The Faculty of Theology Section in Tarnów (WTST) of The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow was established formally following the transformation of the Institute of Theology in Tarnów. This Institute was founded in 1822 to educate clergy serving the Diocese of Tarnów and its activities were always strongly connected to the Seminary in Tarnów. During the time of the Communist regime, the Institute existed only formally, but in fact, it was always identified with the Seminary in Tarnów. In 1993, Bishop Józef Życiński, who was at that time the bishop of Tarnów, transformed the Institute of Theology into the Theology and Pastoral Institute and strongly contributed to its aggregation with the Theology Faculty of the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow. Thanks to efforts of the current ordinary of the Diocese of Tarnów, Bishop Wiktor Skworc, the Sacred Congregation of the Catholic Education established in 2004 the Faculty of Theology Section in Tarnów (WTST) of The Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow.

According to its ecclesial tradition, the Faculty of Theology, that enjoys its canonical recognition, helps to continue to renew the Church and its presence in society through the appraisal and interpretation of the Christian tradition in accordance with the relevant ecclesial criteria for theological studies and research.