Friend accepting university theologian's study? (4)
I believe the answer is:
paul
'theologian's study?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'friend accepting university' is the wordplay.
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'accepting' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are accepted).
'university' becomes 'U' (abbreviation for university).
'pal' going around 'u' is 'PAUL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paul that I've seen before include "Epistle-writing saint" , "---23, C20 novelist" , "- Dombey (Dickens); - Jones, dance" , "fellow" , "Dance with different partners" .)