Historical Theology An overview of Christian Doctrine

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Historical Theology
An overview of Christian Doctrine through the
centuries. The following serves as a brief overview on
the various key events through church history. It is not
meant to be comprehensive and many events that one
would like to add in have been left out. In taking an
overviewed survey of Historical theology through the
century, the writer must have a planned approach to
covering certain events. In this section of the website, I
have decided to include the most important trends and
debates through the history of the church, and their
theological overviews. This is not meant to be an
exegetical overview of biblical doctrine (that would be
biblical theology or systematic theology). Rather, this
serves to familiarize one with basic concepts through
Christian History. Enjoy!

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Historical Theology Links are below

Justification
Historical Theology

An Introduction to Historical Theology

by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

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This section serves as an introductory overview to

Historical Theology. The word theology is divided into two
Greek words: theos (God) and logos (Word). Basically,
theology is a word about God. The term theology was first
used around the second century where Clement of Alexandria
used the term to describe the corpus of the Christian Faith (the
regula fide). Under the influence of writers such as Peter
Abelard and Gilbert de la Porree, the Latin word theologia came
to mean the discipline of sacred learning. Biblical material
became systematized and the term was then used to describe
the systematized discussion of Christian beliefs in general. The
first major theological textbook of western theology was Peter
Abelards Four Books of the Sentences, which was compiled at

Other Papers and articles

that are related to the field of
Historical Theology:
Calvinism Through History
Mr. Lorraine Boettner
Heresy and Concession
by Dr. BB Warfield
Heresy
by Rev. Richard Hooker
Evangelical Postmodern
Diversification
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
Presbyterian Church
Government NOT of the
Esse of the Church
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
Please Don't Call Me an
Evangelical
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
The Liberals
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

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Historical Theology An overview of Christian Doctrine

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th

the university of Paris during the 12 century. However, the

most widely used and influential theological textbook of
systematized doctrine is John Calvins Institutes of the Christian
Religion. Later, the Puritans then placed systematized doctrine
alongside of pastoral theology. It was not that there was no
pastoral theology before this, but rather, that the Puritans best
systematized theology alongside of Christian doctrine to enact
the most capable pastoral mindset on any given issue. The
student of theology, though should not stop at simply finding a
balance between pastoral theology and systematic theology, or
choose the best textbooks for those purposes. Rather, they
should wrap those concepts up in a comprehensive historical
context, known formally as church history. The study of church
history allows insights into history in general, as well as how
theology came about in particular.
Church history is of vital importance to historical
theology since it gives theology a context in which it was
produced and defined. Systematic Theology attempts to create
statement of faith with the leading doctrines of the Christian
Bible. Historical Theology then embodies both of these concepts
as a way of informing theologians as to what has been believed,
and what corrections, improvements or adherence need to be
made in the present based on that information. Historical
Theology was first prominent during the Reformation and the
need to go back to the original sources of the Bible (ad fontes).
The systematician should remember, critically, that it is nearly
impossible to do theology as if it has never been done before.
Historical Theology, then, is used both as a pedagogic tool (for
systematic theology) and as a critical tool (highlighting various
important topics through history as key elements of the Christian
faith).

The Pelagian Captivity of the

Church
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
Lawful Ordination
(A very tough Subject)
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
Heresy in the Church
What Does it mean to Be
Reformed Really?
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
An Overview of
Contemporary Theology
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon
A Postmodern Catechism
The Evangelical
Post-Modern Church?
by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon

Advanced
Historical Theology
An in-depth Study
in 26 Parts

Click on the links below to various period and theological

debates:
The following are Introductory remarks to acquaint the
reader with Historical Theology in General. (For a more
in-depth study, see the link in the margin to the right for
"Advanced Historical Theology")
The Patristic Period (c. 100-450)
Notable Theologians During the Patristic Period
Heretics During the Patristic Period
Various Theological Developments During the Patristic Period
Short Study the Bible and Tradition
Short Studies: Christological Controversies:
Arianism
Apollinarianism
Nestorianism

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Historical Theology An overview of Christian Doctrine

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Short
Short
Short
Short

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Study: The Trinity

Study: The Donatist Controversy
Study The Pelagian Controversy
Study: Faith and Philosophy

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance (c. 500-1500)

Short Study: Arguments for the Existence of God
Short Study: Understanding the Atonement
Short Study: Discussion of the Sacraments
Short Study: The Interpretation of the Bible, and Renaissance
Humanism, and themes in Late Medieval Scholastic Theology
The Reformation and Post-Reformation Periods (c.
1500-1750)
Theologians and Movements of the Reformation
The German Reformation
The Swiss Reformation
The Radical Reformation
The Catholic Counter Reformation
Theological Developments during the Reformation, and after the
Reformation
Short Study: The Bible and Tradition in the Reformation
Short Study: Justification by faith alone
Short Study: The Nature of the Real Presence of Christ in the
Lords Supper
Short Study: The Church
Short Study: Theology and Astronomy, The Copernican and
Galileian debates
The Modern Period (c. 1750-Present Day)
Short Study: The Quest for the historical Jesus
Short Study: The Basis and Nature of Salvation, the debate over
the Resurrection, the debate over the Trinity, and the debate
over the Church
Short Study: The Attributes of God in Process Theology
Short Study: The Feminist Critique of Transition Christian
Theology
Short Study: Christian Approaches to other Religions in
Contemporary Theology
Short Study: Theological Method in the Modern Period
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