Apostolic doctrine refers to the teachings of the apostles of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament. The apostles were the original disciples of Jesus who were commissioned by Him to spread the gospel after His resurrection and ascension. The apostles preached the good news of salvation through faith in Christ, planted churches, and wrote letters to instruct believers in sound doctrine.
Some key elements of apostolic doctrine include:
The Gospel
The central message of the apostles was the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ. They taught that Jesus is the divine Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and rose again, providing salvation for all who believe in Him (1 Cor 15:1-4). The apostles emphasized that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, not by good works (Eph 2:8-9).
The Person and Work of Christ
The apostles taught extensively about the divinity of Christ as the Son of God (John 1:1), His incarnation (Phil 2:5-11), His sinless life (Heb 4:15), His atoning death and resurrection (1 Cor 15:3-4), and His ascension and exaltation (Phil 2:9-11). They proclaimed that there is salvation in no other name except Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
The Trinity
The apostles taught the triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14). The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14) and Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to indwell believers (John 14:26).
The Authority of Scripture
The apostles proclaimed the authority and sufficiency of Scripture for doctrine, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). They regarded the Old Testament as the inspired Word of God and also recognized their own writings as authoritative Scripture given by inspiration of the Spirit (2 Pet 3:15-16).
Salvation by Grace
As already noted, the apostles stressed salvation is by God’s grace, not human effort. We are saved by faith in Christ, not by works (Eph 2:8-9). Good works result from salvation but do not earn it. This principle excluded forms of legalism.
The Resurrection of Believers
The apostles taught the future bodily resurrection of believers to eternal life (1 Cor 15:12-58). Christ’s resurrection guarantees the resurrection of those who are in Him. The resurrection motivates believers to serve God faithfully until Christ returns.
The Return of Christ
The apostles exhorted believers to be ready for Christ’s imminent return (Titus 2:13). Details on timing were not provided, only the certainty that Jesus would bodily return to judge the world, raise the dead, and establish His eternal kingdom (Matt 24:29-31; Acts 1:11).
Purity and Holiness
Apostolic teaching called believers to lives of practical purity and holiness, turning away from sexual immorality, evil desires, greed, idolatry, and other sins (1 Thess 4:1-8). God’s grace empowers believers to reject ungodliness and live righteously (Titus 2:11-14).
Church Leadership
The apostles appointed elders and overseers to shepherd local churches (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5). Qualifications and responsibilities for church leaders were outlined (1 Tim 3:1-13). Church government was entrusted to a plurality of godly, qualified leaders rather than a single hierarchical leader.
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
The apostles taught that believers were to be baptized in water in obedience to Christ (Matt 28:19) and continue celebrating the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of His death (1 Cor 11:23-26). These ordinances were entrusted to the church as outward symbols of inward spiritual truths.
Spiritual Gifts
The apostles taught that the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers for the building up of the church (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:8-10, 28; Eph 4:11-12). Gifts are given in various measures to all believers through the empowering grace of God. No gift, including tongues and prophecy, should divide the church.
Marriage Roles
Husbands are called to sacrificially love and lead their wives, and wives are called to voluntarily submit to their husbands out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:22-33). These roles reflect Christ’s relationship to the church. Marriage is heterosexual and monogamous, modeled after God’s design from creation.
Persecution and Suffering
The apostles taught believers to expect persecution and suffering for following Christ (2 Tim 3:12). Difficulties refine faith and will culminate in eternal glory. Believers can rejoice in suffering for Christ (Acts 5:41; Rom 5:3-5).
This overview shows that apostolic doctrine was centered on Jesus Christ and the gospel. The teaching of the apostles forms the theological foundation of the Christian faith that instructs and grounds believers today.
Key Figures in Developing Apostolic Doctrine
While all the apostles contributed to laying the doctrinal foundation of the early church, several stand out as particularly influential in shaping and transmitting apostolic doctrine:
Peter
Peter was the leader of the apostles and an authoritative spokesman for the faith. He preached the first Christian sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2) and his sermons in Acts communicate key doctrines. He emphasized Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God (Matt 16:16-17). His epistles stress themes like salvation, suffering, and Christian growth.
