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<span style="font-weight: bold">Examining The History of Christian Thought</span>
<span style="font-style: italic">Why do religious beliefs change? And to what extent is Christianity evolving? Did Jesus call for change in the church? Should the Christian church change its beliefs?</span>
Anyone studying the history of religion in general or of Christian thought in particular must acknowledge that people's beliefs and practices have changed over the years. To what extent, though, is Christianity evolving or changing?
A distinction first must be made between form and substance. That Christians sing different songs and wear different clothes today concerns matters of form. This article focuses on the substance or essence of Christianity. Has Christianity evolved doctrinally?
<span style="font-weight: bold">What is Christianity?</span>
Christianity is a monotheistic faith centered around the first-century Jewish leader named Jesus of Nazareth. The term "Christian" comes from the New Testament book of Acts, where Luke (the likely author) explains that followers (or "disciples"
of Jesus were first called "Christians" in the city of Antioch (Acts 11:26).
According to the earliest known creeds and documents, Christians held Jesus to be the divine Son of God (John 3:16) sent to redeem the world from its sins (Romans 10:9-10). These Christians believed that Jesus died by crucifixion, but rose from the dead three days later -- an irrefutable sign of his deity and conquest of death (I Corinthians 15).
This belief in the deity and resurrection of Jesus can be traced to the third decade of the first century A.D., thus fixing the starting point for "Christianity" as sometime in the mid-30s A.D.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Early Differences in Christianity</span>
By the end of the first century, Christianity had spread throughout the Graeco-Roman world, and was dealing with both external persecution and internal disagreement. By the time of Emperor Constantine, Christianity had become the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.
Disagreements between Christian leaders and congregations are mentioned as early as the New Testament itself. In his letters, the Apostle Paul regularly pleaded for unity, but his pleas met with disappointment.
Disagreements among early Christians ranged from how to incorporate "Greek-speaking" or "Gentile" Christians into what had been a spin-off of Judaism, to whether baptism is required for salvation.
In addition, the early church began to see different perspectives on the nature of God's revelation. Was God continuing to reveal new doctrine through the church? If so, how? Or did God reveal what was necessary through the apostles, the prophets, and Jesus (Ephesians 2:18-20)?
The lack of a mutually agreed upon "canon" of Scripture contributed to this confusion. This would be largely resolved by the latter half of the fourth century. Further exacerbating the situation was the fact that many congregations were unable to address or tackle some of these issues, as they were facing rather severe persecution.
Finally, there were differences in culture. A church in Africa simply did not worship in the same manner as a church in Rome. Regional and cultural differences, especially given the lack of effective communication, were inevitable.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Types of Revelation</span>
The issue of divine revelation is vital to understanding the history of Christian thought. How does God reveal Himself to the human race in general and to His followers in particular?
Christian theologians generally agree that there are two basic types of revelation: General and Special. General revelation is best understood as that which can be inferred from Nature, as when the psalmist writes: "The heavens declare the glory of God." (Psalm 19:1, KJV). It is this general revelation to which Thomas Jefferson points when he attributes basic human rights to "the laws of Nature and Nature's God" in the Declaration of Independence.
Special revelation is where most of the debate takes place. Special revelation involves direct, intentional, and specific communication from God to His people.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The Nature of Special Revelation</span>
The extent to which Christianity has "evolved" or diversified, at least in terms of its doctrinal beliefs, can be attributed to the ongoing debate over the nature and scope of special revelation. When it comes to this debate, professing Christians can be grouped into four very broad (and admittedly somewhat simplified) categories:
1.<span style="font-style: italic"> Ecclesiastical Revelatio</span>n - The belief that God speaks through the institutional Church. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and (to some extent) Anglicans all fall within this camp, with each claiming that obviously that its Church carries divine revelation.
2. <span style="font-style: italic">Unique or Alternative Revelation</span> - This category broadly describes those groups who claim unique revelation through hidden knowledge, "secret" manuscripts, or other beyond-the-mainstream means. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Gnostics, and other such faiths would fall into this camp.
3.<span style="font-style: italic"> Individual and/or Progressive Revelation</span> - These congregations and professing Christians claim that God's revelation continues to unfold through the ages, and that the Church (in all its forms and variations) must adjust and change in order to survive. Theological liberalism falls into this category.
4. <span style="font-style: italic">Biblical Revelation</span> - The belief that God reveals Himself through Scripture, which has been accurately canonized and passed down in the form of the Bible. That the Bible constitutes a faithful and accurate record of the divinely inspired teachings handed down by the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ.
Obviously, where one stands with respect to the above views of special revelation impacts the nature and history of Christianity. Those who hold to ecclesiastical or individual revelation have seen the most evolution in Christian thought.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The Essence of Christianity</span>
Understanding Christianity depends largely on how one defines their terms. Understood as a "religion" or historic movement, Christianity has clearly evolved and diversified, since its inception in the first century A.D.
However, if one chooses to see Christianity according to its original meaning, then its core identity remains with the one for which it is named. The essence of Christianity is that Jesus of Nazareth is God's Son and that He was sent two thousand years ago to atone for the sins of the world (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).
