Christian Theology
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Major Theologies (Contents)
1: Wesleyan Biblical Theology 2: Dispensationalism 3: Canonical Criticism 4: Narrative Theology 5: Reformed Theology 6: Arminianism 7: Lutheranism 8: Roman Catholic Theology 9: Eastern Orthodox Theology 10: Liberation Theology 11: Process Theology 12: Augustinian Theology 13: Thomistic Theology 14: Reformation Theology 15: Neo-Orthodoxy 16: Liberation Theology 17: Contextual Theology…
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Foundations of Christian Theology (Contents)
Types of Theology: Major Branches, Subfields, and Theological Traditions Biblical Theology Systematic Theology Historical Theology Practical Theology Philosophical Theology Contextual and Liberation Theologies
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Types of Theology: Major Branches, Subfields, and Theological Traditions
1. Biblical Theology Definition Biblical Theology focuses on tracing the progressive revelation of God throughout the narrative and texts of the Bible. It seeks to understand Scripture according to its own historical, literary, and theological contexts, emphasising the unfolding story of salvation history. Specialised Subfields Prominent Theological Traditions/Systems Representative Scholars…
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Biblical Theology
1. Introduction Biblical Theology is a discipline within Christian theology that focuses on the progressive revelation of divine truth throughout the narrative and texts of the Bible. Rather than systematising doctrine abstractly, it seeks to understand theological themes and doctrines as they unfold historically and literarily within Scripture itself. The…
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Systematic Theology
1. Introduction Systematic Theology is a foundational discipline within Christian theology that seeks to organise the diverse teachings of Scripture into a coherent, comprehensive, and logical framework. It addresses fundamental doctrines concerning God, Christ, humanity, salvation, the Church, and last things, providing a structured articulation of Christian belief. Unlike Biblical…
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Historical Theology
1. Introduction Historical Theology is the discipline that examines the development, context, and transmission of Christian doctrines, practices, and theological reflections throughout the history of the Church. It seeks to understand how theological ideas have evolved in response to biblical revelation, cultural contexts, ecclesiastical controversies, and socio-political circumstances. By tracing…
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Practical Theology
1. Introduction Practical Theology is a branch of Christian theology concerned with the application of theological insights to the everyday life and ministry of the Church. It bridges the gap between doctrinal reflection and lived Christian experience by addressing areas such as pastoral care, worship, ethics, spiritual formation, and mission.…
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Philosophical Theology
1. Introduction Philosophical Theology is a branch of theology that employs philosophical methods to explore, clarify, and defend theological doctrines. It addresses fundamental questions about God’s existence, nature, and attributes, as well as the rationality of faith and the coherence of Christian belief. Philosophical Theology serves as a bridge between…
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Contextual and Liberation Theologies
1. Introduction Contextual and Liberation Theologies represent theological movements that develop Christian doctrine and praxis in response to specific cultural, social, political, and economic realities. They emphasise the lived experience of marginalized and oppressed communities, seeking to articulate a theology that promotes liberation, justice, and transformation. These theologies challenge dominant…
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Augustine of Hippo – Grace, Original Sin, and the City of God
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Augustine of Hippo (354–430 CE) stands as a towering figure in the development of Western Christianity and Christian theology. His writings shaped the doctrinal landscape of both the Roman Catholic Church and later Protestant reformers, particularly in matters of sin, grace,…
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Thomas Aquinas – Faith, Reason, and Natural Theology
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274), Dominican friar and scholastic philosopher, is widely considered the most influential Catholic theologian of the medieval period. His work synthesised Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology, laying the intellectual foundation for the Roman Catholic Church’s doctrine and shaping subsequent…
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Martin Luther – Justification, Scripture, and the Reformation
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction Martin Luther (1483–1546) was the principal figure of the Protestant Reformation, whose theological convictions reshaped Western Christianity. A former Augustinian monk and professor of theology, Luther ignited a movement grounded in the primacy of Scripture, the doctrine of justification by faith…
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John Calvin – Sovereignty, Predestination, and the Reformed Tradition
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination 1. Introduction John Calvin (1509–1564), a French theologian and reformer based primarily in Geneva, stands as the principal architect of Reformed theology. His doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of God, meticulous biblical exegesis, and systematised theology in Institutes of the Christian Religion created…
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Discipleship, Ethics, and Resistance
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose life and thought represent a rare convergence of theological depth, ethical courage, and political resistance. Best known for The Cost of Discipleship and Letters and Papers from Prison, Bonhoeffer challenged both…
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Jonathan Edwards – Revival, Theological Aesthetics, and the Great Awakening
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758) stands as the most prominent theologian and philosopher in colonial American history. A pastor, revivalist, and intellectual, Edwards played a decisive role in shaping evangelical theology through his leadership during the First Great Awakening and his deeply philosophical yet passionately…
