「否定神學」源自希臘哲學,原本主要用於本體論與形上學範疇, 經由斐洛（Philo of Alexandria）系統化發展後,成為表述天主特徵與 神祕經驗的一種神學方法。護教教父對希臘哲學與希臘化的猶太思 想,既非全盤排斥,也非毫無批判地全部接受,而是採取在思考中 分辨,在對話中轉化的策略。在「否定神學」方面,他們繼續採取較 為謹慎的立場,並在《聖經》啟示的框架下,僅限於使用某些否定形 容詞,來說明天主的神性超越性。

“Negative theology” originated in Greek philosophy, where it was ini-tially applied primarily to ontology and metaphysics. After being systemati-cally developed by Philo of Alexandria, it became a theological method for expressing the attributes of God and mystical experiences. The Apostolic Fathers neither entirely rejected Greek philosophy and Hellenized Jewish thought nor accepted them uncritically; rather, they adopted a strategy of discernment through reflection and transformation through dialogue. Regard-ing "negative theology", they maintained a relatively cautious stance and, within the framework of biblical revelation, limited themselves to using cer-tain negative adjectives to illustrate the transcendence of God's divinity.