Development of Doctrine
The seed was planted once; how much may the tree be allowed to grow?
This idea holds that the Church's understanding of revealed truth grows and is clarified over time, even as the truth itself remains constant. Vincent of Lerins offered early criteria, and John Henry Newman developed an influential theory of authentic development. The concept is contested: it is central to Catholic self-understanding, while other traditions debate how far doctrine may legitimately develop without departing from its origins.
How it traveled
- The Prescription Against Heretics.— · 220explains
- On Monogamy.— · 220explains
- The Church History of EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All HeresiesLérins · 445explains
Key passages(20)
Tradition and Traditions · Yves Congar
The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
On Development in Religious Knowledge. [54.] But some one will say, perhaps, Shall there, then, be no progress in Christ’s Church? Certainly; all possible progress. For what being is there, so enviou
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On the Veiling of Virgins. · Tertullian: Part Fourth
III. On the Veiling of Virgins. [Translated by the Rev. S. Thelwall.] ———————————— Chapter I.—Truth Rather to Be Appealed to Than Custom, and Truth Progressive in Its Developments. Having already
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
Exposition of St. Paul’s Words.—1 Tim. vi. 20. [51.] Such being the case, when I think over these things, and revolve them in my mind again and again, I cannot sufficiently wonder at the madness of c
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On Monogamy. · Tertullian: Part Fourth
Chapter XIV.—Even If the Permission Had Been Given by St. Paul in the Sense Which the Psychics Allege, It Was Merely Like the Mosaic Permission of Divorce—A Condescension to Human Hard-Heartedness. N
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Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
6. There is nothing contrary to this in the fact, that in the Christian Church scarcely one is to be found who, in excellence of faith, can be compared to Abraham, and that the Prophets were so distin
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The Children of the Catholic Church ought to adhere to the Faith of their Fathers and die for it. [86.] Whoever then gainsays these Apostolic and Catholic determinations, first of all necessarily ins
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The example of Pope Stephen in resisting the Iteration of Baptism. [15.] Great then is the example of these same blessed men, an example plainly divine, and worthy to be called to mind, and meditated
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The Notes of a true Catholic. [48.] This being the case, he is the true and genuine Catholic who loves the truth of God, who loves the Church, who loves the Body of Christ, who esteems divine religio
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
What Rule is to be observed in the Interpretation of Scripture. [70.] But it will be said, If the words, the sentiments, the promises of Scripture, are appealed to by the Devil and his disciples, of
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
In what Way, on collating the consentient opinions of the Ancient Masters, the Novelties of Heretics may be detected and condemned. [71.] And here I perceive that, as a necessary sequel to the forego
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The Prescription Against Heretics. · Anti-marcion
Elucidations. ———————————— I. (Prescription, Chap. I., p. 243, Supra.) In adopting this expression from the Roman Law, Tertullian has simply puzzled beginners to get at his idea. Nor do they learn
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Origen De Principiis. ———————————— Preface. 1. All who believe and are assured that grace and truth were obtained through Jesus Christ, and who know Christ to be the truth, agreeably to His own dec
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Here besides the clause, “this was done thrice,” something is wanting: e.g. “And observe how Peter relates the matter, and justifies himself,” viz. in xi. 8, “I said,” saith he, “Not so, Lord, for not
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The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
The peculiar thing about the list is the omission of the Twelve Minor Prophets and the insertion of the Epistle of Jeremiah. The former were certainly looked upon by Origen as sacred books, for he wro
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
His warning to the Galatians a warning to all. [24.] But, possibly, this warning was intended for the Galatians only. Be it so; then those other exhortations which follow in the same Epistle were int
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The Example set us by the Martyrs, whom no force could hinder from defending the Faith of their Predecessors. [12.] But it may be, we invent these charges out of hatred to novelty and zeal for antiqu
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The Constancy of the Ephesine Fathers in driving away Novelty and maintaining Antiquity. [81.] After the preceding we added also the sentence of blessed Cyril, which is contained in these same Eccles
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The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
The zeal of Celestine and Sixtus, bishops of Rome, in opposing Novelty. [84.] The foregoing would be enough and very much more than enough, to crush and annihilate every profane novelty. But yet that
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The Confessions · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter XXXI.—Moses is Supposed to Have Perceived Whatever of Truth Can Be Discovered in His Words. 42. Thus, when one shall say, “He [Moses] meant as I do,” and another, “Nay, but as I do,” I suppos
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Development of Doctrine. These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- Yves CongarTradition and Traditions(1960)View on Amazon→