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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY EARLY CREEDAL FORMULATIONS & THEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE: TOWARD A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF THEOLOGY VIA THE CREEDAL PROCESS A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS BY MARK AARON MOORE LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA APRIL 2017 Copyright © 2017 by Mark Aaron Moore All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL SHEET EARLY CREEDAL FORMULATIONS & THEOLOGICAL DISCOURSE: TOWARD A SYSTEMATIC UNDERSTANDING OF THEOLOGY VIA THE CREEDAL PROCESS Mark Aaron Moore Read and approved by: Chairperson: Edward L. Smither Reader: Kenneth G. Cleaver Reader: Leo R. Percer Date: __April 3, 2017__ iii To Kelli, Dylan, Beau, and all my family and friends. Without your love and patience this project would not have happened. I can never thank you enough for all the ways that you supported me. iv CONTENTS Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................ix Abstract...........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................1 The Need for the Study........................................................................................4 Research Question...............................................................................................5 Scope and Limitations.........................................................................................6 Defining Key Terms............................................................................................7 A Brief Review of the Literature.........................................................................9 Historical Surveys and Collections..........................................................9 Theology of the Creeds............................................................................15 The Creedal Process and Theological Method.........................................18 Research Methodology.........................................................................................20 Organization of Thesis..........................................................................................21 CHAPTER 2: A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF CREEDAL DEVELOPMENT (FROM NT CREEDS TO THE NICENE CREED)....................................................23 New Testament Creedal Formulations..................................................................25 Old Testament Origins..............................................................................25 The Structure of New Testament Formulations........................................28 1 Corinthians 15:3–7.................................................................................31 Philippians 2:5–11.....................................................................................33 Apostles’ Creed.....................................................................................................34 Historical Development.............................................................................34 v Function of the Apostles’ Creed..............................................................42 The Nicene Creed................................................................................................44 Historical Development...........................................................................44 Function of the Nicene Creed..................................................................50 Conclusion...........................................................................................................51 CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY 1 — TRINITY AND CHRISTOLOGY IN THE CREEDS.........................................................................................................................52 Historical Development (Apostolic Period to Constantinople)...........................54 Monotheistic Roots of Christianity..........................................................54 Justin Martyr (c. AD 112–165)................................................................60 Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 125–202).........................................................62 Tertullian of Carthage (c. AD 145–225)..................................................64 Origen of Alexandria (c. AD 184–253)...................................................67 The Arian Controversy............................................................................68 Cappadocian Fathers................................................................................71 Summary of the Biblical Foundation of the Doctrine..........................................73 Brief Survey of Seven Theological Voices (Fifth Century – Present).................78 Augustine (AD 354–430).........................................................................78 Boethius (c. AD 475–526)........................................................................80 Thomas Aquinas (1225–1275)..................................................................81 John Calvin (1509–1564)..........................................................................83 Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834)....................................................85 Karl Barth (1886–1968)............................................................................86 Karl Rahner (1904–1984).........................................................................87 vi Implications for Teaching the Doctrines Today..................................................88 CHAPTER 4: CASE STUDY 2 — CREATION IN THE CREEDS........................91 Historical Development (Apostolic Period to Constantinople)...........................92 Irenaeus....................................................................................................96 Tertullian..................................................................................................98 Origen......................................................................................................101 Cappadocian Fathers................................................................................102 Summary of the Biblical Foundation of the Doctrine..........................................104 Brief Survey of Seven Theological Voices (Fifth Century – Present).................108 Augustine.................................................................................................108 Thomas Aquinas......................................................................................110 Martin Luther (1483–1546).....................................................................111 John Calvin..............................................................................................113 Karl Barth................................................................................................114 Karl Rahner..............................................................................................116 Daniel Migliore (b. 1935)........................................................................117 Implications for Teaching the Doctrine Today....................................................118 CHAPTER 5: CASE STUDY 3 — ATONEMENT IN THE CREEDS....................121 Historical Development (Apostolic Period to Constantinople)...........................122 Irenaeus....................................................................................................125 Tertullian..................................................................................................128 Origen......................................................................................................130 Cappadocian Fathers................................................................................132 vii Summary of the Biblical Foundation of the Doctrine..........................................134 Brief Survey of Seven Theological Voices (Fifth Century – Present).................137 Augustine.................................................................................................138 Anselm (1033–1109)...............................................................................139 Thomas Aquinas......................................................................................141 Martin Luther...........................................................................................142 John Calvin..............................................................................................144 Karl Barth................................................................................................145 Karl Rahner..............................................................................................146 Implications for Teaching the Doctrine Today....................................................148 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHING THEOLOGY WITHIN A CREEDAL FRAMEWORK............................................151 EIM Model as Mirror of the Creedal Process......................................................152 Implications for Teaching Theology Via the EIM Model...................................156 Articulation and Reflection......................................................................156 Objectivity with Freedom........................................................................159 Theological Agnosticism.........................................................................160 Ecumenical Unity.....................................................................................162
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