Historical Theology: What Is Historical Theology and Why Is It Important?

Nature and Meaning of Historical Theology

Historical Theology is the envelopment and dissection of the systematic theological studies of theologians throughout the Christian ages. It is used to help students of theology understand the overall or evolution of how theories have come to what they are now. “Historical theology is the branch of theological inquiry which aims to explore the historical development of Christian doctrines, and identify the factors which were influential in their development” (McGrath 9).

Why Are Key figures in Church History Important?

After the ascension of Christ, many people were martyred for their faith in Him. Since the words of Christ weren’t hindsight like they are today for many theologians, it was hard to understand the meaning of what they actually meant at the time. Now that there have been so many analyses of everything that has ever been said by Him or Paul, Theology seems to be more understood in that light. Sure, there are many differing opinions, but that is just the point; there are many different opinions. The apostolic fathers had little to make hypotheses by, considering the materials available to them. The apostolic fathers as well as the apologists have begun the paving of the Christian road through time, preparing the future Christians and sustaining Christianity as a whole.

In his massive book, Roger Olson explains that the search for “theological correctness began with the challenges posed to Christian teachings by cultists who presented themselves within the church and to the pagan world as truer or higher Christians than the leading heirs of the apostles” (Olson 26). This is why theological correctness is important and valuable for not only the church, but also for believers today. The attitudes of these men clearly have shown that their hearts were in the right place, which was that they were on fire for the Gospel, and that they stood up for what they believed the truth was, even to the point of death. Their testimony carries great strength in the truth of Christ.

Various Stages in Church History

The earliest stage in church history clearly begins at the start of Christ's ministry and goes all the way to Chalcedon formula. They were faced with challenges of persecution, heresies, debates about the nature of Christ, etc. Probably one of the most influential pieces of history in this period would be the Nicene Creed: “God of God; Light of light; very God of very God; begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father” (Roberts, Donaldson and Coxe 523). Speaking of Jesus, this historical document shows exactly what the early church was up against theologically.

The second stage in the timeline of Christianity is the middle ages. Heresies and corruption were challenges facing the church in this period as well. The Summa Theologica written by Thomas Aquinas tried to summarize theology and put all the main focuses of systematic theology into perspective.

The Reformation era is the period in the timeline of Christianity where church fathers had more materials to study from church past and were able to systematically study parts of Scripture that weren’t understood in the same light. John Calvin’s work was exciting, confusing, and authoritative to many, all at once. Luther studied a large amount of theology under Augustine and contributed largely to the subject of theology.

The Modern era in the timeline of Christianity started out with the forefathers of America adhering to deism, believing that God started the universe like one winds a clock, and let it unwind without any or little interference. Jonathan Edwards was a fire and brimstone preacher famous for his sermons and his polemics against what he saw as heresies.

Historical Theology proves that walking with God is not white and black. He created these “questions” in the minds of man, and allowed these heretical attacks on Christianity because He desires for us to seek Him. Each of these men took part in shaping the telos of theology which we know today.

Works Cited

McGrath, Alister E., Historical Theology: An introduction to the History of Christian Thought(Blackwell Pub: Malden, Mass. 1998).

Olson, Roger, The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty centuries of Tradition and Reform(Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 1999).

Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson and A. Cleveland Coxe, The Ante-Nicene Fathers Vol. VII: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325 (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, 1997).

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