so·te·ri·ol·o·gy 
(sō-tîr′ē-ŏlə-jē)
(sō-tîr′ē-ŏlə-jē)n.
The branch of theology dealing with the nature and means of salvation.
[Greek sōtērion, deliverance (from sōtēr, savior, from saos, sōs, safe; see teuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + -LOGY.]
so·te′ri·o·logic (-ə-lŏjĭk), so·te′ri·o·logi·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.