Introduction

The historical Theology has four kinds of division and there is no higher
activity in which mind may be emerged than the pursuit of a knowledge of
God. Since man through the exercise of his mind alone can never be or come
to a knowledge of God. People may pursue this knowledge by different
approaches to the Bible. Therefore, it is important for all the theologians to
study and to know the different teachers of their methods and teaching of the
doctrines. So we may take the challenges through examination on the
Theologies based on Era, because there are theologies which were held their
views that give us different doctrinal teaching and belief.

The theology which is based on Era is examination of the development,

growth, and changes of Christian theology, and the formation of the cardinal
doctrines of the triune-God salvation of the believers. It examines the
formation of the cardinal doctrines about God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit,
salvation. The critics were goes to the apostolic fathers are obvious, since
they were close to the events of the life of Christ and the apostle times. The
purpose of historical Theology is to describe the historical origin of the dogma
of the Church and to trace its subsequent changes and developments. It
sought to retain the Mosaic Law. They sought to tie Christianity to a
philosophical system that proclaimed matter of evil and Spirit of good. There
are four divisions in Historical Theology, mention below:

1. Patristic Theology

1.1. Description

Patristic theology is strictly the theology of the fathers, i,e, the teachers and
writers of the early Church, the phrase was just used in 17th centuries in
distinction from Biblical, scholastic system or symbolic and method theology
during the patristic Era. The patristic period is typically described as the time
period from the end of the first century until the end of the fourth century, or
ending with Augustine of Hippo. You will find a wide variety of definitions,
some continuing into the seventh century, and beyond, depending upon one’s
view of theology. The patristic period will be defined as culminating with the

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Council of Chalcedon in the latter year. It is relation to the study of the Church
Fathers, distinct the history of theology emphasizes the development of
doctrine over the centuries, studying the works of the apostolic fathers it
quickly becomes apparent that there is a considerable differences in quality
from the New Testament writings, and that there is a little new material
offered. Moreover, instead of a doctrinal emphasis, there is a decided
emphasis on ethics.

1.2. Definition

Patristic theology is known as the theology of the early Church fathers and
Church history also known ancient history. Patristic Theology is not to be
confused with Scholastic or Positive theology. Patristic theology emerged
from the early efforts of their predecessors, the apologists, and prior to the
founding of the Roman Catholic Church, who wished to have a philosophy to
answer to the "wisdom" of Plato and Aristotle and to silence these pagan
opponents. They also felt the need to answer questions they thought needed
answered like, "How can we reconcile science with faith" or "reason with
revelation" or "philosophy with theology. The apologists, thus, developed a
theory to answer the philosophers of Plato, Aristotle and other Greeks known
as the Logos; that is the "wisdom" of the Greeks" was God's truth, and
therefore, could not be in contradiction with the supernatural revelation
contained in the Gospels. “The Patristic theologians that advanced the Logos
teaching into two orders of truth, the natural and the supernatural and that
they must harmonize”1.

1.3. Development of Patristic theology

The apostolic fathers are the one that follows: the first epistle of clement of
Rome to the Corinthians. The second epistle of clement, so it is indicated or
emerged that apostolic fathers are the one. Patristic theology is the theology
written by Christians up to the medieval period and became both formative for
the Christian church and determinative for its theologizing throughout history.

1.4. Doctrinal teaching of the Fathers

1
http://www.theology-bible-theology.com/patristic-theology.html

2
 1.4.1. Christology

Jesus Christ our God , as indwelling the believer , He himself may be in us as

our God, as being the mind of the Father as the knowledge of God, as being
with the Father before the world. Polycarp also refers to Jesus as our Lord
and God Jesus Christ, He is declared to be send forth from God. His humanity
is affirmed in the words of John the apostle.

1.4.2. Ecclesiology

A predominant emphasis of the apostolic fathers is that believers are to

submit to the authority of the elders and Bishops. Clements exhort believers
to be at peace with the elders. Polycarp teaches submission to elders and
deacons. Ignatius likens the believer’s obedience to the bishop as Christ’s
obedience to the father and as the apostles to Christ. To Philadelphia Ignatius
writes: “As many as are of God and of Jesus Christ, they are with the bishop,
do ye all to follow your bishop, as Jesus Christ followed the Father”2. And
Presbyterian as the Apostles, and to deacons pay respect as to God’s
commandment.

