Introducing the Four “Cs” of Doctrinal History

Church History is a valuable field of study. For instance, ever since the early church, documents have been written and passed down which have helped articulate doctrinal truth. I call them “The Four Cs of Doctrinal History.” These include creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils (from which some documents come). I have begun a teaching series in my church exploring how these historical articulations have shaped Christianity and helped believers grow in their faith over the centuries.

Biblical Roots

The Bible gives us early aspects of these “Four Cs” which can be helpful to identify. For instance, Matthew 16:13-16, Peter confesses Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This statement is identified as a foundational creed, highlighting the centrality of Jesus’ identity as Messiah. First Timothy 3:16 provides a kind of early confession of Christ, describing the mystery of godliness: “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” This early kind of confession emphasizes foundational truths about Jesus, including the mystery of the incarnation. This mystery is often reflected in the tone of Christmas hymns like “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” which captures the awe, wonder, and reverence of these divine truths by being written in a minor key, and in a chant-like unison form.

In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council serves as an early example of church councils addressing doctrinal disputes. Leaders from Antioch and Jerusalem, along with apostles like Paul, gathered to resolve the issue of how Gentile believers should relate to Jewish customs, particularly circumcision. This council, though limited in its representatives, sets an example of church leaders coming together to settle doctrinal difficulties and erroneous teaching. These early examples from Scripture highlight the biblical origins of such traditions, grounding them in principles observed in the life of the early church.

Creeds

Creeds, derived from the Latin word “credo” meaning “I believe,” serve as shorter declarations of doctrinal truth passed on from one generation to the next. Creeds are designed to distill essential theological and biblical beliefs into a shorter, succinct statement. Examples include the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4, affirming monotheism and the unity of God, or the simple statement “Jesus is Lord” from 1 Corinthians 12:3, or Paul’s summary of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4, regarding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. More formal creeds have been articulated since the second century, and still are fashioned today. For instance, in college we would recite “The University Creed” every chapel service.

Confessions

Confessions, unlike creeds, are meant to be more detailed and expansive doctrinal statements. Think of creeds perhaps like a skeleton and the confessions like the “meat” on the bones, offering specific theological details that both expand upon credal statements and also often distinguish one denominational group from another. Historically, confessions have frequently arisen out of theological disputes or challenges, necessitating greater precision to clarify and defend doctrinal positions. For example, during the Protestant Reformation, various confessions emerged to delineate doctrinal differences between denominations, such as the Belgic Confession of the Dutch Reformed Church (1561), the Anglican Church’s 39 Articles (1563), the Westminster Confession of the Presbyterian Church (1646), and Baptist confessions like the Second London Baptist Confession (1689).

In modern times, confessions have evolved to address specific issues or articulate beliefs relevant to contemporary debates. Notable examples include the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), which affirmed the authority and reliability of Scripture amid controversies in the 20th century. Local churches also craft simplified confessions or articles of faith to outline their core beliefs, which serve the same purpose of expressing and formalizing doctrinal positions pertaining to that particular local assembly. Collectively, both historical and contemporary confessions have provided the church with a rich legacy of theological clarity and unity in navigating doctrinal challenges.

Catechisms

Catechisms are teaching tools designed to help individuals learn and internalize Christian doctrines, particularly those found in confessions and, to a lesser extent, creeds. The word “catechism” means “to teach orally,” reflecting its traditional question-and-answer format. In this method, a teacher asks a question, and the student memorizes and recites the corresponding answer. This structure, often supported by scriptural references, has been particularly effective in educating new believers and children. During the Reformation, Martin Luther popularized catechisms, creating both a “Small Catechism” and a “Large Catechism” as tools for pastors and parents to teach foundational Christian truths.

The Westminster Catechism, based on the Westminster Confession, is among the most famous catechisms. Its well-known first question — “What is the chief end of man?” — answered by, “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever,” illustrates the succinct yet profound value of this teaching method. The use of catechisms remains in practice today, embraced by various Christian traditions, including Protestant and Catholic churches. We often erroneously think of the use of catechisms as being unique to Roman Catholicism. However, church history, especially since the Reformation, shows that many within orthodox Christianity have used them extensively.

Councils

The fourth “C” is Councils, which have played a crucial role in the history of the church. Beginning with the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, church councils have addressed doctrinal challenges and resolved theological debates. Significant early councils include the Council of Nicaea (AD 325), the Council of Constantinople (381), the Council of Ephesus (431), and the Council of Chalcedon (451). These gatherings welcomed various church leaders to address heretical teachings or significant doctrinal questions, seeking to resolve these issues with Scriptural accuracy and authority. The outcomes often included creeds or confessions that established or further articulated a biblically orthodox stance, providing clarity and unity for Christians.

Caveats

This study needs at least two caveats at the onset. First, “The Four Cs” are not inspired. They do not have the quality of inspiration in them. Only the Holy Scripture claims divine inspiration. Second, though valuable, “The Four Cs” are not ultimately authoritative. Only the Holy Scripture is ultimately authoritative for the Christian church. However, though not inspired, and not ultimately authoritative, we should view “The Four Cs” as being more authoritative than our own personal ideas and thoughts. Therefore, there is still great value in them. As much as they are in agreement with and viewed in submission to Scripture, they can provide great value to the modern Christian, and therefore should not be disparaged, or tossed aside.

Conclusion

Though they are not as comprehensive as Scripture, creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils are worth studying. By engaging with these historical ideas, we uphold the continuity of faith, affirm key biblical doctrines, and address emerging challenges with a biblical foundation.

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Taigen Joos is the pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Dover, NH.

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This article is summarized from a Bible study taught by Pastor Joos. P&D used ChatGPT to create the summary which Pastor Joos then edited for accuracy and clarity.

We also used Adobe Express to generate an image to accompany this article.

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On this theme, see our opening podcast on AI Podcast – Interview 61: AI: Developing a Christian Perspective (Dave Shumate) – Proclaim & Defend which introduces the most recent issue of FrontLine. See the contents and discussion of the theme of the recent issue here: AI: Developing a Christian Perspective – Proclaim & Defend