A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 2
Overview
Volume 2 of Shedd’s History of Christian Doctrine explores the history of Christian anthropology, including theories of the soul and conceptions of pre-existence. Shedd argues that the influence of Greek anthropology can be seen in the development of theology in the Early Church, and in the doctrine of original sin articulated by Tertullian, Cyprian, Hilary, Ambrose, and Augustine. The history of original sin concludes with Luther, Calvin, Melanchthon, and Zwingli’s connection between original sin and regeneration.
Shedd also offers a sweeping history of soteriology from the beginning of the church to the modern era, and surveys Abelard, Bonaventure, Aquinas, Duns Scotus, and others, along with the perennial emergence of Pelagianism and semi-Pelagianism in the church. He concludes with a survey of eschatology, including conceptions of Christ’s second coming from various traditions within the church.
A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 1 can be purchased here.
Top Highlights
“Most of them believed in the resuscitation of the very same body that lived on earth.” (Page 403)
“The fundamental points in his theory are the following. The soul of man by creation is neither holy nor sinful.1” (Page 93)
“The 3d century witnessed a very decided opposition to Millenarianism” (Page 395)
“God an external worship, to obey magistrates and parents in externals, to keep the hands from murder, adultery, and theft.… We concede, therefore, to the will of man the power to perform the external works of the law, but not the inward and spiritual works,—as, for example, to truly revere God, to truly trust in God, to truly know and feel that God regards us with pity, hears our prayers, and pardons our sins, &c.” (Page 167)
“Regeneration does not consist in the renewal of the will by an internal operation of Divine efficiency, but in the illumination of the intellect by the truth, the stimulation of the will by the threatenings of the law and the promise of future rewards, and by the remission of sin through the Divine indulgence.” (Page 96)
- Title: A History of Christian Doctrine, vol. 2
- Author: William G.T. Shedd
- Publisher: Charles Scribner & Co.
- Publication Date: 1863
- Pages: 508
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.