1.5. Apologists

The defense Christianity against the false teaching of atheism, cannibalism,

incest, indolence and other antisocial behavior. They were also constructive
arguing for the reality of the New Testament revelation through fulfilled
prophecy and miracles. Quadratus bishop of Athens, wrote an apology, now
lost, to emperor Hadrian about A.D. 125; Aristides wrote to either Hadrian or
Antoninus Pius; Melito bishop of Sardis wrote an apology to Marcus Aurelius.

1.5.1. Bibliology of Apologists

The epistle to Diognetus emphasizes the revelation of God; the creator of the
universe has revealed Himself to mankind. “The Invisible God Himself from

2
Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Historical Theology( Grand Rapids: Eerdmans), 1978, 68

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heaven planted among men the truth and the holy teaching which surpassed
the wit of man, and fixed it firmly in their hearts”3

1.5.2. Theology Proper of Apologists

Justin Martyr refers to God as “the most true God, The Father of
righteousness and temperance and the other virtues, who is untouched by
evil. Athenagoras provides a clear statement of monotheism and the trinity.
He states “we acknowledge one God, who is uncreated, eternal, invisible,
impassible, incomprehensible, illimitable,. He grasped only by mind and
intelligence, and surrounded by light, beauty, spirit, and indescribable power.

1.6. Trinity

The ultimate sources are from God through Christ that the scripture is
received by the Church through the teaching of the holy fathers. The faith that
they have is come down or given by God. “In the patristic perspective
“personhood” does not belong to the natural experience of the human being.
By “natural” I mean a human being in his or her autonomous self, without
reference to God. Personhood for the Fathers and this is what the Tractarians
rediscovered – is revealed by God to humankind”4. The revelation comes from
Jesus Christ where He speaks of his relation with the Father and with the
Spirit. Particularly in the Gospel according to (John: 14-17). The three
Persons of the Trinity, as many Fathers have said “share the unsharable,” i.e.
divinity; they abide in eternal communion, being both absolutely inseparable
and absolutely distinct, which is a perfect paradox or a philosophical
absurdity, or again a “crucifixion” for the Christian believer’s mind. In the early
Church fathers used the methods of nagonism and Platonism and there are
some more.

1.7. Doctrinal development

Infant baptism: it was the necessarily that they hold and should be practiced.
Christology The doctrine of Christ was developed and it was debated about

3
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology ( Hyderabad: Authentic books), 1995, 441
4
http://catholicsensibility.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/the-patristic-approach-to-theology/

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the doctrine of Christ. The Docetists denied Jesus’ humanity; the Ebionites
denied His deity; the Arians reduced His deity, while the Apollinarians reduced
His humanity; the Nestorians denied the union of the two natures, while the
Eutychus emphasized only one nature.

Lords supper: During the early Church Christians observed the love feast prior
to the lord supper. The food was reckoned as a thanks offering to God,
blessed by the Bishop and presented as a thanks offering. “With the advent of
the priesthood, the priest assumed Christ’s place in offering Christ’s body and
blood as a sacrifice for sin”5.

2. Medieval theology

2.1. Definition

Medieval theology is the Dark Age theology during which heresy and
persecution occurred. The events that began in the ancient era led the Church
to get into spiritual darkness and ignorance. Medieval theology typically refers
to the study of religion during the time period known as the middle Ages or the
medieval era, about the 5th century to the 15th century. While much of
Europe and the Western world were thrown into chaos and conflict during this
time, monasteries and some other locations remained havens of learning and
discourse. This resulted in a great deal of theological study and literature
being produced, and so many of the spiritual and religious beliefs of those
times can still be studied. Medieval theology often involves the works of
medieval philosophers and religious leaders regarding views on free will and
predestination and the nature of good and evil.
One of the most common aspects of medieval theology is the study of those
religious leaders and philosophers who left a lasting mark on religion over
hundreds or thousands of years. Augustine of Hippo, for example, was one of
the last Roman philosophers and religious leaders to establish a great deal of
the religious thought that would continue after his death. Thomas Aquinas is
also looked to as a predominant theologian of the medieval period and his
writings were the foundation for much of Western Christian thought since his

5
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology ( Hyderabad: authentic books),1995, 454

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life. There were other influential figures in medieval theology, including Islamic
philosophers who thrived during the Dark Ages of medieval Europe.

