. v, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27 ; 1 Chron. i, 3). He was born (according to the Heb. text) B.C. 3484. When he had attained the age of 18" years, his son La- mech was born, after which be lived 782 years, and died (B.C. 2516) only a few months before the flood, at the extreme age of 969 ; which, being the greatest term attained by any on record, has caused his name to be- come a proverb of long life. See Longevity.
Metochita, Georgius {VHopyioQ u Mfrox'Vj/f), a Greek theologian, flourished in the latter half of the 13th century. He was the archdeacon of the Church at Con- stantinople, the intimate friend and zealous partisan of the emperor Andronicus, and favored a union of the Greek Church with the Latin. Under the reign of Andronicus the Younger he was ostracized on account of his religious opinions, and died in exile. He was the relative, per- haps the father, of Theodorus Metochita, with whom he has often been confounded. He wrote several works of great importance for their bearing on the history of his times; but his literary style, although energetic, is rude and well-nigh barbarous. His Refutation {'Avrippr]- (Tic) of the three Chapters of Plamide, and his Rephi to Manuel Xepos of Crete, were published by Leo Allatius, in the Grcecia Orthodoza, vol. ii. The same publisher has given to the public a fragment of JMetochita's Bis- course on the Union of the Churches, together with a portion of the fourth book of his treatise On the Proces- sion of the Holy Ghost, bound in one volume with Dia- triba contra Hottingerum. See Fabricius, Bibliotheca Grceca, x, 412 ; Cave, Jlisf. Lift. s. v.