Foundations of Christian Theology
A structured journey through the foundations of Christian theology, exploring Scripture, the early Church, councils, historic Christian teaching, and their relationship to the life of the Church.
Foundations of Christian Theology is arranged for careful reading and return rather than to exhaust the subject.
Series progress
0 of 24 lessons complete
The lesson list below marks what is ready, what is currently being worked through, and what is still planned.
Module I
Scripture and Revelation
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.What Is Scripture?
Learning how Christians understand divine revelation by exploring Scripture, inspiration, the biblical canon, interpretation, and the relationship between Scripture and Tradition.
The Biblical Story
Tracing the story of Scripture from creation to new creation, discovering how God's covenants, promises, and kingdom provide the foundation for Christian theology.
Module II
God
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Who is God?
Exploring who God is through Scripture and the Christian tradition, studying the divine attributes, providence, creation, and the mystery of the Trinity.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Examining the mystery of the Trinity through Scripture, the early Church, and the ecumenical councils, asking how Christians came to confess one God in three Persons.
Module III
Creation and Humanity
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Creation, Angels and the Fall
Studying the goodness of creation, the origin of evil, the angelic world, humanity's fall into sin, and the consequences of rebellion against God.
Human Freedom, Grace and Virtue
Exploring what it means to be created in God's image, how grace restores fallen humanity, and how Christians grow in virtue through cooperation with God.
Module IV
Jesus Christ
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Who is Jesus?
Investigating the identity of Jesus Christ through Scripture and the early Church, exploring the Incarnation, His two natures, and the doctrine of the hypostatic union.
Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
Examining the meaning of Christ's death and resurrection through Scripture and the Christian tradition, exploring sacrifice, atonement, redemption, and victory over sin and death.
Module V
Salvation
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.What Does It Mean to Be Saved?
Studying salvation as presented in Scripture, exploring grace, faith, justification, sanctification, and the Christian hope of sharing in the life of God.
Repentance, Sin and Holiness
Exploring the Christian understanding of sin, repentance, temptation, spiritual discipline, and the lifelong call to holiness and perseverance.
Module VI
The Church
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.What Is the Church
Studying salvation as presented in Scripture, exploring grace, faith, justification, sanctification, and the Christian hope of sharing in the life of God.
Peter, Authority and the Papacy
Tracing the historical and theological development of Petrine ministry, apostolic authority, and the papacy by following the evidence from Scripture through Church history.
Module VII
Sacraments and Worship
4 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Baptism
Studying Baptism as the sacrament of new life, exploring its biblical foundations, early Christian practice, and theological significance throughout Church history.
Eucharist
Studying Baptism as the sacrament of new life, exploring its biblical foundations, early Christian practice, and theological significance throughout Church history.
Confession and Reconciliation
Examining the biblical foundations and historical development of confession, repentance, forgiveness, and the ministry of reconciliation within the Church.
Liturgy and Christian Worship
Tracing the development of Christian worship from its Jewish roots through the early Church, exploring liturgy, prayer, and the sacramental life of believers.
Module VIII
Christian Life
3 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Prayer
Learning how Christians pray through Scripture and the Christian tradition, exploring personal prayer, communal worship, contemplation, and the rhythm of daily prayer.
Fasting, Asceticism and the Passions
Exploring the purpose of fasting and ascetic practices as means of spiritual transformation, self-discipline, and growth in communion with God.
Virtue and Becoming like Christ
Studying the Christian life of virtue, examining how grace transforms character and shapes believers into the likeness of Christ.
Module IX
Communion of Saints
2 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Mary
Tracing the role of Mary in Scripture and the Christian tradition, following the historical development of Marian doctrine from the early Church onwards.
Saints, Relics and Intercession
Exploring the communion of saints, the veneration of relics, and the practice of intercession through Scripture, early Christian witness, and historical development.
Module X
Christian Hope
3 lessons arranged for slow reading and return.Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell
Examining the Christian understanding of death, final judgment, eternal life, and the destiny of humanity through Scripture and historic Christian teaching.
Purgatory and Prayer for the Dead
Investigating the biblical, historical, and theological foundations for prayer for the dead and the development of the doctrine of purgatory.