2.2. Beginning of medieval period

The medieval period lasted from approximately 500 Common Era until the
year 1500 Cen. although some scholars and historians debate these exact
dates. This particular historical time period is also frequently called the middle
ages for its role as a transitional time. After the Roman Empire's rule ended,
the resulting ripple effects were political, social, religious, and artistic
developments that formed a basis for the modern world. The study of
medieval history is often considered important for understanding the forces
that paved the way for other significant historical events that occurred in the
centuries that followed. Many historians agree that the early medieval period
lasted until approximately 1000 Cen. And is noted as one of the most
turbulent parts of the middle ages. Leaders of the Roman Empire began
losing political control over their various territories relatively quickly, and their
effectiveness at ruling began to deteriorate due to factions, internal rivalries,
and personal agendas. One of the defining actions of early medieval history
was the removal of Romulus Augustus from power, as this emperor was the
very last of his kind in the region that is now Western Europe. “The Medieval
history of the Church took place in a wider arena than did that of the Ancient
Church”6. Legalization of Christian religious practices led to the widespread
influence of this church in many facets of life during the medieval period. The
previous era of Roman Empire rule is often noted for active persecution of
Christians, and this trend shifted significantly during the early years of the
medieval period. Changes in belief systems from a polytheistic to a
monotheistic religion centralized large populations that were otherwise at
odds culturally and politically. Religious leaders from the Catholic Church
were instrumental in making written materials such as the Bible available to
the general population and in encouraging higher percentages of literacy.

6
Earle E. Cairns, Th.B., Ph. D, Christianity through the centuries ( Grand Rapids: Zondervan
publishing house), 1954, 180

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The late medieval period is generally designated the time frame from 1300 to
1500 Cen. This segment of the middle ages saw both upheavals in medieval
society and technological advances in instruments of war and farming. An
epidemic of plague decimated Europe's population by as much as 60% in as
little as two years during the mid-1300s, leading to social consequences such
as the persecution of Jewish populations as scapegoats. Other key changes
of the late medieval period include several wars and conquests that shifted
areas of political control.

2.3. Sources

Most probably entitled on the body and blood of Christ. The concepts of free
will and predestination were some of the most important aspects of medieval
theology. Different philosophical and theological approaches were taken to
help people rationalize their ability to act with the concept of an omniscient
creator. The idea of predestination established that people had no true free
will, and that their actions were already known and preordained prior to them
even happening. This idea was often used in medieval theology as
justification for why some people had wealth and power, as rewards for the
good lives they were predestined to live. There was also a great deal of
thought and consideration within medieval theology on the nature of good and
evil. People wanted to better understand what was “good” and what was “evil”
and how those ideas were even possible in a universe created by an all-
powerful and benevolent deity. This was often explored through concepts
such as predestination and “original sin” that served as means to explain why
bad things happened to good people.

2.4. Doctrinal development

The sinlessness of Mary as one of the author stated that Mary was sinless
being a mother of Jesus Christ. Atonement: Anselm taught that through sin
man had robbed not of the honor; but Christ brought it back to God through
his crucifixion. God’s grace: Pelagius taught that men will could co-operate
with God in salvation. And also Phomas Aruines taught that grace is essential

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for salvation. However, Aquinas distinguished between free grace and
sanctifying grace, as Augustine stated:

“Irresistible grace, God’s grace does not operate contrary to the

nature of man, but so changes the will that man voluntarily chooses
that which is good. The will its true freedom, God can and so operates
on the will that of man of free of choice turn to virtue and holiness”7

2.4.1. Justification

Scholastic taught that justification is effected not as a judicial out of God but
as a co-operative venture in which God dispenses sanctifying to the
individual, simultaneously the medieval turn to God in contribution.

2.4.2. The Sacraments

Peter the Lombard was the first to delineate the seven sacraments, Baptism,
Lord’s Supper, Confirmation, Extreme auction penance, Ordination and
Marriage. Gratian taught that to disobey the pope is to disobey God. Thomas
Aquinas taught that the pope as bishop of Rome is the supreme head who
guarantee purity of moral and teaching in the Church; the pope alone can
teach what is to be believed.

