The Evangelical Doctrine of the Church

Robert Doyle

doi:10.5771/9781978704121

Summary

This book is a disciplined introduction to ecclesiology. With respect to the community which “the Lord purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28), parts one and two focus on a critical-exegetical presentation of the New Testament’s descriptions and themes, locating their treatment within two millennia of reflection, and appreciating the impact of those contexts on our understanding. From over ninety New Testament images, chapters four to ten identify and argue for three foundational concepts: ekklēsia (assembly); sōma Christou (the body of Christ); and koinōnia hagiōn (the communion of the saints). Continuing the conversation with Scripture and its history of interpretation, Robert Doyle then applies the determinative biblical themes to present practice, centering it on the churches of the Evangelical and Reformed traditions. Part four illuminates ecclesiology from other foundational Christian doctrines: the triune God of holy love; Christology, our ascended human high priest and king; and the doctrine of revelation, the church as “the pillar and bulwark of the truth.” The final part focuses on three possible points of transformation in ecclesial life and witness, both internally and outward to the world.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2022
ISBN-Print: 978-1-9787-0411-4
ISBN-Online: 978-1-9787-0412-1
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 360
Product type: Book Titles

1. Contents No access
2. Preface No access
3. Abbreviations No access
1. Five Cautions and Hope No access
2. Inside Two Millennia of Reflection No access
3. And More Recent Context, Postmodernism No access
1. Ekklēsia: “Assembly” No access
2. Challenge of Communication No access
3. Earthly Assemblies and the Heavenly Assembly No access
4. Sōma Christou: “The Body of Christ,” the Christ of the New Creation No access
5. How to Understand the “Ontological Relationship”‌‌‌ between Christ and His Church? No access
6. The Question of Continuity between Intermittent Gatherings No access
7. Koinōnia Hagiōn: “The Communion of the Saints” No access
8. The Communion of the Saints is in the Spirit No access
1. Christ’s Purposes for His Church No access
2. Growth in Fellowship through Participation in Ministry No access
3. Wider Theological Foundations of Ministry No access
4. Denominations, Church Law, and Pastor Pastorum No access
5. Sacramental Behavior: How the Bible has been Used No access
6. Baptism and Lord’s Supper in the New Testament No access
1. The Triune God of Holy Love No access
2. Christology No access
3. The Doctrine of Revelation No access
1. Living in the Church No access
Bibliography No access Pages 327 - 352
Index No access Pages 353 - 358
About the Author No access Pages 359 - 360