ponerology

{{Short description|Study of evil in relation to God}}

{{for|a psychiatric study of evil in politics|Political ponerology}}

In theology, ponerology (from Greek πονηρός ponērós, "evil") is the study of evil. Major subdivisions of the study are the nature of evil, the origin of evil, and evil in relation to the Divine Government.{{cite book|title=The Presbyterian Review|date=1881|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQEFAAAAQAAJ|page=423|accessdate=2014-10-18}}

Karl Immanuel Nitzsch outlined his System der christlichen Lehre (System of Christian Doctrine) into three major rubrics: Agathology, or the Doctrine of the Good; Ponerology, or the Doctrine of the Bad; and Soteriology, or the Doctrine of Salvation. He further subdivided ponerology into the topics of Sin and of Death.{{cite book|title=The Methodist Review|date=1895|volume=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZdMWAQAAIAAJ|page=203|accessdate=2014-10-18}}{{cite book|title=System of Christian doctrine|author=Nitzsch, C.I.|date=1849|publisher=T. & T. Clark|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pMktAAAAYAAJ|page=130|isbn=978-0-7905-7603-9 |accessdate=2014-10-18}}