2.5. Its literature

Medieval literature is a very diverse subject. The term covers the literature of
Europe during the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the
beginnings of the Renaissance in the 15th century, spanning a period of
roughly 1,000 years. As a result, it is difficult to make generalizations about
medieval literature. It is, nonetheless, possible to identify a few general
trends. Allegory and symbolism are common in medieval literature, perhaps
more so than in modern writing. Religious and philosophical messages were
often conveyed through the use of figures, such as the panther, an animal
which represented Christ. Old Norse and Irish poetry often contains figures of
baffling complexity which allowed listeners who puzzled them out to pride

7
Augustine, A History of Christian doctrine vol.2 (reprint, Minneapolis: Klock $ Klock, 1978,
397

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themselves on their mastery of the form. One of the most noticeable features
of medieval literature is the prevalence of religious subjects. For much of the
Middle Ages, the church was the main source of education. James Bradley
states that:

“Literacy was common among priests, monks and nuns, but rarer
among the laity, although it steadily increased throughout the period,
particularly among wealthy landowners and merchants”8.
This imbalance meant that much of medieval literature was focused on
Christian subjects, including the works of theologians and philosophers such
as St Thomas Aquinas. One of the most famous religious works of the period
was The Golden Legend, a collection of stories about the saints by Jacobus
de Voraigne.

2.6. The nature of the Church

In the Middle Ages the concept of the Church developed five elements: (1)
The visible nature of the Church Christ. (2) There is a distinction between the
teaching of the Church and the pope. (3) The Church is made up of body and
soul committed to Christ. (4) The Church distributes the graces of the Church
through the agency of the clergy. (5) The Church is an institution of salvation,
a saving ark. During the Medieval period the doctrines developed by
renowned scholar become the Church traditional doctrines because their
doctrines were not, and all the doctrines based necessary on the scripture but
rather based on philosophical views. Most of the Churches were corrupted by
windy doctrines and teaching, however, through this period, got the sight
doctrines.

3. Reformation theology

3.1. Definition

Reformation theology is that bringing back to the right state from the wrong
teaching into their view even though this doctrinal teaching and practicing is

8
James E. Bradley and Richard A. Muller, Church History ( Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans
publishing company) 1995, 102

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not sound. Generally, all the churches that grew from the sixteenth-century
revolt against the Roman Church can be called reformed. However, the term
"Reformed" specifically designates that branch of the Reformation of the
western church originally characterized by a distinctively non-Lutheran,
“Reformed means rejecting the idea that tradition can provide a sufficient form
for matters of belief” 9 .Augustinian sacramental theology with a high
ecclesiology but little regard for ecclesiastical tradition that is not traceable to
the Scriptures or the earliest church. Those churches in the "Reformed
tradition" are regarded as being in the line of churches that grew from the
Reform in certain Swiss free cities and cantons, in non-Lutheran Germany,
and in Hungary, Bohemia, and southern France in the early and mid sixteenth
century.

The leaders of this branch of the church understood themselves to be

"reformed" in two ways: first, they were "reformed" from what they believed to
be the defective practice of Christianity promulgated by the corrupt Roman
Catholicism of the day. Sometimes, this position is summed up in the phrase
"Ecclesia Reformata, reformanda," which means "the Reformed church,
always to be reformed”.

3.2. Historical Background

The Reformation began with Martin Luther in 1517, but the theology draws
heavily from Augustine. The present Reformed theology movement began
with the theology of Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), of Zurich, Switzerland, and
John Calvin (1509-1564), of Geneva, Switzerland. Calvin drew from
Augustine (354-430). Strains of the Reformed tradition developed with
different leaders and in different areas northwest Europe, central Europe, and
British Isles, America. The reformers’ theology was very dependent upon
Augustine of Hippo (354-430). Augustine was more of a philosopher than a
Bible expositor. He used the allegorical method of Bible interpretation. He
thought that Satan was bound during the church and will be released at the
end of the world; that God elected some to salvation and the others to
damnation and that man does not have free will. Along with this he said that

