Books : An Essay On Development Of Christian Doctrine (Notre Dame Series in the Great Books, No 4)
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by: John Henry Newman
List Price: $24.00Amazon.com's Price: $19.80 You Save: $4.20 (18%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 230.201
EAN: 9780268009212
ISBN: 026800921X
Label: University of Notre Dame Press
Manufacturer: University of Notre Dame Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 445
Publication Date: June 30, 1989
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
Sales Rank: 62791
Studio: University of Notre Dame Press
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Editorial Review:
Book Description:
An Essay on the Devleopment of Christian Doctrine, reprinted from the 1888 imprint, 'is rightly regarded as one of the most seminal theological works ever to be written,' states Ian Ker in his foreword. 'It remains,' Ker continues, 'the classic text for the theology of the development of doctrine, a branch of theology which has become especially important in the ecumenical era.'
John Henry Cardinal Newman begins the Essay by defining how true developments in doctrine occur. He then delivers a sweeping consideration of the growth and development of doctrine in the Catholic Church, from the time of the Apostles to Newman’s own era. He demonstrates that the basic 'rule' under which Christianity proceeded through the centuries is to be found in the principle of development, and emphasizes that thoughout the entire life of the Church this law of development has been in effect and safeguards the faith from any real corruption.
Ker concludes that, 'we may say that the Essay is not only the starting point for the study of doctrinal development, but so far as Catholic theology is concerned, it is still the last word on the subject, to the extent that no other theologian has yet attempted anything on the same scale or of similar scope. . . . But even if the Essay was not one of the great theological classics, it would still be of enduring interest for two reasons. First it is one of the key intellectual documents of the nineteenth century, comparable to Darwin’s Origin of Species, which it predates by over a decade. Second, if this were the only book of Newman to survive, its rhetorical art and style would surely place him among the masters of English prose.'
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - To this day, the definitive work on the subject.
Before I begin my review, allow me one caveat: the casual reader, to be sure, who stumbles upon this work after seeing it quoted in popular apologetics books (i.e. Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism), risks being in over his/her head completely. Such was the case with me about 3 and a half years ago when I was starting out my study of doctrine and history. For 3 years this book sat on my shelf, all attemts that I made to read it having failed because I lacked the proper foundation. It was ... Read More
Rating: - If Only the Church . . . .
John H. Newman wrote four magisterial works (not including his large body of sermons) of which this Essay is one of the most important and influential. It is perhaps the most accessible of J.H.N.'s works, and the most significant.
The problem that Newman wants to resolve is how can Christian doctrine develop, if, as is commonly believed, Jesus embodied all revelation, once and for all. Another way of attacking the same problem is to determine how certain doctrines not stated in an overt ... Read More
Rating: - Theological Realism
The sainted Cardinal Newman's "Essay" is a masterpiece, one of the few books of it's kind. This work, which was undertaken by him while he was in the process of deciding to convert to Roman Catholicism, is based upon a simple premise - that the nature of the human intellect is to grasp the full implications of an idea or set of related ideas slowly, over time, by a process of development. Because of this, any set of formal doctrines held to by a body of believers will necessarily grow and *apparently* ... Read More
Rating:  - An outstanding edition. . .
. . .of an outstanding work.
This is it. This is the book which, upon its completion, convinced John Henry Newman that he needed to make his submission to the Catholic Church.
This painstakingly researched book describes the historical process by which doctrine develops in the Church. It has, in the years since its publication, become the primary text for anyone wishing to study this subject, regardless of their denominational background.
Unfortunately, the typical response ... Read More
Rating: - Unfortunately there was no way to give it 10 stars...
That might sound like an exaggeration but I am serious. There is no book in print that I am aware of that discusses this most crucial of areas in the Christian revelation with the degree of nuance and thoroughness then this work of John Henry Newman's does. One of the founders (and the soul) behind the Oxford Movement in England in the 1830's and early 1840's, Dr. Newman's research into Church history troubled him because he did not realize how far the Church of England had drifted in essence and principles ... Read More
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