Adolf von Harnack Books

Adolf von Harnack, a prominent church historian, held professorships at several German universities and made significant contributions to theological study. His influential work, A History of Dogma, along with other notable titles such as A History of the Expansion of Christianity and The Apostles Creed, showcases his impact on understanding church history and doctrine. Harnack's scholarship continues to resonate in contemporary theological discussions, highlighting his importance in the field.

This classic by Harnack was an epoch-making historical work that set the standard for any history of doctrinal development. Harnack locates the origins and traces the development of the authoritative Christian doctrinal system from its beginnings down to the Reformation, with a brief survey of later developments through 1870.

Adolf Harnack viewed the formation of the Christian canon as a mixed blessing. He was concerned about the exclusion of some early documents as well as the risks involved with Christianity becoming a religion of the book. This volume engages these concerns and others with scholarly creativity. Among other topics, Harnack examines reasons for the inclusion of four gospels in the New Testament rather than one. He concludes that the selection was a compromise between dominant churches, each invested in a particular gospel. This is classic Harnack and a true picture of the thought and mind of the last great 19th century theologian.

Here is Harnack's attempt to determine exactly the second source of Matthew and Luke (Q) both in regard to its extent and its contents, and to estimate its value both in itself and relative to the Gospel of Mark. Harnack begins with stylistic analysis of the non-Marcan texts that Matthew and Luke have in common, and concludes that Matthew more faithfully represents Q. He then proceeds to attempt to demonstrate that Q has a distinctive vocabulary and style.

How did Christianity come to win official recognition from the state in A.D. 325? Why then? Why not until then? Harnack outlines answers to these questions and analysis the causes and courses of this transition. A standard work on the early expansion of the church by one of the greatest students of early Christianity in the last 200 years.

The work offers an objective historical analysis of Christianity, distinct from dogmatic interpretations. It explores key themes such as Jesus' message, the concept of God the Father, and the significance of the human soul. The author examines the Gospel's relevance to contemporary issues and its historical context, particularly focusing on the rise of Roman Catholicism from the 3rd to 6th centuries. This scholarly approach provides a comprehensive understanding of the development and components of the Christian faith without aiming to convert or persuade.

This volume is a collection of essays by Adolf von Harnack, one of the most influential New Testament scholars of the twentieth century. The essays cover a wide range of topics related to the Gospel of Luke and the early Church, and provide insight into Harnack's groundbreaking historical-critical approach to biblical studies. The volume is edited and translated by John Richard Wilkinson and William Douglas Morrison.