9 http://reformedtheology.org/SiteFiles/WhatIsRT.html

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faith is God’s gift to the elect. He held to infant baptism and baptismal
regeneration, sacraments, prayers to saints, and purgatory. Furthermore,
Augustine pushed for persecution of those Christians of independent
churches, as illustrated by his persecution of the Donatists, a fourth century
Christian movement in North Africa. It burst forth at the beginning of the
sixteenth century, when the Reformation began in Germany, Catholics were
found in all Western Europe who sincerely loved their Church and wishes to
see it return to its tradition. On August 8, 1535, the Reformers held service at
the convent of Rive. They flocked there in great numbers that day, like a river
about to overflow and burst its bank, when in July 1536, the Frenchman John
Calvin, and then twenty seven years old and already famous came to
Geneva, he found a Church which had already adopted the Reformation.
3.3. Historical development
There were a number of factors that sparked the reformation, one factor was
politics, Islam had conquered Constantinople in 1453, causing the downfall of
the Eastern Church, Islam moved westward, threatening the power of the
papacy and also influencing the papacy through its literature which followed
into Europe. The second factor was educational, worked by the Renaissance
(meaning rebirth) open’s the men’s minds to the study of the classical
literature in addition to the basic. While the classical theological tradition of
Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Calvinism and protestant communions may be
influence in its formulations by alien philosophical perspectives, the
distinctions so central to its method are ultimately due to the biblical emphasis
on the creator-creatures distinction and not to a capitulation to pagan
thoughts. John Piper and friends states that:

“Many of us fail to recognize Reformed theology in his Polemical

descriptions of it. Even when he attempts to recognize that Calvinists
sometimes affirm the correct beliefs, he can only credit this to their
trying to work themes into their work”10.

The key note of the Reformation was struck full and clears at the beginning,
salvation through Christ alone. The Reformation is the spring of modern

10
John Piper, Justin Taylor, Paul Kjoss Helseth, Beyond the bounds (Wheaton Illinois: Crossway
books), 1995, 233

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freedom, is no wild assertion of its friends. One of the greatest Roman
Catholic writers of recent times, Michelet, in the introduction to his life of
Luther says, it is not in the correction to say, that Luther has been the restorer
of liberty in modern times. This is only a sampling of Augustine’s views. John
Calvin drew heavily from him. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries,
reformed theology has become more popular due to books, conferences, and
radio ministries. Yet, many of those attracted to it do not know its theological
roots or its fundamental beliefs.

Reformed theology has a strong emphasis on theology, philosophy,

education, and political theory. The theology centers on God's sovereignty;
the philosophy centers on determinism; the education, when it is emphasized
today, often centers on a classical education. Reformed theology is
considered in the orthodox tradition. It has, however, been accepted as such
by default. The more one studies the movement the more one learns how far
many of its main doctrines are from Scripture.

3.4. Source of the Reformation

3.4.1. Martin Luther
He was the catalyst of the protestant reformation, was born at peasant
parentage in Eileen Gascony in 1483. The foundation of his theological
thinking perhaps came when he was confronted by the need of divine
revelation while a student at the University of Erfurt. John Richard states:
"There is no single source to which we can turn for an authoritative
expression of the Reformed faith. Certainly we are indebted to John
Calvin. But we also owe much to many others: to Augustine, for
example, and to Anselm, and to Martin Luther….I often tell my students
that if we are to learn what the Reformed position has been on this or
that point of doctrine if we are to garner anything like an official
understanding of the Reformed faith we must look, not to the writings of
the theologians, but to the confessions of the church”11

3.4.2. John Calvin

11
John Richard De Witt, What is Reformed faith?( Carlisle Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth
Trust) 1981, 57

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The respected and influential Theologian of the reformation was born in
France in 1509; John Calvin was called the first scientific interpreter of the
Bible. He built a theology on the sovereignty of God that directed the reformed
Church in Europe and Scotland.

3.4.3. Ulrich Zwingli

While Calvin ministered to the France speaking population of Switzerland,

Ulrich Zwingli, born in 1484, served the German-speaking people of
Switzerland. As according to Zwingli acknowledged the infallibility of the
scriptures, terming them, the differences of Zwingli and Luther is
temperament, psychological organization, moral character, education, and
political as well as social relations. The root of the divergence lies in the very
nature of Christianity; and there can be no satisfactory solution of the
differences between the Zwingli-Calvinistic, and the Lutheran reformations,
and the Churches which were established upon them, except this, that the
one accepted the true, the other a mistaken meaning of God’s word on certain
points. Dr.Gerhart’s statement: “He states a number of important respects, in
which he supposes the two Churches to agree touching Christ’s sacramental
presence”12 “The certainty of power ‘meaning’ the certainty that the word will
do what it says”13.

3.5. Methods

Luther used the sola-scripture that means the scripture alone are the authority
for people not the Church and its councils. Calvin developed a method of
science to interpreting the scripture, which can be termed hermeneutics, and
Zwingli used expository method in the sermons.

