Authority Within the Christian Church

Description

At the present time, when authority for the church's beliefs and actions is the subject of much discussion, this book attempts to look to the authority of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and how these are transmitted within apostolic tradition by word, actions, and writings. Elements giving weight to authority (co-inherence, consistency, and universality) are examined along with the scope and limits of interpretative tradition. Preface Contents 1. Authority: A Matter Of Controversy 2. What Do We Mean By Authority? 3. What Do We Mean By The Christian Church? 4. Authority In Society: A Sidelong Glance At Views Which Have Influenced The Church In Recent Years 5. Authority In Society And The Church: Should They Be The Same? 6. What Should Be Held To Be Of Authority Within The Church, And Of What Weight? 7. Claims To Authority Within Various World Religions 8. What Authority Should Be Attributed To God? 9. What Authority Should Be Attributed To Jesus Christ? 10. What Authority Should Be Attributed To The Holy Spirit? 11. What Authority Should Be Attributed To The Apostolic Faith? 12. What Authority Should Be Attributed To The Continuing Interpretative Tradition Within The Church Universal? 13. What Authority Should Be Attributed To The Church Universal? 14. What Authority Should Be Attributed To Synods? 15. What Authority Should Belong To Reports And Preparatory Documents Sponsored By Synods But Not Endorsed By Synods Or By The Church As A Whole? 16. What Authority Should Be Attributed To The Communal Judgement Of The Faithful? 17. Co-Inherence, Consistency, And Universality (Across Space And Time) Giving Weight To Authority 18. Continuing Interpretative Tradition: Its Scope And Its Limits 19. Scripture, Tradition, And Reason: Their Authority Across The Ages 20. Problems In The Isolation Of Elements Of Authority 21. The Authority Of Experience And Its Relation To Scripture, Tradition, And Reason 22. A Summary Of The Argument Of The Book Bibliography Index