本文嘗試將吳經熊（1899－1986）的神學思想放在中國本地化神學歷史變遷的脈絡中來理解，即劃分廿世紀後中國本地化神學為「前漢語神學」、「前漢語神學向漢語神學的過渡」、「漢語神學」三階段。由此，我們將會看到，「漢語神學」突破「前漢語神學」的地方在於神學－信仰與其文化載體的區分意識，而這正是上述三階段的劃分依據。

This article attempts to understand John C. H. Wu's (1899-1986) theological thought in the context of the historical vicissitudes of localized theology in China. Chinese localized theology after the 20th century can be divided into three stages: pre Sino-theology, the transition from pre Sino-theology to Sino-theology, and Sino-theology. The elaboration of these three stages shows how Sino-theology goes beyond pre Sino-theology by distinguishing between theology-belief and cultural carriers, which was the basis for the division between the three stages themselves.