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Early Interaction Between Scripture, Rule of Faith, and Evolving Christian Doctrine and Tradition : A Response to Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine

Bokedal, Tomas LU (2025) In International Journal of Systematic Theology
Abstract

This response to Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine examines the interplay between Scripture, the Rule of Faith, and evolving Christian doctrine and tradition. Focusing on McGrath’s critique of Lindbeck’s presentation of doctrinal modalities, the article explores how doctrinal formation involves primarily synchronic (canonical), but also diachronic (historical), approaches to scriptural interpretation. Special attention is given to the second- and early-third-century Rule of Faith as a doctrinal summary, as well as its scriptural grounding and its role in securing orthodoxy. The author suggests that this early, stable Rule of Faith both complements and challenges McGrath’s model of doctrine and its development, thus... (More)

This response to Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine examines the interplay between Scripture, the Rule of Faith, and evolving Christian doctrine and tradition. Focusing on McGrath’s critique of Lindbeck’s presentation of doctrinal modalities, the article explores how doctrinal formation involves primarily synchronic (canonical), but also diachronic (historical), approaches to scriptural interpretation. Special attention is given to the second- and early-third-century Rule of Faith as a doctrinal summary, as well as its scriptural grounding and its role in securing orthodoxy. The author suggests that this early, stable Rule of Faith both complements and challenges McGrath’s model of doctrine and its development, thus highlighting the unchangeability of the Christian message.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
International Journal of Systematic Theology
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105021339599
ISSN
1463-1652
DOI
10.1111/ijst.12799
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). International Journal of Systematic Theology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
id
072612a9-a7ce-406e-90e1-c3d56da637dc
date added to LUP
2025-12-19 14:19:40
date last changed
2025-12-19 14:20:38
@article{072612a9-a7ce-406e-90e1-c3d56da637dc,
  abstract     = {{<p>This response to Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine examines the interplay between Scripture, the Rule of Faith, and evolving Christian doctrine and tradition. Focusing on McGrath’s critique of Lindbeck’s presentation of doctrinal modalities, the article explores how doctrinal formation involves primarily synchronic (canonical), but also diachronic (historical), approaches to scriptural interpretation. Special attention is given to the second- and early-third-century Rule of Faith as a doctrinal summary, as well as its scriptural grounding and its role in securing orthodoxy. The author suggests that this early, stable Rule of Faith both complements and challenges McGrath’s model of doctrine and its development, thus highlighting the unchangeability of the Christian message.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bokedal, Tomas}},
  issn         = {{1463-1652}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Systematic Theology}},
  title        = {{Early Interaction Between Scripture, Rule of Faith, and Evolving Christian Doctrine and Tradition : A Response to Alister McGrath’s The Nature of Christian Doctrine}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ijst.12799}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/ijst.12799}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}