Table of Contents
The Idea and History of Dogmatic Theology
I Names Applied to the Systematic Presentation of Theology 3
II The Nature of Dogmas: 6
A The Name "Dogma": 6
1 Derivation and Meaning of the Term 6
2 The Biblical Use of the Word 6
3 Various Uses of the Term in Theology 7
B The Formal Characteristics of Dogmas: 9
1 Their Subject-Matter Is Derived from Scripture 9
2 Dogmas Are the Fruit of Dogmatic Reflection 11
3 Dogmas Are Officially Defined by Some Competent Ecclesiastical Body 12
C The Necessity of Dogmas: 15
1 Causes of Present Day Opposition to Dogmas 15
2 Dogmas Essential to Christianity 17
D The Elements Involved in Dogmas: 20
1 The Social Element 20
2 The Traditional Element 21
3 The Element of Authority 22
III The Idea of Dogmatic Theology: 25
A The Relation of Dogmas to Dogmatics: 25
1 Dogmas Arise out of the Necessities of the Believing Community 26
2 Theology May and Has Frequently Served as an Auxiliary in the Formation of Dogmas 27
3 Dogmatic Theology Finds the Nucleus of Its Subject-Matter in the Dogmas of the Church 27
B The Object of Dogmatic Theology (Its Definition): 29
1 The Conception of the Object of Dogmatic Theology in Early Protestant Theology 29
2 The Development of a New Conception in Modern Subjective Theology 30
3 Recognition of the Objective Character of Dogmatic Theology in Recent Times 32
C Theology as a Science 35
1 The Scientific Character of Theology Denied 35
2 The Possibility of Maintaining the Scientific Character of Theology 37
D The Encyclopaedic Place of Dogmatics: 39
1 The Group of Studies to Which It Belongs 39
2 The Relation of Dogmatics to Apologetics 40
3 The Relation of Dogmatics to Ethics 42
IV The Task, Method, and Distribution of Dogmatics: 44
A The Task of Dogmatics: 44
1 Modern Conceptions of the Task of Dogmatics 44
2 The Reformed Conception of the Task of Dogmatics 49
B The Method of Dogmatics: 50
1 Various Views as to the Source from Which the Content of Dogmatics is Derived 51
2 The Manner in Which the Material is Secured and Treated 59
C Distribution of the Material of Dogmatics: 64
1 The Trinitarian Method 65
2 The Analytical Method 65
3 The Covenantal Method 65
4 The Christological Method 66
5 The Method Based on the Kingdom-Idea 66
6 The Synthetical Method 67
V History of Dogmatics: 69
A The Period of the Old Catholic Church: 69
1 Origen's Peri Archon 69
2 Augustine's Enchiridion ad Laurentium de Fide, Spe, et Caritate 69
3 John of Damascus' Ekdosis Akribes tes Orthodoxou Pisteos 70
B The Period of the Middle Ages: 70
1 Works of Anselm 71
2 The Sentences of Peter the Lombard 71
3 The Summa of Alexander of Hales 71
4 The Summa of Thomas Aquinas 72
C The Period of the Reformation: 72
1 Melanchton's Loci Communes 72
2 Zwingli's Commentarius de Vera et Falsa Religione 73
3 Calvin's Institutio Christianas Religionis 73
D The Period of Protestant Scholasticism: 73
1 Dogmatical Study among the Lutherans 74
2 Dogmatical Study among the Reformed 74
3 Dogmatical Study among the Roman Catholics 76
E The Period of Rationalism and Supranaturalism: 76
1 Pietistic Dogmatics 76
2 Rationalistic Dogmatics 77
3 Supranaruralistic Dogmatics 77
F The Period of Modern Theology: 78
1 Schleiermacher and His School 78
2 The Speculative School 79
3 The Neo-Lutheran School 80
4 The Mediating School 81
5 The School of Ritschl 81
6 Reformed Theology 82
The Principia of Dogmatics
I Principia in General: 87
A Principia in Non-Theological Sciences: 87
1 Definition of "Principium" 87
2 Principia of the Non-Theological Sciences 88
B Principia in Religion or Theology: 89