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John Wesley – Holiness, Free Grace, and the Methodist Movement
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction John Wesley (1703–1791), Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist movement, is one of the most influential theologians in Protestant history. His practical theology, centred on justification by faith, sanctification, and social holiness, combined evangelical fervour with rigorous moral discipline. Wesley’s distinctive legacy…
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Origen of Alexandria – Allegorical Interpretation and the Spiritual Senses of Scripture
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Origen of Alexandria (c. 184–253 AD) was one of the earliest and most prolific Christian theologians and biblical scholars of the patristic era. His pioneering work in biblical exegesis, allegorical interpretation, and spiritual theology laid foundations that would shape Eastern and Western Christianity…
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Athanasius of Alexandria – The Incarnation and Defence of Nicene Orthodoxy
1. Introduction Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373 AD) is one of the most significant figures in early Christian theology, best known for his unwavering defence of the doctrine of the Incarnation and his role in upholding the Nicene Creed during decades of Arian controversy. His affirmation that the Son is…
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Comparative Analysis of 10 Christian Theologians
Name Era & Tradition Key Theme Similarities Differences Conflicts/Tensions 1. Augustine 4th–5th c., Latin (Catholic & Protestant) Grace, Original Sin, Predestination Affirms divine grace, spiritual anthropology, church authority Emphasised original sin and predestination more than later synergists like Wesley His predestination theology conflicted with Origen and Wesley; less systematised than…
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Irenaeus of Lyons – Recapitulation and the Fight Against Gnosticism
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD) was a pivotal theologian of the early Church who played a central role in defining Christian orthodoxy against Gnosticism. As bishop of Lyons in Roman Gaul, Irenaeus articulated a robust theology of salvation rooted in the Incarnation,…
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Gregory of Nazianzus – The Trinity and the Theological Oration
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390 AD), also known as Gregory the Theologian, is one of the most influential voices in Eastern Orthodox theology and a principal architect of Nicene Trinitarian doctrine. Celebrated for his Theological Orations and profound spiritual writings, Gregory brought philosophical…
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Anselm of Canterbury – Faith Seeking Understanding and the Atonement
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Anselm of Canterbury (c. 1033–1109) was a Benedictine monk, Archbishop of Canterbury, and a towering figure in medieval scholastic theology. Often hailed as the “Father of Scholasticism,” Anselm is best known for his motto fides quaerens intellectum (“faith seeking understanding”), and for developing…
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Cyril of Alexandria – Theotokos and the Unity of Christ
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444 AD) was a central figure in the development of Christological orthodoxy, best known for his defence of the title Theotokos (“God-bearer”) for the Virgin Mary and his theological articulation of the hypostatic union—the unity of divine and human…
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Maximus the Confessor – Two Wills of Christ and the Spiritual Journey to Deification
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Maximus the Confessor (c. 580–662 AD) was a Byzantine monk, mystic, and theological defender of Chalcedonian orthodoxy during a time of severe imperial and ecclesiastical controversy. His most significant contribution lies in his insistence on the doctrine of the two wills of Christ…
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Blaise Pascal – Faith, Reason, and the God of the Heart
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and theologian whose religious writings have earned him a lasting place in the canon of Christian thought. Though never formally trained as a theologian or clergyman, Pascal’s reflections on faith, reason, human nature, and divine…
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Friedrich Schleiermacher – Feeling, Consciousness, and the Birth of Liberal Theology
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834) is widely regarded as the father of modern liberal theology. A German Reformed theologian, philosopher, and preacher, he sought to reconcile Christianity with Enlightenment rationalism and Romantic subjectivity. His theology centred on the feeling of absolute dependence as the root…
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Hans Urs von Balthasar – Beauty, Christ, and the Drama of Salvation
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905–1988) stands among the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century, renowned for his integration of aesthetic, dramatic, and mystical themes into systematic theology. Deeply committed to Christocentrism, Balthasar reimagined theology not merely as an academic pursuit…
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Gustavo Gutiérrez – Liberation, the Poor, and Theology from Below
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Gustavo Gutiérrez (b. 1928) is a Peruvian Catholic priest and theologian best known as the founder of Liberation Theology. His groundbreaking work challenged traditional theological approaches by beginning not with abstract doctrine but with the lived experience of the poor and oppressed. Gutiérrez’s…
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Jürgen Moltmann – Theology of Hope and the Suffering God
Doctrinal Themes and Denominational Traditions 1. Introduction Jürgen Moltmann (b. 1926) is a prominent German Reformed theologian best known for his development of a theology of hope, a vision of Christian doctrine centred on the resurrection, eschatology, and divine solidarity with suffering. Deeply shaped by his experiences as a German…
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Comparative analysis of Christian Theologians
