Historical Theology for the Church
Overview
In Historical Theology for the Church, editors Jason Duesing and Nathan Finn bring together top contributors to survey key doctrinal developments in every era of church history. They not only trace the development of various doctrines within historical congregations; they also provide a resource for contemporary congregations. Steered by the conviction that historical theology serves the church both local and global, each chapter concludes with an application section that clarifies the connection between the historical doctrine being covered and the Christian church today.
- Survey key doctrinal developments in every era of church history
- Provides an application section that clarifies the connection between the historical doctrine being covered and the Christian church today
- Traces the development of various doctrines within historical congregations
- Introduction Jason G. Duesing
- Chapter 1: "Jesus Christ", Steven A. McKinion
- Chapter 2: "The Trinity", R. Lucas Stamps
- Chapter 3: "Scripture and Tradition", Stephen O. Presley
- Chapter 4: "Salvation", Coleman M. Ford
Unit One: Theology in the Patristic Era, AD 100–500
- Chapter 5: "The Church", Zachary M. Bowden
- Chapter 6: "Salvation", W. Madison Grace II
- Chapter 7: "Scripture and Tradition", William M. Marsh
Unit Two: Theology in the Medieval Era, AD 500–1500
- Chapter 8: "Scripture", Matthew Barrett
- Chapter 9: "Salvation", Stephen Brett Eccher
- Chapter 10: "The Church", Jason G. Duesing
Unit Three: Theology in the Reformation Era, AD 1500–1700
- Chapter 11: "Scripture and Authority", Nathan A. Finn
- Chapter 12: "Creation and Humanity", John Mark Yeats
- Chapter 13: "The Trinity and Jesus Christ", Matthew J. Hall
- Chapter 14: "The Holy Spirit and Salvation", Owen Strachan
- Chapter 15: "The Church", Jeremy M. Kimble
- Chapter 16: "Eschatology", Malcolm B. Yarnell III
Unit Four: Theology in the Modern Era, AD 1700–2000
- Conclusion Nathan A. Finn
Top Highlights
“This section concludes with the following working definition: historical theology is the study of the development of Christian doctrine and tradition from the Bible by the church and for the church.” (Page 6)
“The first major threat to the Christian understanding of Jesus in the first and second centuries was Docetism. Docetism challenged the Christian affirmation that Jesus was the true incarnation of God by denying that Jesus was genuinely human.” (Page 25)
“Essentially, historical theology is a process of historical inquiry that serves and supports other distinct but compatible disciplines. A helpful approach to arriving at a definition of historical theology is to set historical theology in relief against these other disciplines. First, historical theology complements systematic and biblical theology by providing a historical context for classical doctrines.” (Page 3)
“Second, historical theology complements church history by providing a repository for the historical development of doctrines alongside the development of the people, places, events, and social factors that comprise the story of Christianity’s history. Church history reviews the history of the theologians; historical theology investigates the theologians’ ideas.” (Page 3)
“The Ebionites believed that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah but denied his divinity. They also denied the virgin birth and the redeeming death of Jesus. Instead, Jesus was seen as a righteous man who was adopted as the Son of God because of his faithfulness and obedience.” (Page 26)
Duesing and Finn have put together a clear and concise introduction to historical theology. The chapters not only provide helpful overviews of various debates but provide case studies that show the way debates unfolded in real situations. Yet, the book does not leave the academic descriptions in the abstract. Instead, each chapter labors to show how the subject matter matters for the church today.
- Jonathon D. Woodyard, Themelios, Volume 46 - Issue 2
- Title: Historical Theology for the Church
- Authors: Jason G. Duesing, Nathan A. Finn
- Publisher: B&H
- Print Publication Date: 2021
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Pages: 405
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Theology, doctrinal › History
- ISBNs: 9781430074656, 9781433649158, 9781433649165, 1433649152, 1433649160, 1430074655
- Resource ID: LLS:HSTRCLTHCHRCH
- Resource Type: Systematic Theology
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-09T17:42:45Z
Jason G. Duesing (Ph.D., Southwestern Seminary) serves as the academic Provost and Professor of Historical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Mere Hope: Life in an Age of Cynicism (B&H) and writes for For the Church, The Gospel Coalition, Tabletalk and other publications, including his own website “Footnotes,” at JGDuesing.com.
Nathan A. Finn (Ph.D., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as provost and dean of the university faculty at North Greenville University.
