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In this book, Robert Doyle provides a disciplined introduction to ecclesiology using descriptive criticism of biblical themes and careful analysis of the history of interpretation.
List of contents
Part I: Locating the Doctrine
1. Five Cautions, and Hope
2. Inside two millennia of reflection
3. And more recent context, postmodernism
Part II: Three Foundational New Testament Indicators
4. Ekkl¿sia: "assembly"
5. Challenge of Communication: Protestant debates over original use, local contexts, hermeneutics
6. Earthly assemblies and the heavenly assembly
7. S¿ma Christou: "the body of Christ," the Christ of the New Creation.
8. How to understand the "ontological relationship" between Christ and his church?
9. The question of continuity between intermittent gatherings
10. Koin¿nia hagi¿n: "the communion of the saints"
11. The communion of the saints is in the Spirit: the work of men and women, and the attributes of the church
Part III. Implications for Present Practice
12. Christ's continued purposes for his church: double edification
13. Growth in Fellowship through Participation in Ministry
14. Wider theological foundations of ministry
15. Denominations, church law, and pastor pastorum
16. Sacramental behavior: how the bible has been used
17. Baptism and Lord's Supper in the New Testament
Part IV: Illumination from Other Foundational Christian Doctrines
18. The triune God of holy love: his relation to the world and the sociality of the saints
19. Christology: our ascended human high priest and king
20. The Doctrine of Revelation: "the pillar and bulwark of the truth"
Part V: In Review - Three Points of Transformation
21. Living in the Church
About the author
Robert Doyle has pastored churches in Australia and Scotland, and for four decades researched and taught systematic and historical theology at Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia, and George Whitefield College, Cape Town, South Africa.
Summary
In this book, Robert Doyle provides a disciplined introduction to ecclesiology using descriptive criticism of biblical themes and careful analysis of the history of interpretation.
