Divines

Divines is a term with two broad meanings. In religious and academic contexts, it denotes theologians or scholars of divinity—people who study, interpret, and teach theology within Christian traditions and related fields. In this sense, “the divines” can refer to a cohort within a university or church, such as Anglican divines during the 16th to 18th centuries.

Historically, divines were influential in shaping doctrinal developments, curricula, and spiritual life, particularly in England and Scotland, where theology faculties educated clergymen and debated scriptural interpretation. The phrase often appears in historical or literary sources to identify prominent theologians who contributed to religious reform, doctrine, or pastoral practice.

As a noun, the plural divines can also refer to individuals regarded as holy or sacred within certain traditions, but this usage is less common in modern English. Today, the label is more likely to be replaced by terms like theologians, clergy, or scholars of divinity. The word divine, meanwhile, remains widely used as an adjective meaning relating to a god or supreme being, and as a noun meaning a deity or sacred presence in various contexts.

In contemporary discourse, divines is largely encountered in historical, biographical, or literary contexts rather than as a current occupational label. The term thus sits at the intersection of theology, religious history, and ecclesiastical studies.

See also: divinity, theology, clergy, deity, pantheon.