The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament

About this book

The purpose of these lectures is not to examine the New Testament in order to ascertain the chronological sequence of fact. Rather, the purpose is to show that the New Testament itself exhibits a scheme of progressive doctrine, divinely shaped and arranged for permanent and universal use. In doing so, we are concerned not only with the component parts of the New Testament, but also with the order in which they are placed. -- Author's preface. The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament invites readers to see the New Testament not as a collection of disconnected writings, but as one unified and divinely ordered unfolding of Christian truth. In eight insightful lectures, Thomas Dehany Bernard demonstrates how each major section of the New Testament naturally builds upon the one before it from the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Gospels, through the historical development of the church in Acts, to the fuller explanation of Christian doctrine in the Epistles and its final consummation in Revelation. Bernard shows how Acts serves as the essential bridge between the life and teaching of Christ and the apostolic doctrine found in the Epistles. The book ultimately leads readers toward Revelation's glorious themes of Christ's return, victory, judgment, restoration, and the completion of God's redemptive plan. Annotated by Layton MacDonald Talbert, this updated edition preserves Bernard's theological depth while making the original lectures more accessible to modern readers. It includes updated language, clear lecture outlines, numbered paragraphs, explanatory footnotes, and comprehension and review questions. Rich in both theological insight and devotional warmth, this volume is an excellent resource for pastors, Bible teachers, seminary students, and thoughtful Christians who want to understand the unity, structure, and progressive revelation of the New Testament. -- Publisher.