The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament

by Thomas Dehany Bernard

Excerpt from The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament

When this particular arrangement of books, which may be, and often have been, otherwise arranged, is treated as involving a course of progressive teaching, it may seem that an unwarrantable stress is laid on an accidental order, which some may regard as little more than a habit of the printer and the binder. The Lec tures themselves ought to give the answer to this idea; for if the familiar order does exhibit a sequence of thought and a sustained advance of doctrine, then the several documents are in their right places, according to the highest kind of relation which they can bear to each other; and if they had come into our hands variously and promiscuously arranged, it would yet be incumbent on one who would study them as a whole, to place them before him in the same, or nearly the same, order as that which they have actually assumed.

Genres: Theology

356 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1968

Reviews

[LAMONT D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was required reading from my seminary days for the "Progress of Redemption" course, published by Columbia International University in 1994. The book, long out of print was kept alive by the university and eventually was revised/translated into modern English by several professors so that clarity could be accomplished by improving the language to be more easily understood. These series of eight lectures back in 1864 delivered at Oxford University have been highly praised throughout the history of New Testament higher educational study. I had many various words or phrases circled but this one stood out going back through the pages again: "The distinguishing feature of the Christian system is that it places the foundation of salvation in a living relationship with a living person (Jesus) rather than in the adoption of opinions or of habits." My copy is 140 pages of deep, theological thought and reason that probably slides just slightly over my head, even back when I was slightly younger with a slightly younger mind. But nonetheless an interesting piece of literature to be a part of my personal library.

[David Mcconnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the Bampton Lecture for 1865 and is considered by many (including me) to be a classic that has no equal. I first heard about it while reading several of Sir Robert Anderson's books who referred to it at least eight of his eighteen or more books. Anderson was head of Scotland Yard from 1888 to 1901. Anderson was perceptive in some ways and blinded by his adherence to dispensationalism in other ways. So reading his books requires extreme care. However, his comments regarding Bernard's Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament were absolutely on target--a great book that should be in every person's library.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the tremendous Bampton Lectures of 1864 delivered by Thomas Dehaney Bernard. If you want to see how the whole of doctrine in the New Testament is truly progressive in nature, this is the book for you. The language can be difficult at times (this is not a fast-read) but it will greatly reward the time you invest to wade into deep water to understand the divine plan of why the Scriptures have been gathered together in their present form.

[Deo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I choose this book as a result of listening to Bob Mumford. It is an eye opening treatise of the development of the doctrines of the Bible. It was brilliantly written and for the most part easy to follow the author's logical presentation.

[Judson Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book gives a robust answer to a rather unimportant question.

[Kenneth Cheong · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read through your bible and cannot seem to understand how all the books are linked, or why Paul's epistles are stacked up, or why Matthew comes first, this book explains it. He shows you why and how they are intertwined and support each other, even though they were written by different authors over a span of approximately 70 years, they show the wisdom of God. Highly recommended, though it is clearly not light reading, the time taken to digest its contents are worth it.