Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 26:72 (Spring 2022)
Article: The Nature Of Doctrinal Development: Determined By The Nature Of The Church And Revelation
Author: Isaac Brown

JODT 26:72 (Spring 2022) p. 75

The Nature Of Doctrinal Development: Determined By The Nature Of The Church And Revelation

Isaac Brown

* Isaac Brown, M.Div., Th.M. candidate at Southern California Seminary, El Cajon, California

Doctrinal development is the historical process and practice where the church has either successfully or unsuccessfully understood and articulated biblical doctrine. The nature of doctrinal development has been understood to be either expansive or explanatory. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that the nature of doctrinal development, being expansive or explanatory, is dependent on one’s view of the nature of the church and the nature of revelation. The two groups that emerge in this discussion are Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. If the church is infallible and equal in authority with Scripture (Roman Catholicism), then doctrinal development will be expansive in nature. If one believes that the church is fallible and submitted to Scripture as the sole authority (Protestantism), then doctrinal development can only be explanatory. Both approaches have a different understanding of the nature of revelation.1

The purpose of this research is to demonstrate why the expansive view of doctrinal development is an incorrect theory based upon a mistaken understanding of revelation and the church; and, in turn, to understand why the explanatory theory of doctrinal development is the only option in light of a proper understanding of the nature of the church and revelation. First, the research will briefly define and explain both the expansive and explanatory nature of doctrinal development, and then interact with the historical discussion on this issue by examining John Henry Newman’s theory of doctrinal development as expansive in nature and Robert B. Mozley’s response to Newman. Finally, this work will discuss the nature of the church and revelation in its relation with the nature of doctrinal development accompanied by a brief case study of the first three chapters of the book of Revelation.

JODT 26:72 (Spring 2022) p. 76

Defining Terms

Prior to considering the historic interaction of John Henry Newman and Robert B. Mozley, it is important to define and explain the expansive nature of doctrinal development as held by the Roman Catholics, and the explanatory nature of doctrinal development as held by Protestants. There is great importance to the discussion of the nature of doctrinal development because it provides critical distinctions between Roman Catholic and Protestant theology (in this particular case, the doctrine of the church and revelation). One might be tempted to say that the debate over the nature doctrinal development ...