Doctrine (of the Common Era) Defined

A doctrine is a set of principles or beliefs, especially religious ones.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Quite simply EVERYONE has doctrines WE believe, beliefs and opinions WE teach unyieldingly or perhaps underpinning our speech subtly.

Due to its everyday influence on our lives I have reviewed and retaught DOCTRINE here with some regularity.


  1. something taught; teachings
  2. something taught as the principles or creed of a religion, political party, etc.; tenet or tenets; belief; dogma
  3. a rule, theory, or principle of law
  4. US
    an official statement of a nation’s policy, esp. toward other nations
    the Monroe Doctrine
  1. a creed or body of teachings of a religious, political, or philosophical group presented for acceptance or belief; dogma
  2. a principle or body of principles that is taught or advocated
Read the fine print below for a more succinct examination of doctrine. - RH

doctrine refers to a theory based on carefully worked out principles and taught or advocated by its adherents [scientific or social doctrines]; dogma refers to a belief or doctrine that is handed down by authority as true and indisputable, and often connotes arbitrariness, arrogance, etc. [religious dogma]; tenet emphasizes the maintenance or defense, rather than the teaching, of a theory or principle [the tenets of a political party]; precept refers to an injunction or dogma intended as a rule of action or conduct [to teach by example rather than by precept]

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Do you really believe that? doctrine - a line in the sand [picture of Jesus kneeling down to draw a line with his finger
DOCTRINE – What do you believe? Can you affirm it to others?

Doctrine + TalkofJESUS.com

HERE are several links where you should find teachings to Comment on Scripture OR respond to a doctrine with YOUR opinion.

First, a summary PAGE which includes links to several earlier pages & posts on Doctrine.


I asked, “Is the Church still ‘christian’‘ & other thought-provoking categorical questions about ‘the church in a 2022 SERIES [linked here].

Recall of a church? WHY do that? SO WHAT IF WE preach what WE want? Pictured Medieval church bell tower during sundown in valley
Evangelical Reconstruction

SEARCH TalkofJESUS.com by topic for ‘Doctrine

Do you really believe christianity-lite? Doctrine for a christ-less Common Era christianity-lite typically erases the lines where Scripture and doctrine holding to what is written.
topical ‘christianity’

We have explored contemporary issues of doctrine as well.


Why to atheists try so hard to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

apologia not actually an ‘apology’

It seems in the Common Era of NO ABSOLUTES and arguments of ANTI-this’ and ANTI-that’s I had best DEFINE what I mean to apologize to BOTH

+ disagreeing ‘christians

  • and semi-committed A-theists – [mortals AGAINST god AND unequivocally opposed to JESUS Christ].

WHY this SERIES?

I could share many reasons in this Common Era of 2024 WHY I am revisiting ‘doctrine’ but #1:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 Legacy Standard Bible

Apologetic for a Common Era approach to Biblical Doctrine

From Before Christ to Before the Common Era

In common Greek, apologia refers to the speech that an accused person delivered in court, rejecting the charges filed against him or her. The apologists of the second century chose this term because they wanted to show that the charges filed against Christians were unjustified and that the truths of their faith could be described and defended. An apologia was dedicated to the Roman emperor, who certainly never read it. [Max L. Stackhouse, “Apologia,” 1988]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/apologia

The A.D. Second Century CHRISTIAN apologist to whom the article refers is Justin Martyr.

In addition to arguing against the persecution of individuals solely for being Christian, Justin also provides the Emperor with a defense of the philosophy of Christianity and a detailed explanation of contemporary Christian practices and rituals.

The First Apology is dated to between AD 155–157

The theologian Robert Grant has claimed that this Apology was made in response to the Martyrdom of Polycarp ~ in the year of our Lord 155.

source & Christian History Polycarp

Do you REALLY believe? Is DOCTRINE of the Bible a line in the sand for you? OR has DOCTRINE of the COMMON ERA become a blurred line in the sand of 21st century CE?
2024 of the COMMON ERA DOCTRINE

YOUR ‘What?‘ Questions of the Common Era

From an earlier post.

WHEN did the Common Era Begin?

Was there an unexpected BIG BANG that exploded TRUTH into truths?

Have centuries of history defined by the word of Almighty GOD fallen into a bottomless black hole of godless futility?

Does a blurred timeline of History not continue to point toward Christ Jesus born into this common world of sin?

Roger@TalkofJesus.com
updated 2024 of the Common Era

Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel


Talk of JESUS .com

NEXT: DOCTRINES of the Common Era: 

God
Scripture
JESUS CHRIST
--------------------
FOLLOWED BY more 2024 C.E. examinations of KEY Doctrines

Comments

2 responses to “a Brief Apologetic for Doctrine”

  1. anonymous brother [local] Avatar
    anonymous brother [local]

    Roger,
    Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your scholarly endeavors that are evident in the treatment of this topic. In lieu of leaving an extensive comment or engaging in dialogue in this space, I would much rather interact over a cup of coffee whenever our busy schedule can blend. Thank you again for the article.

  2. In person ALWAYS best between brothers and members of the same local church. I’m in & available.

    How about the rest of our large local church? AND why not SHARE your witness with another local brother or sister in Christ IF you share anything in social media (like meta, Inst-meta or brand ‘X’??) via TalkofJESUS.com as a conversation starter about Jesus Christ?

    READERS, you do share Jesus Christ with others as this brother does don’t you? :{)+

    Thanks again, dear brother, and I look forward to hearing more about your more-educated theology about God – just the first in our theological look at Scripture and the Lord Jesus Christ.
    Roger

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