AN INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIOLOGY:
ECUMENICAL, HISTORICAL AND GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
By Veli-Matti Karkkainen
Intervarsity Press © 2002, 238 pages (Names Index, Topical Index)
I read this in 2004. I left my reading of the book with an important realization: “the church is simpler, more complicated, more universal, and more local that we can imagine.”
This assessment remains.
This time out, I have gathered some readings and notions for my upcoming thesis.
Reading List
- C.N. Tsirpanlis, Introduction to Eastern Patristic Thought and Orthodox Theology (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991)
- Karl Rahner, The Dynamic Element in the Church (New York: Herder and Herder, 1964)
- John Zizioulas, Being as Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church (Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1985)
- Hans Kung, The Church (1967; reprint, New York: Image Books, 1976)
- Wolfhart Pannenberg, Systematic Theology, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s, 1998)
- Jurgen Moltmann, The Church in the Power of the Spirit (London, SCM Press, 1977)
- Miroslav Volf, After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman’s, 1998)
- James Wm. McClendon, Jr., Doctrine: Systematic Theology, vol. 2 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994)
- James Wm. McClendon, Jr., Biography as Theology: How Life Stories Can Remake Today’s Theology (Philadelphia: Trinity Press International, 1990 [orig. 1974])
- Lesslie Newbigin, The Household of God: Lectures on the Nature of the Church (London, SCM Press, 1953)
Notions for Further Investigation
Introduction
- Essential characteristics of the church, 14
Orthodox Ecclesiology
- Church as the image of the Trinity, 19
- The relation of unity and diversity to catholicity, 24
Roman Catholic Ecclesiology
- Church as a pilgrim people, 28
- Sacraments as mediators of the communion life of God, 31
Lutheran Ecclesiology
- Church as simultaneously just and sinful, 41
- Church as a place where believers exercise God-like love, 46
Reformed Ecclesiology
- Church as having two parts, one visible to God and the other visible to humanity, 52
Free Church Ecclesiology
- Church as the gathering of those who have direct and immediate access to God, 65
- Necessity of holy living, 67
Pentecostal/Charismatic Ecclesiology
- Necessity of experiencing God mystically and supernaturally, 70
- Prophethood of all believers, 72
- Ecclesiology as lived reality, 73
Ecumenical Ecclesiology
- Unity as God-given, mandatory behavior, 79
- Koinonia-ecclesiology, 86
- Acceptable definitions of apostolicity and catholicity, 90
Ecclesiology of Zizioulas
- Church as the image of God’s communal personhood, 96
Ecclesiology of Kung
- Need to change forms as the culture changes, 104
- Relation between the Holy Spirit and the flexibility and freedom of the church, 108
Ecclesiology of Pannenberg
- Church as the sign of the unity of all humanity, 115
- “Body of Christ” as Christological and “fellowship of believers” as pneumatological
Ecclesiology of Moltmann
- Eschatological ecclesiology, 127
- Church as communion of equals, 128
- Mission to spread the kingdom not the church, 130
Ecclesiology of Volf
- Church as those gathered in Jesus’ name, 136
- Participatory ecclesiology, 140
Ecclesiology of McClendon
- Doctrine of the practice of the whole people, 143
- Importance of the local gathering, 144
- Denial of the lay-clergy distinction, 149
Ecclesiology of Newbigin
- Church as missionary people, 152