John
John was the apostle closest to Jesus and wrote the most theological Gospel. His teachings emphasized Jesus as the incarnate Son of God and the necessity of believing in Him for salvation (John 20:31). John also wrote 1 John to combat false teaching and underline key apostolic doctrines.
Paul
More than any other apostle, Paul expounded on the theological implications of the gospel. Trained as a Pharisee, his epistles form core apostolic doctrine. Paul unpacks doctrines like justification, sanctification, predestination, the flesh versus the Spirit, and more.
James
James, the brother of Jesus, wrote the epistle of James to stress the importance of living out authentic faith through good works. His teaching formed a crucial part of apostolic doctrine.
Jude
Jude, another brother of Jesus, wrote Jude to warn against false teachers twisting apostolic doctrine. He called believers to contend for the faith originally delivered by the apostles.
Together, these apostles played an indispensable role in establishing the doctrinal foundation of the church through their teachings, writings, and ministries.
Core Components of Apostolic Doctrine
Certain essential teachings form the core content of apostolic doctrine that runs through the New Testament writings:
1. The identity of Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man.
The apostles taught Christ’s eternal deity and incarnation (John 1:1, 14; Col 2:9; Heb 1:3).
2. Salvation by God’s grace alone received through faith alone.
Salvation is not earned by good works or human effort but is God’s free gift (Eph 2:8-9; Rom 3:21-26).
3. Jesus Christ’s atoning death and bodily resurrection.
Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose physically from the grave for our justification (Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:3-4).
4. The triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
There is one God eternally existing in three distinct persons (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14).
5. The inspiration and authority of Scripture.
The Bible is God’s authoritative, inerrant Word (2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21).
6. The return of Christ and final judgment.
Jesus will visibly come back to judge the world and fulfill God’s eternal plans (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; Rev 20:11-15)
7. The resurrection of the dead to face final judgment.
Those in Christ will be raised to eternal life while unbelievers face condemnation (Dan 12:2; John 5:28-29).
These key doctrines form the bedrock essence of apostolic theology and teaching. All authentic Christian doctrine builds on this foundation.
Sources of Apostolic Doctrine
Where do we discover apostolic doctrine? The teachings of the apostles are preserved for the church today in several important sources:
The Gospels
The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—record the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus as eyewitnessed and recorded by the apostles. The Gospels contain the foundational apostolic doctrine given from Jesus Himself.
Acts
The book of Acts records the early ministries of the apostles as they spread the gospel after Christ’s ascension. Acts shows the centrality of apostolic preaching and doctrine in the early church.
The Epistles
The New Testament epistles, written by apostles and their close associates, expound on Jesus’ teaching and apply doctrine to the life of the church. Apostolic theology is most extensively communicated through the epistles.
Revelation
Though apocalyptic rather than didactic, Revelation communicates important apostolic doctrines about the end times, eternity, judgment, and Christ’s ultimate victory.
These books are the key sources of apostolic doctrine because they originate from the apostles and their divinely-inspired teachings. They contain the authoritative record of apostolic theology.
Early Creeds Summarizing Apostolic Doctrine
Several creeds emerged in the early church that summarized key components of apostolic doctrine:
The Apostles’ Creed
The Apostles’ Creed originated as early baptismal confessions of faith. It encapsulates apostolic teachings on the Trinity, Christ, the church, salvation, and the resurrection of the body.
The Nicene Creed
This creed derives from the Council of Nicea (325 AD) and clarifies the full deity of Christ and Trinitarian doctrine first taught by the apostles. It defends apostolic theology against heresy.
The Athanasian Creed
This creed further unpacks the triune nature of God originally revealed in apostolic doctrine. It underscores that God is three co-equal, co-eternal persons in one divine essence.
The Chalcedonian Definition
Formulated at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), this creed articulates Christ’s singular identity as fully God and fully man in one person—a core teaching of the apostles.
