Theology
Foundational Christian doctrines — Trinity, Grace, Atonement, Predestination, Heaven, Hell — traced from Scripture through centuries of debate.
17 topics
Atonement
The concept of atonement in Christianity has evolved significantly over the centuries, with no single interpretation universally accepted by all denomination…
Excommunication
Excommunication was not always a permanent sentence in the Christian Church. It could be revoked if the person demonstrated genuine repentance and took steps…
Free Will
The debate over free will in Christianity has roots that trace back to ancient Greek philosophy, long before the birth of Christ. Greek thinkers like Plato a…
Grace
The concept of grace was so controversial that it led to the first major theological split in Christianity during the 5th century. At the heart of this divis…
Heaven
The concept of heaven has evolved dramatically over centuries, with early Christians having a very different idea of it than most people today. In the earlie…
Hell
The concept of hell as a place of eternal torment was not universally accepted in early Christianity and has evolved significantly over the centuries. In the…
Justification by Faith
The idea that people could be made right with God through faith alone, without the need for deeds or rituals, was so contentious that it ignited the Protesta…
Original Sin
The concept of original sin was not universally accepted in early Christianity and was heavily debated for centuries. This doctrine, which suggests that all …
Predestination
The debate over predestination has been so intense that it has led to the formation of entirely new branches of Christianity. Throughout history, the questio…
Purgatory
The concept of purgatory, though not officially defined by the Catholic Church until the 16th century, has been a part of Christian thought for over a millen…
Salvation
The concept of salvation has evolved so significantly that early Christians might not recognize today's interpretations. In the earliest days of Christianity…
Speaking in Tongues
For nearly 2,000 years, the practice of speaking in tongues has sparked both unity and division among Christians. Known as glossolalia, this phenomenon is be…
The Canon of Scripture
The formation of the Christian biblical canon was a lengthy and contentious process, taking over 300 years and involving significant debate and disagreement …
The Incarnation
The concept of the Incarnation was so controversial that it led to the first major split in Christianity, known as the Arian controversy, in the 4th century.…
The Rapture
The concept of the Rapture, as it is popularly understood today, did not take shape until the 19th century. Before this period, Christian theology did not in…
The Trinity
The concept of the Trinity was not fully established until over 300 years after Jesus's death. Early Christians grappled with understanding the nature of God…
Transubstantiation
The concept of transubstantiation, the belief that bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist, wasn't officially defined …