The History of Christian Doctrines (eBook)

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

By Topic

Joy

By Scripture

Old Testament

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

By Author

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