by Louis Berkhof
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
The Historical Volume of what was originally called "Reformed Dogmatics" now appears with a new title, namely, History of Christian Doctrines. Works on the gradual development of theological truth in the Church of Jesus Christ usually appear alongside of those which deal with the systematic reproduction of it, and thus stand out as separate works. It was thought best to follow this practice, since this will stress the fact that after all the history of the development of Christian thought in the Church is a separate study.
But while it is a separate study, it is not one which students of theology can afford to neglect. The study of doctrinal truth, apart from its historical background, leads to a truncated theology. There has been too much of this in the past, and there is a great deal of it even in the present day. The result has been the lack of a sound understanding and a proper evaluation of the truth. There was no appreciation of the fact that the Holy Spirit guided the Church in the interpretation and development of the truth as it is revealed in the Word of God. The checks and the roadsigns of the past were not taken into consideration, and ancient heresies, long since condemned by the Church, are constantly repeated and represented as new discoveries. The lessons of the past are greatly neglected, and many seem to feel that they should strike out entirely on their own, as if very little had been accomplished in the past. Surely, a theologian must take account of the present situation in the religious world, and ever study the truth anew, but he cannot neglect the lessons of the past with impunity. May this brief study of the history of doctrines serve to create a greater interest in such historical study, and lead to a better understanding of the truth.
L. BERKHOF
Grand Rapids, Michigan
August 1, 1949.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
PROLEGOMENA
I. The Subject-Matter of the History of Dogma
II. The Task of the History of Dogma
III. Method and Divisions of the History of Dogma
IV. History of the History of Dogma
PREPARATORY DOCTRINAL DEVELOPMENT
I. The Apostolic Fathers and Their Doctrinal Views
II. Perversions of the Gospel
III. Reform Movements in the Church
IV. The Apologists and the Beginnings of the Church's Theology
V. The Anti-Gnostic Fathers
VI. The Alexandrian Fathers
VII. Monarchianism
THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
I. The Trinitarian Controversy
II. The Doctrine of the Trinity in Later Theology
THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
I. The Christological Controversies
II. Later Christological Discussions
THE DOCTRINE OF SIN AND GRACE AND RELATED DOCTRINES
I. The Anthropology of the Patristic Period
II. The Pelagian and Augustinian Doctrines of Sin and Grace
III. The Anthropology of the Middle Ages
IV. The Anthropology of the Period of the Reformation
V. Anthropological Views of Post-Reformation Times
THE DOCTRINE OF THE ATONEMENT OR OF THE WORK OF CHRIST
I. The Doctrine of the Atonement Before Anselm
II. The Doctrine of the Atonement from Anselm to the Reformation
III. The Doctrine of the Atonement in the Period of the Reformation
IV. The Doctrine of the Atonement After the Reformation
THE DOCTRINE OF THE APPLICATION AND APPROPRIATION OF DIVINE GRACE
I. The Soteriology of the Patristic Period
II. The Soteriology of the Scholastic Period
III. Reformation and Post-Reformation Soteriology
THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH AND THE SACRAMENTS
I. The Doctrine of the Church
II. The Doctrine of the Sacraments
THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS
I. The Intermediate State
II. The Second Advent and the Millennial Hope
III. The Resurrection
IV. The Last Judgment and Final Awards
Literature