The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church

<p>The nature and story of the Christian church is immensely important to theology students and scholars alike. Written by an international team of distinguished scholars, this comprehensive book introduces students to the fundamental historical, systematic, moral and ecclesiological aspects of the study of the church, as well as serving as a resource for scholars engaging in ecclesiological debates on a wide variety of issues. It divides into six parts:</p><ul> <li>the church in its historical context </li> <li>the different denominational traditions </li> <li>global perspectives </li> <li>methods and debates in ecclesiology </li> <li>key concepts and themes </li> <li>ecclesiology and other disciplines: social sciences, philosophy, literature and film.</li> </ul><p>Authoritative, accessible and easily navigable, this book is indispensable for everyone interested in the nature and history of the Christian Church.</p> <p>Introduction: Ecclesiology – The Nature, Story and Study of the Church <strong>Part 1: Historical Ecclesiology</strong> 1. In Search of the Early ‘Church’: The New Testament and the Development of Christian Communities 2. The Church in the Early Christian Centuries - Ecclesiological Consolidation 3. The Church in Medieval Theology 4. Ecclesiology and the Religious Controversy of the Sixteenth Century 5. The Church in the Tridentine and Early Modern Eras 6. The Church in Modern Theology 7. Postmodern Ecclesiologies <strong>Part 2: Ecclesiological ‘Traditions’</strong> 8. Ecclesiology in the Orthodox Tradition 9. Lutheran Ecclesiology </p>