Elements of Dogmatic History

by William Muenscher

Publisher:

A. H. Maltby

, 1830

Overview

One of the greatest challenges in consulting older historical accounts is the question of reliability. In the past, historians didn’t emphasize objectivity the way we do today, and oftentimes their personal opinions and interpretations bleed into their exposition of historical events, contaminating the reader’s understanding of the facts. Elements of Dogmatic History by Wilhelm Münscher provides a plain, unadulterated account of the historical beliefs—not practices—of Christianity. The facts are drawn from historically significant texts and presented without interpretations or opinions. Münscher believed it was the historians’ task to prioritize which authorities were the most accurate and reliable representations of the subject, not to decide whether those authorities were right or wrong.

Münscher wrote Elements of Dogmatic History to outline the history of the internal condition of the faith expressed through its doctrines for lecturers to decide when and where to go into more detail. The text illuminates the doctrines of different historical branches of Christianity, allowing readers to see how beliefs have changed over time and where differences first appeared. It provides concise overviews and information with copious notes and references to all source texts, making this text a valuable historical resource.

With the Logos edition, Elements of Dogmatic History becomes a powerful reference tool. Search key phrases, events, people, and topics to find every discussion of them in your library to gain a deeper understanding of the history of the Christian church. Cross-reference Elements of Dogmatic History with other historical or theological texts and go deeper into the faiths and beliefs that shaped Christianity. If you own any of Münscher’s source texts you can link to them instantly for further study.

Key Features

• Covers three historical periods from AD 1–1800
• Offers overviews of the diverse historical doctrines and beliefs of Christianity
• Includes thorough citations of all source texts

Praise for the Print Edition

[Elements of Dogmatic History] will be of considerable value to theological students, by giving in a few words the results of much study, and a multitude of references to other works, in which the same subjects are discussed more at length.

—The Christian Examiner and General Review

The work here offered to American theologians, is supposed, to be unlike any thing, that has ever appeared before the English public.

—James Murdock, translator

. . . the whole work is distinguished, alike, for the persevering, learned, and critical industry, manifested in collecting the materials; and for the solidity and independence of judgment, with which they are methodically arranged, and agreeably expressed.

—Continuation of Noesselt’s Guide to the Literature of Theology

It is to be regarded as (hauptwerk) the best work on the subject.

—Karl Gottlieb Bretschneider, founder of Corpus Reformatorum

Product Details

• Title: Elements of Dogmatic History
• Author: Wilhelm Münscher
• Translator: James Murdock
• Edition: 2nd
• Publisher: A. H. Maltby
• Publication Date: 1830
• Pages: 203

About William Muenscher

Wilhelm Münscher (1766–1814) was a German Protestant theologian. He studied theology at Marburg before becoming a minister working as an adjunct for his father. In 1792, he was appointed professor of theology at the University of Marburg. He also worked as the director of the department of philosophy, and, for a time, was the rector of the University as well. His other works include a preface to Luther’s translation of the Bible, a volume of printed sermons, Manual of Dogmatic History, and Elementary Church History.