These early creeds summarize and condense into short confessional statements the fundamental apostolic doctrines found in Scripture. They represent efforts to crystallize biblical truth into formal creedal expressions.
Key Areas of Apostolic Doctrine
The scope of apostolic doctrine touches on many theological categories and concepts revealed in Scripture. Some key areas of apostolic teaching include:
Christology
The apostles’ doctrine of the person and work of Christ, including His divinity, humanity, incarnation, ministry, teaching, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and return.
Soteriology
The apostles’ teachings on salvation, such as election, calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.
Ecclesiology
The apostles’ theology of the identity, mission, leadership, ordinances, and life of the church as Christ’s body on earth.
Pneumatology
The apostles’ teachings on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, including His attributes, deity, and giving of spiritual gifts.
Eschatology
The apostles’ doctrine on end times events like the return of Christ, resurrection, final judgment, and entrance into the eternal state.
Scripture
What the apostles taught about the inspiration, inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture as God’s written Word.
Theology Proper
The apostles’ exposition of the being, attributes, works, and triune existence of the one true living God.
This just scratches the surface of subjects addressed in apostolic teaching. Additional topics could include anthropology, angels, demons, Satan, eternal destiny, ethics, culture, philosophy, spiritual warfare, and more. The breadth of apostolic doctrine touches all aspects of Christian theology and practice.
Apostolic Doctrine in the Early Church
The early church after the apostles highly valued apostolic doctrine since it came through Jesus’ authorized representatives. The writings of the apostles and apostolic associates quickly circulated and were read aloud in church gatherings along with the Old Testament Scriptures (Col 4:16; 1 Thess 5:27).
Church leaders like Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna quote extensively from apostolic writings, showing their authority in the early post-apostolic church. Irenaeus of Lyons stressed the importance of apostolic doctrine passed down in Scripture through apostolic succession.
The early church also contended vigorously for pure apostolic doctrine against heresies like Gnosticism, Marcionism, and Montanism that twisted or added to biblical truth. Creeds like the Apostles’ Creed codified apostolic theology. Church councils convened to defend apostolic doctrines against heretical attacks.
The apostolic deposit of truth was valued, affirmed, and defended in the early church as the authoritative doctrine given by Christ through His appointed spokesmen. Faithfulness to biblical apostolic teaching was a non-negotiable hallmark of the early Christians.
Apostolic Doctrine and the Church Today
Apostolic doctrine remains vital for the church today. The teachings of the apostles in Scripture must continue to form the doctrinal foundation of Christianity. Several implications follow:
1. Sound doctrine derives from apostolic teaching.
The church must measure the truth of all doctrines, movements, and teachings by their adherence to biblical apostolic writings.
2. Apostolic teachings are authoritative for faith and practice.
The apostles’ doctrines in Scripture define what Christians are to believe about God and how they are to live.
3. The canon is closed.
Apostolic writings alone bear divine authority. Nothing beyond Scripture can be imposed as binding doctrine (Rev 22:18-19).
4. Understanding doctrine grows through exegesis in community.
As the church studies apostolic Scripture together, guided by the Spirit, understanding and application of biblical truth deepens.
5. Creeds summarize but don’t replace Scripture.
Creedal statements that encapsulate apostolic doctrine are helpful teaching tools but not authoritative in themselves.
6. Preaching expounds apostolic doctrine.
Pastoral exposition of Scripture must focus on explaining and applying the doctrines clearly taught by the apostles.
7. Apostolic doctrine must not be compromised.
Churches must resist drift from biblical truth and contend for sound apostolic doctrine.
Apostolic doctrine anchored the early church and must continue to ground the church today if she is to remain faithful to her Lord.
In summary, apostolic doctrine refers to the authoritative teachings of the apostles of Christ preserved in the New Testament Scriptures. This doctrinal content encompasses the full gamut of Christian theology revealed by God in the inspired writings of the apostles. As the doctrinal foundation of the church originally delivered for the faith, apostolic doctrine must be believed, taught, preached, defended, and lived out by Christians today. The church’s continuity with apostolic doctrine gives ballast to stay rooted in God’s revealed truth.