by James Bannerman
In ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Bannerman's two-volume Church of Christ is one of the greatest classic treatments of doctrine of the church in the history of the church. He is unashamedly Reformed and distinctively Presbyterian. The church mattered to Bannerman and his work can teach us about why the church should matter to us. James Bannerman was one of the many great luminaries who adorned the Free Church of Scotland in its early years in the nineteenth-century. His work was derived from his course lectures as a seminary professor and was published by his son, Douglas Bannerman.
"...for those who wish to study the doctrine of the Church in its several aspects as it was held by the majority of the Reformers, Puritans, Covenanters and leaders of 'The Third Reformation,' it will prove an invaluable textbook." - Iain Murray
“Bannerman’s The Church of Christ is the most extensive, standard, solid, Reformed treatment of the doctrine of the church that has ever been written. It is indisputably the classic in its field."
Joel R. Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“During my seminary training in Edinburgh, I spent long hours plowing my way through James Bannerman's Church of Christ. There was so much valuable and precious truth in these volumes.
David P. Murray, Professor of Old Testament and Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
“Professor James Bannerman taught annually on the doctrine of the church at the New College in Edinburgh until his death in 1868—the same year he finished his masterpiece, The Church of Christ. It was in this great work that Professor Bannerman sought to equip his students for their ‘delicate and arduous task’ as future churchmen. As it was the privilege of those young scholars to receive these words from his lips, it is our privilege to receive them from his pen.
A. Craig Troxel, Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church, and Adjunct Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary
A Hard copy of the Church of Christ can be purchased here.
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Table of Contents
EDITOR'S PREFACE
PREFACE BY PRINCIPAL CANDLISH
INTRODUCTION
PART I.—NATURE OF THE CHURCH
CHAP. I. The Church as defined in Scripture
II. The Church a Divine and Spiritual Institution
III. The Church as Visible and Invisible
IV. The Church as Catholic and Local
V. The "Notes" of the Church
VI. The Members of the Church
VII. The Church in its relation to the World
VIII. The Church in its relation to the State
SEC. I. Essential Distinction and Mutual Independence of Church and State
II. Lawfulness of the Connection of Church and State
SUBSEC. The Non-Identity of Church and State among the Jews
III. Duty of the Connection of Church and State
IV. Necessity of the Connection of Church and State
V. Spiritual Independence and the Principles of Toleration
VI. Liberty of Conscience; its Extent and Limits
VII. Doctrine of the Westminster Confession on Church and State
PART II.—POWER OF THE CHURCH
CHAP. I. The Source of Church Power
SEC. I. The Headship of Christ
II. Opposing Theories—Erastian and Popish
CHAP. II. The Rule or Law of church Power
III. The Nature and Character of Church Power
IV. The Extent and Limits of Church Power
V. The End and Design of Church power
VI. The Primary Subjects of Church Power
PART III.—MATTERS IN REGARD TO WHICH CHURCH POWER IS EXERCISED
DIV. I.—CHURCH POWER EXERCISED IN REGARD TO Doctrine
CHAP. I. The Power and Duty of the Church in regard to Matters of Faith
CHAP. II. Church Creeds and Confessions: or, Subordinate Standards, their Lawfulness and Use
CHAP. III. Objections to Creeds and Confessions
DIV. II.—CHURCH POWER EXERCISED IN REGARD TO Ordinances
SUBDIV. I.—THE PROVISION FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
CHAP. I. The Divine Origin, Permanent Obligation, and Legitimate Parts of Public Worship
CHAP. II. Rites and Ceremonies in Public Worship
SEC. I. Extent of Church Power as regards the Public Worship of God
SEC. II. Limits of Church Power as regards the Public Worship of God
CHAP. III. Liturgies, or Prescribed and Imposed Forms of Prayer
SUBDIV. II.—THE TIME FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP
CHAP. I. The Christian Sabbath
II. Ecclesiastical Holidays
SUBDIV. III.—THE INSTRUMENTALITY FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP, OR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
CHAP. I. The Ministry a Divine and standing Ordinance in the Church,—the Ministerial and Pastoral Title
CHAP. II. Apostolical Succession
III. The Independent Theory of the Ministry
IV. Ordination
SUBDIV. IV.—POSITIVE DIVINE INSTITUTIONS IN ADDITION TO THE ORDINARY PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE LORD'S DAY, OR THE SACRAMENTS
CHAP. I. The Sacraments in General
SEC. I. Nature and Efficacy of the Sacraments of the New Testament, and Difference between them and Non-Sacramental Ordinances
II. Unscriptural or Defective Views of the Sacraments
CHAP. II. The Sacrament of Baptism
SEC. I. Nature of the Ordinance
II. The Subjects of Baptism as regards Adults
III. Infant Baptism
IV. Objections to Infant Baptism
V. Efficacy of Infant Baptism
VI. The Modes of Baptism
CHAP. III. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
SEC. I. Nature of the Ordinance
II. Transubstantiation
III. The Doctrine of the Real Presence and the Priestly Theory
IV. The Sacrifice of the Mass, and other forms of the Sacrificial Theory
DIV. III.—CHURCH POWER EXERCISED IN REGARD TO Discipline
CHAP. I. Nature, Design, and Limits of the Discipline of the Christian Church
PART IV.—PARTIES IN WHOM THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE CHURCH POWER IS VESTED
CHAP. I. Divine Appointment of a Form of Church Government
II. The Extraordinary Office-Bearers of the Christian Church
SEC. I. Office of Apostles
II. Offices of Prophets and Evangelists
CHAP. III. The Popish System of Church Polity
CHAP. IV. The Prelatic System of Church Polity as opposed to the Presbyterian
SEC. I. No Evidence in Scripture, but the reverse, for the Appointment by our Lord or His Apostles of an Order of Bishops as distinct from Presbyters
SEC. II. No Evidence in Scripture, but the reverse, of the Exercise of the Powers of a Diocesan Bishop by any distinct and permanent Order of Office-Bearers, apart from that of Presbyters
CHAP. V. The Independent System of Church Polity as opposed to the Presbyterian
SEC. I. The Congregational Principle as opposed to Presbyterianism
SEC. II. The Independent Principle as opposed to Presbyterianism
APPENDIX
A. Bearing of Scripture Principles on the Lawfulness and Duty of Union between separate Churches
B. Doctrine of the Confession of Faith as to Recognition and Endowment of the Church by the State; Articles of Agreement and Distinctive Articles of the Churches now Negotiating for Union in Scotland, with respect to the Civil Magistrate
C. Note on the History of Voluntaryism
D. Practical Aspects of the Relation between Church and State
E. Relative Obligation of Scripture Precept, Example, and Principle
F. Scripture Consequences
G. The Book of Common Order
H. The Imposition of Hands in Ordination
I. Notes on the Literature of the Subject of this Treatise