1 God Is the Principium Essendi 90
2 The Principium Cognoscendi Externum Is God's Special Revelation 90
3 The Principium Cognoscendi Internum Is Faith 91
II Religion: 93
A The Essence of Religion: 93
1 The Derivation of the Word "Religion" 93
2 Scriptural Terms for Religion 94
3 Historical Conceptions of the Essence of Religion 95
B The Seat of Religion: 101
1 It Has Its Seat in the Intellect 101
2 It Has Its Seat in the Will 102
3 It Has Its Seat in the Feelings 103
4 It Has Its Seat in the Heart 104
C The Origin of Religion: 105
1 The Historical Method 105
2 The Psychological Method 107
3 The Theological Method 109
III The Principium Cognoscendi Externum (Revelation): 112
A Name and Concept of Revelation: 112
1 Connection between Religion and Revelation 112
2 The General Idea of Revelation 113
3 Historical Conceptions of Revelation 113
4 The Idea of Revelation in Modern Theology 115
5 The Proper Conception of the Nature of Revelation 121
6 Distinctions Applied to the Idea of Revelation 122
B General Revelation: 125
1 The Value and Significance of General Revelation 127
2 The Insufficiency of General Revelation 129
C Special Revelation: 130
1 The Scriptural Idea of Revelation 130
2 The Means of Special Revelation 131
3 The Contents of Special Revelation 133
4 The Purpose of Special Revelation 135
D Special Revelation and Scripture: 137
1 Historical Views of the Relation between the Two 137
2 The Reformed Conception of the Relation between the Two 139
IV The Inspiration of Scripture: 142
A The Doctrine of Inspiration in History: 142
1 Before the Reformation 142
2 After the Reformation 143
B Scriptural Proof for the Inspiration of the Bible 144
1 Proofs for the Inspiration of the Secondary Authors of Scripture Considered apart from Their Writing 145
2 Proofs for the Inspiration of the Secondary Authors in Writing the Books of the Bible 147
C Nature and Extent of Its Inspiration: 149
1 The Nature of Inspiration 149
2 The Extent of Inspiration 152
D Attempts to Discredit the Doctrine of Inspiration: 155
1 They Who Defend It Are Reasoning in a Circle 155
2 Jesus Did Not Teach the Doctrine of Inspiration 156
3 The Phenomena of Scripture Contradict the Doctrine of Inspiration 156
4 The Doctrine of Inspiration Applies Only to the Autographa, and Therefore Has No Real Practical Value 157
E Objections to the Doctrine of Inspiration 158
1 General Nature of the Objections 159
2 General Remarks on the Objections Raised 159
F The Perfections of Scripture 162
1 The Divine Authority of Scripture 162
2 The Necessity of Scripture 165
3 The Perspicuity of Scripture 166
4 The Sufficiency of Scripture 167
V The Principium Cognoscendi Internum: 170
A The Human Understanding: 170
1 Historical Statement of This Position 171
2 Evaluation of This Position 172
B Speculative Reason: 173
1 Historical Statement of Tins Position 174
2 Evaluation of This Position 175
C Devout Feeling or Religious Intuition 176
1 Historical Statement of This Position 176
2 Evaluation of This Position 178
D The Moral Consciousness: 178
1 Historical Statement of This Position 179
2 Evaluation of This Position 180
E Faith the Proper Principium Internum: 182
1 The Name of the Principium Cognoscendi Internum 182
2 Distinctive Nature of the Knowledge of Faith 183
F The Ground of Faith 183
1 The Doctrine of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti in the Church 184
2 Mistaken Notions of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti 185
3 Correct View of the Testimonium Spiritus Sancti 186
Select Literature 189
Index of Authors 193
Index of Subjects 197