Creeds in the Making: A Short Introduction to the History of Christian Doctrine

By Alan Richardson

Book Overview

Alan Richardson's Creeds in the Making was first published more than forty years ago, in January 1935. After ten reprints, it went out of print in 1975 to make way, we hoped, for a new work which would reflect the scholarship of a new generation. There is, however, still no short inexpensive paperback available which illustrates the early development of the creeds and Christian doctrine to a general audience in quite the same way as this does, with its freshness, charm and that almost timeless quality of writing and judgment which was so characteristic of its author. So we are happy that it should be reissued for the 1980s, as an introduction to those coming to creeds and doctrine for the first time, and as a fitting memorial to a great modern pastor and teacher. From the first reviews: 'Mr Richardson has a true teacher's gift, that of making his subject live and relating it to modern experience and modern knowledge of the universe. He tells a story, and tells it well. Nor is he content with telling: he explains. He takes the principal doctrines of the Christian creed, shows how they came to be defined and what is their lasting value' (CEN). In six chapters, Mr Alan Richardson covers the theology of the creed down to the article of belief in the Holy Ghost. What he gives us is very like a course of lectures to theological students, carefully worked out, scholarly and full, yet simply expressed' (Church Times). Alan Richardson, who died in 1975, was Dean of York and before that Professor of Christian Theology in the University of Nottingham.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0334002648
• ISBN13: 9780334002642
• Release Date: July 2012
• Publisher: SCM Press
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Short Expose on Christian Creeds/Doctrine

Richardson ably shows how creeds, confessions of belief by the early Christian church, were to refute error and affirm true teaching. Thus, as false teaching escalated, so did the complexity and breath/depth of creeds.Wonderful compact intro to the councils and doctrinal disputes of first centuries of the faith.Further interested souls might want to consult, one or more of the following" JND Kelly, Early Christian Creeds, or Davis', The First Seven Ecumenical Councils.