The story
Attested circa 1835. From Medieval Latin theosophus (“a theologian”, noun), from Koine Greek θεόσοφος (theósophos, “wise in things concerning god”, adjective), from Ancient Greek θεός (theós, “god”) + σοφός (sophós, “wise”). Cognate with French théosophe and Spanish teósofo.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.