From Here
</span><span style="font-weight: bold">Examining The History of Christian Thought</span>
<span style="font-style: italic">Why do religious beliefs change? And to what extent is Christianity evolving? Did Jesus call for change in the church? Should the Christian church change its beliefs?</span>
Anyone studying the history of religion in general or of Christian thought in particular must acknowledge that people's beliefs and practices have changed over the years. To what extent, though, is Christianity evolving or changing?
A distinction first must be made between form and substance. That Christians sing different songs and wear different clothes today concerns matters of form. This article focuses on the substance or essence of Christianity. Has Christianity evolved doctrinally?
<span style="font-weight: bold">What is Christianity?</span>
Christianity is a monotheistic faith centered around the first-century Jewish leader named Jesus of Nazareth. The term "Christian" comes from the New Testament book of Acts, where Luke (the likely author) explains that followers (or "disciples"
of Jesus were first called "Christians" in the city of Antioch (Acts 11:26).According to the earliest known creeds and documents, Christians held Jesus to be the divine Son of God (John 3:16) sent to redeem the world from its sins (Romans 10:9-10). These Christians believed that Jesus died by crucifixion, but rose from the dead three days later -- an irrefutable sign of his deity and conquest of death (I Corinthians 15).
This belief in the deity and resurrection of Jesus can be traced to the third decade of the first century A.D., thus fixing the starting point for "Christianity" as sometime in the mid-30s A.D.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Early Differences in Christianity</span>
By the end of the first century, Christianity had spread throughout the Graeco-Roman world, and was dealing with both external persecution and internal disagreement. By the time of Emperor Constantine, Christianity had become the dominant religion in the Roman Empire.
Disagreements between Christian leaders and congregations are mentioned as early as the New Testament itself. In his letters, the Apostle Paul regularly pleaded for unity, but his pleas met with disappointment.
Disagreements among early Christians ranged from how to incorporate "Greek-speaking" or "Gentile" Christians into what had been a spin-off of Judaism, to whether baptism is required for salvation.
In addition, the early church began to see different perspectives on the nature of God's revelation. Was God continuing to reveal new doctrine through the church? If so, how? Or did God reveal what was necessary through the apostles, the prophets, and Jesus (Ephesians 2:18-20)?
The lack of a mutually agreed upon "canon" of Scripture contributed to this confusion. This would be largely resolved by the latter half of the fourth century. Further exacerbating the situation was the fact that many congregations were unable to address or tackle some of these issues, as they were facing rather severe persecution.
Finally, there were differences in culture. A church in Africa simply did not worship in the same manner as a church in Rome. Regional and cultural differences, especially given the lack of effective communication, were inevitable.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Types of Revelation</span>
The issue of divine revelation is vital to understanding the history of Christian thought. How does God reveal Himself to the human race in general and to His followers in particular?
Christian theologians generally agree that there are two basic types of revelation: General and Special. General revelation is best understood as that which can be inferred from Nature, as when the psalmist writes: "The heavens declare the glory of God." (Psalm 19:1, KJV). It is this general revelation to which Thomas Jefferson points when he attributes basic human rights to "the laws of Nature and Nature's God" in the Declaration of Independence.
Special revelation is where most of the debate takes place. Special revelation involves direct, intentional, and specific communication from God to His people.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The Nature of Special Revelation</span>
The extent to which Christianity has "evolved" or diversified, at least in terms of its doctrinal beliefs, can be attributed to the ongoing debate over the nature and scope of special revelation. When it comes to this debate, professing Christians can be grouped into four very broad (and admittedly somewhat simplified) categories:
1.<span style="font-style: italic"> Ecclesiastical Revelatio</span>n - The belief that God speaks through the institutional Church. Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and (to some extent) Anglicans all fall within this camp, with each claiming that obviously that its Church carries divine revelation.
2. <span style="font-style: italic">Unique or Alternative Revelation</span> - This category broadly describes those groups who claim unique revelation through hidden knowledge, "secret" manuscripts, or other beyond-the-mainstream means. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Gnostics, and other such faiths would fall into this camp.
3.<span style="font-style: italic"> Individual and/or Progressive Revelation</span> - These congregations and professing Christians claim that God's revelation continues to unfold through the ages, and that the Church (in all its forms and variations) must adjust and change in order to survive. Theological liberalism falls into this category.
4. <span style="font-style: italic">Biblical Revelation</span> - The belief that God reveals Himself through Scripture, which has been accurately canonized and passed down in the form of the Bible. That the Bible constitutes a faithful and accurate record of the divinely inspired teachings handed down by the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ.
Obviously, where one stands with respect to the above views of special revelation impacts the nature and history of Christianity. Those who hold to ecclesiastical or individual revelation have seen the most evolution in Christian thought.
<span style="font-weight: bold">The Essence of Christianity</span>
Understanding Christianity depends largely on how one defines their terms. Understood as a "religion" or historic movement, Christianity has clearly evolved and diversified, since its inception in the first century A.D.
However, if one chooses to see Christianity according to its original meaning, then its core identity remains with the one for which it is named. The essence of Christianity is that Jesus of Nazareth is God's Son and that He was sent two thousand years ago to atone for the sins of the world (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10).
From Here
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