A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 1
Overview
Shedd’s 2-volume History of Christian Doctrine was written after several years of preparation, and offers a comprehensive account of the gradual construction of all the doctrines of Christianity. Shedd believed that the history of Christian doctrine was one of the strongest defenses of the Christian faith, and his History centers on Nicene trinitarianism, Augustine anthropology, and Anselmic soteriology.
Volume 1 contains an overview of the philosophical influences on the Early Church, including Platonism, Aristotelianism, and other philosophical schools which left the imprint on the development of theology. He also chronicles the relationship between reason and revelation, and provides a history of Trinitarian theology and Christology.
A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 2 can be purchased here.
Top Highlights
“Such doctrines as absolution or the forgiveness of sins by the Church, the meritoriousness of works, works of supererogation, refusal of the cup to the laity, purgatory, and particularly transubstantiation, elicited all the intellectual force of the Schoolman.” (Page 84)
“The 14th century exhibits Scholasticism in its most extreme forms. The Aristotelian logic and analysis is now applied, in the most ingenious and persistent manner, to the dogmas of the Papal Church.” (Page 84)
“For if there is any fact in history that is indisputable, it is that the Apostolic and Primitive Church worshipped Jesus Christ.” (Page 262)
“ Anti-Trinitarians were denominated Patripassians or Monarchians, because they asserted the Monad and denied the Triad.” (Page 254)
“The foundation of the doctrine of the trinity in the Primitive Church was the baptismal formula, and the doxologies in the Epistles, together with the Logos-doctrine of the apostle John. The creed-statement of the dogma did not go beyond the phraseology of these. The catechumen upon his entrance into the Christian Church professed his faith in ‘God the Father almighty, and in his Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.’ This is the formula employed in the so-called Apostles’ Creed, and is as definite a statement of the doctrine of the trinity as was made in any public document, previous to those Sabellian and Arian controversies which resulted in the more exhaustive and technical definitions of the Nicene Symbol.” (Pages 261–262)
- Title: A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 1
- Author: William G.T. Shedd
- Publisher: Charles Scribner & Co.
- Publication Date: 1869
- Pages: 408
William Shedd (1820–1894) is considered one of the greatest theologians of the American Presbyterian church. He studied at the University of Vermont under James Marsh, where he encountered the writings of Samuel Taylor. Shedd graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1843 and, soon after, became a minister for a congregational church in Vermont for two years.
Shedd taught at many universities, including University of Vermont, Auburn Theological Seminary, Andover Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary. While at Union, Shedd defended the Reformed theology of Old School Presbyterian against the increasing influence of modernism and higher criticism.
One of Shedd’s better-known titles is Dogmatic Theology. Other titles include A History of Christian Doctrine and The Doctrine of Endless Punishment, which can be found in the William G. T. Shedd Collection.