The Progress of Dogma

The Author traces the organic unity of doctrine in the history of the Christian church. The Author traces the organic unity of doctrine in the history of the Christian church. Orr, whose grasp of the literature was unequalled, saw how doctrine had developed as a reaction to some particular dispute in each era. The book also describes the relationship between the development of doctrinal ideas and the spread of Christianity.

Table of Contents:
LECTURE I IDEA OF COURE - RELATION OF DOGMA TO ITS HISTORY - PARALLELISM OF LOGICAL AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS Introduction. I. Dogma as an evolution in history. II. Parallelism of logical and historical developments. III. The law of progress as a test of dogma. LECTURE II EARLY APOLOGETIC AND FUNDAMENTAL RELIGIOUS IDEAS - CONTROVERSY WITH PAGANISM AND GNOSTICISM (SECOND CENTURY) I. The conflict of the Church with Paganism - Early apologetic. II. The Conflict of the Church with Gnosticism. LECTURE III THE DOCTRINE OF GOD; TRINITY AND DEITY OF SON AND SPIRIT-MONARCHIAN, ARIAN, AND MACEDONIAN CONTROVERSIES (THIRD AND FOURTH CENTURIES) I. Here also the Fathers aimed at "conservation," not invention. II. The Third Century Monarchian Controversies. LECTURE IV SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED-ARIAN AND MACEDONIAN CONTROVERSIES (FOURTH CENTURY) I. The Arian Controversy till the Council of Nicaea II. The Nicene Council and after. III. The Macedonian controversy on the Holy Spirit. LECTURE V THE DOCTRINE OF MAN AND SIN; GRACE AND PRE-DESTINATION- AUGUSTINIAN AND PELAGIAN CONTROVERSY (FIFTH CENTURY) I. Augustine's experience the key to his theology. II. Positive exhibition of Augustine's theology. III. The Pelagian opposition. IV. Stages of the Pelagian controversy- At Carthage, Palestine, Rome. V. Augustinian doctrine of Predestination considered. Objections LECTURE VI THE DOCTRINE OF THE PERSON OF CHPIST-THE CHRISTOLOGICAL CONTROVERSIES: APOLLINARIAN, NESTORIAN, EUTYCHIAN, MONOPHYSITE, MONOTHELITE (FIFTH TO SEVENTH CENTURIES) I. Apollinarian heresy-denial of a rational soul to Christ. II. The Nestorian error-dissolving the unity of the Person of Christ. III. The Eutychian error-confusion of the natures. IV. The Monophysite controversy -continuation of the "one-nature" dispute. V. The Monothelite controversy - "one will" in Christ. LECTURE VII THE DOCTRINE OF ATONEMENT - ANSELM AND ABELARD TO REFORMATION (ELEVENTH TO SIXTEENTH CENTURIES) I. Earlier development of the doctrine of Atonement. II. First systematic attempt at theology of the atonement in Anselm's Cur Deus Homo III. The Reformation interest in justification reacted on doctrine of Atonement. LECTURE VIII THE DOCTRINE OF THE APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION; JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH; REGENERATION, ETC. - PROTESTANTISM AND ROMAN CATHOLICISM (SIXTEENTH CENTURY) I. Earlier development in its sides both of error and of truth. II. The Reformation doctrine a response to practical needs. III. Abiding elements in the Reformation doctrine. LECTURE IX POST-REFORMATION THEOLOGY: LUTHERANISM AND CALVINISM - NEW INFLUENCES ACTING ON THEOLOGY AND THEIR RESULTS IN RATIONALISM (SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES) I. The Reformation Age as marked by productivity in creeds. II. Task laid on Post - Reformation Church of revising and adjusting the doctrinal system in light of the whole development. III. The new intellectual movement ending in rationalism. LECTURE X MODERN RESTATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS OF THEOLOGY - THE DOCTRINE OF THE LAST THINGS (NINETEENTH CENTURY) I. Revolutionary movements in the commencement of the century. II. Review of particular departments. III. The problem that bears heavily on the modern age is the Eschatological APPENDIX

About the Author :
James Orr (11.04.1844-06.09.1913) was Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology at United Free Church College, Glasgow. He was educated at Glasgow University and Theological Hall of UP Church. He worked as an Examiner for Degrees in Philosophy in Glasgow University. Publications: The Ritschlian Theology and the Evangelical Faith, 1897 Early Church History and Literature, 1901 The Progress of Dogma, 1901 Essays on Ritschlianism, 1903 The Bible Under Trial, 1907 Sidelights on Christian Doctrine, 1909