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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Theological Term: Orthodoxy | Jer 6:16 | DocTrinsograce | 172533 | ||
When I use the word orthodoxy within the context of theology I am not loading it as some have surmised. By orthodoxy I mean adherence to the accepted, historic Christian faith (essential doctrines) as expressed in the ecumenical creeds which include the Nicene Creed, Apostles' Creed, Athanasian Creed, Chalcedonian Creed, Canons of the Council of Orange, etc. These core beliefs were reaffirmed in the Reformation through various public professions like the Book of Concord (Lutheran), Canons of Dort (Reformed), Westminster Confession (Presbyterian), Thirty-Nine Articles (Episcopalian), Savoy Declaration (Congregationalist), the Baptist Confessions of Faith 1644 and 1689 (Baptist), etc. All of these creeds and confessions are rooted in the Holy Scriptures, "the supreme judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined." These essential doctrines form a traceable line through history from the apostles of our Lord in the primitive church, through later great (though uninspired) churchmen like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, R. L. Dabney, Charles Spurgeon, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, down to the present time. All of the creeds, confessions, and writings of the church and these faithful and godly men are fully accessible to anyone with any interest in reading them. They are not infallible nor inerrant. They are simply based on Scripture since the doctrine of sola scriptura is fundamental to all of them. True Christians are extremely explicit about their beliefs being open and clear to everyone. Nothing our Lord did was done in secret, but all of it was done openly. Orthodoxy seeks to emulate that pattern of our King, to His glory. In Him, Doc |
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2 | Theological Term: Orthodoxy | Jer 6:16 | mark d seyler | 172629 | ||
Hi Doc, I'm sorry, let me try again. This is one of the benefits of reflecting back to someone what we understand that they mean by their communication. People are generally quick to tell us where we get it wrong. I understand from what you said where it seems I read into your words more than you intended. I apologize, and hopefully I will be able to demonstrate a better understanding. You have defined "orthodox theology" as the theology expressed in the creeds, confessions, and writings by those groups and people you have named. You have stated that these creeds and confessions are all rooted in the Scriptures. By this, then, when you say of a certain doctrine, teaching, understanding, or etc., that it is orthodox, you are saying that it agrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men, and when you say that something is unorthodox, you are saying that it disagrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men. Is this an accurate understanding? Love in Christ, Mark |
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3 | Theological Term: Orthodoxy | Jer 6:16 | DocTrinsograce | 172648 | ||
Dear Brother Mark, You wrote, "By this, then, when you say of a certain doctrine, teaching, understanding, or etc., that it is orthodox, you are saying that it agrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men, and when you say that something is unorthodox, you are saying that it disagrees with the creeds, confessions, and the writings of aforementioned men." Not really, but if you want me to simplify the definition, I can do so. Theology is a discipline. It does not create words out of thin air. Every word must be defined and consistently used. Definition: In theology the term orthodox means adherence to the accepted, historic Christian faith (essential doctrines) as expressed in the ecumenical creeds and confessions. This is the definition of orthodoxy -- the way that I use it in our discussions or in any communication with theology students or theologians. (We can exhaustively enumerate all of ecumenical councils and essential doctrines, if you like.) Note that a group may teach additional doctrines (e.g., paedobaptism, credobaptism, covenant theology, dispensationalism, premillennialism, etc.) in addition to those mentioned above without leaving the pale of orthodoxy. For example, Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, and my own historic Baptist tradition, are orthodox systems, but they have doctrines that go beyond orthodoxy without contradicting orthodoxy. Indeed such groups embrace orthodoxy. There are two other extant definitions of orthodoxy that I've occasionally observed: (1) The set of minimal doctrines by which any group, or church, or individual can legitimately claim to be Christian; and (2) as a proper noun (i.e., capitalized), of or relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church and its beliefs. The term unorthodox is never used in serious theological writings in the way you've suggested. If it did appear, I wouldn't expect it to be defined in any special way beyond what you find in a good English dictionary. Heterodox is probably the word for which you were seeking. Heterodoxy is simply the negation of orthodoxy. The denial of orthodoxy or a replacement of the essential doctrines with contrary teaching is said to be heterodoxy. For example: Unitarians deny the Nicene Creed; Russelists (Jehovah Witness) deny the doctrine of the diety of Christ; Oneness Pentecostals deny the doctrine of the Trinity; Campbellites (Church of Christ) deny the doctrine of salvation by faith alone (sola fide); Seventh Day Adventists deny the doctrine of the sole authority of Scripture (sola scriptura); etc. If you need further clarity, please ask. In Him, Doc |
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4 | Theological Term: Orthodoxy | Jer 6:16 | mark d seyler | 172650 | ||
Thank you, Doc, for your patience with me. You explanations have been very helpful! Love in Christ, Mark |
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