When working on a writing project recently, I found myself typing “theology of work” and “faith and work movement” many times. This made me wonder why we don’t have an easier shorthand phrase for this increasingly common area of focus.
When a concept is used frequently in theological conversations, scholars will usually give it a label. Typically, this will be a Greek or Latin phrase that indicates its origins or history.
Here are a few that readily come to my mind:
- “Theology” comes from the Greek words theos (god) and lógos (study) and means “the study of God.”
- “Soteriology” comes from the Greek words sōtēría (salvation) and lógos and means “the study of salvation.”
- “Eschatology” comes from the Greek words éskhatos (last) and lógos and means “the study of last things.”
- Imago Dei, one we use often here at IFWE, is an example of a Latin phrase that comes from the Latin words imago (image) and Dei (God) and means “image of God.”
Current Phraseology
Yet, there doesn’t seem to be a succinct term that refers to the study of why our work matters to God. If we look at the academic and faith-based conversations around this topic, two phrases seem to dominate. People either say “theology of work” to refer to the study of work in a Christian and biblical context, or they will use some variation of “faith and work movement / faith and work / faith-work” to discuss the application of biblical principles in the workplace through churches, para-church ministries, and research institutions like IFWE.
The term “theology of work” was notably used by Miroslav Volf in “Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work.” In this essay, which I recall reading in an undergraduate course on vocation, Volf explores how our work participates in God’s ongoing creative and redemptive purposes, providing a theological grounding for why our work matters to God. Another influential essay that used this terminology was “Work: The Meaning Of Your Life” by Lester DeKoster.
Meanwhile, other prominent voices like Tim Keller (Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work), Amy Sherman (Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good), and Tom Nelson (who recently released an updated version of his book, Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World)—tend to frame the conversation around “faith and work,” emphasizing practical integration and the lived experience of vocation.
Looking at the publication dates for these works, there may be a generation difference in the use of these terms. Volf, DeKoster, and their peers were writing in the 1980s through the early 2000s, while the books by Keller, Sherman, Nelson, and even IFWE’s founder, Hugh Whelchel, were published through the 2010s. If the semantic differences are accurate, that could reflect a trend of the topic moving out of academia and into practical ministry.
Exploring New Options
Regardless of the differences in origin or usage, it seems like a gap in the lexicography that we don’t have a term for this topic that has deep biblical and historical significance. For fun, let’s explore some options.
- Vocatio a Deo (from the Latin words vocatio for “calling” and a Deo for “from God,” for “calling from God”)
This term emphasizes the idea of calling and vocation, concepts with deep theological roots, particularly in Reformed traditions. However, calling and vocation are broader topics than our daily labor and include our callings to marriage, family, church community, neighbors, and more, as excellently described by Os Guinness in The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life. - Oikonomology (from oikonomia – Greek for “management, stewardship”)
This term gives us the English word “economy,” but it also has a rich theological background, referring to the management of God’s household. While the inclusion of the concept of stewardship is helpful, unfortunately, the term “oikonomia” was popular for a few years in the 2010s when referring to economic topics, and seems to have faded. Bringing back a similar term may be confusing or counterproductive. - Praxiology (from praxis – Greek for “practice, action”)
This term leans into how theology is lived out through work, including ethical action, cultural engagement, and social transformation. It emphasizes the practical outworking of our faith, however, it shares shortcomings with the previous options on the list in that “praxis” is certainly broader than work. Author Steven Garber often challenges us, asking, “do we have a telos that is sufficient to meaningfully orient our praxis over the course of life?” - Ergology (from ergon – Greek for “work” or “deed”)
This is the option I find most compelling. The word ergon appears throughout the New Testament. For example, in John 6:29, “the work (ergon) of God,” and James 2:17, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action (ergon), is dead”. In occupational science, “ergology” can describe the study of how actual work is performed in real-life settings (think “ergonomic”). This may mean that the term would need a modifier, such as biblical ergology, which isn’t much more succinct than “theology of work,” but that may not be necessary if the context is evidently Christian. For instance, soteriology could refer to the study of salvation in other non-Christian religions, but if the context is clearly the Bible or Christianity, a modifier is unnecessary.
The Case for “Ergology”
Ergon is one of the words used to translate the Hebrew word avodah in the Greek Septuagint. For instance, in Numbers 4, the Lord is describing the duties of the Levites. He says, “everyone who could come to do the service (avodah/ergon) of ministry and the service (avodah/ergon) of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting…” (Num. 4:47, ESV). Avodah is a great word study because, as IFWE contributor Austin Burkhart has shared, it “suggests that our work can be a form of worship where we honor the Lord God, and serve our neighbors.”
While the Levites were carrying the physical items of the tabernacle, New Testament believers are also directed to bear our own burdens and help bear each other’s burdens as part of our own priesthood. One of my favorite occurrences of the word ergon in the New Testament is in Galatians 6, as the Apostle Paul moves toward concluding his letter he says, “But let each one test his own work (ergon)… For each will have to bear his own load” (Gal 6:4a,5, ESV). This verse is not telling us that we are all on our own; quite the contrary. Two verses prior, Paul exhorts believers to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2, ESV).
This section is one of the clearest statements in scripture that we are responsible to carry a load in this life, and that means we have work (ergon) to do. Because we are co-laboring with each other, as well as with Christ, we ought to have a “spirit of gentleness” (v.1), do good to everyone (v.10), and bear one another’s burdens (v.2). This is also where we are encouraged with the verse, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (v.9). What great principles to remember as we continue to explore why our work matters to God.
For these reasons, my vote would be for “ergology,” but I’d love to hear from you as well. Would you pick one of these other options? Would you suggest another term and why? You can let me know through my poll on X (formerly Twitter).
For an upcoming article, I’m exploring why there’s no clear Greek or Latin term for “theology of work.” Should we call it ergology? Vocatio a Deo? Something else?
Vote below or suggest your own term 👇
I appreciate your input! I’ll link the article when it’s live.
— Jacqueline Isaacs (@Jacque_Isaacs) May 6, 2025