3.6. Doctrinal development

Luther referred to the scriptures as “the book given by God, the Holy Spirit to
His Church” and in the preface of his commentary on Genesis he referred to
Genesis as Scripture of the Holy Spirit. He also rejected the authority of the

12
Charles Porterfield Knauth, The conservative Reformation and its Theology(Minneapolis:
Augsburg publishing house) 1978, 457
13
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology ( Hyderabad: Authentic books) 1995, 476

13
pope, the Church councils, indulgency, and the Roman Catholic sacrament.
Luther declared the word of God shall establish articles of faith and no else
not even angels.

3.6.1. According to Zwingli

Zwingli after he recognized their authority, he began preaching exegetical

sermons, beginning in Matthew, “His work as a reformer rested also on the
principle that all disputed matters must be decided by the word of God.
Zwingli acknowledged the infallibility of the scriptures terming them, the
certainty of power, meaning” the certainty that the word will do what it says.

3.6.2. According to Calvin

John Calvin affirmed the Bible, not the Church as the final authority in
religious matters. His doctrinal development was (1) the illumination of the
Holy Spirit is necessary to prepare the interpretation of scripture. (2)
Allegorical interpretation is satanic leading away from the truth. (3) Scripture
interpreted scripture.

3.6.3. Reformation Bibliology

According to Luther: The Bible was the only infallible authority regarding faith
and salvation.

3.6.4. Reformation Christology:

Calvin and Zwingli followed the orthodox view of Christ; He is one person with
two natures, with no intermingling of the two natures. However Luther took a
different view, he held to a real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper,
teaching that the human nature of Christ takes on certain attributes of the
divine nature, such as Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotent.

3.6.5. Reformation Anthropology

It presupposes a sound definition of man, as God’s last and highest earthly

creature, consisting of body and soul, having personality, freedom, moral
accountability and immorality. Man is an animal, consisting of a rational soul
and an organic body, formed by God, endowed with His image in the first

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creation. All the dignity and possibilities of human rests upon its derivation in
an extraordinary manner from God. The creation of the first man is narrated in
general, (Gen.1:26), and more fully delineated in (Gen.2:7), Because of man’s
condition of total depravity, Calvin disallowed the idea of a free will; that was
forfeited through the fall. He taught that the will is bound, unable to move in
any direction, yet Calvin taught that man is responsible for his sin because he
sin out of his own will and not by any outward compulsion.

3.6.6. Reformation Sotereology

Calvin taught the doctrine of salvation by grace, which salvation is rooted in

the eternal decree of God. The doctrine of predestination involves election to
salvation and reprobation to eternal condemnation. The reformers taught that
the Christ died to satisfy the justice of God. “Justification by faith as legal act
of God, imputing righteousness to the believer, unconditional election is
basis”14

3.6.7. Reformation Ecclesiology

Martin Luther rejected the infallibility of the Church, as well as the concept of
the unique priesthood. He taught instead the priesthood of all believers.
Regarding Lord’s Supper he rejected the Roman Catholic doctrine of
transubstantiation, which teaches that the elements actually turn into the body
and blood of Christ. The Lutheran Church repeatedly and unequivocally has
denied all local or carnal presence of Christ’s body, and has affirm that, as
antagonistic to any such conceptions, His presence is ‘Spiritual’, however it is
used as the opposite of true and means that His presence is one which rest
on our intellectual operation, or on our faith, and not on the nature of His own
person, then our Church that it is Spiritual. Charles Krauth states that:

“The Reformed Church maintains Christ’s sacramental presence is

mediated by the Holy Spirit, whereas the Lutheran Church maintains
that it is through the divine nature in Christ’s own person, and that
Christ is present, not because the Holy Spirit enables him to be present
to faith, through absence in reality, but because in His own inseparable

14
Louis Berkhof, The History of Christian Doctrines ( Edinburgh:Banner of truth trust), 1937, 167

15
 person, the Godhead of itself present and the humanity is rendered
present through the Godhead”15

3.6.8. According to Calvin

Calvin taught that salvation is only by grace which is book in the eternal
decree of God. However, Anslem taught that the God has been robbed of His
honor by men’s sins and Christ brought it back to God by His death. Charles
Hodge states:

“ A mother does not love her child because it is lovely, her loved leads
her to do all she can to render it attractive and to keep it so, so the
loved of God being in like manner mysterious, unaccountable in
anything in its objects, His adoring His children with the graces of His
Spirit”16.

