Our Legacy: The History of Christian Doctrine

by John D. Hannah, Donna Vander Griend

What you believe does matter. This exploration and explanation of the essential truths of the Christian faith will help determine how you will live out your faith every day. As you explore the truths in this book, discover that theology is not just a collection of information about God―it is a rich legacy. It is your legacy. Indexed for easy reference.

Genres: Theology, History, Church History, Christianity, Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2001

Reviews

[Pig Rieke]

In this work, John Hannah provides a theological overview of seven central doctrines throughout the church’s history. This historical theology looks at various periods of church history and various traditions to see how the doctrines of authority, the Trinity, Christ, the work of Christ, salvation, the church, and the end times have been developed and modified. The result is a book that provides an excellent overview of historic theology.

[Jonah Shiramizu]

Like a well done steak. Not sure why you would order it cause I wouldn't, but if you're enjoying it that's fine.

[Jared Beebe]

This is a great book that goes into detail on the great doctrines of the Faith throughout church history. Dr. Hannah is my favorite professor at Dallas seminary. He is also the wisest man I have ever met. I have had him for numerous classes including the class that goes along with this book (History of Doctrine).

[Logan Augustine]

In “Our Legacy,” Dr. Hannah takes an interesting approach to church history: the Synthetic-Historical method, which traces individual branches of systematic theology as they have evolved throughout history. This makes for a far more thorough look at doctrines throughout the last 2,000 years, but also leaves you with a cluttered sense of the timeline. Since this book was just evaluating the doctrines of specific individuals and groups throughout history, it kind of felt like needless repetition for the vast majority of it.

Overall, the book was helpful to know the topics and parties that it addressed, but it think it sacrifices clarity for over-organization. The Conclusion chapter has a great reminder and charge for believers: “Doctrines are not all created equal. . . . Don’t major in the minors!”

[Ashley Johnson]

This book gave me so much hope and assurance in the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. The nerd in me LOVED exploring the history of different doctrines throughout the ancient, medieval, modern, and postmodern eras. This book brought me a new perspective of the sociological contexts and people that contributed to both the advancing and deterioration of the faith.

[Jacob Stevens]

Dr. Hannah does a great job of tracing the development of several key Christian doctrines from the early church until today. Some parts seemed a bit repetitive because each chapter/doctrine often took from the same writers over and over. Overall, however, it was a good and informative book.

[Jeremy Canipe]

Very helpful overview of the history of how different traditions within the church have taught important doctrines. Starts with the church fathers and closes with the turn of the 21st century. Definitely learned a lot.

[Patrick]

This is an excellent historical overview of Biblical doctrine.

[Nathan Deck]

Very dense book, but full of great information on the development of doctrine throughout church History!

[Larry]

This is a thorough and delightful walk through history and the development of doctrine. Dr. Hannah's commitment to practical application of theological belief comes through in the encouragements to apply, and not just know, a doctrine. I have had the distinct pleasure to have been one of Dr. Hannah's students at Dallas Theological Seminary and was in the class the first time he taught this as a course. It is a good examination for the Christian community, not just seminary students, to see how our doctrines have developed.

[Leandro Dutra]

Very interesting, but idiosyncratic: instead of a simple chronological view of Christian doctrine, it takes each of the major topics of systematic theology and traces it in history and in strands of the Church: authority, Trinity, Christ, His work, Salvation, the church and the end times, with subdivisions, are each in turn analysed as per the Apostolic fathers, the Apologists, the Theologians, Scholastics, Reformers, Romanists, Liberals, Easterners… the result ends inevitably containing some redundancy, but it is quite didactic.

[John]

This was my textbook for the theology class I took earlier this year. "History of Theology" at Dallas Theological Seminary. The class was extremely challenging and interesting. I would say that reading this text book was one of the easier parts of the class though. The extra reading - 540 pages of mostly source documents - was the hardest part.

[Brandon Giella]

One of my life goals is to get theologians to hire skilled writers and designers to present their information in a beautiful way. This one needs it. The information is great; the presentation is not. It's full of helpful reference points to understand the development of doctrine. But in reality it's just a bunch of dates and citations poorly written, with poorer design and product quality.

[Jon Jordan]

A great introduction to the work of historical theology. Dr. Hannah follows the development of several key doctrines throughout the history of Christianity.

[Andy]

0518

[Darren Sapp]

Excellent resource for pastors, theologians, and laypersons. Goes well with Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language.

[Caroline McGill]

This book is not for the faint of heart. It includes a rigorous look at doctrine held through all areas of Christianity in history.

[Adam]

A really great intro to Church history and historical theology