As we continue through our survey of the major branches of theology, we come to the subject of doctrinal precedents. Who has believed a particular idea before? Were there any Christians who held position x in the past? Who were they? If the majority of the church no longer holds to a certain belief, what happened?
When I was in high school, I thought history was terribly boring. Learning the names of dead American presidents or about European wars never appealed to me. You may feel this way too. However, right from my first time encountering Christian history, I felt different. Perhaps that was a gift of God. Or maybe it’s because Christian history is family history. I was learning about my ancestors in the faith–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Today you’re going to learn a method to do historical theology. This will empower you to test your beliefs in the laboratory of history and see who held them previously. Such an exercise is important in our quest for doctrinal truth. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Get Finnegan’s book, Kingdom Journey to learn about God’s kingdom coming on earth as well as the story of how Christianity lost this pearl of great price.
1 thought on “647. Restoration Theology 13: Historical Theology and Doctrinal Precedents”
Tertullian and the Trinity
Sean, here is some very interesting historical information I had never seen before. It seems quite evident from Tertullian’s own statements ( I think in what are considered genuine sources) that Tertullian not only coined the word “Trinity” (in a non-Trinitarian “triad” sense), but he also promoted the new, post-apostolic revelation of the holy spirit as a separate person for the first time — or at least brought it to prominence. He also reveals that this is the origin of trine immersion. But perhaps even more significant, it seems to me that he resolves the question of “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” vs. “in Jesus’ (my) name.” He tells us this 3-person baptismal formula orgininated within this “New Apostolic” movement. I think such an explicit, historical statement supports the prevalent NT use of baptim in Jesus’ name, since we have no mss. to the contrary nearldy as early as Tertullian. And I think an explicit, genuine statement by Tertullian is in some ways more substantial than a mss.
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Tertullian and the Trinity
Sean, here is some very interesting historical information I had never seen before. It seems quite evident from Tertullian’s own statements ( I think in what are considered genuine sources) that Tertullian not only coined the word “Trinity” (in a non-Trinitarian “triad” sense), but he also promoted the new, post-apostolic revelation of the holy spirit as a separate person for the first time — or at least brought it to prominence. He also reveals that this is the origin of trine immersion. But perhaps even more significant, it seems to me that he resolves the question of “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” vs. “in Jesus’ (my) name.” He tells us this 3-person baptismal formula orgininated within this “New Apostolic” movement. I think such an explicit, historical statement supports the prevalent NT use of baptim in Jesus’ name, since we have no mss. to the contrary nearldy as early as Tertullian. And I think an explicit, genuine statement by Tertullian is in some ways more substantial than a mss.
The Evolution of God – 5. The Intrusion of Pseudo-Revelation by Tim Warner
https://4windsfellowships.net/articles/God/Evolution_005.pdf Pp. 31-33:
Further reading in the above soure will give more details on Montanus and his influence on Tertulllian.
See The Evolution of God 7. The Emperor’s New Clothes by Tim Warner, pp. 9-15 for details on the manuscript variant reading of Matthew 28:19.
https://4windsfellowships.net/articles/God/Evolution_007.pdf
Rob Bjerk