Alister McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction

1. Alister McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction Chapter 15 The Doctrine of the Church Wiley-Blackwell 2010

2. Biblical Models of the Church • The Old Testament (Israel) • “Common commitment to Israel’s central story” • Monarchy • Postexilic/second temple • The New Testament • The church as the people of God • The church as a community of salvation • The church as the body of Christ • The church as a servant people • The church as the community of the Spirit The Early Development of Ecclesiology • Elements of consensus • The conversion of Constantine • The “pope” Wiley-Blackwell 2010

3. The Donatist Controversy • Persecution and the traditores • Cyprian of Carthage • Schism is never justified • Lapsed or schismatic bishops lose their spiritual gifts and authority • Donatists • Augustine • Church as a “mixed body” • The parable of the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13:24-31) • Theology of the sacraments • The church as a hospital Wiley-Blackwell 2010

4. Early Protestant Doctrines of the Church • Martin Luther (1483-1546) • The preaching of the Word of God • The historical institution of the church as a means of grace • John Calvin (1509-64) • The collapse of the Colloquy of Ratisbon, 1541 • The marks of the true church • Gospel rightly preached • Sacraments rightly administered • The visible and invisible church • Sanctification of the elect • The radical Reformation • The true church in heaven • The church as alternative society • The assembly of the righteous • Noninvolvement, nonresistance • The “ban” Wiley-Blackwell 2010

5. Christ and the Church: Some Twentieth-Century Themes • Christ is present sacramentally • Second Vatican Council (1962-5) • Henri de Lubac (1896-1991) • Edward Schillebeeckx (1914-2009) • Karl Rahner (1904-84) • Christ is present through the word • Karl Barth (1886-1968) • Christ is present through the Spirit • Leonardo Boff (b.1938) • John Zizioulas (b.1930) Wiley-Blackwell 2010

6. The Second Vatican Council on the Church • Pre-Vatican II • The church as a “perfect society” • Distinction between the clergy and laity • The church as communion • Fellowship: sharing in a common life • The church as the people of God • Continuity with Israel • The church as a charismatic community • The importance of the charismatic gifts Wiley-Blackwell 2010

7. The “Notes” of the Church • One • Problem of lapses under persecution • Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Catholic Church • The Reformation • Approaches to the unity of the church • An imperialist approach • A Platonic approach • An eschatological approach • A biological approach • Theological unity • Anglicanism • Evangelicalism Wiley-Blackwell 2010

8. Holy • Donatism and Anabaptism • Eschatological perspective • Old and New Testaments • Holiness as being “set apart” • The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) • Catholic • Universal, general • Conversion of Constantine • Stages of meaning • A universal and all-embracing church • A church which is orthodox in its theology • A church which extends throughout the world • Cyril of Jerusalem • Thomas Aquinas • The Reformation: catholic and reformed • Orthodox churches Wiley-Blackwell 2010

9. Apostolic • Originating with the apostles • Having a direct link to the apostles • Apostle: • Commissioned by Christ • Witness to the risen Christ • H.B. Swete (1835-1917) • Origins of the church • Teaching of the church • Ministry of the church Wiley-Blackwell 2010