Overview

A clear introduction to historical theology

The History of Christian Doctrine offers a guided introduction to the way Christian teaching has developed from the apostolic age to the present. Students begin by exploring the biblical foundations of doctrine and the early Church’s effort to confess the faith faithfully in the face of misunderstanding, controversy, and cultural change. The course explains how central teachings concerning the Trinity, the person of Christ, salvation, grace, Scripture, the Church, the sacraments, and the last things came to be expressed with greater clarity over time. Rather than presenting doctrine as abstract theory, the course shows how theological reflection arose from the Church’s worship, preaching, pastoral care, and defense of the gospel.

Along the way, you will meet influential voices from across Christian history, including the early Church Fathers, medieval theologians, Reformers, and later thinkers whose work shaped Christian thought in different traditions. You will examine the role of the ecumenical councils, the importance of creeds and confessions, and the theological debates that forced the Church to define its language with precision. Designed for students with little or no prior background in historical theology, the course presents complex ideas in accessible language while remaining grounded in sound scholarship. By the end, you will better understand how doctrine develops without abandoning its biblical foundations, why certain debates mattered so deeply, and how the Church’s intellectual and spiritual heritage continues to inform Christian faith and practice today. Courses are $19 a month and can be canceled at any time.

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