Definition
Historical theology refers to the discipline of narrating the development of Christian theology.
Summary
Historical theology is closely related to but distinct from the discipline of Church History, which is more interested in the institutional history of the church and its place in social history. We might also distinguish historical theology from the history of Christian thought and the history of dogma but there is considerable overlap between these disciplines. Historical theology traces the development of Christian theology through the Patristic (AD 100–500), Medieval (AD 500–1500), Reformation (1500–1600), Post-Reformation (1600–1700), and Modern (1700–present) periods.
Podcasts
Videos
Where to Start in Studying Historical Theology?
Kyle Strobel talks about two characteristics of historical theology, the importance of reading those who have been weighed and whose theology is integrated.
Michael Kruger on What 21st-Century Christians Can Learn from 2nd-Century Christians
Michael Kruger shares insights from his book ‘Christianity at the Crossroads’ and encourages Christians today to fearlessly engage their culture.
Articles
Separately, Together, Let’s Pray for Revival
What would God do if we asked him, united in prayer, for a global revival?
Modern Medieval Protestants: Why We (Still) Need the Doctrine of Justification
So many Protestants—even evangelicals for whom ‘penance’ is alien—relate to God in much the same way as a medieval person did.
9 Things You Should Know About the Christian Calendar
Here are nine things should know about the cycle of liturgical seasons observed within many Christian churches.
What the Early Church Can Teach Us About the Coronavirus
Early Christians responded to epidemics in the Roman Empire differently than non-Christians. What can we learn?
How and Why God Equips Those Called to Be Martyrs
God loves to smile most upon his people when the world frowns most.
What the Diverse Church in Antioch Can Teach Us Today
The church was built, not on a social agenda, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
