ABSTRACT
This Reader presents a diverse and ecumenical cross-section of ecclesiological statements from across the twenty centuries of the church's existence. It builds on the foundations of early Christian writings, illustrates significant medieval, reformation, and modern developments, and provides a representative look at the robust attention to ecclesiology that characterizes the contemporary period. This collection of readings offers an impressive overview of the multiple ways Christians have understood the church to be both the 'body of Christ' and, at the same time, an imperfect, social and historical institution, constantly subject to change, and reflective of the cultures in which it is found. This comprehensive survey of historical ecclesiologies is helpful in pointing readers to the remarkable number of images and metaphors that Christians have relied upon in describing the church and to the various tensions that have characterized reflection on the church as both united and diverse, community and institution, visible and invisible, triumphant and militant, global and local, one and many. Students, clergy and all interested in Christianity and the church will find this collection an invaluable resource.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
chapter |2 pages
Introduction
part |48 pages
The Early Church
chapter |7 pages
The New Testament
chapter |1 pages
Clement of Rome (d. 101)
chapter |3 pages
Ignatius of Antioch (c. 35–110)
chapter |3 pages
The Didache (c. 110)
chapter |1 pages
“Father, We Thank You” (based on the Didache, c. 110)
chapter |1 pages
Epistle to Diognetus (c. 150–225)
chapter |2 pages
Justin Martyr (c. 100–165)
chapter |2 pages
Shepherd of Hermas (c. 140)
chapter |2 pages
Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 140–202)
chapter |1 pages
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215)
chapter |3 pages
Tertullian of Carthage (c. 160–220)
chapter |2 pages
Hippolytus (c. 170–236)
chapter |2 pages
Didascalia Apostolorum (c. 200–250)
chapter |2 pages
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258)
chapter |4 pages
Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)
chapter |1 pages
Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315–386)
chapter |2 pages
The Apostolic Constitutions (c. 375)
chapter |1 pages
Petilian of Citra (born c. 365)
chapter |6 pages
Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
chapter |1 pages
Gelasius I (d. 496)
part |72 pages
The Middle Ages and the Reformation
chapter |2 pages
Urbs beata Jerusalem (eighth century)
chapter |3 pages
Gregory VII (c. 1020–1085)
chapter |1 pages
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
chapter |2 pages
Isaac of Stella (c. 1100–1169)
chapter |3 pages
Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179)
chapter |1 pages
Innocent III (1160–1216)
chapter |1 pages
Fourth Lateran Council (1215)
chapter |5 pages
Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
chapter |1 pages
Unam Sanctam (1302)
chapter |4 pages
Marsilius of Padua (1324)
chapter |2 pages
William of Ockham (1285–1347)
chapter |1 pages
John Wyclif (1328–1384)
chapter |2 pages
Jan Hus (1369–1415)
chapter |1 pages
Council of Constance (1414–1418)
chapter |2 pages
Nicholas of Cusa (1401–1464)
chapter |1 pages
Execrabilis (1460)
chapter |11 pages
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
chapter |4 pages
The Schleitheim Confession (1527)
chapter |1 pages
The Augsburg Confession (1530)
chapter |1 pages
Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531)
chapter |9 pages
John Calvin (1509–1564)
chapter |4 pages
Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575)
chapter |2 pages
Menno Simons (1496–1561)
chapter |1 pages
John Knox (1510–1572)
chapter |1 pages
Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621)
chapter |2 pages
Richard Hooker (1554–1600)
chapter |3 pages
The Second Helvetic Confession (1566)
part |22 pages
The Modern Period
chapter |3 pages
John Smyth (c. 1570–1612)
chapter |1 pages
The Westminster Confession of Faith (1643)
chapter |3 pages
John Owen (1616–1683)
chapter |2 pages
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
chapter |1 pages
John Fawcett (1740–1817)
chapter |1 pages
John Wesley (1703–1791)
chapter |2 pages
John Newton (1725–1807)
chapter |3 pages
Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834)
chapter |4 pages
F. D. Maurice (1805–1872)
chapter |1 pages
“The Church's One Foundation” (1866)
part |118 pages
The Twentieth Century