Resurrection and New Creation
Concluding the journey by exploring the resurrection of the dead, the renewal of creation, and the fulfilment of God's redemptive plan in the new heavens and the new earth.
Study References
Texts, witnesses, documents, and related reading that generally inform this series.
Primary Texts
- Luke 24:13-49
- 2 Timothy 3:14-17
- 2 Peter 1:16-21
- Acts 8:26
- 1 Corinthians 10:1-11
- Hebrews 8-10
- Genesis 1–3
- Genesis 12
- Genesis 15
- Genesis 22
- Exodus 12
- Exodus 19-24
- 2 Samuel 7
- Psalm 110
- Isaiah 7
- Isaiah 9
- Isaiah 11
- Isaiah 40–55
- Jeremiah 31
- Ezekiel 36–37
- Daniel 7
- Luke 1–4
- Luke 22–24
- Romans 4–8
- Hebrews 8–12
- Revelation 21–22
- Exodus 3:1–15
- Deuteronomy 6:4
- Psalm 19
- Psalm 90
- Psalm 139
- Isaiah 40–46
- Acts 17:16–34
- Romans 1:18–25
- James 1:17
- Wisdom 2
- Ezekiel 28
- Romans 5
- Romans 1
- Romans 8
- Corinthians 15
- Revelation 12
- Genesis 1:26–28
- Deuteronomy 30
- Sirach 15
- John 15
- Romans 6–8
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Galatians 5
- Philippians 2:12–13
- Mark 1–2
- John 1
- John 8
- Philippians 2
- Colossians 1
- Hebrews 1–2
- John 3
- Romans 3–8
- Galatians 2–5
- Ephesians 2
- James 2
- 2 Peter 1
- Ezekiel 18
- Matthew 5–7
- Luke 15
- Romans 6
- 1 Corinthians 6
- Hebrews 12
- James 1
- 1 John 1–3
- Revelation 2–3
- Matthew 16
- Matthew 18
- Matthew 28
- Luke 10
- John 20–21
- Acts 1–15
- 1 Timothy 3
- Titus 1
- Hebrews 13
- Matthew 16:13–20
- Luke 22:24–32
- John 21:15–19
- Galatians 1–2
- Acts 2
- Acts 8
- Acts 10
- Acts 16
- Acts 22
- 1 Corinthians 10
- Colossians 2
- 1 Peter 3
- John 6
- 1 Corinthians 10–11
- Hebrews
- Leviticus
- John 20:19–23
- 2 Corinthians 5
- James 5
- 1 John 1
- Revelation 4
- Revelation 5
- Psalms
- Matthew 6
- Luke 11
- Isaiah 58
- Matthew 4
- Matthew 9
- Acts 13
- Hebrews 11
- Revelation 6
- Revelation 8
- 2 Maccabees 12
- Matthew 12
- 1 Corinthians 3
- Daniel 12
- John 5
- 1 Corinthians 15
- 1 Thessalonians 4
- Revelation 21
- Revelation 22
Early Christian Witness
- DidacheAnonymous
- Against HeresiesSt. Irenaeus of Lyons · Book III
- On Christian DoctrineSt. Augustine of Hippo · Book I-III
- First ApologySt Justin Martyr
- Against HeresiesSt. Irenaeus of Lyons · Book II
- ConfessionsSt. Augustine of Hippo · Book VII
- Exposition of the Orthodox FaithJohn Damascus · Book I
- On the IncarnationSt Athanasius
- Against HeresiesSt. Irenaeus of Lyons
- City of GodSt. Augustine of Hippo · Book XI-XIV
- Exposition of the Orthodox FaithJohn Damascus · Book II
- Tome to FlavianPope Leo the Great
- First ApologySt Justin Martyr · 65-67
- ConferencesJohn Cassian
- InstitutesJohn Cassian
- Shepherd of HermasHermas
Church Documents
- Dei Verbum 11-13
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 101-141
- Council of Nicaea I (325)
- Concil of Constantinople I (381)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1701-1748
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1803-1845
- Catechism of the Catholic Church 1987-2029
- Council of Ephesus (431)
- Council of Chalcedon (451)