2201
History of Doctrine
Course description:
Christianity is a practical religion, but most Christians hold that it cannot be practised alone. Christian life is grounded in the faith and worship of distinct communities, or churches, and, since faith and worship both presuppose belief, these churches (or denominations) are typically distinguished by their doctrines. Some of these are held in common with other Christians, while others are peculiar to one or a few denominations; in either case they are usually presented as deductions from texts which are universally recognised as scriptures. The language in which they are formulated, however, is often technical, and it is not uncommon for particular creeds or articles to be expressed with a minuteness and complexity that puzzles even insiders. Historical study is generally the best way of ascertaining what believes have understood, and why they differ, regarding such terms as revelation, creatio ex nihilo, Trinitarianism, incarnation, atonement, sacrament, ecclesiology and eschatology.
This paper is designed to introduce students to the history of such terms, and thus to explain the genesis of the doctrines to which they refer. Candidates will be expected to know the biblical evidence which has supported and informed the promulgation of these doctrines; they will also be expected to show an appreciation of contingent factors, both intellectual and historical, which have shaped the oecumenical formulations of Christian doctrine and have led to the emergence of distinct communities, churches or traditions.
Aims
Candidates who have attended 16 lectures on this subject, and prepared thoroughly for tutorials, may be expected to have a good understanding:
a) of the role of doctrine in Christian life and in the ministry of the churches;
b) of the relation between exegesis and doctrine, and of the endemic causes of dispute about the meaning of the scriptures;
c) of the history which lies behind the formulation of particular doctrines, and the historical circumstances which have promoted either consensus or division.
Objectives
Candidates who have attended 16 lectures on this subject, and prepared thoroughly for tutorials, may be expected to show an acquaintance:
a) with the scriptural passages which have served as recognised touchstones of debate and speculation among theologians;
b) with the oecumenical creeds and the distinctive tenets of major denominations;
c) with the principal controversies that have shaped the development or diversification of Christian thought on particular doctrines;
d) with the teachings of the major theologians where these are relevant to the study and discussion of particular doctrines.
16 lectures, 8 tutorials: best mode of preparation for the traditional three-hour paper without set texts. Lectures provide narrative, tutorials explore problems.