1. Shared Features (What They Have in Common) Aspect Explanation Christocentrism Nearly all theologians (e.g., Augustine, Calvin, Barth, Balthasar, Moltmann) centre theology on Jesus Christ, though differing in emphasis (ontological, experiential, political). Biblical Engagement All deeply engage with Scripture, though some (e.g., Luther, Calvin) focus on sola scriptura, while others…
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Christian Ethics and Discipleship
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination – Article 9Theme: Christian Ethics and DiscipleshipDenomination: Lutheran (Confessing Church, 20th Century) 1. Introduction Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose life and writings bear witness to the intersection of doctrinal fidelity, moral courage, and Christian discipleship.…
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C.S. Lewis – Theology and Culture
Top Christian Theologians by Theme and Denomination – Article 10Theme: Theology and Culture / ApologeticsDenomination: Anglican / Evangelical (Lay Theologian) 1. Introduction Clive Staples Lewis (1898–1963), known widely as C.S. Lewis, was a British literary scholar, Christian apologist, and author whose influence on Christian theology, cultural engagement, and popular spirituality…
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Comparative Framework: Theologians Across Themes and Traditions
1. Shared Commitments (Same / Common Ground) Category Theologians Commentary Trinitarian Orthodoxy Gregory of Nazianzus, Athanasius, Basil, Augustine, Anselm, Luther, Calvin (via Augustine), Bonhoeffer, Barth, Lewis All affirm the Nicene faith: one God in three Persons. Despite diverse emphases, all adhere to Trinitarian monotheism. Christocentrism Athanasius, Anselm, Luther, Bonhoeffer, Barth,…
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Biblical Conflicts of God’s People (Contents)
Article 1: Understanding Conflict in the Biblical Narrative Article 2: Cain and Abel: The First Fraternal Conflict Article 3: Abraham and Lot: Conflict and Separation in Genesis 13 Article 4: Moses and Pharaoh: Divine Confrontation and Human Resistance in Exodus Article 5: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal: Contest on…
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Article 1: Understanding Conflict in the Biblical Narrative
1. Introduction Conflict is a pervasive and significant element within the biblical narrative. From the opening chapters of Genesis through the epistles of the New Testament, disputes, disagreements, and confrontations between individuals and groups reveal deep theological, moral, and communal dynamics. This article explores the nature, function, and theological purpose…
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Article 13: Pharisees and Sadducees – Religious and Theological Disputes in Second Temple Judaism
1. IntroductionWithin the religious landscape of Second Temple Judaism, the Pharisees and Sadducees were two prominent groups whose theological and political differences often brought them into conflict. Though both groups were influential contemporaneously, their disputes reveal tensions within the Jewish religious leadership during the time of Jesus and the early…
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10. Interconnection of Christology, Ethics, and Ecclesiology in Pauline Theology
Introduction Paul’s theology is a unified whole where Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology are deeply interconnected. This article explores how Paul’s understanding of Jesus as the Messiah shapes the ethical life of believers and the nature of the church community. 1. Christ as the Foundation of Christian Identity and Ethics 2.…
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11. Applying Pauline Theology in Today’s Church and Christian Life
Introduction Paul’s integrated theology of Christology, ethics, and ecclesiology offers timeless guidance for contemporary Christian communities and individual believers. This article explores how his teachings can shape modern faith practice, church life, and ethical living. 1. Affirming Jesus as the Messiah Today 2. Living Ethically in the Spirit of Pauline…
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4. Circumcision, Law, and Gospel: The Theological Core of the Paul-Peter Dispute
1. Introduction The conflict between Paul and Peter at Antioch centres on profound theological issues regarding the Mosaic Law, particularly circumcision, and the nature of the gospel. This article examines these theological tensions, elucidating how they underpin their dispute and illuminate early Christian doctrine. 2. Circumcision as a Sign of…
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5. Paul’s Theology of Grace and Freedom
1. Introduction Paul’s theology of grace and freedom stands at the heart of his apostolic mission and theological conflict with Peter. This article explores Paul’s understanding of grace as the unmerited favour of God and freedom as the liberation from the Law, highlighting their implications for early Christian identity and…
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Chapter 3: The Confrontation at Antioch
Paul and Peter: Conflict, Theology, and Reconciliation in the Early Church The evening air hung heavy in the room where the believers gathered. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension. Paul stood firm, his gaze locked on Peter, who sat with averted eyes. “Cephas,” Paul began, his voice steady but…
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Chapter 6: Peter’s Role and Perspective in the Early Church
Paul and Peter: Conflict, Theology, and Reconciliation in the Early Church Jerusalem’s streets bustled with pilgrims and disciples. In the upper room, Peter gathered with the elders and believers, his presence commanding respect yet tempered with humility. “Brothers,” Peter addressed them, “we stand as witnesses to all that Jesus did…
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The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology
The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology – Kevin J. Vanhoozer 1. Full Citation Vanhoozer, K.J. (2005) The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 2. Introduction Kevin Vanhoozer’s The Drama of Doctrine proposes a groundbreaking theological method by…
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The Role of Israel in Christian Theology
Introduction: Continuity, Fulfilment, and MysteryThe question of Israel’s role in Christian theology has remained a central and often debated theme throughout church history. Rooted in the biblical covenants, the identity and destiny of Israel engage key theological concerns such as God’s faithfulness, election, and salvation history. In the New Testament—particularly…