5. Modern Theology

5.1. Description

Although it might seem strange to call developments of the seventeenth

through the twentieth century’s “Modern” from the perspective of
comprehensive history that embraces millennia this caution does not seen so
inappropriate. This is the sense for which the title of this chapter is given.
“Christianity is not synonymous with religion Rather; Christianity is a subset of
religion, one form of religion. He notes that the outward doctrines and
practices of true religion may vary widely 17 . For example, he refers to
Spinoza’s non-Christian doctrinal position as springing from genuine piety
However, it is crucial to note that Schleiermacher does not simply posit that
people in different cultural and historical situations interpret the very same
religious feeling differently. Rather, while he affirms that all outward forms of
religion spring from the inward experience and thus “are the same in kind he

15
Charles Porterfield Krauth, The Conservative Reformation and its Theology
(Minneapolis:Augsburg publishing house), 1978, 465
16
Dr. Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology ( Carlisle Pennsylvannia: The Banner of truth trust),
1991, 112
17
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also affirms that the pious feelings producing such different outward forms are
themselves different.

5.2. Historical development

5.2.1. Covenant theology

Covenant theology was an outgrowth of the reformation, particularly through

the theological writings of man like Zwingli, Bullinger, Calvin, and Cocceius. It
involves two primary features; the covenant of works and the covenant of
grace.

5.2.2. Lutheran theology

Luther theology developed the foundation of it was the principle of sola-

scriptura, the bible alone is the reliable authority for Christians. The second
important doctrine is that was at the heart of Lutheran theology following the
reformation period was the manner of justification.

5.2.3. Reformed theology

The designation reformed distinguishes Calvinistic from Lutheran or

Anabaptist theology. The foundation of reformed theology is found in John
Calvin’s instead of the Christian religion, although there has been
considerable diversity among the different adherents in the reformed tradition.

5.2.4. Liberal theology

The roots of liberal theology (also referred to as modernism) may be traced to

Germany in the eighteenth century. This approach was the outcome of the
enlightenment, which viewed tradition and Biblical authority with suspicion and
acclaimed only through reason.

5.2.5. Neo-orthodox theology

The term neo-orthodoxy means “new-orthodoxy” however, although it is new,

it is not orthodox. Neo-orthodoxy is a reaction to the failure of liberalism,
Danish philosophers and theologian brought and emphasis on experience to
theology that was later developed by neo-orthodox theologians. The major

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tenets of neo-orthodoxy are the following, The Bible is not revelation bur a
witness to revelation, it is not to be equated objectively with the word of God;
the revelation of God is not in words.

5.2.5. Neo-orthodox theology

Covenant theology, there are two features involves on primary that is

covenant of works and covenant of grace. Lutheran followed the doctrines of
sola- scripture. The heart of reformed theology rests on five grounds affirmed
by synod of host.(1) Total depravity of man (2) Unmerited election to salvation
(3) Limited atonement (4) Irresistible grace (5) Perseverance of the saints.
What constitutes modern theology, and in fact, what constitutes theology in
general, is often a topic of intense debate among theologians. In general
terms, theology is the study of the divine and humanity's relationship with
divinity, although Christianity is often the default religion studied. Modern
theology, as a term, truly is subject to interpretation and context regarding the
specific definition. Generally, it is understood to reference humanity's
changing relationship with and acceptance of religious truths, regardless of
religions denomination. Reformation, the era during the 16th century when
many followers began to question religious doctrine, is often used as a
reference point for the start of modern theology.

Conclusion

This then is historical theology, it is for contemporary Christians to embrace

the strengths and avoid the errors of past theologians. This can be the word of
God. For this cause the Bible was given to be profitable. Since the theology
based on Era gives us or provides the main sources of studying about their
view points and all kinds of affirmations make us familiar to their teaching. It is
important thing to remember all the theologies that explained according to
their viewpoint and belief thereby.
All the theologian students may extend and have better understanding in
doctrinal affirmation from each points under theology based on Era, may God
help us to understand more, so that in everything we may able to discern and
follow and hold the truth of the scripture. Its foundational doctrines are
sometimes wrong, therefore we find its resultant trends and applications are

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often incorrect. Each of us needs to know what we believe and why we
believe it so that each may live the Christian life and honor the Father, Son,
and Spirit. When we talk with those with whom we disagree, we want to clarify
the truth clear, to convince rather than to defeat them, and to remain friendly.

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http://www.theology-bible-theology.com/patristic-theology.html

http://catholicsensibility.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/the-patristic-approach-to-
theology/

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