Author: Richard

  • Kickoff Discussion Topics

    Please post your initial theological topics that you are interested in. I recommend that you download the draft of my book and look at the table of contents. This will orient you on how theological topics are typically organized. I also recommend that you read the Major Theological Systems post. Read more

  • General and Special Revelation

    Interest has been expressed for questioning the assumptions of Christian Theology. The core assumption of theology is that God reveals aspects of himself to mankind and that these revelations are trustworthy. Therefore, we will begin by examining the doctrine of divine revelation. Revelation is a translation of the Greek work apokalupsis (ἀποκάλυψις). It literally means Read more

  • Major Theological Systems

    [Click here for a YouTube video on key denominational variations] Systematic theology can generally be divided into Roman Catholic systems and Protestant systems. Protestant systems can be further divided into orthodox, neoorthodox, and liberal. Orthodox systems are based primarily on Scripture and tend to interpret the Bible quite literally. Liberal systems are based primarily on Read more

  • Theologians (c.100-500)

    Polycarp of Smyrna (69–155). Polycarp is considered one of three chief Apostolic Fathers, along with Clement of Rome and Ignatius of Antioch. He was a disciple of John the Apostle, resulting in first-hand knowledge of the Gospel message and the ministry of Jesus. Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna and authored the Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. Polycarp Read more

  • Theologians (c.1000-1400)

    Anselm of Canterbury (1033–1109). St. Anselm was an Italian Benedictine monk, philosopher, theologian, and the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109. Anselm developed his theology with a strictly rational and philosophical approach. As such, he is generally recognized as the founder of scholasticism. He is most famous for the development of the ontological argument for the Read more

  • Theologians (c.1500-1550)

    Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556). St. Ignatius was a Roman Catholic priest and theologian who was also the founder of the religious order the Society of Jesus, whose members are referred to as Jesuits (see Society of Jesus above in Events above). As a theologian, St. Ignatius developed a set of spiritual formation exercises consisting of meditations and Read more

  • Theologians (c. 1550-1850)

    Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609). Jacobus Arminius was a Dutch minister, professor, and theologian during the Protestant Reformation period. He developed a theology that is the basis for Arminianism and the Dutch Remonstrant movement. His theology is also substantially the basis for Wesleyanism and the theology of the Methodist church. Of the five points of Reformed theology, Arminius disagreed with the following three: Read more

  • Theologians (c.1850-present)

    Paul Tillich (1886–1965). Paul Tillich was a German American professor, philosopher and Lutheran theologian who was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. Tillich taught at German universities before immigrating to the United States in 1933, where he taught at Union Theological Seminary, Harvard Divinity School, and the University of Chicago. Although an original thinker Read more

  • Introduction to the Doctrine of Last Things

    The study of the doctrine of last things is called eschatology. Eschatology is from the Greek word éskhatos (ἔσχατος) meaning last. Scripture uses this term to refer to the last days (éschatai hemerai; Is 2:2), the last time (éschatos ton chronon; 1 Pt 1:20), and the last hour (éschate hora; 1 Jn 2:18). Eschatology is typically sub-divided into Read more

  • Introduction to the Doctrine of the Church

    Ecclesiology is the study of the doctrine of the Church. The word “church” is used in a variety of ways and can therefore be confusing if people are thinking of it in a different sense. The invisible Church refers to true believers whereas the visible church refers to people claiming to be Christians but may or may not Read more